Guest guest Posted July 12, 2012 Report Share Posted July 12, 2012 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 12, 2012 Report Share Posted July 12, 2012 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 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 12, 2012 Report Share Posted July 12, 2012 My low potassium signs were a frozen left trapezius muscle if it dropped below 4.0 (which was most of the time), and irregular heartbeat if it dropped below 3.0. The former was incredibly painful, the latter was incredibly scary (my heart would skip a beat and I would just " check out " for that second - it was almost like losing consciousness). I wasn't even aware of the brain fog and fatigue until *after* my surgery - I woke up in the recovery room feeling really clear-headed and figured it was the drugs. When I was still feeling clear-headed two weeks later and off all meds, I realized how much of a fog I had been walking around in for many, many years. -msmith1928 Left laparoscopic adrenalectomy 10.13.11 > > 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 > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 12, 2012 Report Share Posted July 12, 2012 , 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 From: Phyllis <phylisrn@...> Subject: Low Potassium Symptoms 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 12, 2012 Report Share Posted July 12, 2012 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 12, 2012 Report Share Posted July 12, 2012 Yup. My doc told me wed. When he prescribed it that it would raise my levels. We will see!To: 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. --- On Thu, 7/12/12, Phyllis <phylisrn@...> wrote: From: Phyllis <phylisrn@...>Subject: Re: Low Potassium SymptomsTo: hyperaldosteronism Date: Thursday, July 12, 2012, 1:43 PM , 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?Phyllis45yo 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 SymptomsTo: 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 12, 2012 Report Share Posted July 12, 2012 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 12, 2012 Report Share Posted July 12, 2012 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. From: Phyllis <phylisrn@...> Subject: Low Potassium Symptoms 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 12, 2012 Report Share Posted July 12, 2012 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 12, 2012 Report Share Posted July 12, 2012 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.To: 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 12, 2012 Report Share Posted July 12, 2012 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 12, 2012 Report Share Posted July 12, 2012 It is K sparing, but it doesn't seem to make it rise much in people. And because we block the aldosterone, which is triggering us to pee out the K, it is in itself sparing the K. 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 12, 2012 Report Share Posted July 12, 2012 So was the fog due to the aldo salt excess or the meds u were on to control PA. GOOD report though. May your pressure be low!CE Grim MS, MDSpecializing in DifficultHypertensionOn Jul 12, 2012, at 13:30, msmith_1928 <janeray1940@...> wrote: My low potassium signs were a frozen left trapezius muscle if it dropped below 4.0 (which was most of the time), and irregular heartbeat if it dropped below 3.0. The former was incredibly painful, the latter was incredibly scary (my heart would skip a beat and I would just "check out" for that second - it was almost like losing consciousness). I wasn't even aware of the brain fog and fatigue until *after* my surgery - I woke up in the recovery room feeling really clear-headed and figured it was the drugs. When I was still feeling clear-headed two weeks later and off all meds, I realized how much of a fog I had been walking around in for many, many years. -msmith1928 Left laparoscopic adrenalectomy 10.13.11 > > 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 > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 12, 2012 Report Share Posted July 12, 2012 Because of the excess also and likely excess salt. But u can test this by decreasing K in diet and see what happens. Keep us posted. May your pressure be low!CE Grim MS, MDSpecializing in DifficultHypertensionOn Jul 12, 2012, at 13:43, Phyllis <phylisrn@...> wrote: , 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 From: Phyllis <phylisrn@...> Subject: Low Potassium Symptoms 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 12, 2012 Report Share Posted July 12, 2012 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 > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 12, 2012 Report Share Posted July 12, 2012 I posted a note some time ago about the first Conn's having severe concentration problems that cleared u after surgery. At meat a about 1 year flow up. May your pressure be low!CE Grim MS, MDSpecializing in DifficultHypertensionOn Jul 12, 2012, at 14:00, Dianne strong <dianstrong@...> wrote: 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 12, 2012 Report Share Posted July 12, 2012 Swelling common on amlodipine but no mention of this. May your pressure be low!CE Grim MS, MDSpecializing in DifficultHypertensionOn Jul 12, 2012, at 14:05, Kerth <catherinekerth@...> wrote: 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.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 From: Phyllis <phylisrn@...> Subject: Low Potassium Symptoms 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 12, 2012 Report Share Posted July 12, 2012 Spiro wlll increase K if you are on enough and don't out salt it. Into up to 400 mg a day. May your pressure be low!CE Grim MS, MDSpecializing in DifficultHypertensionOn Jul 12, 2012, at 14:29, Bingham <jlkbbk2003@...> wrote: 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 12, 2012 Report Share Posted July 12, 2012 It will when u get enough and decrease salt enough. May your pressure be low!CE Grim MS, MDSpecializing in DifficultHypertensionOn Jul 12, 2012, at 14:32, Kerth <catherinekerth@...> wrote: 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 12, 2012 Report Share Posted July 12, 2012 Wait Gov says everyone in TX HAS HEALTH CARE. I am confused. Just curious when u were having all these problems did your PA PROTOCOL not scream PA? May your pressure be low!CE Grim MS, MDSpecializing in DifficultHypertensionOn Jul 12, 2012, at 14:37, Bingham <jlkbbk2003@...> wrote: 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------------------------------------ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 13, 2012 Report Share Posted July 13, 2012 They are worried about hyperkalemia is my guess. And have not read the recent or not so recent literature recommending adding spiro to drug resist HTN.You might want to give them this nearly 10 year article on eplere and CE Grim MDOn Jul 13, 2012, at 12:02 PM, Bingham wrote: I realize we now have the benefit of hindsight, but getting them/us/anyone to actually look at those 2 together seems so obvious and common sense, that I am amazed that even faced with HTN, hypokalemia, and even add mutliple resistance to meds, young age, very healthy otherwise and young, yet they don't or won't. And bringing it up is often met with resistance. I had brought it up during my years undiagnosed. I even bought my own spiro once online - I was in the middle of the hyperthyroidism and felt so horrible that I don't recall giving it a chance to work or noticing if it did. I told you the story of the 2 NP's friends and who I worked with who had a resistant HTN young male on multiple BP meds, he was very athletic, and they did renin and aldo serum - on his meds, though I gave them your paper and talked with them. When I suggested "let's try spiro" they flat out would not (and there's so many on here with similar stories about med after med after med and yet the docs will not try spiro - sure, it has some side effects, but also some great remodeling properties if it is PA and heart issues.) Instead they gave him a $100 new renin blocker (his was normal on serum) . THAT is what I cannot get. What is it that scares them about spiro or PA in general? They act like to acknowledge it is taboo. Just weird if you ask me. 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 2 of 2 File(s) eplerenone B W losartan Flack 2007.pdf spiro vs eplere PA Block Basile.pdf Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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