New here, need advice please

November 14, 2005

Hello there. I am the mother of a 20yr old male who is currently

being tested for conns disease. He went into hospital overnight in

September for blood tests on the suspicion that he could have either

s or Cushings (I'm not sure which) but the bloods came back

clear however the 24hr urine test has shown something which could be

connected to conns disease. This sample or result from it (I don't

know which..........in fact I don't know much at all!) has been sent

to an endicronoligist in London (u.k.) and we are now waiting for

the results. We were told that this could take approx 4weeks as

they are done in batches.

My son has been unable to work for the past 18months due to a

suspected mental health problem which now they think could have been

caused by this disease. He sufferes from depression, acute anxiety,

irritability, anger, bad memory. The physical things were passing

large amounts of urine, aching muscles, cramps in the limbs, feeling

like a young man trapped in an old body!

Can anyone relate to these symptoms and what was the outcome and

also have you any advice for us.

Sometimes I find it very difficult to deal with as I never know how

he is going to be on a daily basis.

Thanks,

November 14, 2005

Was the test sent to UK for GRA? Glucocorticoid remedial aldosteronism

- the genetic form of aldosterone overpoduction? Those happen in

batches. I cant imagine what other test would take that long. Are you

in the UK? They do it at Yale.

Did the 24 hr urine show an aldo / renin ratio that was suspicious? Or

low potassium? Does he have high blood pressure? The aldo / renin

isn't in most blood panels, and has to ordered separately. It is a

plasma test, rather than serum, usually.

The other symptoms are familiar to myself as a primary aldosteronism

patient (bilateral hyperplasia). Now on spironolactone and a low

sodium diet, they have disappeared along with hypertension. This was

reverted to following an unsuccessful right adrenalectomy - I had the

best pre ops, and a 1-cm adenoma, but half the time the surgeries still

don't cure the overproduction. They do not have an absolute handle on

that yet.

Dave

On Nov 14, 2005, at 3:46 AM, heather354851 wrote:

> Hello there. I am the mother of a 20yr old male who is currently

> being tested for conns disease. He went into hospital overnight in

> September for blood tests on the suspicion that he could have either

> s or Cushings (I'm not sure which) but the bloods came back

> clear however the 24hr urine test has shown something which could be

> connected to conns disease. This sample or result from it (I don't

> know which..........in fact I don't know much at all!) has been sent

> to an endicronoligist in London (u.k.) and we are now waiting for

> the results. We were told that this could take approx 4weeks as

> they are done in batches.

> My son has been unable to work for the past 18months due to a

> suspected mental health problem which now they think could have been

> caused by this disease. He sufferes from depression, acute anxiety,

> irritability, anger, bad memory. The physical things were passing

> large amounts of urine, aching muscles, cramps in the limbs, feeling

> like a young man trapped in an old body!

> Can anyone relate to these symptoms and what was the outcome and

> also have you any advice for us.

> Sometimes I find it very difficult to deal with as I never know how

> he is going to be on a daily basis.

> Thanks,

>

November 14, 2005

Hi ,

I know this can be a scarey and frustrating time. I had all of the

symptoms your son has prior to my diagnosis and I had several Dr's just

tell me my symptoms were stress related and that everyone else in the

waiting room probably felt the same way. How is your son's blood pressure?

Depression and other mental conditions can be caused by low potassium

levels, but they can be caused by a host of other things as well

(including just not feeling well). When untreated, my depression

manifests itself as extreme frustration and anger. My psychiatrist said

we could try getting off the antidepressants once my potassium levels

stabilized, but he wasn't real big on the idea as depression can get

worse when you discontinue and restart medications. For that reason, I

continue to take antidepressant medications.

Bad memory definitely is a side effect of low potassium levels. I

compare my mental state when I'm hypokalemic to that of an Alzheimer's

patient on a slightly better than average day. I'll hold a conversation

with you and not remember it five minutes later.

Passing large amounts of urine is common with aldosteronism because the

kidneys have a hard time concentrating urine.

Aching, weak, or cramped muscles are also signs of low potassium.

Eating a diet high in potassium with lots of fruits and vegetables

(fresh or frozen) and avoiding sodium (watch out for processed foods)

might help to alleviate some of those symptoms.

heather354851 wrote: