potassium problems

hi everyone hope you are all doing well... seems my bloodwork from tuesday came up my potassium levels are very low so i have been put on a 7 day script to increase them, but i also take triam HCTZ which my pharmasicist says sets off the alarms with a potassium script.  u c i take the triam because i have HBP.  the pharmcist says the triam of HCTZ is suppose to be potasium "something" so i dont loose potassium and if it is too low or high i risk cardiac involvement. i actually had some sharp chest pains today and thought maybe i needed to burp? sorry he reluctantly filled my script stating i need to clarify with both my MDs my meds. when i spoke to my GP he didnt get any reports all month from my rhuemy. the pharmicistalso didnt really know if either prednisone or the methotrexate had effect on my potassuim?  Nor did my doctor, and they said on the triam i should not have a problem.... but i do.  i just know i am tired, confussed, and it seems like one thing after the other keeps happening.... what next? i know i shouldnt complain and i am not really..... just another bend in the road.    i do have an appointment with the pulmonary doctor june 5th so i hope to get that resolved soon.  well the good news is day three of only mild joint pain so something is working..... lata  *~ yalinda

hi ducky.... thanks for the reply.
i am doing well as far as pain management goes these days.... today will be day four of mild wrist and hand pain only whick is wonderful! it just seems like pandoras box is open on my health and issues keep coming my way.

i havent had any chest pain since last night so i hope the potassium i took in the evening kicked in a bit. i do have a foot cramp as we speak but not bad. the pharmasist is just very concerned with the contraindication, but he doesnt know my blood levels to understand how the daily potassium was warrented in the first place.

i dont really know what signs to look for incase it stays to low or goes to high and i guess either is dangerous for heart attack? in matter of fact the triam HCTZ insert sys do not take potassium suppliments or rich foods which may result in death or serious illness...

i really want to drop the triam all together but off it my BP was 180/120 on it 118/88 so i dont want stroke. i am not a "big" girl, pleasantly plump for mid 40's,mainly vertically challenged hahaha but growing horizontal on prednisone, ugh. that is short term though til the methotrxate kicks in.

i feel like a chemistry final exam!
oh well how r you doing ducky? let me think of someone else besides myself :)

take care and let me know how u are feeling today *~yalinda , no art therapy for me must not be in the mood

thanks elcamino i will keep everyone posted if i find out any information.  i spoke to my GP this am and he said to take the pills and repeat blood test in one week.  i went online and found an article that steriods can also mess with potassium levels? lets face it they mess with everything, but i am only on short term and feeling better so i will keep on truckin and see....

hope you are feeling well elcamino and up to a back yard BBQ... i am hoping to plant some flowers if i feel up to it? right now i think it will be ok.... happy memorial day to you and everyone else out there! 

 

   i****--------
   l****--------
   l--------------
   l--------------
   l

   l

   l                        pray for those who serve our nation

 

 

*~yalinda

erin, no rush on this it is a holiday weekend and you enjoy it the best you can,do not do research on my stuff i would feel like a crumb if you did

i got a copy of all my blood work and am going to go through it online a try to understand some stuff i am posting fyi but do not do anything more this holiday weekend that is not my intent please rest and enjoy it. this post will stay til next week and then if u have info to share and feel up to it by all means share.

here is the following out of limit results
wbc high
hgb low
mchc low
#gran high
%lymph low
segs high
lymohs low
bun high
k low
co2 high
alt low

i do not have a clue what any of this is but i will look online now and tryto figure out myself. please just wait til tuesday to follow up i am not dying and it can wait if u need to research anything.

thanks for your concerns and i hope you feel better soon..... enjoy your weekend please thanks linda

Thanks so very much i will go there right now! i hope you have a nice weekend.... it is pouring rain here right now so nothing to do but research :) lata yalinda oh and the sabres game at 730! go sabres!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

TO: yalinda

I, too, was put on Triam/HCTZ. At the time I first got the prescription I was told that Triam/HCTZ was a Potassium SPARING drug (which is the problem you had with the pharmacy), BUT it is Actually a Potassium LOSING drug. (I just confirmed this with my pharmacist.) I couldn't understand Why I was getting so lightheaded and woozy after taking the drug if it was Potassium Sparing. Turns out it isn't, and that you usually need some type of Potassium supplement along with it. (I started doing that on my own. Drinking Pedialyte - or the Walmart equivalent which is half the price - is a "quick fix").