Guest guest Posted August 27, 1999 Report Share Posted August 27, 1999 > For potassium try black strap molasses and potatoes...one of the most > potassium rich foods...many times more than bananas. Potassium rich broth > can be made with potato skins... I read once that potassium salt might be needed for someone losing potassium. You can get it as a salt substitute. I haven't talked to a doctor that knows much about this. I have read that potassium takes thyroid hormone into the cells and also insulin. The serum potassium doesn't necessarily tell you what the body cellular potassium situation is. The body can dehydrate itself to keep the serum potassium in proper concentration. All I know is what I read! J. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 20, 2000 Report Share Posted December 20, 2000 what is this about potassium making the body more alkalin. How much does one take. I have never heard of this... L595@... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 4, 2002 Report Share Posted April 4, 2002 In a message dated 4/4/02 2:30:22 PM Eastern Standard Time, Scrapnfriend@... writes: << I had wondered why he wanted the Magnesium checked........they hadn't said anything about it when I was in the hospital. Interesting. >> HI , : ) They checked it as I said in previous letter because no matter how much potassium they give you , it will not bind if the magnesium is too low as well. Your right, its very interesting how one thing always ties in with another. |\_._/| | o o | ( T ) .^'-^-'^. " Cat " ~^v~^v~^v~ and the beat goes on : ) Faith doesn't get you around trouble, it gets you through it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 19, 2003 Report Share Posted January 19, 2003 Mark, Potassium tests need to be treated with care. There can be false high readings if there is a delay in running the tests after the blood was taken or if there are problems in taking the blood as the blood cells " burst " causing potassium from the cells to " leak " into the blood serum. Yes, I know this is a very simple view but the best I can do to explain what I understood from what I was told. Helen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 8, 2003 Report Share Posted July 8, 2003 I've been taking potassium for years. I've had CFS for 27 years, and was diagnosed with mitral valve prolapse 23 years ago. At the time I was prescribed Inderal, but it only made me more fatigued and foggy minded, and only marginally controlled the heart arrhythmia's. So after 6 months I dropped it and began looking for alternative things to treat the heart arrhythmia's. I began taking magnesium daily, and potassium when I'd have heart arrhythmia's. But in recent years the heart arrhythmia's started becoming a daily experience so I began taking potassium on a daily basis and more than doubled the amount of magnesium. I now take 99 mg. of potassium gluconate 2-3 times a day, and that seems enough to prevent the heart arrhythmia's. I tried using juicing to get potassium and magnesium, but it did nothing except contribute to blood sugar problems. Even when I eliminated the sugar-contributing vegetables (like carrots), it still did nothing, except make me gag. Drinking orange juice, eating tomatoes, or banana's does not seem to prevent the heart arrhythmia's. I've also tried using Emergen-C, which has a lot of potassium in it, but that doesn't work as well. I seem to benefit most from taking potassium gluconate to prevent the heart arrhythmia's. I've tried different forms of potassium, and I only seem to get the benefits from the potassium gluconate. I also take several different types of magnesium, which helps to spare potassium.l I take orotate, taurate, oxide and citrate forms of magnesium. I've tried magnesium glycinate, and it CAUSED heart arrhythmia's for me, as though I had taken MSG. Magnesium malate was like not taking magnesium at all. (I also never seemed to get any benefit from taking malic acid.) On blood tests, I always tested low on potassium until I started taking it supplementally on a daily basis. Now I test on the low end of normal. What surprises me is that I've always eaten a lot of potassium rich vegetables, and yet my potassium level would still be low. At one point I had a very stupid doctor tell me that I should eat more salt to increase my potassium, and when I asked how sodium chloride would increase my potassium, he said because there was potassium iodide in it. At the time I was taking a chemistry course, (and just had biology the year before) and knew that the amount of potassium in iodized salt was minuscule, and would be virtually useless with all the sodium in the salt. But then few doctors know much about nutrition. Certainly the more salt I eat, the more potassium I have to take in order to keep my potassium levels up. Iodized salt makes me potassium deficient. With orthostatic intolerance, I have to eat enough salt to keep my blood volume up, and it complicates getting enough potassium. If I sweat a lot, or get diarrhea (I have IBS), or have an allergic reaction, or eat foods that have thiobromine in them (like cheddar cheese), or accidentally eat something with MSG or autolized or hydrolyzed yeast, soy, corn or wheat, or anything soy (including soy sauce), I have to take more. I use electrolyte drinks like sports drinks, when I start having arrhythmia's, though they don't work quite as well. Pedialyte works better, but costs a fortune. Taking potassium gluconate pills along with including adequate salt and water, is cheap, and seems to work best for me. lindaj@... Potassium > Hello, > The e-mail below regarding potassium is from a friend with serious case of M.E. > I would like to hear any response to this information. > > " If you happen to be using one of the M.E./cfids lists now, I'd be grateful if > you could share this possible little helper that I've just learned. The > encephalitis I have is so severe that my pituitary isn't getting enough > blood which has caused my kidneys not to work right (diabetes > insipidus). Its a very rough time. One of the results is loss of fluds, > further thickening of the blood and loss of important water-soluable > minerals. One of those is potassium. I learned from research that > without the potassium the heart goes into congestive heart failure. I > had a few nights of being up with arrhythmia and fluid in my lungs > before I finally did the research and then dug in my cupboard and found > some potassium tablets. These minerals are very hard on my digestion, > I'm taking potassium and calcium right now. But its not as hard as a > heart attack would be! > > The thing that MAY be of some use to others is that the potassium helps > my sleep. I have tried to go without it and found I couldn't sleep. Then > 45 minutes after I take a half tablet of 99mg potassium, I go to sleep > and sleep well for 3 hours or most of the night if its night time. The > thought I have is that maybe all of us who have any heart involvement, > as Dr Lerner has found that many of us do, may benefit from a potassium > supplement. Esp at bedtime if sleep is a problem. Since I can't tolerate > any 'normal' sleep aid due to risk of respiratory arrest, this is a real > help for me. I hope it may be helpful to others. > > Thanks for passing this along if you're able to, . > Judy > > Du Pre > Website: http://www.angelfire.com/jazz/isaiah40soaringeagle.html > " By words the mind is winged. " Aristophanes > > > > This list is intended for patients to share personal experiences with each other, not to give medical advice. If you are interested in any treatment discussed here, please consult your doctor. > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 8, 2003 Report Share Posted July 8, 2003 I agree compeletely we should get our nutrients from foods, but if our digestion/absorption is impaired its difficult to get the benefit of the nutrients from the foods we consume until the gut is functioning well enough to property digest and absorb them... Marcia isoptera.geo wrote: > There is no reason why you should not be able to get 3,500 > milligrams or more of potassium each day from food. This is 1,500 > milligrams more of potassium than you are likely to get from a junk > food diet. Read; > http://members.tripod.com/~charles_W/arthritis9.html to see how. > The main advantage to getting potassium from food is that potassium > tends to be correlated with other nutrients, and thus imbalances are > less likely. The other main advantage is that potassium requires > magnesium to be absorbed. > If your friend insists on supplements, I suggest you read; > http://members.tripod.com/~charles_W/arthritis11.html and > http://members.tripod.com/~charles_W/arthritis12.html > Sincerely, Weber > > > This list is intended for patients to share personal experiences with each other, not to give medical advice. If you are interested in any treatment discussed here, please consult your doctor. > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 8, 2003 Report Share Posted July 8, 2003 That's why I think addressing digestion is of primary importance. I do this through diet. TJ Marcia wrote: >I agree compeletely we should get our nutrients from foods, but if our digestion/absorption is impaired its difficult to get the benefit of the nutrients from the foods we consume until the gut is >functioning well enough to property digest and absorb them... > >Marcia > >isoptera.geo wrote: > > > >> There is no reason why you should not be able to get 3,500 >>milligrams or more of potassium each day from food. This is 1,500 >>milligrams more of potassium than you are likely to get from a junk >>food diet. Read; >>http://members.tripod.com/~charles_W/arthritis9.html to see how. >>The main advantage to getting potassium from food is that potassium >>tends to be correlated with other nutrients, and thus imbalances are >>less likely. The other main advantage is that potassium requires >>magnesium to be absorbed. >> If your friend insists on supplements, I suggest you read; >>http://members.tripod.com/~charles_W/arthritis11.html and >>http://members.tripod.com/~charles_W/arthritis12.html >> Sincerely, Weber >> >> >>This list is intended for patients to share personal experiences with each other, not to give medical advice. If you are interested in any treatment discussed here, please consult your doctor. >> >> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 9, 2003 Report Share Posted July 9, 2003 No matter what I've tried, I am not able to get adequate potassium from food. If I only focus on food as a source of potassium, I end up with heart arrhythmia's, and abnormally low potassium levels on blood tests. Having spent decades focusing on nutrition and diet to try to resolve things, focusing on potassium rich foods, avoiding boiling, processed foods, non-organic foods, etc., it makes no difference in my potassium blood levels. I've made every possible attempt to do so, and still suffered problems with heart arrhythmia's and abnormally low levels on blood tests. But potassium gluconate stops the arrhythmia's, and relatively small amounts raise my potassium levels to within normal, whereas even potassium rich foods that have many times more amounts of potassium do nothing to stop the arrhythmia's, or raise potassium levels. In spite of all that naturalists propose, there seems to be a gap in their reasoning, and I somehow fall in that gap. I'm sure that in most people (especially normal people), food sources of potassium are more than adequate. But it seems like everything about my illness has gone against what is normal. And certainly among PWC's, there seems to be a very broad spectrum of normalcy, and many of us fall outside of what's normal. Many probably will benefit primarily from food sources of potassium. I can't however believe that I'm the only person on the face of the planet with this particular potassium problem. lindaj@... potassium > Potassium is almost 100% in its soluble ionic form inside the > cell, so the body will not see any difference in digestion between > potassium from supplements and potassium from food. Of course what > anion the potassium is associaed with will make a difference. If it > is associated with chloride it will be easier to absorb because acid > base balance is solved. However it will also intensify high blood > pressure. Obviously there will be a difference if the anion is > poisonous or has desirable physiological affects of its own. > Food is still the safest way to go, though, except for people > with badly damaged kidneys or a severe genetic defect > > > > This list is intended for patients to share personal experiences with each other, not to give medical advice. If you are interested in any treatment discussed here, please consult your doctor. > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 11, 2003 Report Share Posted July 11, 2003 My aldosterone levels are normal. I think that diabetes insipidus due to low vasopressin being produced from the pituitary may play a role in PWC's loosing potassium excessively. (I'm currently waiting for lab tests to get back that include anti-diuretic hormone levels.) And from what I've recently read, low CO2 levels from partial Krebs cycle blockages and the resulting alkaline blood may also lead to the kidneys excessively excreting electrolytes, including potassium. Raising potassium levels may simply increase the excretion of potassium, because it alkalinizes the blood further. Added to that, having IBS on top of it (which I do have) can cause a person to have problems loosing potassium. Even in the absence of diarrhea, having inflammation in the intestines can contribute to the loss of potassium. If all these things are going on, it may be impossible to get adequate potassium from diet. In addition, my case, I think that I may have an allergy or intolerance to potassium-rich foods because of using them so much in the past to try to build potassium levels. Food allergies tend to be things that a person eats frequently. I have a multitude of food allergies and intolerance's, and I don't seem to absorb nutrients as well from foods that I'm intolerant to, or else they stimulate inflammation, which causes potassium to be lost. lindaj@... potassium > If potassium is excreted inapropriatly there may be a malfunction > with hormones, such as an aldosterone tumor. Perhaps it would be a > good idea to have hormones analyzed, starting with aldosterone and > perhaps deoxycorticosterone if the last is possible. If there is a > tumor, an operation can correct it. It is a risky world. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 19, 2003 Report Share Posted October 19, 2003 , Yes, I think that is possible. Tyrosine is used to make the thyroid hormones as well as the medullar hormones from the adrenals and the norepinephrine produced by the sympathetic nervous system. It's also used for the catecholamine production for neurotransmitters in the brain (dopamine and norepinephrine). As I said before, though, I think a more direct measurement of phenylalanine and tyrosine in the blood plasma would be desirable, since it's difficult to infer what's going on from the products of the minor pathways. Rich > Eating foods high in potassium is not necessarily the worst thing you > can do during CFIDS. Low potassium intake causes the most secretion > of renin, which is the hormone which constricts the capillaries > during a weak heart beat in order to maintain pressure, of any > electrolyte status. It is crucial to keep cell potassium normal, and > a problem with too much potassium is rare in people with undamaged > kidneys if the potassium comes from food. An exception to this may be > people with fibromyalgia, but even in that case the problem is > probably too low a cell potassium rather than too high a plasma > potassium. A high potassium intake tends to conserve sodium since the > hormone, aldosterone, which a high potassium intake stimulates also > retains sodium. You may see a discussion as to how the steroid > hormones regulate potassium in; > http://members.tripod.com/~charles_W/electrolyte.html > Sincerely, Weber Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 20, 2003 Report Share Posted October 20, 2003 I don't disagree with what you said, below, about getting potassium in food. However, I recently took a Potassium Gluconate Supplement, (550 mg tablet, equivalent to 90 mg Potassium,) because I was getting a lot of bruises, and it caused very intense kidney and muscle pain. From now on, I'll stick with getting potassium in food. Carolyne ******************** In , " isoptera.geo " <isoptera@m...> wrote: > Eating foods high in potassium is not necessarily the worst thing you > can do during CFIDS. Low potassium intake causes the most secretion > of renin, which is the hormone which constricts the capillaries > during a weak heart beat in order to maintain pressure, of any > electrolyte status. It is crucial to keep cell potassium normal, and > a problem with too much potassium is rare in people with undamaged > kidneys if the potassium comes from food. An exception to this may be > people with fibromyalgia, but even in that case the problem is > probably too low a cell potassium rather than too high a plasma > potassium. A high potassium intake tends to conserve sodium since the > hormone, aldosterone, which a high potassium intake stimulates also > retains sodium. You may see a discussion as to how the steroid > hormones regulate potassium in; > http://members.tripod.com/~charles_W/electrolyte.html > Sincerely, Weber Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 23, 2003 Report Share Posted October 23, 2003 Hi, Can you supply me with a scientific source that would support your following statement: " However, if the potassium comes as a pill, it is possible for it to > get caught in a fold in the intestines, and etch a hole in the wall. " BB > Dear Carolyn; > There is virtually no chance that 90 milligrams of potassium > could have such a dramatic affect while eating meals, even if junk > food, will usually furnish at least 1500 milligrams, and if > unprocessed, more like 3500. I kind of doubt the gluconate also. > However, if the potassium comes as a pill, it is possible for it to > get caught in a fold in the intestines, and etch a hole in the wall. > This can have miserable, even lethal affects, even possibly the slo > release type, when the intestinal contents and bacteria enter the > blood stream. It can be avoided by grinding the pill into juice. > However, it is kind of rediculous to take those mangy, little, > pathetic pills when food is such a potentially rich source, has other > nutrients as well, and can even taste good. > Sincerely, Weber Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 19, 2005 Report Share Posted May 19, 2005 In a message dated 5/19/05 11:14:02 AM, annc999@... writes: Does anyone know of any home-test kits for K? There are none. Be sure you tell your Dr about the one sided numbness and you get a K checked. The BP is excellent and would wonder if you could come off 1/2 of the spiro but check with your team. A number of my pts have commented that they had had "pains" on the side of the tumor but this infor was not collected in a scientific manner and I would be supprized if the adneomas acturally hurt. Most Sx seem more likely to be realted to low K but that would not fit with the excellent BP response. Please tell you team about them. May your pressure be low! Clarence E. Grim, BS (Chem/Math), MS (Biochem), MD, FACP, FACC, FAHS Clinical Professor of Medicine and Epidemiology Director, Hypertension Diagnosis and Treatment Center Board Certified in Internal Medicine, Geriatrics and Hypertension Published over 220 scientific papers, book chapters and 220 abstracts in the area of high blood pressure epidemiology, physiology, endocrinology measurement, treatment and how to detect curable causes. Listed in Best Doctors in America Specializing in Difficult to Control High Blood Pressure and the History and Physiology of High Blood pressure in the African Diaspora Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 29, 2006 Report Share Posted June 29, 2006 , I had the same problem on the same dose of spiro. The dr. I saw at U-M suggested adding a small dose of HCT and this has corrected the problem for me. My K+ now stays right around 4.3 - 4.6. He said he likes to keep his PA patients on a small dose anyway as long as K+ stays ok since we tend to be a little hypervolemic anyway. a --- bayabas76 <bayabas76@...> wrote: > What to do when Potassium levels goes to maximum at > 5.0meq/L? I am on > Spiro 100mg bid. I am now at 4.7meq/L and gradually > increasing. > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 1, 2006 Report Share Posted July 1, 2006 a, By HCT you mean hydrochlorothiade (HCTZ)? Initially a doctor indicated that to me. I reported to him that HCTZ is not available here in my country. Later, he told me that HCTZ may adversely affect the kidneys as a result of my long uncontrolled hypertension. I referred to a local doc and Lasix was substituted, which later on really affected my kidneys by raising my creatinine, BUN, uric acid and painful gout attacks every other week. Now i am off other drugs except Spiro and a calcium channel blocker. > > > What to do when Potassium levels goes to maximum at > > 5.0meq/L? I am on > > Spiro 100mg bid. I am now at 4.7meq/L and gradually > > increasing. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 1, 2006 Report Share Posted July 1, 2006 HCT is available in every country. Or you can order it online. May your pressure be low! C.E. Grim, B.S., M.S., M.D. Specializing in Difficult to Control High Blood Pressure and the Physiology and History of Survival During Hard Times and Heart Disease today. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 1, 2006 Report Share Posted July 1, 2006 , What country are you in? I thought HCT was considered a first-line drug for the treatment of HTN, at least in the US. I may be wrong but I think Lasix is harder on the kidneys than HCT. I'm on a very small dose, 25 mg, but it does keep my K+ from going too high. So far my kidney function has been ok, I had one creatinine level that came back a little high but subsequent ones have been normal and GFR is normal. Maybe Dr. Grim can suggest something to keep your K+ down, other than decreasing the spiro which would raise your BP. Sort of a Catch 22, isn't it? a --- bayabas76 <bayabas76@...> wrote: > a, > > By HCT you mean hydrochlorothiade (HCTZ)? Initially > a doctor indicated > that to me. I reported to him that HCTZ is not > available here in my > country. > > Later, he told me that HCTZ may adversely affect the > kidneys as a > result of my long uncontrolled hypertension. I > referred to a local doc > and Lasix was substituted, which later on really > affected my kidneys > by raising my creatinine, BUN, uric acid and painful > gout attacks > every other week. > > Now i am off other drugs except Spiro and a calcium > channel blocker. > > > > > > > > > > What to do when Potassium levels goes to maximum > at > > > 5.0meq/L? I am on > > > Spiro 100mg bid. I am now at 4.7meq/L and > gradually > > > increasing. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 2, 2006 Report Share Posted July 2, 2006 a, I am here in the Philippines. HCT is only available as a component of other HTN drugs like losartan+HCT etc. Our Department of Health had officially withdrawn HCT sometime ago. There is no reason why, and in fact some doctors in Manila had questioned that decision to no effect. I am rather confused as some docs told me HCT will be hard on my kidneys, hence I was given Lasix, which was really hurting me bad. I am not off Lasix. Since I have been to all the docs here in my city, I am on my own now and of course support I get from our group here. > > > > > > > What to do when Potassium levels goes to maximum > > at > > > > 5.0meq/L? I am on > > > > Spiro 100mg bid. I am now at 4.7meq/L and > > gradually > > > > increasing. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 4, 2006 Report Share Posted July 4, 2006 In a message dated 6/28/06 9:19:02 PM, bayabas76@... writes: What to do when Potassium levels goes to maximum at 5.0meq/L? I am on Spiro 100mg bid. I am now at 4.7meq/L and gradually increasing. Dont worry till it gets up to 5.7 or more. Be sure they are drawing and processing blood for K correctly. See our pre posts. May your pressure be low! C.E. Grim, B.S., M.S., M.D. Specializing in Difficult to Control High Blood Pressure and the Physiology and History of Survival During Hard Times and Heart Disease today. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 4, 2006 Report Share Posted July 4, 2006 , Wow, that's weird. What about Aldactazide, combo of spiro+HCT, is that available there? Did I understand right, you're currently on Lasix and your K+ is still high? a --- bayabas76 <bayabas76@...> wrote: > a, > > I am here in the Philippines. HCT is only available > as a component of > other HTN drugs like losartan+HCT etc. Our > Department of Health had > officially withdrawn HCT sometime ago. There is no > reason why, and in > fact some doctors in Manila had questioned that > decision to no effect. > > I am rather confused as some docs told me HCT will > be hard on my > kidneys, hence I was given Lasix, which was really > hurting me bad. I > am not off Lasix. > > Since I have been to all the docs here in my city, I > am on my own now > and of course support I get from our group here. > > > > > > > > > > > > > What to do when Potassium levels goes to > maximum > > > at > > > > > 5.0meq/L? I am on > > > > > Spiro 100mg bid. I am now at 4.7meq/L and > > > gradually > > > > > increasing. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 6, 2006 Report Share Posted July 6, 2006 Hi a, Indeed it is weird, even Aldactazide is not anymore available here in the Philippines. I was on the Spiro 50mg plus Lasix 40mg both twice a day from August 2005 to May 2006. I was pulled off Lasix in May. Thankfully, my recurrent gout also disappeared. I presume the Lasix must have impaired my kidneys as my creatinine and BUN were also elevated. Since last week of May, I am on Spiro 100mg twice a day, no more Lasix. I am also on Lacidipine, a calcium channel blocker, I do not really understand why I should need this. I plan to visit the lab this afternoon to have new readings for K, Na, Creatinine and BUN. > > > > > > > > > > > What to do when Potassium levels goes to > > maximum > > > > at > > > > > > 5.0meq/L? I am on > > > > > > Spiro 100mg bid. I am now at 4.7meq/L and > > > > gradually > > > > > > increasing. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 7, 2006 Report Share Posted July 7, 2006 In a message dated 7/2/06 6:59:39 PM, bayabas76@... writes: a, I am here in the Philippines. HCT is only available as a component of other HTN drugs like losartan+HCT etc. Our Department of Health had officially withdrawn HCT sometime ago. There is no reason why, and in fact some doctors in Manila had questioned that decision to no effect. I am rather confused as some docs told me HCT will be hard on my kidneys, hence I was given Lasix, which was really hurting me bad. I am not off Lasix. Since I have been to all the docs here in my city, I am on my own now and of course support I get from our group here. My guess is the Health Dept is in Cahoots with the Pharmaceutical Industry and did not want HCTZ on by itself because it is so good and so cheap that they cant make much off it. Plus it is as good or better than the newer, more expensive drugs, that cost many times more. One can buy HCTZ in bulk so that it costs only $18 per year (US) to control BP. This would be an excellent investigative reporting task for a news writer there. I suggest you contact one. I will also see what I can find from the ine Medical Society. Lasix is not as good of a BP diuretic unless it is taken 2 x a day. Of course if you are able to DASH well you may not need any BP pills. May your pressure be low! C.E. Grim, B.S., M.S., M.D. Specializing in Difficult to Control High Blood Pressure and the Physiology and History of Survival During Hard Times and Heart Disease today. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 7, 2006 Report Share Posted July 7, 2006 Dr. Grim, Your guess is almost a hidden accepted fact here. Recently in the news was the government's failure to allow cheaper Norvasc from India. Norvasc here cost ten times as much. This conspiracy if I can call it that, goes deep into the fiber of my government. I am so glad I am off Lasix now. I think it was the one causing my weekly gout, and it was so painful I had felt I could not go on living. The doctor who increased my Spiro dose told me I responded well to it. There was no visible indication of abnormality on my adrenals and kidneys. If I can go on strict Dashing by the book, can I possibly come off it and the other drugs I am taking? > > > In a message dated 7/2/06 6:59:39 PM, bayabas76@... writes: > > > > a, > > > > I am here in the Philippines. HCT is only available as a component of > > other HTN drugs like losartan+HCT etc. Our Department of Health had > > officially withdrawn HCT sometime ago. There is no reason why, and in > > fact some doctors in Manila had questioned that decision to no effect. > > > > I am rather confused as some docs told me HCT will be hard on my > > kidneys, hence I was given Lasix, which was really hurting me bad. I > > am not off Lasix. > > > > Since I have been to all the docs here in my city, I am on my own now > > and of course support I get from our group here. > > > > > > > > My guess is the Health Dept is in Cahoots with the Pharmaceutical Industry > and did not want HCTZ on by itself because it is so good and so cheap that they > cant make much off it. > > Plus it is as good or better than the newer, more expensive drugs, that cost > many times more. One can buy HCTZ in bulk so that it costs only $18 per year > (US) to control BP. > > This would be an excellent investigative reporting task for a news writer > there. I suggest you contact one. > > I will also see what I can find from the ine Medical Society. > > Lasix is not as good of a BP diuretic unless it is taken 2 x a day. > > Of course if you are able to DASH well you may not need any BP pills. > > > > May your pressure be low! > > C.E. Grim, B.S., M.S., M.D. > Specializing in Difficult to Control High Blood Pressure > and the Physiology and History of Survival During > Hard Times and Heart Disease today. > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 9, 2006 Report Share Posted July 9, 2006 In a message dated 7/7/06 9:10:41 PM, bayabas76@... writes: Dr. Grim, Your guess is almost a hidden accepted fact here. Recently in the news was the government's failure to allow cheaper Norvasc from India. Norvasc here cost ten times as much. This conspiracy if I can call it that, goes deep into the fiber of my government. I am so glad I am off Lasix now. I think it was the one causing my weekly gout, and it was so painful I had felt I could not go on living. The doctor who increased my Spiro dose told me I responded well to it. There was no visible indication of abnormality on my adrenals and kidneys. If I can go on strict Dashing by the book, can I possibly come off it and the other drugs I am taking? For aldosterone to cause HTN AND LOW K you must eat high salt. The amount of reduction in salt intake it requires to get off BP meds is a very individual thing. The only way to tell is to try it. I recommend you wait till BP stable for a several months then have your Dr. measure the sodium in your 24 hr urine. Then if it is not less than 80 mM per day (readout of the lab result) then tighten up on the DASH. There is a 14 day challenge diet in the book that I would follow exactly. If the ENa is less that 70 then I would begin to taper off spiro with your Drs advice. If you look at my article the great majority of PAs do not have anything show up on scans or xrays until later in the game. May your pressure be low! C.E. Grim, B.S., M.S., M.D. Specializing in Difficult to Control High Blood Pressure and the Physiology and History of Survival During Hard Times and Heart Disease today. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 13, 2006 Report Share Posted July 13, 2006 , I know what you mean about the pain from gout being so bad you felt you could not go on living. I do not have gout but I do have an " inflammation-like pain on the bottoms of both feet. As a result, I can only stay on my feet about an hour max and then I have to sit for a few hours. I am retired and want to be out and about and on my feet all day but end up sitting in front of the TV most of the time. Most drugs make it worse even the BB and Spiro. I have stopped both of them for tests recently and going off of either one improves my feet a great deal. Then they give me diuretics to try to control my bp (they don') and my feet get worse. I bitch about this to every dr I go to and all they do is come up with more pills to try. Some think I have diabetic neuropathy (I don't have diabetes)but drugs used to treat it make them worse, too. I am now trying accupuncture for the pain and after only one treatment, I have seen improvement. My feet and lower legs are partly numb and so when the accupunctrist put the needles in my feet, I could feel a little pressure but it did not feel sharp like other places where he inserted the needles. When he took them out about 20 minutes later, I did feel it. After I got home, I took off my shoes and walked around and now I can feel the difference between the hard wood floor and thick carpet. Before the treatment, I could hardly feel any difference. Now they feel like they do when I cut out one of the BB pills a day. Fran > > > > > > In a message dated 7/2/06 6:59:39 PM, bayabas76@ writes: > > > > > > > a, > > > > > > I am here in the Philippines. HCT is only available as a component of > > > other HTN drugs like losartan+HCT etc. Our Department of Health had > > > officially withdrawn HCT sometime ago. There is no reason why, and in > > > fact some doctors in Manila had questioned that decision to no effect. > > > > > > I am rather confused as some docs told me HCT will be hard on my > > > kidneys, hence I was given Lasix, which was really hurting me bad. I > > > am not off Lasix. > > > > > > Since I have been to all the docs here in my city, I am on my own now > > > and of course support I get from our group here. > > > > > > > > > > > > > My guess is the Health Dept is in Cahoots with the Pharmaceutical > Industry > > and did not want HCTZ on by itself because it is so good and so > cheap that they > > cant make much off it. > > > > Plus it is as good or better than the newer, more expensive drugs, > that cost > > many times more. One can buy HCTZ in bulk so that it costs only > $18 per year > > (US) to control BP. > > > > This would be an excellent investigative reporting task for a news > writer > > there. I suggest you contact one. > > > > I will also see what I can find from the ine Medical Society. > > > > Lasix is not as good of a BP diuretic unless it is taken 2 x a day. > > > > Of course if you are able to DASH well you may not need any BP pills. > > > > > > > > May your pressure be low! > > > > C.E. Grim, B.S., M.S., M.D. > > Specializing in Difficult to Control High Blood Pressure > > and the Physiology and History of Survival During > > Hard Times and Heart Disease today. > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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