Q: My teen has cold feet, dizziness when standing, and swollen ankles. Which doctor should we see?

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Question:

My high school-aged daughter constantly has cold hands and feet, so much so that it wakes her up at night. She also gets dizzy frequently when she stands up. I'm most concerned that her feet seem to swell in the evenings, always leaving deep sock marks around her ankles. We want to get her checked out, but we're not sure which department or type of doctor to visit. What do you recommend?

Answer:

It must be worrying to see your daughter experiencing cold extremities, dizziness upon standing, and ankle swelling all at once.

【Summary of the Current Situation】

• Severe coldness in hands and feet, enough to disrupt sleep.

• Recurring dizziness upon standing up.

• Ankle swelling in the evening, leaving distinct sock marks.

When these three symptoms appear together, it is advisable to systematically evaluate circulatory, autonomic nervous system, endocrine, and kidney functions.

【Your First Doctor's Visit】

✅ Pediatrics, Internal Medicine, or Family Medicine—whichever is most convenient.

→ The initial goal is to get an overall picture with basic tests, including a blood panel (to check for anemia, thyroid/kidney function, electrolytes), blood pressure and pulse measurements, and a urinalysis.

Information you must share with the doctor:

• "Her hands and feet get so cold that it wakes her from sleep."

• "She frequently feels dizzy when she stands up."

• "She has deep sock marks on her ankles every evening."

• Details about her menstrual cycle and flow, food and water intake, any recent weight changes, and family history (thyroid conditions, autoimmune diseases).

【When a Specialist May Be Needed】

Depending on the initial test results, the primary doctor may refer her to a specialist. This could include:

* Cardiology (for orthostatic hypotension, autonomic nervous system issues)

* Endocrinology (for thyroid or adrenal gland issues)

* Nephrology (for proteinuria, edema)

* Hematology-Oncology (to determine the cause of anemia)

【What You Can Do at Home Now】

• 📝 Keep a 2-week symptom diary: Track morning/evening ankle circumference (in cm or inches), frequency and duration of dizziness, severity of coldness (on a scale of 1-10), and dates/flow of her menstrual period.

• 💧 Stay hydrated: Encourage her to drink 1.5-2 liters of water spread throughout the day (not all at once).

• 🧦 Wear non-constricting socks: Switch to socks with loose elastic bands.

• 🛏 Rise slowly: When getting out of bed, have her sit on the edge for 30 seconds before slowly standing up.

【Seek Same-Day Evaluation for These Symptoms】

• Sudden shortness of breath or heart palpitations.

• A sharp decrease in urine output or persistently foamy urine.

• Swelling that spreads to the face or eyelids.

• Rapid weight gain (e.g., more than 4-5 lbs or 2 kg in one week).

• Fainting or collapsing.

Bringing a detailed symptom diary to the appointment will help the doctor narrow down the potential causes much more quickly. Once you have the test results, we can help you understand the next steps.

For extra peace of mind and clear guidance when tracking your child's symptoms, the FeverCoach app is always there to help.

https://fevercoach.us