Guest guest Posted April 21, 2012 Report Share Posted April 21, 2012 Is it the excess aldosterone causing fibrosis? If so, what about renin? Low renin? If aldo is within normal limits (let's say 16ng/dl, mid range) will fibrosis still occur? The reason I ask this is that I was trying to figure out where my brain fog and numbness was coming from. Could carotid arteries fibrosis account for brain fog? I also have stretch marks allover my body when I wake up in the AM and parts of my body feels numb with pins and needles (which should go away in 5 min upon waking but mines linger for hours). Could this also be caused by fibrosis? Thank you for chiming into this subject. tiu Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 21, 2012 Report Share Posted April 21, 2012 On Apr 21, 2012, at 11:46 AM, lvasiliu@... wrote: Is it the excess aldosterone causing fibrosis? NO it is excess aldo and excess salt. No salt no fibrosis. If so, what about renin? Low renin?LOw renin should decrease risk. If aldo is within normal limits (let's say 16ng/dl, mid range) will fibrosis still occur?IF is is not under normal control and salt intake is high yes. The reason I ask this is that I was trying to figure out where my brain fog and numbness was coming from. Could carotid arteries fibrosis account for brain fog?No I also have stretch marks allover my body when I wake up in the AM and parts of my body feels numb with pins and needles (which should go away in 5 min upon waking but mines linger for hours). Could this also be caused by fibrosis?You are eating too much salt and you have dents in skin not stretch marks as they do not go away. Thank you for chiming into this subject. tiu Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 22, 2012 Report Share Posted April 22, 2012 Gotchya. From: lvasiliu@... <lvasiliu@...>Subject: arteries fibrosis and PAhyperaldosteronism Date: Saturday, April 21, 2012, 11:46 AM Is it the excess aldosterone causing fibrosis? If so, what about renin? Low renin?If aldo is within normal limits (let's say 16ng/dl, mid range) will fibrosis still occur?The reason I ask this is that I was trying to figure out where my brain fog and numbness was coming from.Could carotid arteries fibrosis account for brain fog?I also have stretch marks allover my body when I wake up in the AM and parts of mybody feels numb with pins and needles (which should go away in 5 min upon waking butmines linger for hours). Could this also be caused by fibrosis?Thank you for chiming into this subject.tiu Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 22, 2012 Report Share Posted April 22, 2012 Well, I don't have Cushings (did Dex suppression) nor hypokalemia (lowest blood K was 3.7). But I do have those symptoms. And I am DASHing since last year and taking K supplements. But for some unknown reason I've gained 22 pounds since began DASHing .... Big puzzle for my team. Is there such a thing as temporary hypokalemia which by the time I got to ER and they drew blood the body corrects the K? By Dr. Grimm book I am at Conn stage 1 or physiologic PA (adrenal CT and MRI clean). I am currently on CCBs for BP and tachycardia. tiu Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 22, 2012 Report Share Posted April 22, 2012 esp if they draw the blood wrong.You should not gain wt on the DASH if you have set calories right.CE Grim MDOn Apr 22, 2012, at 1:33 AM, lvasiliu@... wrote: Well, I don't have Cushings (did Dex suppression) nor hypokalemia (lowest blood K was 3.7). But I do have those symptoms. And I am DASHing since last year and taking K supplements. But for some unknown reason I've gained 22 pounds since began DASHing .... Big puzzle for my team. Is there such a thing as temporary hypokalemia which by the time I got to ER and they drew blood the body corrects the K? By Dr. Grimm book I am at Conn stage 1 or physiologic PA (adrenal CT and MRI clean). I am currently on CCBs for BP and tachycardia. tiu Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 22, 2012 Report Share Posted April 22, 2012 esp if they draw the blood wrong.You should not gain wt on the DASH if you have set calories right.CE Grim MDOn Apr 22, 2012, at 1:33 AM, lvasiliu@... wrote: Well, I don't have Cushings (did Dex suppression) nor hypokalemia (lowest blood K was 3.7). But I do have those symptoms. And I am DASHing since last year and taking K supplements. But for some unknown reason I've gained 22 pounds since began DASHing .... Big puzzle for my team. Is there such a thing as temporary hypokalemia which by the time I got to ER and they drew blood the body corrects the K? By Dr. Grimm book I am at Conn stage 1 or physiologic PA (adrenal CT and MRI clean). I am currently on CCBs for BP and tachycardia. tiu Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 22, 2012 Report Share Posted April 22, 2012 esp if they draw the blood wrong.You should not gain wt on the DASH if you have set calories right.CE Grim MDOn Apr 22, 2012, at 1:33 AM, lvasiliu@... wrote: Well, I don't have Cushings (did Dex suppression) nor hypokalemia (lowest blood K was 3.7). But I do have those symptoms. And I am DASHing since last year and taking K supplements. But for some unknown reason I've gained 22 pounds since began DASHing .... Big puzzle for my team. Is there such a thing as temporary hypokalemia which by the time I got to ER and they drew blood the body corrects the K? By Dr. Grimm book I am at Conn stage 1 or physiologic PA (adrenal CT and MRI clean). I am currently on CCBs for BP and tachycardia. tiu Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 22, 2012 Report Share Posted April 22, 2012 Many don't understand or care about proper k testing. Go to group files and read Getting an accurate blood potassium in your lab. If you are having shortness of breath this can make liver release K into blood but cell K stays low. > > > > > > > Well, I don't have Cushings (did Dex suppression) nor hypokalemia > > (lowest blood K was 3.7). > > > > But I do have those symptoms. > > > > And I am DASHing since last year and taking K supplements. But for > > some unknown reason I've gained 22 pounds since began DASHing .... > > Big puzzle for my team. > > > > Is there such a thing as temporary hypokalemia which by the time I > > got to ER and they drew blood the body corrects the K? > > > > By Dr. Grimm book I am at Conn stage 1 or physiologic PA (adrenal CT > > and MRI clean). > > > > I am currently on CCBs for BP and tachycardia. > > tiu > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 22, 2012 Report Share Posted April 22, 2012 A K of 3.7 could be a poor blood draw. If they use a tourniquet,, and I have never seen a nurse in an ER or floor NOT use a tourniquet except for someone who is very brittle or very dehydrated, and usually only after they have tried the tourniquet first. And many slap the vein/arm and can be a little rough about it, falsely increasing the K. When I ask them now, most act like they knew this about elevating K, but you can tell by their look they didn't know this nor were taught this. I had the lab a while back draw my blood and I asked her not to use a tourniquet due to the potassium - she did anyway saying she draws it "fast" and so I let her (because the nurses always know more than anyone). It came back 4.0, I didn't take my K for a few days and I could tell, absolutely no doubt, that my K was low. So I started taking it again and felt 100 times better. The lab was wrong. My follow up, after taking the K and with no tourniquet was 3.4 From: lvasiliu@... <lvasiliu@...>Subject: Re: arteries fibrosis and PAhyperaldosteronism Date: Sunday, April 22, 2012, 1:33 AM Well, I don't have Cushings (did Dex suppression) nor hypokalemia (lowest blood K was 3.7).But I do have those symptoms. And I am DASHing since last year and taking K supplements. But for some unknown reason I've gained 22 pounds since began DASHing .... Big puzzle for my team.Is there such a thing as temporary hypokalemia which by the time I got to ER and they drew blood the body corrects the K?By Dr. Grimm book I am at Conn stage 1 or physiologic PA (adrenal CT and MRI clean).I am currently on CCBs for BP and tachycardia.tiu Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 22, 2012 Report Share Posted April 22, 2012 A K of 3.7 could be a poor blood draw. If they use a tourniquet,, and I have never seen a nurse in an ER or floor NOT use a tourniquet except for someone who is very brittle or very dehydrated, and usually only after they have tried the tourniquet first. And many slap the vein/arm and can be a little rough about it, falsely increasing the K. When I ask them now, most act like they knew this about elevating K, but you can tell by their look they didn't know this nor were taught this. I had the lab a while back draw my blood and I asked her not to use a tourniquet due to the potassium - she did anyway saying she draws it "fast" and so I let her (because the nurses always know more than anyone). It came back 4.0, I didn't take my K for a few days and I could tell, absolutely no doubt, that my K was low. So I started taking it again and felt 100 times better. The lab was wrong. My follow up, after taking the K and with no tourniquet was 3.4 From: lvasiliu@... <lvasiliu@...>Subject: Re: arteries fibrosis and PAhyperaldosteronism Date: Sunday, April 22, 2012, 1:33 AM Well, I don't have Cushings (did Dex suppression) nor hypokalemia (lowest blood K was 3.7).But I do have those symptoms. And I am DASHing since last year and taking K supplements. But for some unknown reason I've gained 22 pounds since began DASHing .... Big puzzle for my team.Is there such a thing as temporary hypokalemia which by the time I got to ER and they drew blood the body corrects the K?By Dr. Grimm book I am at Conn stage 1 or physiologic PA (adrenal CT and MRI clean).I am currently on CCBs for BP and tachycardia.tiu Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 22, 2012 Report Share Posted April 22, 2012 A K of 3.7 could be a poor blood draw. If they use a tourniquet,, and I have never seen a nurse in an ER or floor NOT use a tourniquet except for someone who is very brittle or very dehydrated, and usually only after they have tried the tourniquet first. And many slap the vein/arm and can be a little rough about it, falsely increasing the K. When I ask them now, most act like they knew this about elevating K, but you can tell by their look they didn't know this nor were taught this. I had the lab a while back draw my blood and I asked her not to use a tourniquet due to the potassium - she did anyway saying she draws it "fast" and so I let her (because the nurses always know more than anyone). It came back 4.0, I didn't take my K for a few days and I could tell, absolutely no doubt, that my K was low. So I started taking it again and felt 100 times better. The lab was wrong. My follow up, after taking the K and with no tourniquet was 3.4 From: lvasiliu@... <lvasiliu@...>Subject: Re: arteries fibrosis and PAhyperaldosteronism Date: Sunday, April 22, 2012, 1:33 AM Well, I don't have Cushings (did Dex suppression) nor hypokalemia (lowest blood K was 3.7).But I do have those symptoms. And I am DASHing since last year and taking K supplements. But for some unknown reason I've gained 22 pounds since began DASHing .... Big puzzle for my team.Is there such a thing as temporary hypokalemia which by the time I got to ER and they drew blood the body corrects the K?By Dr. Grimm book I am at Conn stage 1 or physiologic PA (adrenal CT and MRI clean).I am currently on CCBs for BP and tachycardia.tiu Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 22, 2012 Report Share Posted April 22, 2012 Never heard of this. Please detail. CE Grim MDOn Apr 22, 2012, at 6:04 AM, Francis Bill SUSPECTED PA wrote:If you are having shortness of breath this can make liver release K into blood but cell K stays low. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 22, 2012 Report Share Posted April 22, 2012 Dr. Grim, I'm not sure I understand your wt gain comment, are you saying calories are the only cause? Looking squarely at Cushing's, Mayo says: " Common signs and symptoms involve progressive obesity and skin changes, such as: Weight gain and fatty tissue deposits, particularly around the midsection and upper back, in the face (moon face) and between the shoulders (buffalo hump) " I know moon face and buffalo hump are not required when it is masked by PA (probably wouldn't be masked if you could see obvious signs!) It would be interesting to hear how the DEX test was done. Mine occurred over a 4 day process in a hospital setting. Low DEX first 2 days w/draws every 6 hours; test cortisol, ACTH & Aldosterone and immediately go to 2 day high DEX w/same draw schedule ending w/cortisol, ACTH and Dexamethasone tests AND 24 hr urine tests all the while! (What do you think those 96 hours would cost in the real world!) I'm not saying everyone has this condition or that it is anything but rare, however if the SX are there they should be checked by proper testing OR you can assume and suffer for a few more years! I chose to see if I can move on and Dr. Moraitis and I are working on a plan! > > > > > > > Well, I don't have Cushings (did Dex suppression) nor hypokalemia > > (lowest blood K was 3.7). > > > > But I do have those symptoms. > > > > And I am DASHing since last year and taking K supplements. But for > > some unknown reason I've gained 22 pounds since began DASHing .... > > Big puzzle for my team. > > > > Is there such a thing as temporary hypokalemia which by the time I > > got to ER and they drew blood the body corrects the K? > > > > By Dr. Grimm book I am at Conn stage 1 or physiologic PA (adrenal CT > > and MRI clean). > > > > I am currently on CCBs for BP and tachycardia. > > tiu > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 22, 2012 Report Share Posted April 22, 2012 Dr. Grim, I'm not sure I understand your wt gain comment, are you saying calories are the only cause? Looking squarely at Cushing's, Mayo says: " Common signs and symptoms involve progressive obesity and skin changes, such as: Weight gain and fatty tissue deposits, particularly around the midsection and upper back, in the face (moon face) and between the shoulders (buffalo hump) " I know moon face and buffalo hump are not required when it is masked by PA (probably wouldn't be masked if you could see obvious signs!) It would be interesting to hear how the DEX test was done. Mine occurred over a 4 day process in a hospital setting. Low DEX first 2 days w/draws every 6 hours; test cortisol, ACTH & Aldosterone and immediately go to 2 day high DEX w/same draw schedule ending w/cortisol, ACTH and Dexamethasone tests AND 24 hr urine tests all the while! (What do you think those 96 hours would cost in the real world!) I'm not saying everyone has this condition or that it is anything but rare, however if the SX are there they should be checked by proper testing OR you can assume and suffer for a few more years! I chose to see if I can move on and Dr. Moraitis and I are working on a plan! > > > > > > > Well, I don't have Cushings (did Dex suppression) nor hypokalemia > > (lowest blood K was 3.7). > > > > But I do have those symptoms. > > > > And I am DASHing since last year and taking K supplements. But for > > some unknown reason I've gained 22 pounds since began DASHing .... > > Big puzzle for my team. > > > > Is there such a thing as temporary hypokalemia which by the time I > > got to ER and they drew blood the body corrects the K? > > > > By Dr. Grimm book I am at Conn stage 1 or physiologic PA (adrenal CT > > and MRI clean). > > > > I am currently on CCBs for BP and tachycardia. > > tiu > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 22, 2012 Report Share Posted April 22, 2012 Dr. Grim, I'm not sure I understand your wt gain comment, are you saying calories are the only cause? Looking squarely at Cushing's, Mayo says: " Common signs and symptoms involve progressive obesity and skin changes, such as: Weight gain and fatty tissue deposits, particularly around the midsection and upper back, in the face (moon face) and between the shoulders (buffalo hump) " I know moon face and buffalo hump are not required when it is masked by PA (probably wouldn't be masked if you could see obvious signs!) It would be interesting to hear how the DEX test was done. Mine occurred over a 4 day process in a hospital setting. Low DEX first 2 days w/draws every 6 hours; test cortisol, ACTH & Aldosterone and immediately go to 2 day high DEX w/same draw schedule ending w/cortisol, ACTH and Dexamethasone tests AND 24 hr urine tests all the while! (What do you think those 96 hours would cost in the real world!) I'm not saying everyone has this condition or that it is anything but rare, however if the SX are there they should be checked by proper testing OR you can assume and suffer for a few more years! I chose to see if I can move on and Dr. Moraitis and I are working on a plan! > > > > > > > Well, I don't have Cushings (did Dex suppression) nor hypokalemia > > (lowest blood K was 3.7). > > > > But I do have those symptoms. > > > > And I am DASHing since last year and taking K supplements. But for > > some unknown reason I've gained 22 pounds since began DASHing .... > > Big puzzle for my team. > > > > Is there such a thing as temporary hypokalemia which by the time I > > got to ER and they drew blood the body corrects the K? > > > > By Dr. Grimm book I am at Conn stage 1 or physiologic PA (adrenal CT > > and MRI clean). > > > > I am currently on CCBs for BP and tachycardia. > > tiu > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 22, 2012 Report Share Posted April 22, 2012 Even with the cortisol connection and weight gain, it is still typically the cortisols ability to increase appetite that is the culprit to weight gain. Some of it messes with fat storage and insulin metabolism, but it is appetite and sadly a lack of physical activity that tends to go along with whatever the cause is (illness) or the natural disposition of the person (obese people statistically tend toward less physical activity - and you can decide if it's the chicken or the egg). For example Prednisone doesn't cause you to gain weight - it causes you to eat more which causes you to gain weight. People on prednisone are likely on it for a health condition, which predisposes them to decreased exercise, which also leads to less of a burn off of fat. No matter if it is cortisol, steroids, Lyme disease, whatever, calories are building material. I'll say it again - we're not creating MORE from NOTHING. There is no immaculate conception of fat. It started somewhere. There HAS to be something to build from - that's fat and carbs and proteins. From: <jclark24p@...>Subject: Re: arteries fibrosis and PAhyperaldosteronism Date: Sunday, April 22, 2012, 11:34 AM Dr. Grim, I'm not sure I understand your wt gain comment, are you saying calories are the only cause?Looking squarely at Cushing's, Mayo says: "Common signs and symptoms involve progressive obesity and skin changes, such as:Weight gain and fatty tissue deposits, particularly around the midsection and upper back, in the face (moon face) and between the shoulders (buffalo hump)"I know moon face and buffalo hump are not required when it is masked by PA (probably wouldn't be masked if you could see obvious signs!)It would be interesting to hear how the DEX test was done. Mine occurred over a 4 day process in a hospital setting. Low DEX first 2 days w/draws every 6 hours; test cortisol, ACTH & Aldosterone and immediately go to 2 day high DEX w/same draw schedule ending w/cortisol, ACTH and Dexamethasone tests AND 24 hr urine tests all the while! (What do you think those 96 hours would cost in the real world!)I'm not saying everyone has this condition or that it is anything but rare, however if the SX are there they should be checked by proper testing OR you can assume and suffer for a few more years! I chose to see if I can move on and Dr. Moraitis and I are working on a plan!> > >> >> > Well, I don't have Cushings (did Dex suppression) nor hypokalemia > > (lowest blood K was 3.7).> >> > But I do have those symptoms.> >> > And I am DASHing since last year and taking K supplements. But for > > some unknown reason I've gained 22 pounds since began DASHing .... > > Big puzzle for my team.> >> > Is there such a thing as temporary hypokalemia which by the time I > > got to ER and they drew blood the body corrects the K?> >> > By Dr. Grimm book I am at Conn stage 1 or physiologic PA (adrenal CT > > and MRI clean).> >> > I am currently on CCBs for BP and tachycardia.> > tiu> >> >> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 22, 2012 Report Share Posted April 22, 2012 Been there, done that, still disagree but haven't read the book! It is certainly more complicated than cal in/cal out. The burn cycle has to enter into it and factors that inpede that like OSA, COPD, DM when the feet start to resist, Suppl Oxygen, change in occupation and even mental attitude, need I go on. If it was as simple as in/out give me a calculator and I can be a doctor! > > > > > > > > > > > Well, I don't have Cushings (did Dex suppression) nor hypokalemia > > > (lowest blood K was 3.7). > > > > > > But I do have those symptoms. > > > > > > And I am DASHing since last year and taking K supplements. But for > > > some unknown reason I've gained 22 pounds since began DASHing .... > > > Big puzzle for my team. > > > > > > Is there such a thing as temporary hypokalemia which by the time I > > > got to ER and they drew blood the body corrects the K? > > > > > > By Dr. Grimm book I am at Conn stage 1 or physiologic PA (adrenal CT > > > and MRI clean). > > > > > > I am currently on CCBs for BP and tachycardia. > > > tiu > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 23, 2012 Report Share Posted April 23, 2012 Thanks for sharing your experience. And yeah, try telling nurses NOT to use a tourniquet OR making a fist OR slapping the veins to pop... This render any blood work drawn for K pretty much useless! > > A K of 3.7 could be a poor blood draw. If they use a tourniquet,, and I have never seen a nurse in an ER or floor NOT use a tourniquet except for someone who is very brittle or very dehydrated, and usually only after they have tried the tourniquet first. And many slap the vein/arm and can be a little rough about it, falsely increasing the K. When I ask them now, most act like they knew this about elevating K, but you can tell by their look they didn't know this nor were taught this. >  > I had the lab a while back draw my blood and I asked her not to use a tourniquet due to the potassium - she did anyway saying she draws it " fast " and so I let her (because the nurses always know more than anyone).  It came back 4.0, I didn't take my K for a few days and I could tell, absolutely no doubt, that my K was low. So I started taking it again and felt 100 times better. The lab was wrong. My follow up, after taking the K and with no tourniquet was 3.4 > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 23, 2012 Report Share Posted April 23, 2012 I think you've nailed it! If I am eating 3 pounds of food how my weight will go up by 6 pounds? My wife keeps asking me how I can gain weight when I am not eating as much as I used to. The answer is water retention! tiu > > Wouldn't fluid retention from excess Na be a factor in weight gain in hyperaldosterinism & conversely weight loss after an Adx? > > Lucy Sage > > Please forgive brevity & typos > Sent from my droid Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 23, 2012 Report Share Posted April 23, 2012 In PA the body has escaped from the weigh gain due to high salt diet. Otherwise all with PA WOULD be dead. We do not know wjhat the mechanism of escape is. My Ho has been that it is the rise in BP AND lowering of renin and AII. In the dog if you clamp servocontrol the kidney artery so the also salt induced HTN CANNOT be transmitted to the kid ey to dump Na the dog develops CHF and dies. The pressure natriuresis mechanism has what is called infinite gain. It keeps increasing pressure till. Ad things happen or you eat less salt. Really elegantly simple. May your pressure be low!CE Grim MS, MDSpecializing in DifficultHypertensionOn Apr 23, 2012, at 16:36, lvasiliu@... wrote: I think you've nailed it! If I am eating 3 pounds of food how my weight will go up by 6 pounds? My wife keeps asking me how I can gain weight when I am not eating as much as I used to. The answer is water retention! tiu > > Wouldn't fluid retention from excess Na be a factor in weight gain in hyperaldosterinism & conversely weight loss after an Adx? > > Lucy Sage > > Please forgive brevity & typos > Sent from my droid Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 26, 2012 Report Share Posted April 26, 2012 Well they wouldn't find my veins without any of that.... > > > > A K of 3.7 could be a poor blood draw. If they use a tourniquet,, and I have never seen a nurse in an ER or floor NOT use a tourniquet except for someone who is very brittle or very dehydrated, and usually only after they have tried the tourniquet first. And many slap the vein/arm and can be a little rough about it, falsely increasing the K. When I ask them now, most act like they knew this about elevating K, but you can tell by their look they didn't know this nor were taught this. > >  > > I had the lab a while back draw my blood and I asked her not to use a tourniquet due to the potassium - she did anyway saying she draws it " fast " and so I let her (because the nurses always know more than anyone).  It came back 4.0, I didn't take my K for a few days and I could tell, absolutely no doubt, that my K was low. So I started taking it again and felt 100 times better. The lab was wrong. My follow up, after taking the K and with no tourniquet was 3.4 > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 26, 2012 Report Share Posted April 26, 2012 I have recently read that it was okay to use a tourniquet to find the vien and release it for 5 seconds before the actual draw. (Makes sense to me that the " damaged " blood would have moved on before you captured your sample.) That's how my friendly vampire at NIH did it every morning t 5:55 a.m.! I'm waiting for my numbers to come in from NIH so I can compare to the numbers I get locally. (I do not expect to find any problems since K was never mentioned and K is usually not an issue with my style of PA!) > > > > > > A K of 3.7 could be a poor blood draw. If they use a tourniquet,, and I have never seen a nurse in an ER or floor NOT use a tourniquet except for someone who is very brittle or very dehydrated, and usually only after they have tried the tourniquet first. And many slap the vein/arm and can be a little rough about it, falsely increasing the K. When I ask them now, most act like they knew this about elevating K, but you can tell by their look they didn't know this nor were taught this. > > >  > > > I had the lab a while back draw my blood and I asked her not to use a tourniquet due to the potassium - she did anyway saying she draws it " fast " and so I let her (because the nurses always know more than anyone).  It came back 4.0, I didn't take my K for a few days and I could tell, absolutely no doubt, that my K was low. So I started taking it again and felt 100 times better. The lab was wrong. My follow up, after taking the K and with no tourniquet was 3.4 > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 27, 2012 Report Share Posted April 27, 2012 From reading postings I thought the NIH did blood draws though IV. > > > > > > > > A K of 3.7 could be a poor blood draw. If they use a tourniquet,, and I have never seen a nurse in an ER or floor NOT use a tourniquet except for someone who is very brittle or very dehydrated, and usually only after they have tried the tourniquet first. And many slap the vein/arm and can be a little rough about it, falsely increasing the K. When I ask them now, most act like they knew this about elevating K, but you can tell by their look they didn't know this nor were taught this. > > > >  > > > > I had the lab a while back draw my blood and I asked her not to use a tourniquet due to the potassium - she did anyway saying she draws it " fast " and so I let her (because the nurses always know more than anyone).  It came back 4.0, I didn't take my K for a few days and I could tell, absolutely no doubt, that my K was low. So I started taking it again and felt 100 times better. The lab was wrong. My follow up, after taking the K and with no tourniquet was 3.4 > > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 27, 2012 Report Share Posted April 27, 2012 Did it say ALL blood draws? If it did, they lied! Phlebotomist who arrived at 5:55 a.m. every morning always looked for and found his/her own virgin vein! > > > > >> > > > > A K of 3.7 could be a poor blood draw. If they use a tourniquet,, and I have never seen a nurse in an ER or floor NOT use a tourniquet except for someone who is very brittle or very dehydrated, and usually only after they have tried the tourniquet first. And many slap the vein/arm and can be a little rough about it, falsely increasing the K. When I ask them now, most act like they knew this about elevating K, but you can tell by their look they didn't know this nor were taught this.> > > > >  > > > > > I had the lab a while back draw my blood and I asked her not to use a tourniquet due to the potassium - she did anyway saying she draws it "fast" and so I let her (because the nurses always know more than anyone).  It came back 4.0, I didn't take my K for a few days and I could tell, absolutely no doubt, that my K was low. So I started taking it again and felt 100 times better. The lab was wrong. My follow up, after taking the K and with no tourniquet was 3.4> > > > >> > > >> > >> >> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 27, 2012 Report Share Posted April 27, 2012 K is not an issue YET I would suggest.Or because you are DASHing so well ;-)CE Grim MDOn Apr 26, 2012, at 5:34 PM, wrote: I have recently read that it was okay to use a tourniquet to find the vien and release it for 5 seconds before the actual draw. (Makes sense to me that the "damaged" blood would have moved on before you captured your sample.) That's how my friendly vampire at NIH did it every morning t 5:55 a.m.! I'm waiting for my numbers to come in from NIH so I can compare to the numbers I get locally. (I do not expect to find any problems since K was never mentioned and K is usually not an issue with my style of PA!) > > > > > > A K of 3.7 could be a poor blood draw. If they use a tourniquet,, and I have never seen a nurse in an ER or floor NOT use a tourniquet except for someone who is very brittle or very dehydrated, and usually only after they have tried the tourniquet first. And many slap the vein/arm and can be a little rough about it, falsely increasing the K. When I ask them now, most act like they knew this about elevating K, but you can tell by their look they didn't know this nor were taught this. > > >  > > > I had the lab a while back draw my blood and I asked her not to use a tourniquet due to the potassium - she did anyway saying she draws it "fast" and so I let her (because the nurses always know more than anyone).  It came back 4.0, I didn't take my K for a few days and I could tell, absolutely no doubt, that my K was low. So I started taking it again and felt 100 times better. The lab was wrong. My follow up, after taking the K and with no tourniquet was 3.4 > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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