27th July 2004
Jen and Polly,
As you may know on this board -- I read most meesages daily and I don't post unless i can contribute!!
I have had a problem with potassium for more than 10 years-- My adrenal gland is too large (hyperplasia) and it puts out too much Aldosterone -- this Harmone keeps sodium and potatassium in balance but I just pass off too much potassium daily.
My doctor wants it more than 4.0 but as you know the range is from 3.6 to 5.5 and when a person's level goes to 3.2 -- you are 50% more likely to have heart irregularities.
The drug of choice is Aldactone (deveoped for congestive heart failure) and it works fine as a side effect to increase potassium except with a male it cuts off their Testosterone so they frequently get enlarged breasts -- I took it for 6 months in 1998 and it did. Even had several Mamograms. Since then, I have been using a potassium sparing diuretic-- Amiloride-- that works well but I also have to take potassium supplement several times daily but at alot less doseage.
The first doctor I went to in 1993 said to get enough potassium I needed to eat and digest 60 bananas daily --- an impossible thing to do. He treated me with mega doses of potassium cloride for 5 years creating alot of gastro problems. He later referred me to an Endrociologist that has been treating me since '98.
You may want to ask your doctor about this diuretic -- it is not the best but it works for me. I take 10mgm twice daily as directed from a Mayo Clinic Doctor.
God Bless---Harry
As you may know on this board -- I read most meesages daily and I don't post unless i can contribute!!
I have had a problem with potassium for more than 10 years-- My adrenal gland is too large (hyperplasia) and it puts out too much Aldosterone -- this Harmone keeps sodium and potatassium in balance but I just pass off too much potassium daily.
My doctor wants it more than 4.0 but as you know the range is from 3.6 to 5.5 and when a person's level goes to 3.2 -- you are 50% more likely to have heart irregularities.
The drug of choice is Aldactone (deveoped for congestive heart failure) and it works fine as a side effect to increase potassium except with a male it cuts off their Testosterone so they frequently get enlarged breasts -- I took it for 6 months in 1998 and it did. Even had several Mamograms. Since then, I have been using a potassium sparing diuretic-- Amiloride-- that works well but I also have to take potassium supplement several times daily but at alot less doseage.
The first doctor I went to in 1993 said to get enough potassium I needed to eat and digest 60 bananas daily --- an impossible thing to do. He treated me with mega doses of potassium cloride for 5 years creating alot of gastro problems. He later referred me to an Endrociologist that has been treating me since '98.
You may want to ask your doctor about this diuretic -- it is not the best but it works for me. I take 10mgm twice daily as directed from a Mayo Clinic Doctor.
God Bless---Harry