Did you ever get any answers.. Your story is similar to mine. Except I was overdosed on Benadryl in my IV and since have been having issues. Same as you and I get a lump on the left side of my throat that swells (lymph node) and I get these attacks that make me cry. I get a lot of pain in my back, stomach.
So I had an ammonia test due to normal testing for taking Valproic Acid (only 500mg/day). It was for the first time ever, high in 2 yrs. Stopped the meds. 2.5 wks later, slightly higher. My primary MD now took me off my diuretic stating that could also be a culprit. Off for 1 wk, then meet again in 1 week to ck BP. 2 wks later, ck ammonia again. My question is, is it common for meds that can dehydrate you (e.g diuretics, antihistamines etc in combo) to contribute to elevated ammonia levels? Esp if not historically drinking enough H20 and too much diet coke? Also take 20mg zolpidem and 1mg clonazepam ea nite and zyrtech 10mg every night and sometimes supplement w/benedryl 50mg if allergies and/sleep issues. Also take lots of Aleve and Tyenol and was drinking wine frequently, but stopped drinking and started eating better and hyrdrating, was also low in potassium. Does this all sound like this giant ball of dehydration combined could contribute to the high ammonia levels? Sometimes I can't get bk to sleep in middle of nite (roommate wakes me up alot w/noise) and take more of my sleep meds, etc just so i can get bk to sleep and get to work and function, so these meds cd be making it worse, I don' know. ?? Just had massive blood test panel done, glucose ok, potassium bk in ck, liver, many other things, electrolytes all ok.
I started drinking lots of OJ, eating a banana ea day and then adding prunes and raisin bran ea day then bam! Last Friday after lunch at work, I drank my OJ and got all woozy feeling in the head, hands trembling, slight headache, felt like my head was swimming, barley drove myself home. got home, shaking all over, took my sleep meds and slept for few hrs, woke up feeling better but next morning, woke up to entire body in major pain all day and felt like was almost flowing through my veins throughout my whole body and cramping feeling too. No amount of Aleve and Tylenol in the world was helping. Sunday morning w/breakfast, did the fruits and juice again and same woozy head feeling came bk - also both times, vision has been blurred, which I've had some on and off issues w/past few days since. These symptoms is what got me to the MD this past Monday, hence the massive lab panels done. Nothing looks out of whack though, except the ammonia.
Anything out of all of this, esp all of the meds and lifestyle behaviors, dehydration provide any clues?? Also, have been losing weight since mid-Feb...28 lbs...doing it not too drastically though, and have been feeling ok w/exception of late May/early June starting feeling very lethargic for awhile...prob a sign of the high ammonia levels. Now I'm concerned being off the diuretic will put weight back on and i was pretty overweight and trying to do the right thing to get in better shape...needed to lose 43 lbs, still need to lose 15 more, but just in one day several lbs came bk on after stopping diuretic. ??? BP still great though.
Help!
Hello the problem can be with your digestive system, your liver-cirrhosis or hepatitis, heart disease, or kidney problems. Ammonia forms when protein is broken down naturally by bacteria in the body. It can be treated with diuretics-fluid pills, but the easiest way to lower the levels is to start drinking more water. The more water in, the more urine made, and the more ammonia excreted out-unless you have kidney issues.
Recommended amount of water per day is 8- 8 ounces glasses.
I Hope This Helps.
Sounds like something going on with your pancreas/liver. This CAN happen with high ammonia levels too. Are you a drinker? Any medical history?
I would be following up with your physician or seeking emergent care AGAIN especially if you are experiencing more symptoms or not getting better.