Jen , how you doing

[Jenetti]

Hey Polly,
Sorry i had responded earlier, but was waiting to hear from the doctors office about my test. Had hoped to have had GOOD news to share, but seems they saw something and now i will be having a different test , also in the xray/sonogram/mri lab, so not sure what kind it will be. I do know they said nothing by mouth after midnight on Tue. The test is set for wed at 9:30 am.

How did the canning tomatoes go??? WOW im so impressed, lol. I need help just opening a jar of tomato sauce LOL.

That is so weird that the ins wont pay for the celebrex, but will for the higher cost one. I know theyre so weird. This for me means paying upfront another 100.00 bucks to "get registered" so they can then do this test. Then of course i get billed whats left over after ins pays 80%. That means the radiologistS, yes S, lol seems they all want a share, then the lab itself. Goodness this is just eating up all our savings and thats that we have GOOD ins. with the postal service. Just that, , that 20% for everything that ive been thru since last Thanksgiving has REALLY added up hon.

Im glad the potassium seems to be working. I hope it continues. How are you feeling otherwise hon?? Either way, whatever shows up on my test, i am going away with my hubby for two weeks, from aug 2 - 13th. He has a training seminar he has to go to, and he wants to take me with him. He says i could use the break from stress. Its a wonderful complex, the hotel is just right across from the school and the hotel has the cafeteria, libraries, softball, gym, sauna, exercise gym with all the modern machines (HA!. lol like i'll use them) and swimming pool. Its all inside the complex, a huge building. Very nice, so, i better go because i have no clue as to how things will be when i get back and might not be able to , go away for a while. Im just very tired Polly, physically, mentally and spiritually. Seems i can never make it over the hurdle completely. After a good cry after the phone call, i decided im not going to worry about it. But i needed the cry. I think it helped. Also , tomorrow being the anniversary of my grandbabys death doestn help. My son and his gf had a baby when he was very young that later died when he was one, so, its a bit too much for me right now, know what i mean? So i think i will be doing alot of meditating and alot of praying tomorrow. So i will chat with you soon sweetie, hope you are feeling better.
Love,
Jen

[snodove]

Hi Jen, I am feeling better mostly. I think this new med thought makes me C. All I need with IBS.. like you said it is always something. One thing I have notcied and I keep getting really bad leg cramps at night. I don't get it. I know that is a sign of low potassium or mag.. maybe I think. I finally got a call back from the nurse yesterday. Took long enough. I looked online and I think potassium should be 3.7 at least to 5.0 I think. Mine was 3.6. She said that was better. It is so he is checking it in two weeks.
I hope our ins.pays for it. We just changed it. They said they don't pay preexisting problems. I am not sure what to do really. I guess they will. Good thing I think this company isn't run by a bunch of big shots and if there is a prb. maybe we can get them to do it.
I am so sorry hon you are having all this probems. I will keep praying extra for you. So today is Tues and I am assuming you get your tests today.
I hope when you go with your husand and it can be a time to relax for you and your FMS won't act up. I will be praying God bless you all.
I am sorry about your grandbaby too. That is so sad. It hurts.
It is to early to be up.. lol almost 4 am. I will try to write more later. Love and prayers, Polly

[Harry]

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

[snodove]

Hi Harry, Thank you. I appreciate your help. I am still rather upset with my kidney doctor he never put me on potassium last year with my diuretic. I was taking another type that I am now. Then my GP put me on 10mg of potassium. I felt good for awhile then this year.. well that is a different story. I had my urine tested 24hr. Actually, 48hrs and that that is when they were told I needed potassium citrate. Last year it said it on the tests but he never did it. I do think he is a good doctor when it comes to kidney stones but maybe not maintance. If there were more doctors from here to choose from I might to some else but Uro doctors are few. I was told he is one of the best but anyway. He me on a generic diuretic Triamterene. 3.75/25. I think it is 25mg.
Potassium citrate 10mg ,three times a day, and Potassium chloride 20mg twice a day.If this doesn't work I am going to seek my uro advice or maybe another doctor. I have to much calcium in my blood. My kidneys don't filter it like they should and it doesn't go back into my system.hypocalcemia.
Again, thank you for taking the time to post to us. I will keep this in mind.
God Bless you too.
Polly

[Jenetti]

Thank you for this very helpful info. Polly has had lots of problems in this area. I just hope they get things straightened out with her levels. Seems things go from one doctor to another and changes in between with different opinions.

Polly,
Had my test done today (wed). I guess when i typed that note i was thinking you wouldnt read it till tues sometime. LOL Anyway, had an injection of something in my vein, then had to lay perfectly STILL for over an hour. MY lower back was killing me, i almost thought of asking to stop the test cause i couldnt take it any longer. They didnt put anything under my knees to help support my lower back because it would alter the position of the gall bladder which is what they were checking this time. They were taking one pic per minute, so they took60 in one hour but i was there longer than the hour cause i was flat on my back while they injected me and give me time for it to start moving thru my blood system. Then afterwards, i had to still lie flat cause they came back and took side views. Then when they finished, i was almost in tears, they helped me up, THEN I FELT the pain even worse in my lower back. I could barely walk. They made me sit for another ten minutes before i could get my bearings cause that injection made me a bit dizzy. BUT I MADE IT LOL. So now will wait to see whats going on. I wont find out till next week im sure (with my doc, her office is never organized) but by then i'll be in oklahoma so i'll give them a call from there.
You say your doc is ok with stones but not for maintenance, i TOTALLY understand that. Gee youd THINK they could be somewhat a bit more capable of being able to do a bit more with them being "specialists" and all huh? LOL
Hope you are feeling well hon. Will talk to you later hon.
Jen