Face Swelling?

[eboss2013]

Hey Everyone-

I was wondering if anyone else has had issues with swelling in the face.  I generally eat very healthy, however as soon as I have a not so healthy meal my face swells up the next day. 

Has anyone else dealt with this?  Is it a salt thing?  If you've had it is there a way to avoid it? 

Thanks!

[catherine1234]

OH YES!!!! Horrible swelling and still trying to determine the triggers. I have two recent threads asking the same question of everyone else. I am a recent dx but starting to notice it seems to follow alcohol consumption, being in the sun too long, too much sodium, having too large of a meal in a sitting regardless of how healthy ( I too eat like a health fanatic 99% of the time), and/or being constipated. Lately it appears to be from my first round of prednisone "tapering" and it is the worst I have ever seen it. The eyes too...Many people have also said to avoid gluten (which I have done for years anyway) and fructose/sugars.

Drinking a TON of water, eating very light and exercising helps mine some although it takes a few days of doing so to see any effects at all. It can be quite frustrating if you have a weekend with friends or have a flare up and need to be on meds as I am discovering this past week. It is just another one of those symptoms many of us seem to encounter. Some of the veteran SJs posted on my recent posts about swelling and also about sudden weight gain if you see those on here. Let me know if you find anything that works too as I am "in the market"!

[eboss2013]

Thanks for the response!  It seems almost unavoidable sometimes. I'm going to eat healthy and maintain a regular workout regiment most of the time, but every once in a while I'm going to have a good meal or skip a workout.  You gotta enjoy life sometimes!

Thanks agian. If I figure out any tricks I will be sure to let you know. 

[finallyadx]

I am hopeful it has to do with eating, not exercising, etc. as some other posters have stated, but it can sometimes mean other things are going on as well. 

Sometimes swelling in the face can be caused by kidney issues or other water-retention issues as well as salivary and parotid gland issues that can be quite common in sjogrens too.

Not trying to be a damper or make anyone worry, most likely something simple, but do make certain the swelling in the face does not come along with other symptoms, such as pain and foul taste in the mouth, side of the face, under the jaw.  Or with kidney issues, you will often see frequent urination, pain when urinating, swelling of legs and feet and sometimes even hands too.

If you are on prednisone, it can cause a "moon" face - which when you go off the prednisone usually goes away after so many weeks or months too.

Hang in there.

[quietdynamics]

I had my drivers license renewed during a Face Swelling period.

So every time I pull it out ..I just shake my head.
Sometimes I look at the person I hand it to, who is looking at me..and say "I look better now. Don't you think?"  They actually look relieved when I say that..lol.

Good to start a short..Word Diary of these changes (so you remember) and take to Dr. when you make that appointment. 

Date/ symptom/ event,notes.  One line, print out with header and hand it to Dr.
Mine likes the outline, and we can cut to the chase.

[catherine1234]

Soooo...I found something that helps on those really bad facial edema days. It may sound hokey, but it alleviates some of the swelling. I steam my face with lemon water for five minutes to get the sweat rolling a little (that is a relative term in our cases right?!). Then I make a mask of the following:

1) Fresh coffee grounds left over from my hubbys morning coffee
2) Raw honey
3) Plain greek yogurt
4) Touch of cinnamon

Blend all together into a paste and rub over face-coffee is most important ingredient so be generous. The honey and yogurt keep it from drying you out too much. I leave it on for 20 mins and rinse off with warm water then splash with ice cold water. Pat dry and apply a light coat of coconut oil to get the moisture back in. It is not a miracle worker but it definitely helps ))