Re: stay away from fats, electrolyte problem

[Guest guest]

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

[Guest guest]

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

[Guest guest]

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

>

>

[Guest guest]

, 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

[Guest guest]

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

[Guest guest]

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

[Guest guest]

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