Taking Supplements

[Guest guest]

Dear Randy,

I think you are playing with fire to try to adjust supplements

without an endocrinologist advising you. PA is not the typical

illness that allows you to " get healthy " by taking vitamins. Our

systems are atypical and require very close monitoring. For

example: I have just done a lot of research on Vitamin d, calcium,

thyroid and parathyroid problems. A person with normal calcium

levels should not take calcium. The thyroid and parathyroid gland

will regulate the calcium in a healthy person and it is not a

problem. If your calcium level is not normal you should be looking

for the cause and not try to self medicate. Potassium is even a

bigger problem for people like us with PA. High or low k can be an

emergency er trip and should be monitored regularly. I just went

through this recently going from too low to too high in less than a

month. My doctors monitor this very carefully and I have monthly

blood tests (more often if too high or too low). It is not possible

to adjust this with food if k is not normal as there is no way to

know how much k is being absorbed. You must adjust with meds.

I have wonderful doctors who work with me to constantly adust meds. I

know some of you are not that lucky and I hope you can convince them

to work with you. I also have excellent insurance that pays for

everything. I've heard horror stories about poor treatment with

HMO's. Good Luck.

Jan

Hi Jan

Thanks for your reply. I appreciate your advice. I do not have an

endocrinologist but I have General Practice Doctor. I have not been one to

take supplements or anything extra. What I have added to my routine has been

suggested by the doctor. He suggested a good multi-vitamin a couple of years

ago so I added one. One of my first tests showed me low in calcium so we

discussed my diet and dairy and he suggested I take a supplement.

My doctor is also a very good friend and I see him more often than just in his

office. A couple of months ago when I started getting very severe headaches I

talked to him about Magnesium. He said to take some. I did. The first time I

took some within 15 minutes I was very light headed and it wore off in about an

hour. It helped ease the headache but it never removed it. I continued to do

that and in 4-5 days I could not feel anything different when I took it. It was

our plan for me to take it and then test it in a couple of weeks which is what

we did.

My point is that I am really not trying to dose or prescribe for myself. I

don't take anything that I don't have a very good reason to. I take no OTCs

unless I am advised. I try do everything by diet. I may be to a point where I

do need to find a specialist. I really have done quite well for almost 3 years

until the last couple of months. I am thinking of going to a dietician (sp) to

help me and to see if we can custom something for me.

My question to Dave about the Mg was to learn. When he mentioned Mg Citrate I

wasn't sure what that is. Since even this morning, I googled and it must be the

" Pluto " water stuff. I have more questions about that. I have never heard of

that being consumed on a regular basis. I hope Dave replies back because I may

be mistaken.

You mention the K problems, I am aware of them. For me I have fought to just to

achieve 4.0 and only got there once. With Inspra and spiro they a K-sparing so

everyone is afraid you going high. I added the DASH and have been high K diet

wise for a long time, I started adding supplemental K to my diet and I

consistently run 3.6-3.7. I have even loaded up taking K and then testing that

is when I got to 4.0 It was after doing this a couple of times that the

doctors where not concerned about me adding Nu-salt and such to my food. I just

can't raise my K.

I thank you very much Jan, any help I appreciate,

Randy

<><May we all be DASHing!!><>

Proverbs 26:11 As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his folly.