Guest guest Posted May 20, 2004 Report Share Posted May 20, 2004 I'm home from the hospital and not feeling well. I was feeling worse being there so I'm glad to be home. I recieved 4 bags of IV Potassium and then some oral as well. My Potasssium is now at the lowest end of normal but at least it's ok again. My Hemoglobin and Hemacrit dropped again over night so I was given a blood transfusion yesterday afternoon. I recieved 2 units of blood. The ultrasound of my legs was neg. I don't have any blood clots. I'm retaining fluids pretty badly in my abdomen and that is really bothersome and troubling to me. My doc. didn't want to give me a diuretic because then I would lose my potassium again. I will have labs done again on the 24th to see how things are looking. My doc. believes I have malabsorbtion of the intestines that is causing my Iron Deficiency but he can't explain the very low potassium and dropping blood count. It's just a wait and see. Thanks for all your prayers. Love, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 20, 2004 Report Share Posted May 20, 2004 , I'm glad you are home from the hospital but I'm sorry you are dealing with so much right now. Maybe some good rest at home will help. I know the retention of fluid in your stomach cannot be very comfortable. I hope they have you on potassium. Have they done anything to give you added potassium in your diet at home? When I was younger, I had what they called chronic anemia. There was a time when the doctors said that they didn't know how I was functioning and they were sure I was hemorraging somewhere but it was never found. Nothing seemed to relieve that problem and I had it for many years until I was into my early 50's. I am certain that it was a mito issue. There were also many times that my potassium was far too low but of course, the doctors couldn't figure me out so we never figured that out either. Just get lots of rest. I wouldn't be surprised at all to hear that malabsorbtion is the problem. Alice Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 20, 2004 Report Share Posted May 20, 2004 , I hope you feel better after being home a while. Alice brought up an interesting topic on anemia. When my daughter was a baby they were quite concerned because her iron levels were dropping pretty low. Eventually the doctor asked how much milk she was taking in her bottle. Bottom line was that we reduced her dairy intake and it corrected the problem. I never knew that excessive dairy (in this case, milk) could cause an iron deficiency. This is something that I haven't thought of in years and now wonder about how normal that is. Stay rested and let us know how things go. Maggie > , > > I'm glad you are home from the hospital but I'm sorry you are dealing with so much right now. Maybe some good rest at home will help. I know the retention of fluid in your stomach cannot be very comfortable. I hope they have you on potassium. Have they done anything to give you added potassium in your diet at home? > > When I was younger, I had what they called chronic anemia. There was a time when the doctors said that they didn't know how I was functioning and they were sure I was hemorraging somewhere but it was never found. Nothing seemed to relieve that problem and I had it for many years until I was into my early 50's. I am certain that it was a mito issue. There were also many times that my potassium was far too low but of course, the doctors couldn't figure me out so we never figured that out either. > > Just get lots of rest. I wouldn't be surprised at all to hear that malabsorbtion is the problem. > > Alice > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 20, 2004 Report Share Posted May 20, 2004 Laurie, I have had several 24 hr urine tests done in the past and the only substance I was spilling was carnitine. A bone marrow biopsy was mentioned but because it would be an unpleasant test my doc. decided to do the blood transfusion first and see how I respond first. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 20, 2004 Report Share Posted May 20, 2004 Barbara, My doc. said I wouldn't be able to tolerate oral potassium so we went the IV route and are now just going to closely monitor my levels with labwork. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 20, 2004 Report Share Posted May 20, 2004 , I noticed you had not been posting, but did not realize you were in the hospital again. (I don't read all posts, so probably missed it.) There are some potassium-sparing diuretics which have been suggested to me, but I have declined because I was concerned that I might lose other important electrolytes. I do take potassium bicarbonate (an rx fizzy tablet you drop in water) 4 times a day to try to keep K levels up. Sometimes it still goes low and I have episodes of periodic paralysis. But this has not happened since I have had the j- tube, thank goodness. For me, potassium pills do not get absorbed into my system. I have to have the liquid. Are you taking potassium pills? Glad you are home and that you can rest and get stabilized. Hugs and prayers, Barbara > I'm home from the hospital and not feeling well. I was feeling worse being > there so I'm glad to be home. > I recieved 4 bags of IV Potassium and then some oral as well. My Potasssium > is now at the lowest end of normal but at least it's ok again. > My Hemoglobin and Hemacrit dropped again over night so I was given a blood > transfusion yesterday afternoon. I recieved 2 units of blood. > The ultrasound of my legs was neg. I don't have any blood clots. > I'm retaining fluids pretty badly in my abdomen and that is really > bothersome and troubling to me. My doc. didn't want to give me a diuretic because then > I would lose my potassium again. > I will have labs done again on the 24th to see how things are looking. > My doc. believes I have malabsorbtion of the intestines that is causing my > Iron Deficiency but he can't explain the very low potassium and dropping blood > count. > It's just a wait and see. Thanks for all your prayers. Love, > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 20, 2004 Report Share Posted May 20, 2004 , Glad you are home. I know you can feel more comfortable there. Why can't the doctor give a potassium-sparing diuretic like bumex to help get rid of the fluid and not drop you kc. Good to hear from you again. Betsy Home from Hospital I'm home from the hospital and not feeling well. I was feeling worse being there so I'm glad to be home. I recieved 4 bags of IV Potassium and then some oral as well. My Potasssium is now at the lowest end of normal but at least it's ok again. My Hemoglobin and Hemacrit dropped again over night so I was given a blood transfusion yesterday afternoon. I recieved 2 units of blood. The ultrasound of my legs was neg. I don't have any blood clots. I'm retaining fluids pretty badly in my abdomen and that is really bothersome and troubling to me. My doc. didn't want to give me a diuretic because then I would lose my potassium again. I will have labs done again on the 24th to see how things are looking. My doc. believes I have malabsorbtion of the intestines that is causing my Iron Deficiency but he can't explain the very low potassium and dropping blood count. It's just a wait and see. Thanks for all your prayers. Love, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 20, 2004 Report Share Posted May 20, 2004 I had an anemia for years and years. When they did a bone marrow test, they found out my marrow was packed with so much iron that it couldn't get out. Gradually it has resolved itself, but I am not allowed to have iron. My values still run at the low end of normal. You might have some reduced energy to the kidneys which is the cause of the low potassium. I spill potassium, magnesium, phosphorus and calcium. You might want to ask the doctor about that. They confirmed it by doing a 24 urine and blood test. The values in the blood were low and in the urine very high. I just have to take huge amounts of supplements to keep my electrolytes in balance. laurie > From: LILQT4U1984@... > Reply-To: > Date: Thu, 20 May 2004 08:36:37 EDT > To: mito , , BDS31@..., > tpnsupport > Subject: Home from Hospital > > I'm home from the hospital and not feeling well. I was feeling worse being > there so I'm glad to be home. > I recieved 4 bags of IV Potassium and then some oral as well. My Potasssium > is now at the lowest end of normal but at least it's ok again. > My Hemoglobin and Hemacrit dropped again over night so I was given a blood > transfusion yesterday afternoon. I recieved 2 units of blood. > The ultrasound of my legs was neg. I don't have any blood clots. > I'm retaining fluids pretty badly in my abdomen and that is really > bothersome and troubling to me. My doc. didn't want to give me a diuretic > because then > I would lose my potassium again. > I will have labs done again on the 24th to see how things are looking. > My doc. believes I have malabsorbtion of the intestines that is causing my > Iron Deficiency but he can't explain the very low potassium and dropping > blood > count. > It's just a wait and see. Thanks for all your prayers. Love, > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 20, 2004 Report Share Posted May 20, 2004 Barbara, Luckily I have a central line and my potassium was mixed with lidocaine so I didn't feel a thing. I've heard recieving it peripherally does hurt pretty bad. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 20, 2004 Report Share Posted May 20, 2004 Yes, oral K can be difficult for some people to tolerate. I take it with a lot of water and actually manage oral K better than IV K. It burns my veins, even at a slow rate. But I'm an old lady with bad veins. Glad they were able to find a way to get you what you needed. That's what counts! Take care, Barbara > Barbara, > My doc. said I wouldn't be able to tolerate oral potassium so we went the IV > route and are now just going to closely monitor my levels with labwork. > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 20, 2004 Report Share Posted May 20, 2004 One of my brothers is battling something similar. He has been in the hospital for blood transfusions and tests and recently had a bone marrow test. laurie > From: LILQT4U1984@... > Reply-To: > Date: Thu, 20 May 2004 17:02:42 EDT > To: > Subject: Re: Home from Hospital > > Laurie, > I have had several 24 hr urine tests done in the past and the only substance > I was spilling was carnitine. > A bone marrow biopsy was mentioned but because it would be an unpleasant > test my doc. decided to do the blood transfusion first and see how I respond > first. > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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