Re: low K and digestive issues

May 31, 2011

Can you or Dr. Grim elaborate on this at all? My internist and I were just

talking about this last week. I came to the conclusion that my GI issues tend to

surface when my trapezius muscle cramps up - so I asked him if low K can cause

smooth muscle cramps too, e.g. the GI tract. He didn't know for certain but

thought that my theory sounded plausible.

And yes, dietary sodium will set my GI symptoms off something fierce!

- msmith1928

45, nulliparous female, 5'3 " , 120 lbs, 1cm left adrenal nodule, supine

aldosterone 28.5/renin 0.2, potassium <2.9 (when not taking supplements); 25mg

spiro caused gynecomastia; no HTN meds; current meds are 20MEQ K 3x/day,

singulair 10mg, norethindrone .35mg, cyclobenzaprine 5-10mg when needed,

fexofenadine 180mg when needed; low sodium, fructose- and grain-free diet; known

drug allergies include PCN, sulfa, tetracycline

> > >

> > > From: andra Bradley <alex.southpole@>

> > > Subject: Probiotics and Digestive Enzymes -

> > > Please read!

> > > To: hyperaldosteronism

> > > Date: Tuesday, May 31, 2011, 12:43 AM

> > >

> > > Hello everyone,

> > >

> > > I wanted to throw in what I know about probiotics and digestive

> > > enzymes after reading the emails back and forth from folks. Take it

> > > as you would like as I no expert. This is just from my own

> > > experience.

> > >

> > > Probiotics:

> > > Everyone should take probiotics after having taking any antibiotics

> > > (including babies and children). Probiotics are just replacing the

> > > natural bacteria that are present in your GI tract (I think mostly

> > > intestines). A lot of times antibiotics knock out the good bacteria

> > > and if you don't replace them, the bad ones can move right on in.

> > > My GI doc had me take antibiotics that specifically killed

> > > everything in my intestinal tract. I had explicit instructions to

> > > take probiotics for THREE months after finishing the antibiotics.

> > > You want to find ones that have as many bacterial strands as

> > > possible (I am taking one that has 10 strains and another that has

> > > 14 to give you an idea of what you can find). You also want to try

> > > to find ones that have at least 20 billion bacteria in a dose. I am

> > > taking 70 billion a day after the " big flush. "

> > >

> > > Probiotics are almost always refrigerated to keep the cultures alive

> > > and are OTC. I would buy them from a reputable store....health food

> > > stores like Vitamin Cottage, Whole Foods, Pharmica..... They are

> > > expensive so that is a serious drawback but I feel it is worth

> > > giving them a try if you are having digestion issues. I think they

> > > are a necessity after antibiotics. A three month course is a very

> > > long one and I think that a couple of weeks is more normal after

> > > having antibiotics. Remember not to take them while on antibiotics

> > > as the meds would just kill them...so it is a waste.

> > >

> > > Digestive Enzymes:

> > > I took digestive enzymes for a long time to be able to eat. I had a

> > > special little pill container on my keychain so that if I was out, I

> > > always had some with me. No pill = no food for me. My

> > > understanding is that the digestive enzymes are more targeted to

> > > what happens in your stomach. You can get enzymes for specific food

> > > items (milk, sugar....). Personally, I was really irritated when my

> > > doc told me just to take the enzymes when I was trying to figure out

> > > my digestion issues. Not a solution but something that might allow

> > > life to be a little more bearable. These were a long term thing vs.

> > > the probiotics that only need to be taken long enough to replenish

> > > what should be in your body.

> > >

> > > Here is to happy tummies and intestines. May they all be bloat free.

> > >

> > > Cheers,

> > >

> > > ------------------------------------

> > >

May 31, 2011

From this site http://www.emedicinehealth.com/low_potassium/page3_em.htm

Low Potassium Symptoms

Usually symptoms of low potassium are mild. At times the effects of low

potassium can be vague. There may be more than one symptom involving the

gastrointestinal (GI) tract, kidneys, muscles, heart, and nerves.

•Weakness, tiredness, or cramping in arm or leg muscles, sometimes severe enough

to cause inability to move arms or legs due to weakness (much like a paralysis)

•Tingling or numbness

•Nausea or vomiting

•Abdominal cramping, bloating

•Constipation

•Palpitations (feeling your heart beat irregularly)

•Passing large amounts of urine or feeling very thirsty most of the time

•Fainting due to low blood pressure

•Abnormal psychological behavior: depression, psychosis, delirium, confusion, or

hallucinations

> > > >

> > > > From: andra Bradley <alex.southpole@>

> > > > Subject: Probiotics and Digestive Enzymes -

> > > > Please read!

> > > > To: hyperaldosteronism

> > > > Date: Tuesday, May 31, 2011, 12:43 AM

> > > >

> > > > Hello everyone,

> > > >

> > > > I wanted to throw in what I know about probiotics and digestive

> > > > enzymes after reading the emails back and forth from folks. Take it

> > > > as you would like as I no expert. This is just from my own

> > > > experience.

> > > >

> > > > Probiotics:

> > > > Everyone should take probiotics after having taking any antibiotics

> > > > (including babies and children). Probiotics are just replacing the

> > > > natural bacteria that are present in your GI tract (I think mostly

> > > > intestines). A lot of times antibiotics knock out the good bacteria

> > > > and if you don't replace them, the bad ones can move right on in.

> > > > My GI doc had me take antibiotics that specifically killed

> > > > everything in my intestinal tract. I had explicit instructions to

> > > > take probiotics for THREE months after finishing the antibiotics.

> > > > You want to find ones that have as many bacterial strands as

> > > > possible (I am taking one that has 10 strains and another that has

> > > > 14 to give you an idea of what you can find). You also want to try

> > > > to find ones that have at least 20 billion bacteria in a dose. I am

> > > > taking 70 billion a day after the " big flush. "

> > > >

> > > > Probiotics are almost always refrigerated to keep the cultures alive

> > > > and are OTC. I would buy them from a reputable store....health food

> > > > stores like Vitamin Cottage, Whole Foods, Pharmica..... They are

> > > > expensive so that is a serious drawback but I feel it is worth

> > > > giving them a try if you are having digestion issues. I think they

> > > > are a necessity after antibiotics. A three month course is a very

> > > > long one and I think that a couple of weeks is more normal after

> > > > having antibiotics. Remember not to take them while on antibiotics

> > > > as the meds would just kill them...so it is a waste.

> > > >

> > > > Digestive Enzymes:

> > > > I took digestive enzymes for a long time to be able to eat. I had a

> > > > special little pill container on my keychain so that if I was out, I

> > > > always had some with me. No pill = no food for me. My

> > > > understanding is that the digestive enzymes are more targeted to

> > > > what happens in your stomach. You can get enzymes for specific food

> > > > items (milk, sugar....). Personally, I was really irritated when my

> > > > doc told me just to take the enzymes when I was trying to figure out

> > > > my digestion issues. Not a solution but something that might allow

> > > > life to be a little more bearable. These were a long term thing vs.

> > > > the probiotics that only need to be taken long enough to replenish

> > > > what should be in your body.

> > > >

> > > > Here is to happy tummies and intestines. May they all be bloat free.

> > > >

> > > > Cheers,

> > > >

> > > > ------------------------------------

> > > >

May 31, 2011

Thanks for that! Yep, pretty much describes exactly what I go through every few

days. Now to find a way to make it stop...

- msmith1928

45, nulliparous female, 5'3 " , 120 lbs, 1cm left adrenal nodule, supine

aldosterone 28.5/renin 0.2, potassium <2.9 (when not taking supplements); 25mg

spiro caused gynecomastia; no HTN meds; current meds are 20MEQ K 3x/day,

singulair 10mg, norethindrone .35mg, cyclobenzaprine 5-10mg when needed,

fexofenadine 180mg when needed; low sodium, fructose- and grain-free diet; known

drug allergies include PCN, sulfa, tetracycline

> > > > >

> > > > > From: andra Bradley <alex.southpole@>

> > > > > Subject: Probiotics and Digestive Enzymes -

> > > > > Please read!

> > > > > To: hyperaldosteronism

> > > > > Date: Tuesday, May 31, 2011, 12:43 AM

> > > > >

> > > > > Hello everyone,

> > > > >

> > > > > I wanted to throw in what I know about probiotics and digestive

> > > > > enzymes after reading the emails back and forth from folks. Take it

> > > > > as you would like as I no expert. This is just from my own

> > > > > experience.

> > > > >

> > > > > Probiotics:

> > > > > Everyone should take probiotics after having taking any antibiotics

> > > > > (including babies and children). Probiotics are just replacing the

> > > > > natural bacteria that are present in your GI tract (I think mostly

> > > > > intestines). A lot of times antibiotics knock out the good bacteria

> > > > > and if you don't replace them, the bad ones can move right on in.

> > > > > My GI doc had me take antibiotics that specifically killed

> > > > > everything in my intestinal tract. I had explicit instructions to

> > > > > take probiotics for THREE months after finishing the antibiotics.

> > > > > You want to find ones that have as many bacterial strands as

> > > > > possible (I am taking one that has 10 strains and another that has

> > > > > 14 to give you an idea of what you can find). You also want to try

> > > > > to find ones that have at least 20 billion bacteria in a dose. I am

> > > > > taking 70 billion a day after the " big flush. "

> > > > >

> > > > > Probiotics are almost always refrigerated to keep the cultures alive

> > > > > and are OTC. I would buy them from a reputable store....health food

> > > > > stores like Vitamin Cottage, Whole Foods, Pharmica..... They are

> > > > > expensive so that is a serious drawback but I feel it is worth

> > > > > giving them a try if you are having digestion issues. I think they

> > > > > are a necessity after antibiotics. A three month course is a very

> > > > > long one and I think that a couple of weeks is more normal after

> > > > > having antibiotics. Remember not to take them while on antibiotics

> > > > > as the meds would just kill them...so it is a waste.

> > > > >

> > > > > Digestive Enzymes:

> > > > > I took digestive enzymes for a long time to be able to eat. I had a

> > > > > special little pill container on my keychain so that if I was out, I

> > > > > always had some with me. No pill = no food for me. My

> > > > > understanding is that the digestive enzymes are more targeted to

> > > > > what happens in your stomach. You can get enzymes for specific food

> > > > > items (milk, sugar....). Personally, I was really irritated when my

> > > > > doc told me just to take the enzymes when I was trying to figure out

> > > > > my digestion issues. Not a solution but something that might allow

> > > > > life to be a little more bearable. These were a long term thing vs.

> > > > > the probiotics that only need to be taken long enough to replenish

> > > > > what should be in your body.

> > > > >

> > > > > Here is to happy tummies and intestines. May they all be bloat free.

> > > > >

> > > > > Cheers,

> > > > >

> > > > > ------------------------------------

> > > > >

May 31, 2011

Probably going to have to make your own high K juice.

> > > > > >

> > > > > > From: andra Bradley <alex.southpole@>

> > > > > > Subject: Probiotics and Digestive Enzymes -

> > > > > > Please read!

> > > > > > To: hyperaldosteronism

> > > > > > Date: Tuesday, May 31, 2011, 12:43 AM

> > > > > >

> > > > > > Hello everyone,

> > > > > >

> > > > > > I wanted to throw in what I know about probiotics and digestive

> > > > > > enzymes after reading the emails back and forth from folks. Take it

> > > > > > as you would like as I no expert. This is just from my own

> > > > > > experience.

> > > > > >

> > > > > > Probiotics:

> > > > > > Everyone should take probiotics after having taking any antibiotics

> > > > > > (including babies and children). Probiotics are just replacing the

> > > > > > natural bacteria that are present in your GI tract (I think mostly

> > > > > > intestines). A lot of times antibiotics knock out the good bacteria

> > > > > > and if you don't replace them, the bad ones can move right on in.

> > > > > > My GI doc had me take antibiotics that specifically killed

> > > > > > everything in my intestinal tract. I had explicit instructions to

> > > > > > take probiotics for THREE months after finishing the antibiotics.

> > > > > > You want to find ones that have as many bacterial strands as

> > > > > > possible (I am taking one that has 10 strains and another that has

> > > > > > 14 to give you an idea of what you can find). You also want to try

> > > > > > to find ones that have at least 20 billion bacteria in a dose. I am

> > > > > > taking 70 billion a day after the " big flush. "

> > > > > >

> > > > > > Probiotics are almost always refrigerated to keep the cultures alive

> > > > > > and are OTC. I would buy them from a reputable store....health food

> > > > > > stores like Vitamin Cottage, Whole Foods, Pharmica..... They are

> > > > > > expensive so that is a serious drawback but I feel it is worth

> > > > > > giving them a try if you are having digestion issues. I think they

> > > > > > are a necessity after antibiotics. A three month course is a very

> > > > > > long one and I think that a couple of weeks is more normal after

> > > > > > having antibiotics. Remember not to take them while on antibiotics

> > > > > > as the meds would just kill them...so it is a waste.

> > > > > >

> > > > > > Digestive Enzymes:

> > > > > > I took digestive enzymes for a long time to be able to eat. I had a

> > > > > > special little pill container on my keychain so that if I was out, I

> > > > > > always had some with me. No pill = no food for me. My

> > > > > > understanding is that the digestive enzymes are more targeted to

> > > > > > what happens in your stomach. You can get enzymes for specific food

> > > > > > items (milk, sugar....). Personally, I was really irritated when my

> > > > > > doc told me just to take the enzymes when I was trying to figure out

> > > > > > my digestion issues. Not a solution but something that might allow

> > > > > > life to be a little more bearable. These were a long term thing vs.

> > > > > > the probiotics that only need to be taken long enough to replenish

> > > > > > what should be in your body.

> > > > > >

> > > > > > Here is to happy tummies and intestines. May they all be bloat

free.

> > > > > >

> > > > > > Cheers,

> > > > > >

> > > > > > ------------------------------------

> > > > > >

May 31, 2011

What about dissolving a prescription Potassium Chloride pill in hot tea or something? Does that make it easier to tolerate on the gut? ============================================================================45-Male-Caucasian, 5'9"- 234lbs, PA Diagnosed 2007 Suspected Hyperplasia-No tumors on CT - No AVS.Meds: 50mg Spiro, 1200mg Calcium, 500mg Magnesium, 100,000UI Vit D (weekly), 20mg OmeprazoleSide effects: Gynecomastia, stomach inflammationOther Diags: GERD, Hiatal Hernia, Metabolic Syndrome - PreDiabetic, Secondary Hyperparathyroidism caused by Renal calcium leak, Bone Cyct in left Femoral Head and Pelvis. Benign Lung Nodules, Fibromyalgia, Scarring on Right Kidney Lower PoleDASH: Started DASHing 5/3/2011To: hyperaldosteronism Sent: Tuesday, May 31, 2011 4:09 PMSubject: Re: low K and digestive

issues