What should I do now?
Call 911
Call 911 for new or unexplained chest pressure that persists or returns, severe trouble breathing, collapse without normal recovery, or sudden face/arm weakness or trouble speaking. Do not drive yourself.
Contact your care team
Contact your care team promptly for increasing swelling, rapid weight change, or worsening breathlessness.
Keep your care plan
Track weight and swelling as instructed. Do not change a water pill without a specific plan.
SECTION 6
Preparing for your appointment
- When did swelling begin, and is it in one leg or both?
- Does it improve overnight or with elevation?
- Is there pain, warmth, redness, or a skin wound?
- Have you had breathlessness, abdominal swelling, or weight gain?
- Have you recently traveled, had surgery, or been less mobile?
Bring medicines and doses, recent changes, and weight readings if you already track them. A dated photograph may help show changes over time.
Ask about the cause, whether compression is appropriate, and which changes to report. Do not wait for an office visit if emergency symptoms develop.
Updated October 2026. Educational information; your own care plan may differ. Medical illustrations are simplified examples for teaching.