Guest guest Posted April 15, 2011 Report Share Posted April 15, 2011 I am brand new to the world of PA. I joined the group a couple of weeks ago and have started on 25mg of Spiro. Are there any limitations with PA? I was kind of surprised when diagnosed that limitations were not discussed. In fact, staying active and exercising was encouraged. Is it true that if treated, people with PA can go about a normal life?Yes we think so but really no Dx to death studies.Some of my concerns:Tolerance to heatBefore treatment I would have a very tough time working outdoors in the heat. If I would cut the grass on a scorching St. Louis day, I would feel horrible and sometimes have a low k or blood pressure episode the same day or a couple of days later. Does Spiro prevent this? Does anyone here have PA and work outdoors?Your have PAExerciseBefore treatment I experienced two blood pressure episodes shortly after lifting heavy weights. Both episodes resulted in an ER visit. My potassium was very low on both occasions. Do I have to limit exercise with PA? Those of you with long term treatment on Spiro: Does exercise make you feel better? Did you have to change your workout routines? Before I was diagnosed I had a goal of running a half marathon. Do I need to change this goal? I love to play indoor soccer in competitive leagues. Very intense with a lot of sprinting. Do I need to be careful about this?Not once you are DASHing and on spiro we go up to 400 per day. The more you DASH the less meds you need. You are in control.AlcoholI am a social drinker and don't drink that often. However, when I have in the past it has caused all kinds of problems. Does Spiro prevent the alcohol from being a problem (I am talking an occasional beer at a ballgame, not sloppy drunk).2 beers a day 1 for women PotassiumThe message of DASHing is prominent here and from my doctors. One thing I don't understand is that potassium can increase Aldo production. It would seem that a high potassium diet would increase more Aldo which would potentially be not so good. I've read all of the articles regarding salt and Aldo, but would it be better to eat low salt and limit potassium?not a problem as you are blocking aldo. These are just a couple of concerns I have about PA. I know I won't answer them all at once. I do hope to figure out general guidelines though. The doctors tell me to act normal and healthy. Report symptoms and they will take care of the rest. It is tough not to think that normal and healthy are long shots. I feel better on the Spiro, but does that continue for most folks in the group? What can I expect? (I know that everyone is different) What do I need to be cautious of if anything?Should get back to normal assuming you are DASHing and having Dr. docuement that you are by checking urine.CE Grim MD34 m. Diagnosed 04/2011. Spiro 25mg. Blood pressure now avg 117/73. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 16, 2011 Report Share Posted April 16, 2011 Interesting responses so far to some of these. Here's my two cents' worth, from the perspective of a person with PA who is *not* taking spiro or Inspra at present. Tolerance to heat: I *love* heat, and have loved it my whole life. I don't sweat - at all. I've heard from one other PA patient who had the same experience of not sweating; *after* her adrenalectomy she developed heat intolerance. I'm kind of dreading this, once the PA is corrected, but it will be one in a series of trade-offs. But I'm wondering if the heat intolerance is a side effect of spiro/Inspra, rather than due to the PA. In the 10 years I was on ineffective HTN meds (beta blockers, CCBs, ARBs) I developed severe heat intolerance and would break out into a sweat the moment the sun came out. It was miserable. Additionally, it was the stinkiest dang sweat I've ever encountered!! Diovan, as far as I can tell, was the worst offender. Exercise: This ties in with heat too. I recently went to Hawaii with 4 normotensive friends. Who was the one who made it to the top of Diamond Head without breaking into a sweat? Who was the one who never once complained about the humidity? Yeah, me But again, during the years I was on HTN meds, even though I am an active person who hikes and does yoga regularly, I found exercise to be a struggle. I did it, but never was up to my non-medicated pace or strength. While on HTN meds, I had terrible problems with my fingers and ankles swelling while hiking, and often had shortness of breath. Now, unmedicated but still with PA, I don't have these problems. So I don't blame it on the PA, I blame the meds. It would be interesting to know if those who respond to these questions with stories of heat/exercise intolerance had those problem BEFORE spiro/Inspra/adrenalectomy, or if they only developed while on meds. I wasn't on spiro long enough to know if those problems on that particular med, but I do know that for me, the heat/exercise intolerance only happened while on ineffective ARB/CCB/BB cocktails. -msmith1928 45, female, 5'3 " , 120 lbs, 1cm left adrenal nodule, aldosterone 42.3, renin 0.5, potassium <2.9 (when not taking supplements); 25mg spiro caused gynecomastia; no HTN meds; current meds are 20MEQ K 2x/day, singulair 10mg, norethindrone .35mg, cyclobenzaprine 5-10mg when needed, fexofenadine 180mg when needed; low sodium, fructose- and grain-free diet > Some of my concerns: > > Tolerance to heat > Exercise Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 17, 2011 Report Share Posted April 17, 2011 I've not really changed my lifestyle at all either since developing PA (whenever that was) or since going on spiro. My tolerance of heat is better now than it's ever been but being brought up in the UK, I was never really used to intense heat and although it's a lot hotter here (Switzerland) in the summer, I'm guessing it doesn't compare to St.Louis! When I was first diagnosed with high blood pressure, I was worried about exercising but told to continue as normal. Currently I go to the gym 4 times a week for a 2 hour workout which includes an hour of aerobic exercise (running/biking/eliptical step) and I haven't had problems before or after starting on spiro. Alcohol I don't really know - I don't drink enough to compare. And I haven't really changed my diet either - it's been pretty low sodium for years and I eat lots of fruit and veg so I imagine it's high potassium too but I don't measure. H > > > Some of my concerns: > > > > Tolerance to heat > > > Exercise > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 17, 2011 Report Share Posted April 17, 2011 My updated story is posted in the Files > Conns Stories section and is called " msmith1928's story - updated April 2011. " > > > > > Some of my concerns: > > > > > > Tolerance to heat > > > > > Exercise > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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