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I am not adding any salt to my food. My last k+ level was 4.0 and I

still have low potassium symptoms. In fact it has always been

3.6-4.0 When I take potassium the symptoms go away so I

know it is the potassium. Can I get too much potassium? I know ppl

with kidney disease can take too much. About 2 hours ago I got the

worse foot and calf pain bilaterally with twitching.

I drank a V8 and the pain is slowly going away. Will I have

symptoms if I get too much potassium?.

Thanks in advance

Phyllis

On 5/23/2012 12:29 PM, Phyllis wrote:

This article says you can reverse 30 years of high blood pressure

aging in 4 weeks. WOW!

Phyllis

On 5/23/2012 12:28 PM, Phyllis wrote:

http://www.internalmedicinenews.com/index.php?id=2049 & type=98 & tx_ttnews[tt_news]=94387 & cHash=da03e20e36

It looks like Dr Grim keeps preaching to us to DASH for

a

reason!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

On 5/23/2012 12:24 PM, Phyllis wrote:

> On 5/22/2012 9:28 PM, Phyllis wrote:

>> Dr Grim,

>> Just to be clear, even if you have PA it is

only a problem with

>> increased sodium intake?

>>

>> Phyllis

> Good Article:

>

>

> Effects of Exercise, Diet and Weight

> Loss on High Blood Pressure

>

> http://www.portalsaudebrasil.com/artigospsb/obes064.pdf

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Phyllis,You've probably read this before on this site but many, if not most, blood draws are done incorrectly for measuring k. This can account for a higher k reading than you really have. Last time I had my labs done I asked them to use a #19 needle, so I could get an accurate reading, and she about laughed me out of the lab. She told me that Kaiser probably doesn't even have that large a needle anywhere in the hospital!! She used the largest they had (#21) and wouldn't even pull the tourniquet off until the draw was almost finished. So your true k reading might be lower than stated, and 4.0 isn't that high anyway.I've also noticed that I need to supplement my magnesium at least a couple of times a week. That may not be true for everybody, but it is for me. If I don't, I can get some of the same low k symptoms even when my k

intake should be sufficient to prevent that.Dianne, F-69, bi-lateral adenomas, CKD, Dashing

>> Dr Grim,

>> Just to be clear, even if you have PA it is

only a problem with

>> increased sodium intake?

>>

>> Phyllis

> Good Article:

>

>

> Effects of Exercise, Diet and Weight

> Loss on High Blood Pressure

>

> http://www.portalsaudebrasil.com/artigospsb/obes064.pdf

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Difficult to get too much K unless u have renal disease OT take NSAIDS or MCBS to mention A few. May your pressure be low!CE Grim MS, MDSpecializing in DifficultHypertensionOn May 23, 2012, at 16:23, Phyllis <phylisrn@...> wrote:

I am not adding any salt to my food. My last k+ level was 4.0 and I

still have low potassium symptoms. In fact it has always been

3.6-4.0 When I take potassium the symptoms go away so I

know it is the potassium. Can I get too much potassium? I know ppl

with kidney disease can take too much. About 2 hours ago I got the

worse foot and calf pain bilaterally with twitching.

I drank a V8 and the pain is slowly going away. Will I have

symptoms if I get too much potassium?.

Thanks in advance

Phyllis

On 5/23/2012 12:29 PM, Phyllis wrote:

This article says you can reverse 30 years of high blood pressure

aging in 4 weeks. WOW!

Phyllis

On 5/23/2012 12:28 PM, Phyllis wrote:

http://www.internalmedicinenews.com/index.php?id=2049 & type=98 & tx_ttnews[tt_news]=94387 & cHash=da03e20e36

It looks like Dr Grim keeps preaching to us to DASH for

a

reason!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

On 5/23/2012 12:24 PM, Phyllis wrote:

> On 5/22/2012 9:28 PM, Phyllis wrote:

>> Dr Grim,

>> Just to be clear, even if you have PA it is

only a problem with

>> increased sodium intake?

>>

>> Phyllis

> Good Article:

>

>

> Effects of Exercise, Diet and Weight

> Loss on High Blood Pressure

>

> http://www.portalsaudebrasil.com/artigospsb/obes064.pdf

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The full DASH is a high Mg diet. May your pressure be low!CE Grim MS, MDSpecializing in DifficultHypertensionOn May 23, 2012, at 19:07, Dianne strong <dianstrong@...> wrote:

Phyllis,You've probably read this before on this site but many, if not most, blood draws are done incorrectly for measuring k. This can account for a higher k reading than you really have. Last time I had my labs done I asked them to use a #19 needle, so I could get an accurate reading, and she about laughed me out of the lab. She told me that Kaiser probably doesn't even have that large a needle anywhere in the hospital!! She used the largest they had (#21) and wouldn't even pull the tourniquet off until the draw was almost finished. So your true k reading might be lower than stated, and 4.0 isn't that high anyway.I've also noticed that I need to supplement my magnesium at least a couple of times a week. That may not be true for everybody, but it is for me. If I don't, I can get some of the same low k symptoms even when my k

intake should be sufficient to prevent that.Dianne, F-69, bi-lateral adenomas, CKD, Dashing

>> Dr Grim,

>> Just to be clear, even if you have PA it is

only a problem with

>> increased sodium intake?

>>

>> Phyllis

> Good Article:

>

>

> Effects of Exercise, Diet and Weight

> Loss on High Blood Pressure

>

> http://www.portalsaudebrasil.com/artigospsb/obes064.pdf

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Something else that many places do is send the blood through the tube system.

That ride must cause some breakdown of cells.

>

> >> Dr Grim,

>

> >> Just to be clear, even if you have PA it is

> only a problem with

>

> >> increased sodium intake?

>

> >>

>

> >> Phyllis

>

> > Good Article:

>

> >

>

> >

>

> > Effects of Exercise, Diet and Weight

>

> > Loss on High Blood Pressure

>

> >

>

> > http://www.portalsaudebrasil.com/artigospsb/obes064.pdf

>

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Its the sodium content of the foods we eat, especially packaged and processed foods, and watch out as some meats have alot of sodium infused. Things I found that sneal up on me are condiments, butters, etc. Breads are almost always high sodium. The salt shaker is a very tiny part of it. Even before I never salted anything, ever, just too lazy.

>> Dr Grim,>> Just to be clear, even if you have PA it is only a problem with >> increased sodium intake?>>>> Phyllis> Good Article:>>> Effects of Exercise, Diet and Weight> Loss on High Blood Pressure>> http://www.portalsaudebrasil.com/artigospsb/obes064.pdf

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Dr Grim,

I have been dashing like my life depended on it... I have also been

decreasing the Inspra. I have not been taking any for the past 3

days.

I am finding that I need more Potassium . The symptoms will attack

me immediately literally. At 3:00 pm i can be fine and at 3:01 pm I

can be in a full blown

panic attack with burning muscles and muscle twitching. Drinking v8

helps so I know it is the potassium.

So was the Inspra keeping the potassium in my body? I cant tolerate

the breast pain and menopause symptoms that Inspra gave me.

Thanks,

Phyllis

On 5/23/2012 5:23 PM, Phyllis wrote:

I am not adding any salt to my food. My last k+ level was 4.0 and

I still have low potassium symptoms. In fact it has always been

3.6-4.0 When I take potassium the symptoms go away so I

know it is the potassium. Can I get too much potassium? I know ppl

with kidney disease can take too much. About 2 hours ago I got the

worse foot and calf pain bilaterally with twitching.

I drank a V8 and the pain is slowly going away. Will I have

symptoms if I get too much potassium?.

Thanks in advance

Phyllis

On 5/23/2012 12:29 PM, Phyllis wrote:

This article says you can reverse 30 years of high blood

pressure aging in 4 weeks. WOW!

Phyllis

On 5/23/2012 12:28 PM, Phyllis wrote:

http://www.internalmedicinenews.com/index.php?id=2049 & type=98 & tx_ttnews[tt_news]=94387 & cHash=da03e20e36

It looks like Dr Grim keeps preaching to us to DASH

for a

reason!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

On 5/23/2012 12:24 PM, Phyllis wrote:

> On 5/22/2012 9:28 PM, Phyllis wrote:

>> Dr Grim,

>> Just to be clear, even if you have PA it is

only a problem with

>> increased sodium intake?

>>

>> Phyllis

> Good Article:

>

>

> Effects of Exercise, Diet and Weight

> Loss on High Blood Pressure

>

> http://www.portalsaudebrasil.com/artigospsb/obes064.pdf

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I just read on the web that sarcoidosis can cause potassium wasting.

I do have sarcoid. This is getting very interesting.

Phyllis

On 5/24/2012 2:49 PM, Phyllis wrote:

Dr Grim,

I have been dashing like my life depended on it... I have

also been decreasing the Inspra. I have not been taking

any for the past 3 days.

I am finding that I need more Potassium . The symptoms

will attack me immediately literally. At 3:00 pm i can be

fine and at 3:01 pm I can be in a full blown

panic attack with burning muscles and muscle twitching.

Drinking v8 helps so I know it is the potassium.

So was the Inspra keeping the potassium in my body? I cant

tolerate the breast pain and menopause symptoms that

Inspra gave me.

Thanks,

Phyllis

On 5/23/2012 5:23 PM, Phyllis wrote:

I am not adding any salt to my food. My last

k+ level was 4.0 and I still have low potassium symptoms.

In fact it has always been 3.6-4.0 When I take potassium

the symptoms go away so I

know it is the potassium. Can I get too much potassium? I

know ppl with kidney disease can take too much. About 2

hours ago I got the worse foot and calf pain bilaterally

with twitching.

I drank a V8 and the pain is slowly going away. Will I

have symptoms if I get too much potassium?.

Thanks in advance

Phyllis

On 5/23/2012 12:29 PM, Phyllis wrote:

This article says you can reverse 30 years

of high blood pressure aging in 4 weeks. WOW!

Phyllis

On 5/23/2012 12:28 PM, Phyllis wrote:

http://www.internalmedicinenews.com/index.php?id=2049 & type=98 & tx_ttnews[tt_news]=94387 & cHash=da03e20e36

It looks like Dr Grim keeps preaching to us to

DASH for a

reason!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

On 5/23/2012 12:24 PM, Phyllis wrote:

> On 5/22/2012 9:28 PM, Phyllis wrote:

>> Dr Grim,

>> Just to be clear, even if you have PA it

is only a problem with

>> increased sodium intake?

>>

>> Phyllis

> Good Article:

>

>

> Effects of Exercise, Diet and Weight

> Loss on High Blood Pressure

>

> http://www.portalsaudebrasil.com/artigospsb/obes064.pdf

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Try rebreathing in a smallish paper bag for a few minutes. That will shift K back in cells. CO2 builds up H ion goes up. Buffering occurs as H moves into cell. To keep ionic balance K moves out of cells and may feel better.May your pressure be low!CE Grim MS, MDSpecializing in DifficultHypertensionOn May 24, 2012, at 13:49, Phyllis <phylisrn@...> wrote:

Dr Grim,

I have been dashing like my life depended on it... I have also been

decreasing the Inspra. I have not been taking any for the past 3

days.

I am finding that I need more Potassium . The symptoms will attack

me immediately literally. At 3:00 pm i can be fine and at 3:01 pm I

can be in a full blown

panic attack with burning muscles and muscle twitching. Drinking v8

helps so I know it is the potassium.

So was the Inspra keeping the potassium in my body? I cant tolerate

the breast pain and menopause symptoms that Inspra gave me.

Thanks,

Phyllis

On 5/23/2012 5:23 PM, Phyllis wrote:

I am not adding any salt to my food. My last k+ level was 4.0 and

I still have low potassium symptoms. In fact it has always been

3.6-4.0 When I take potassium the symptoms go away so I

know it is the potassium. Can I get too much potassium? I know ppl

with kidney disease can take too much. About 2 hours ago I got the

worse foot and calf pain bilaterally with twitching.

I drank a V8 and the pain is slowly going away. Will I have

symptoms if I get too much potassium?.

Thanks in advance

Phyllis

On 5/23/2012 12:29 PM, Phyllis wrote:

This article says you can reverse 30 years of high blood

pressure aging in 4 weeks. WOW!

Phyllis

On 5/23/2012 12:28 PM, Phyllis wrote:

http://www.internalmedicinenews.com/index.php?id=2049 & type=98 & tx_ttnews[tt_news]=94387 & cHash=da03e20e36

It looks like Dr Grim keeps preaching to us to DASH

for a

reason!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

On 5/23/2012 12:24 PM, Phyllis wrote:

> On 5/22/2012 9:28 PM, Phyllis wrote:

>> Dr Grim,

>> Just to be clear, even if you have PA it is

only a problem with

>> increased sodium intake?

>>

>> Phyllis

> Good Article:

>

>

> Effects of Exercise, Diet and Weight

> Loss on High Blood Pressure

>

> http://www.portalsaudebrasil.com/artigospsb/obes064.pdf

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But why did you not tell us. Always always tell your Team every thing. But must be very rare cause of low K as not on my list. High K maybe if pit sarcoid. May your pressure be low!CE Grim MS, MDSpecializing in DifficultHypertensionOn May 24, 2012, at 13:56, Phyllis <phylisrn@...> wrote:

I just read on the web that sarcoidosis can cause potassium wasting.

I do have sarcoid. This is getting very interesting.

Phyllis

On 5/24/2012 2:49 PM, Phyllis wrote:

Dr Grim,

I have been dashing like my life depended on it... I have

also been decreasing the Inspra. I have not been taking

any for the past 3 days.

I am finding that I need more Potassium . The symptoms

will attack me immediately literally. At 3:00 pm i can be

fine and at 3:01 pm I can be in a full blown

panic attack with burning muscles and muscle twitching.

Drinking v8 helps so I know it is the potassium.

So was the Inspra keeping the potassium in my body? I cant

tolerate the breast pain and menopause symptoms that

Inspra gave me.

Thanks,

Phyllis

On 5/23/2012 5:23 PM, Phyllis wrote:

I am not adding any salt to my food. My last

k+ level was 4.0 and I still have low potassium symptoms.

In fact it has always been 3.6-4.0 When I take potassium

the symptoms go away so I

know it is the potassium. Can I get too much potassium? I

know ppl with kidney disease can take too much. About 2

hours ago I got the worse foot and calf pain bilaterally

with twitching.

I drank a V8 and the pain is slowly going away. Will I

have symptoms if I get too much potassium?.

Thanks in advance

Phyllis

On 5/23/2012 12:29 PM, Phyllis wrote:

This article says you can reverse 30 years

of high blood pressure aging in 4 weeks. WOW!

Phyllis

On 5/23/2012 12:28 PM, Phyllis wrote:

http://www.internalmedicinenews.com/index.php?id=2049 & type=98 & tx_ttnews[tt_news]=94387 & cHash=da03e20e36

It looks like Dr Grim keeps preaching to us to

DASH for a

reason!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

On 5/23/2012 12:24 PM, Phyllis wrote:

> On 5/22/2012 9:28 PM, Phyllis wrote:

>> Dr Grim,

>> Just to be clear, even if you have PA it

is only a problem with

>> increased sodium intake?

>>

>> Phyllis

> Good Article:

>

>

> Effects of Exercise, Diet and Weight

> Loss on High Blood Pressure

>

> http://www.portalsaudebrasil.com/artigospsb/obes064.pdf

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And what do u take for the sarcoid?May your pressure be low!CE Grim MS, MDSpecializing in DifficultHypertensionOn May 24, 2012, at 13:56, Phyllis <phylisrn@...> wrote:

I just read on the web that sarcoidosis can cause potassium wasting.

I do have sarcoid. This is getting very interesting.

Phyllis

On 5/24/2012 2:49 PM, Phyllis wrote:

Dr Grim,

I have been dashing like my life depended on it... I have

also been decreasing the Inspra. I have not been taking

any for the past 3 days.

I am finding that I need more Potassium . The symptoms

will attack me immediately literally. At 3:00 pm i can be

fine and at 3:01 pm I can be in a full blown

panic attack with burning muscles and muscle twitching.

Drinking v8 helps so I know it is the potassium.

So was the Inspra keeping the potassium in my body? I cant

tolerate the breast pain and menopause symptoms that

Inspra gave me.

Thanks,

Phyllis

On 5/23/2012 5:23 PM, Phyllis wrote:

I am not adding any salt to my food. My last

k+ level was 4.0 and I still have low potassium symptoms.

In fact it has always been 3.6-4.0 When I take potassium

the symptoms go away so I

know it is the potassium. Can I get too much potassium? I

know ppl with kidney disease can take too much. About 2

hours ago I got the worse foot and calf pain bilaterally

with twitching.

I drank a V8 and the pain is slowly going away. Will I

have symptoms if I get too much potassium?.

Thanks in advance

Phyllis

On 5/23/2012 12:29 PM, Phyllis wrote:

This article says you can reverse 30 years

of high blood pressure aging in 4 weeks. WOW!

Phyllis

On 5/23/2012 12:28 PM, Phyllis wrote:

http://www.internalmedicinenews.com/index.php?id=2049 & type=98 & tx_ttnews[tt_news]=94387 & cHash=da03e20e36

It looks like Dr Grim keeps preaching to us to

DASH for a

reason!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

On 5/23/2012 12:24 PM, Phyllis wrote:

> On 5/22/2012 9:28 PM, Phyllis wrote:

>> Dr Grim,

>> Just to be clear, even if you have PA it

is only a problem with

>> increased sodium intake?

>>

>> Phyllis

> Good Article:

>

>

> Effects of Exercise, Diet and Weight

> Loss on High Blood Pressure

>

> http://www.portalsaudebrasil.com/artigospsb/obes064.pdf

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Nothing I refused that diabetes causing, osteoporosis, bone

fractures, hump back neck, moonface, psychotic causing drug called

Prednisone.

45yo AAW , 25 year hx of HPB, previously 8 bp drugs with bp 170/120.

Now Inspra 50mg daily, Benicar 20mg bid, LVH, Cardiomyopathy,

Cardiac sarcoidosis( dx by MRI not biopsy), not dx with PA but BP

only came down with Inspra.

On 5/24/2012 3:03 PM, Clarence Grim wrote:

And what do u take for the sarcoid?

May your pressure be low!

CE Grim MS, MD

Specializing in Difficult

Hypertension

On May 24, 2012, at 13:56, Phyllis <phylisrn@...>

wrote:

I just read on the web that sarcoidosis can cause

potassium wasting. I do have sarcoid. This is

getting very interesting.

Phyllis

On 5/24/2012 2:49 PM, Phyllis wrote:

Dr Grim,

I have been dashing like my life depended on

it... I have also been decreasing the Inspra. I

have not been taking any for the past 3 days.

I am finding that I need more Potassium . The

symptoms will attack me immediately literally.

At 3:00 pm i can be fine and at 3:01 pm I can be

in a full blown

panic attack with burning muscles and muscle

twitching. Drinking v8 helps so I know it is the

potassium.

So was the Inspra keeping the potassium in my

body? I cant tolerate the breast pain and

menopause symptoms that Inspra gave me.

Thanks,

Phyllis

On 5/23/2012 5:23 PM, Phyllis wrote:

I am not adding any salt to my

food. My last k+ level was 4.0 and I still have

low potassium symptoms. In fact it has always

been 3.6-4.0 When I take potassium the symptoms

go away so I

know it is the potassium. Can I get too much

potassium? I know ppl with kidney disease can

take too much. About 2 hours ago I got the worse

foot and calf pain bilaterally with twitching.

I drank a V8 and the pain is slowly going away.

Will I have symptoms if I get too much

potassium?.

Thanks in advance

Phyllis

On 5/23/2012 12:29 PM, Phyllis wrote:

This article says you can reverse

30 years of high blood pressure aging in 4

weeks. WOW!

Phyllis

On 5/23/2012 12:28 PM, Phyllis wrote:

http://www.internalmedicinenews.com/index.php?id=2049 & type=98 & tx_ttnews[tt_news]=94387 & cHash=da03e20e36

It looks like Dr Grim keeps preaching to

us to DASH for a

reason!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

On 5/23/2012 12:24 PM, Phyllis wrote:

> On 5/22/2012 9:28 PM, Phyllis

wrote:

>> Dr Grim,

>> Just to be clear, even if you

have PA it is only a problem with

>> increased sodium intake?

>>

>> Phyllis

> Good Article:

>

>

> Effects of Exercise, Diet and

Weight

> Loss on High Blood Pressure

>

> http://www.portalsaudebrasil.com/artigospsb/obes064.pdf

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  • 1 month later...
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I am so tired I can barely move. Once when my K+ was low I fell asleep at my computer while I was reading email, my chin literally bounced off my chest. Another main symptom for me is PVC's, or irregular heart beats. If I start having a lot of them I know for sure my K+ is low.

From: Phyllis <phylisrn@...>hyperaldosteronism Sent: Thursday, July 12, 2012 1:58 PMSubject: Low Potassium Symptoms I can tell immediately when my potassium is getting low. I will get immediate brain fog and severe lack of concentration. These signs are not textbook symptoms of low potassium.What are some of your first signs of low

potassium?45yo AAF 20yr of BP 170/100-220/120. Previous 7 BP pills, hx. htn, chf previous EF 20% now 50%, cardiomyapathy, lvh, cva, sarcoidosis ?- no residual except I can't recall words at times,current meds Spiro 25mg daily, Benicar 20mg bid, dashing not officially diagnosed with PA but only mcb and dash work. Dr.Elijah Saunders, BP now 118-130/69-81,Phyllis------------------------------------

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At it's worst I would have brain fog, severe lack of concentration and heart "glitches", feelings of paralysis where I knew I wasn't really paralyzed, but it would take me many minutes to gather the strength to get up from sitting down. Exhaustion in general but particularly in climbing stairs my legs didn't want to work. At my lowest K it would take all my strength to comb my hair, since lifting my arm over my head was so hard. Night time anxiety, waking at 4AM with a pounding heart and ready to take flight. Calf cramps.Now if my K gets low I will feel tired and will get night time foot cramps. Still occasional anxiety. What a crappy bunch of symptoms we have all put up with for so long!DianneFrom: Phyllis <phylisrn@...>Subject: Low Potassium Symptomshyperaldosteronism Date: Thursday, July 12, 2012, 10:58 AM

I can tell immediately when my potassium is getting low. I will get

immediate brain fog and severe lack of concentration. These signs are

not textbook symptoms of low potassium.

What are some of your first signs of low potassium?

45yo AAF 20yr of BP 170/100-220/120. Previous 7 BP pills, hx. htn, chf

previous EF 20% now 50%, cardiomyapathy, lvh, cva, sarcoidosis ?- no

residual except I can't recall words at times,

current meds Spiro 25mg daily, Benicar 20mg bid, dashing not officially

diagnosed with PA but only mcb and dash work. Dr.Elijah Saunders, BP

now 118-130/69-81,

Phyllis

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When I get low potassium I get lethargic,brain fog and upper arm soreness.... oh and at night I get swollen tingling feet. The weirdest feeling.Of corset my doctors think its all in my head but I basically told my nephew that i'mnot a crazy hypochondriac I know my body well and I want to be able to do marathons again. He made no promises to get me there.... but he beloved me now.To: hyperaldosteronism From: phylisrn@...Date: Thu, 12 Jul 2012 14:43:00 -0400Subject: Re: Low Potassium Symptoms

, I agree that these are our

symptoms (PA people), but if you look up the s/s of low potassium,

brain fog and lack of concentration are not listed. I also

have the back cramps/ upper back and lower back, side cramps, left

arm and leg muscle burning when my K is low. I also get a

vibrating -like feeling inside of my legs like a cell phone is

laying on my legs. So , even if

I am on Spiro and bp is 122/71, I still need to keep up the 4700mg

of K+? Why?

Phyllis

45yo AAF 20yr of BP 170/100-220/120. Previous 7 BP pills, hx. htn,

chf

previous EF 20% now 50%, cardiomyapathy, lvh, cva, sarcoidosis ?-

no

residual except I can't recall words at times,

current meds Spiro 25mg daily, Benicar 20mg bid, dashing not

officially

diagnosed with PA but only mcb and dash work. Dr.Elijah Saunders,

BP

now 118-130/69-81,

On 7/12/2012 2:08 PM, Bingham wrote:

Those should be textbook signs and the most

consistent across the board it would seem.

If you could look back through the files

(too many to do so) you'd find that our symptoms

greatly vary in minor degrees but the things we

all seem to share are; weakness and fatigue,

brain fog, cramping (for me it's my legs, for

others their arms, and I think someone has some

upper back and neck symptoms).

In me I didn't get so much cramps, but more

very weak legs, and I can only describe it as a

disconnect between my brain and legs - that just

getting out of bed or walking up the driveway

required both physical and a mental energy (and

I was never depressed as they would try to say

it was) that I couldn't explain it to others

very well just how I felt.

Some of the things that I feel improved

greatly in me after I got my potassium corrected

(I had at leat a 5 year run where my labs NEVER

showed a normal K ) were definitely:

* fatigue and weakness

* Headaches (gone and they used to get so

severe they did a bunch of CT's over the 5 years

* Insomnia - got better

* Bowel - I would seriously mostly have

constipation, but then it would be diarrhea for

a few days, then back to constipation for a week

or more

* The brain fog

* pounding heart

--- On Thu, 7/12/12, Phyllis <phylisrn@...>

wrote:

From: Phyllis <phylisrn@...>

Subject: Low Potassium

Symptoms

To: hyperaldosteronism

Date: Thursday, July 12, 2012, 12:58 PM

I can tell immediately when my

potassium is getting low. I will get

immediate brain fog and severe lack of

concentration. These signs are

not textbook symptoms of low potassium.

What are some of your first signs of low

potassium?

45yo AAF 20yr of BP 170/100-220/120.

Previous 7 BP pills, hx. htn, chf

previous EF 20% now 50%, cardiomyapathy,

lvh, cva, sarcoidosis ?- no

residual except I can't recall words at

times,

current meds Spiro 25mg daily, Benicar

20mg bid, dashing not officially

diagnosed with PA but only mcb and dash

work. Dr.Elijah Saunders, BP

now 118-130/69-81,

Phyllis

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Wow Dianne, you and I share a lot in common (that happens to smart good-looking people) in regards to the low K. That's how I felt for years. I recall family coming to visit and them always wanting to go do something and telling them I couldn't - I didn't have the energy. And I could hear the whispers about out-of-shape, depressed, etc....the docs would just balme it on that outright.

The worst part for us - and so many out there right now - is we DID manage to make it into our docs office, and we talked normal, and sat up, and so in their eyes we couldn't be as bad as we were saying; and we made it in to work day after day no matter how hard it was - so we couldn't be as sick or weak as we said we were in the other peoples eyes, and so on and so on.

But we're human and we hve that innate ability - and mental capacity usually - to adapt. And that's what we did the best we could.

I just .taught a class last night in hematology on electrolytes and I told the class - lectured them on- the low K, or any of the electro's low - and I outlined the signs and symptoms - is NOT in their heads or the patients heads and it does not have to be dramatically low to affect you. That person complaining of fatigued IS fatigued and don't assume it's in their heads. Maybe I reach a small audience, but if we can pass it on....and on....and on.....and on......."""""

From: Phyllis <phylisrn@...>Subject: Low Potassium Symptomshyperaldosteronism Date: Thursday, July 12, 2012, 10:58 AM

I can tell immediately when my potassium is getting low. I will get immediate brain fog and severe lack of concentration. These signs are not textbook symptoms of low potassium.What are some of your first signs of low potassium?45yo AAF 20yr of BP 170/100-220/120. Previous 7 BP pills, hx. htn, chf previous EF 20% now 50%, cardiomyapathy, lvh, cva, sarcoidosis ?- no residual except I can't recall words at times,current meds Spiro 25mg daily, Benicar 20mg bid, dashing not officially diagnosed with PA but only mcb and dash work. Dr.Elijah Saunders, BP now 118-130/69-81,Phyllis

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I too had a strange seizure in 2008 - grand mal type and only one, none before or after - that we didn't know what it was, but I suspect may have been a cardiac event from low K. I recall how I felt that AM of the siezure and it was BAD low K symptoms. Of course, back then I was working alot in the ER as a contracter and did not have insurance. So I wasn't getting labs all the time, though what I had did get I always showed low K. The docs attributed low K to being on the BP meds and never ever came up about PA.

Scary though as I lost 6 hours of my life as I remember combing my hair in the mirror and then waking up 6 hours later to my wife asking me if I remember anything from the night before. I rememberd the bath, but not the fire department, ambulance, cops, nothing.

But in the small hick town in Texas the illustrious EMS team told my wife that since my "vitals were okay" (and I garauntee my BP wasn't) I didn't need to go to the hospital even though I was unconscious, had no seizure history, and had a history of crticial HTN levels. So they got me in bed and left me home.

Don't get hurt in Paducah, Texas

From: a Hall <shahall@...>Subject: Re: Low Potassium Symptoms"hyperaldosteronism " <hyperaldosteronism >Date: Thursday, July 12, 2012, 1:12 PM

I am so tired I can barely move. Once when my K+ was low I fell asleep at my computer while I was reading email, my chin literally bounced off my chest. Another main symptom for me is PVC's, or irregular heart beats. If I start having a lot of them I know for sure my K+ is low.

From: Phyllis <phylisrn@...>hyperaldosteronism Sent: Thursday, July 12, 2012 1:58 PMSubject: Low Potassium Symptoms I can tell immediately when my potassium is getting low. I will get immediate brain fog and severe lack of concentration. These signs are not textbook symptoms of low potassium.What are some of your first signs of low potassium?45yo AAF 20yr of BP 170/100-220/120. Previous 7 BP pills, hx. htn, chf previous EF 20% now 50%, cardiomyapathy, lvh, cva,

sarcoidosis ?- no residual except I can't recall words at times,current meds Spiro 25mg daily, Benicar 20mg bid, dashing not officially diagnosed with PA but only mcb and dash work. Dr.Elijah Saunders, BP now 118-130/69-81,Phyllis------------------------------------

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It raises it by decreasing Na K exchange in distal tubule. Howsomever a null in Na intake will over whelm the Spiro effect. Keep up the good work. May your pressure be low!CE Grim MS, MDSpecializing in DifficultHypertensionOn Jul 12, 2012, at 14:49, a Hall <shahall@...> wrote:

All I know is that off spiro I become hypokalemic, when I take it my K+ stays WNL. Whether it raises K+ or keeps me from losing it, it works for me.

From: Kerth <catherinekerth@...>hyperaldosteronism Sent: Thursday, July 12, 2012 3:32 PMSubject: RE: Low Potassium Symptoms

Yup. My doc told me wed. When he prescribed it that it would raise my levels. We will see!

hyperaldosteronism From: jlkbbk2003@...Date: Thu, 12 Jul 2012 12:29:19 -0700Subject: Re: Low Potassium Symptoms

Spiro often gets some reputation that it will increase your potassium, but ti really doesn't seem to do that. We shouldn't be losing it I guess, once on it, but most of us, me included (I do great on Na, but don't reach the K level all the time DASHing) still take it.

From: Phyllis <phylisrn@...>Subject: Low Potassium Symptomshyperaldosteronism Date: Thursday, July 12, 2012, 12:58 PM

I can tell immediately when my potassium is getting low. I will get immediate brain fog and severe lack of concentration. These signs are not textbook symptoms of low potassium.What are some of your first signs of low potassium?45yo AAF 20yr of BP 170/100-220/120. Previous 7 BP pills, hx. htn, chf previous EF 20% now 50%, cardiomyapathy, lvh, cva, sarcoidosis ?- no residual except I can't recall words at times,current meds Spiro 25mg daily, Benicar 20mg bid, dashing not officially diagnosed with PA but only mcb and dash work. Dr.Elijah Saunders, BP now 118-130/69-81,Phyllis

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It is not a diuretic unless there is excess aldo and sal.t It's effects can be outsalted. May your pressure be low!CE Grim MS, MDSpecializing in DifficultHypertensionOn Jul 12, 2012, at 14:59, Phyllis <phylisrn@...> wrote:

I agree, even though my BP on Spiro is

perfect, I have been slack on my K+ intake and I feel it. I also

thought Spiro was a K sparing diuretic.

So I am still not holding on to my K+.

Phyllis

On 7/12/2012 3:49 PM, a Hall wrote:

All I know is that off spiro I

become hypokalemic, when I take it my K+ stays WNL.

Whether it raises K+ or keeps me from losing it, it

works for me.

From:

Kerth <catherinekerth@...>

To:

hyperaldosteronism

Sent:

Thursday, July 12, 2012 3:32 PM

Subject:

RE: Low Potassium Symptoms

Yup. My doc told me wed. When he

prescribed it that it would raise my levels. We

will see!

hyperaldosteronism From:

jlkbbk2003@...Date: Thu, 12 Jul 2012

12:29:19 -0700Subject: Re:

Low Potassium Symptoms

Spiro often gets some reputation

that it will increase your

potassium, but ti really doesn't

seem to do that. We shouldn't be

losing it I guess, once on it, but

most of us, me included (I do

great on Na, but don't reach the K

level all the time DASHing)

still take it.

Those should

be textbook

signs and the

most

consistent

across the

board it would

seem.

If you

could look

back through

the files (too

many to do so)

you'd find

that our

symptoms

greatly vary

in minor

degrees but

the things we

all seem to

share are;

weakness and

fatigue, brain

fog, cramping

(for me it's

my legs, for

others their

arms, and I

think someone

has some upper

back and

neck symptoms).

In me I

didn't get so

much cramps,

but more very

weak legs, and

I can only

describe it as

a disconnect

between my

brain and legs

- that just

getting out of

bed or walking

up the

driveway

required both

physical and a

mental energy

(and I was

never

depressed as

they would try

to say it was)

that I

couldn't

explain it to

others very

well just how

I felt.

Some of

the things

that I feel

improved

greatly in me

after I got my

potassium

corrected (I

had at leat a

5 year run

where my labs

NEVER showed a

normal K )

were

definitely:

* fatigue

and weakness

*

Headaches

(gone and they

used to get so

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Glad u found us. DASH like your ice depended on it. May your pressure be low!CE Grim MS, MDSpecializing in DifficultHypertensionOn Jul 12, 2012, at 16:50, Monika Del Bosque <modelbosque@...> wrote:

39 years old-I went from being a fit woman who snow-shoed, cross-country skied, and hiked up and down the mountains of the town I used to live in at 5500 ft elevation--to something else entirely. I thought I was just out of shape from not being active enough after the birth of my second child. I live at sea level now. Exhaustion, concentration issues that I struggle to get through in my job as a professor (making me more exhausted!), brain fog, insomnia and night anxiety, heart pounding, bowel issues (constipation w/ diarrhea), muscle weakness, heart palpitations, out of breath, and feeling like if I do try to do anything active--it's like I'm running through glue at 7,000ft elevation.Since being on Inspra--levels up to 3.6 for K now. No more heart stuff at night and I went for a short short run with my kids on

the beach for the first time. Been working in the garden a lot. So nice to be able to do these things! Still struggle with the exhaustion and lack of strength.Thought all my symptoms were just me and I was "out of shape". Tried to push myself even harder. Now I'm really glad I didn't. Probably would have keeled over dead from a heart attack. Snort.We put up with a lot.MonikaP.S. If people want them--I have lots of good recipes for kale and other dark green leafy greens. Love my kale.

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What is pintrust? An OTC MED?May your pressure be low!CE Grim MS, MDSpecializing in DifficultHypertensionOn Jul 12, 2012, at 17:08, Kerth <catherinekerth@...> wrote:

I definitely want those! I think there is a file for recipes right?if not my email is catherinekerth@...I am on pintrrst as well and have. High potassium Smoothies on my food board. I can't register stand the texture of V8. I'd rather a smoothie;)I think recipe support and swap would me a major motivator for me!Also I like hearing all the same problems coming from you guys too. Makes me feel less crazy and defeated.hyperaldosteronism From: modelbosque@...Date: Thu, 12 Jul 2012 14:50:05 -0700Subject: Re: Low Potassium Symptoms

39 years old-I went from being a fit woman who snow-shoed, cross-country skied, and hiked up and down the mountains of the town I used to live in at 5500 ft elevation--to something else entirely. I thought I was just out of shape from not being active enough after the birth of my second child. I live at sea level now. Exhaustion, concentration issues that I struggle to get through in my job as a professor (making me more exhausted!), brain fog, insomnia and night anxiety, heart pounding, bowel issues (constipation w/ diarrhea), muscle weakness, heart palpitations, out of breath, and feeling like if I do try to do anything active--it's like I'm running through glue at 7,000ft elevation.Since being on Inspra--levels up to 3.6 for K now. No more heart stuff at night and I went for a short short run with my kids on

the beach for the first time. Been working in the garden a lot. So nice to be able to do these things! Still struggle with the exhaustion and lack of strength.Thought all my symptoms were just me and I was "out of shape". Tried to push myself even harder. Now I'm really glad I didn't. Probably would have keeled over dead from a heart attack. Snort.We put up with a lot.MonikaP.S. If people want them--I have lots of good recipes for kale and other dark green leafy greens. Love my kale.

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Always ask your team to listen to you and think abou what you are saying. May your pressure be low!CE Grim MS, MDSpecializing in DifficultHypertensionOn Jul 12, 2012, at 17:24, Bingham <jlkbbk2003@...> wrote:

We're right there with ya! A VERY common path for many of us (being healthy and fit). I sometimes get that feeling sorry for myself as I am naturally thin, have good cholesterol, was incredibly aerobically active when the HTN began, I have NEVER smoked, don't drink and don't believe in sex......okay just kidding on the last one, but it sounded good since I was on a goody-two shoes roll (those who don't know me we have 7 kids ). Yet I get somewhat bitter and angry that this illness which turned my life so upside down and I often wonder if I will ever get back professionally where I need to be, got me.

The guidelines for testing for or considering PA up on the list said, and I am paraphrasing, that a relatively young patient, a previously healthy one, then one with HTN and resistance to BP medications should have PA evaluated. By they ignore us even when faced with chronic low, sometimes very low, potassium. I even told my docs MANY times that I am up peeing all night. I never counted but it was easily 5 times a night.

But It's always "Depression" or "out-of-shape" or stress to many a doctor out there and it seems the first thing they want to do when you are resistant to even one BP med is to add an SSRI to "see if that helps."

From: Monika Del Bosque <modelbosque@...>Subject: Re: Low Potassium Symptomshyperaldosteronism Date: Thursday, July 12, 2012, 4:50 PM

39 years old- I went from being a fit woman who snow-shoed, cross-country skied, and hiked up and down the mountains of the town I used to live in at 5500 ft elevation--to something else entirely. I thought I was just out of shape from not being active enough after the birth of my second child. I live at sea level now. Exhaustion, concentration issues that I struggle to get through in my job as a professor (making me more exhausted!), brain fog, insomnia and night anxiety, heart pounding, bowel issues (constipation w/ diarrhea), muscle weakness, heart palpitations, out of breath, and feeling like if I do try to do anything active--it's like I'm running through glue at 7,000ft elevation.

Since being on Inspra--levels up to 3.6 for K now. No more heart stuff at night and I went for a short short run with my kids on the beach for the first time. Been working in the garden a lot. So nice to be able to do these things! Still struggle with the exhaustion and lack of strength.

Thought all my symptoms were just me and I was "out of shape". Tried to push myself even harder. Now I'm really glad I didn't. Probably would have keeled over dead from a heart attack. Snort.

We put up with a lot.

Monika

P.S. If people want them--I have lots of good recipes for kale and other dark green leafy greens. Love my kale.

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Cyclo is a drug I rarely use. May your pressure be low!CE Grim MS, MDSpecializing in DifficultHypertensionOn Jul 12, 2012, at 18:00, msmith_1928 <janeray1940@...> wrote:

I think the likely culprit was a combination of the med for the muscle spasm (cyclobenzaprine, which makes me into a zombie even on a half dose) and the fact that I couldn't keep my K up to where it needed to be (it's always 4.3 when I get it checked now, and no muscle spasm, no brain fog).

If excess salt can mean an intake of under 500mg/day, it could have been that as well - I was ridiculously salt-sensitive. I still watch sodium but my intake now is closer to 1200-1500mg day.

> > >

> > > I can tell immediately when my potassium is getting low. I will get

> > > immediate brain fog and severe lack of concentration. These signs are

> > > not textbook symptoms of low potassium.

> > > What are some of your first signs of low potassium?

> > >

> > >

> > > 45yo AAF 20yr of BP 170/100-220/120. Previous 7 BP pills, hx. htn, chf

> > > previous EF 20% now 50%, cardiomyapathy, lvh, cva, sarcoidosis ?- no

> > > residual except I can't recall words at times,

> > > current meds Spiro 25mg daily, Benicar 20mg bid, dashing not officially

> > > diagnosed with PA but only mcb and dash work. Dr.Elijah Saunders, BP

> > > now 118-130/69-81,

> > >

> > > Phyllis

> > >

> >

> >

>

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Sorry my phone was behaving badly. Pinterest.com is a way to bookmark anything on the internet and I have been "pinning" a lot of Dash recipes and high potassium ideas to try. If someone else on this board was on. We could make sure to swap ides and keep motivated.Sorry about that.BTW. 2nd day on Spiro and lisinopril and pressure is still super low!Sent via DroidX2 on Verizon Wirelessâ„¢ Re: Low Potassium Symptoms 39 years old-I went from being a fit woman who snow-shoed, cross-country skied, and hiked up and down the mountains of the town I used to live in at 5500 ft elevation--to something else entirely. I thought I was just out of shape from not being active enough after the birth of my second child. I live at sea level now. Exhaustion, concentration issues that I struggle to get through in my job as a professor (making me more exhausted!), brain fog, insomnia and night anxiety, heart pounding, bowel issues (constipation w/ diarrhea), muscle weakness, heart palpitations, out of breath, and feeling like if I do try to do anything active--it's like I'm running through glue at 7,000ft elevation.Since being on Inspra--levels up to 3.6 for K now. No more heart stuff at night and I went for a short short run with my kids onthe beach for the first time. Been working in the garden a lot. So nice to be able to do these things! Still struggle with the exhaustion and lack of strength.Thought all my symptoms were just me and I was "out of shape". Tried to push myself even harder. Now I'm really glad I didn't. Probably would have keeled over dead from a heart attack. Snort.We put up with a lot.MonikaP.S. If people want them--I have lots of good recipes for kale and other dark green leafy greens. Love my kale.

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