Guest guest Posted September 17, 2005 Report Share Posted September 17, 2005 Dick, and everyone, Good evening. I just got back from the ER, I have had about four or two diarrhea stools or loose per day and for two days have had ventricular ectopic heart beats. Usually with a lot of flushed, hot feelings. I went to the ER times two at the advice of my PCP. They say no chocolate, caffeine, (which I don't do anyway) and that my Potassium today was 3.8, in the normal range but the ER physician said that is low if you are having ectopics with that level. Now I have cystic fibrosis and a megacolon. How do you all keep your potassium levels up when we are so limited in the food we eat. I have only eaten pureed food for one year. I can not tolerate anything else. I drink a lot of fluid about two liters per day at least. No fat. Bananas are constipating for me and a disaster for obstruction for CF. I am struggling with this and it is scaring me now. I am so weak when these episodes come. I already take 20 meq. of potassium a day and they told me to increase it to 30. Once they gave me the extra K in the ER, in about one hour I felt better and the ectopics stopped. They also suggested a stress test, ekg looked good. My cholesterol level is 220 and HDL is 16 way to low. It is not due to what I eat and I work out everyday, walk three miles and do free weights three times per week. I have a family history of heart problems. Mom and Dad both expired of CAD. Anyway, what do you all do to keep up the K? Take care and pray for no more ER trips for me. I want to get back to work and enjoy the life I have. Deb Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 17, 2005 Report Share Posted September 17, 2005 Hi Deb, I think Kiwi fruit has K and if you use salt in anything at all, try the " low sodium salt " they just substitute K for Na in the Cl. That's cheap and easy. The internet is surly a great source of info on all foods high in K and I'm sure some of them could be used in a blender. Best wishes, Poncho - GA Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 18, 2005 Report Share Posted September 18, 2005 What about orange juice, that has potassium in it, or a baked potatoe. There was a time that I took TEN 20meq of potassium 3 times a day, yes it is true and also I took 5 slow mag also. I finally pitched it all and said " if I die from hypokalemia then I die " I have had potassium levels of 2.3 and it took 9 days of potassium bolus' to keep them up to the level of where I could be discharged. I also have ekg changes from that one that showed anterior and inferior infarct. What can one do, you try and call the office and say everything I put in my mouth causes diarrhea and they say " Take your lomotil and immodium and fibercon and it will stop well it didn't. Atwell LPN > Dick, and everyone, Good evening. I just got back from the ER, I have > had about four or two diarrhea stools or loose per day and for two days > have had ventricular ectopic heart beats. Usually with a lot of flushed, > hot feelings. I went to the ER times two at the advice of my PCP. They > say no chocolate, caffeine, (which I don't do anyway) and that my > Potassium today was 3.8, in the normal range but the ER physician said > that is low if you are having ectopics with that level. Now I have > cystic fibrosis and a megacolon. How do you all keep your potassium > levels up when we are so limited in the food we eat. I have only eaten > pureed food for one year. I can not tolerate anything else. I drink a > lot of fluid about two liters per day at least. No fat. Bananas are > constipating for me and a disaster for obstruction for CF. I am > struggling with this and it is scaring me now. I am so weak when these > episodes come. I already take 20 meq. of potassium a day and they told > me to increase it to 30. Once they gave me the extra K in the ER, in > about one hour I felt better and the ectopics stopped. They also > suggested a stress test, ekg looked good. My cholesterol level is 220 > and HDL is 16 way to low. It is not due to what I eat and I work out > everyday, walk three miles and do free weights three times per week. I > have a family history of heart problems. Mom and Dad both expired of > CAD. Anyway, what do you all do to keep up the K? Take care and pray > for no more ER trips for me. I want to get back to work and enjoy the > life I have. Deb > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 18, 2005 Report Share Posted September 18, 2005 , wonderful to hear from you. I am a nurse too. My K was 3.9 yesterday and 4.0 on Thurs. when I went to the ER with these little buggers. I have a hard time eating with the nausea and terrible pain and distention. The loose stools are only about two or three per day. They don't even worry about that with little ones until about six or so. I have them back this a.m. I am taking 20 meq of K three times a day now. I told my husband last night like you said if I am going to keep over it is better that I am doing what I want to do. So, I 'm going to church and the mall today with my little monitor on and keep on truckin. It scares me to death. I have a long history mom and dad of CAD and heart attacks and my cholesterol and HDL are both out of wack and no one really cares about that either. so, where do go when they won't listen. Now my husband thinks it's nerves. They have him believing it. Well EKG's and rhythm strips don't lie. Please, you do not know how much your post helped please keep in touch. Deb Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 19, 2005 Report Share Posted September 19, 2005 Hi, I am an RN too and I have a big problem. I am a new member and I saw your post. I found out that I have elevated CA19-9 and CEA and the Cleveland Clinic knew this in July 2005 but never called me. I found out when I called and had them send me the lab work that I had done in June,2005. They never let me know ANYTHING. It is now 3 months later and I am so concerned since I did not know about this and could have had something done in July. Have you ever heard that it could elevate with pancreatitis? I just do not know what to do. I called the Dr. in Cleveland and they said he would call me STAT but he never called on Friday. I just am beside myself. I put a call into the Cancer Ctr. in Columbus on Friday and they have me calling them this AM to see what they can do. I have not told my husband and 3 children yet. It has been the longest weekend of my life. I would sure appreciate any insight that you may have on this. I have had your problems but I do use a lot of fiber in cereal, Kashi, and I use no dairy products only soy milk and it has helped a lot. I hope that it helps you. I do not eat any fat over 10% which is difficult but I am eating white meat chicken breast, non fat mayo, egg beaters, and a pumpkin pudding that I invented that is very good and filling. Hope to hear from you soon. My best, Susie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 19, 2005 Report Share Posted September 19, 2005 I am not at all familiar with the test you described, I have not praticed since 2000. My husband is a surgical R.N. and he didn't know it either. I did google it and it sounded something like a screening tool, somewhat like they use in men for a PSA I am sure you know what I mean. I don't use soy milk, as the information I have says it causes allergies in children, and it is a no, no. The research I have is from The Makers Diet, and that most babies put on soy formula develope asthma and terrible allergies. My daughter who is now 21 was on soy formula as a baby and then developed asthma at the age of 6 and was sick her WHOLE childhool with one infection after another which developed into multiple antibotic allergies. I once took her to an allergist for skin testing and the kid reacted to EVERY substance they tested on her, the Dr. had said he had never seen that in his pratice and he died a year later he was in his 60's. The first allergy shot in the office she did fine for them, the next one I gave she had anaphlactic reaction on me, and they had only given me one syringe for the med I had a bottle of epi but a used needle, that I had thrown in the trash with the cap on. I ended up giving her benedryl, and claratin and calling the Dr. I could here her wheezing in the next room. It worked and I called the Dr. I had to have the bottle diluted down and they gave her the shots for 2 times and then we began the Battle over the shots, we never finshed the full vial, she was 12 and would tell people " My mom holds me and down and gives me shots " people thought I was trying to kill the child, she would embrass the heck out of me. I finally gave up and said " You are the one who gets sick, not me, you want to be sick then be sick but I am not fighting you over this " . I follow The Maker Diet and have done this now for almost 3 months, it has made a Big difference for me, the effect is more profound with my husband. Alot of the stuff we are taught in nursing school just plainly isn't true. I suggest that anyone read www.themakersdiet.com click on about Dr. Jordan and see his before picture. I believe it was devine input that I saw this man on T.V. and my family Dr. gave me his copy, I liked it so much I bought a used one from www.half.com I don't not have stock in any of these and have nothing to gain by telling this stuff. I can only say what has made a difference here. I know that without the knowledege from this book, that I would certainly already have protein malnutrition again, and critical potassium levels. There are a lot of changes that have been made in our home, but I believe they are for the best. Check it out and decide for youself. It is a much healthier life style. Atwell LPN > Hi, > > I am an RN too and I have a big problem. > > I am a new member and I saw your post. > > I found out that I have elevated CA19-9 and CEA and the Cleveland > Clinic knew this in July 2005 but never called me. I found out when > I called and had them send me the lab work that I had done in > June,2005. They never let me know ANYTHING. > It is now 3 months later and I am so concerned since I did not know > about this and could have had something done in July. > > Have you ever heard that it could elevate with pancreatitis? I just > do not know what to do. I called the Dr. in Cleveland and they said > he would call me STAT but he never called on Friday. I just am > beside myself. I put a call into the Cancer Ctr. in Columbus > on Friday and they have me calling them this AM to see what they can > do. I have not told my husband and 3 children yet. It has been the > longest weekend of my life. > > I would sure appreciate any insight that you may have on this. > > I have had your problems but I do use a lot of fiber in cereal, > Kashi, and I use no dairy products only soy milk and it has helped a > lot. I hope that it helps you. I do not eat any fat over 10% which > is difficult but I am eating white meat chicken breast, non fat > mayo, egg beaters, and a pumpkin pudding that I invented that is > very good and filling. > > Hope to hear from you soon. > > My best, > > Susie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 19, 2005 Report Share Posted September 19, 2005 Susie, My prayers are with you. I know what it is to wait. I am waiting on test results because I have been having extra beats in my heart for four or five days and no one seems to care either. I have been to the ER twice by request of my physician at a clip of $100 each time. And they said it was caffeine induced and I don't eat or drink caffeine, I mean none. And the other time they said it was low potassium and it was normal 4.0. So go figure. I pray for your quick response from the physicians. Also can you give me your pumpkin pudding recipe if you will share. I love pumpkin and it is high in potassium. I use soy milk cause I can not digest the milk sugar. Take care and I'm pulling for you. Deb Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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