low potassium

[North48]

Update...I went to the dr and my blood pressure is continuing to increase so they added another med to lower it and they tested my potassium and sodium.  My potassium was at 3.5 and the range is 3.5-5.  I am taking a hctz with spironolactone and they added lisinopril.  The dr was more concerned about the potassium going to high because spironolactone and lisinopril are potassium sparing but after the tests I don't think that will be a concern.  My sodium was also on the low end of normal 3.8 which I thought was really good considering I've been craving and consuming salt like crazy.

My question is my micro pituitary tumor 3x4, nonfunctioning, incidental that they have insisted is not causing my symptoms could this be a sign of cushing's?

[testdeprived]

well i got my mri back in march, and they said we dont care about your non symptomatic tumor..if yah want you can come back in  a year for another mri.

noones called to remind me though....

does mayo call you every 6 months to remind you?


these doctors really **** mee off. and worst of all my mri report says i have a ''probable'' tumor/lesion so if i got to dr friedman in california  idk if hed even take me seriously?rumpled said shes not sure.


i just really dont understand how mayo can be the best place to go if youre sick..when theey can tell you a tumor isnt symptomatic i just dont get it...i know the tumors clouding my thoughts, but  i dont think if iw as normal i could understand it...

although it does take an illness to really make you imagine how bad the medical science fields are today its craz hehehe.

[North48]

I'm sorry to say your not that special to them.  You have to be pro active in your own health care.  Did they tell you to come back in 6 mo or 1 yr?

[testdeprived]

north do the p-eople at mayo call you every 6 months to check o0n you? i had my mri back in march and noone seems to care enough to tell me to come in for another one!

the

[North48]

I was kind of wondering the same thing.  I've thought maybe it was that know one else had posted since we did......it is strange.

[testdeprived]

what is wrong with the times on these forums? it sayd you replied 4 minutes ago and  i replied 6 minutes ago..

[North48]

I wish you well in your journey and stay positive.  Life is very short so enjoy what you do have and I will do the same.

[testdeprived]

im gonna gt another mri, and then i might consider going to California. the problem is that even if a doctor in cali diagnoses you, you need to find a surgeon to operate on you. we all know that our tumors are harming us, but who will help us? I  hope mine is bigger.

[North48]

I haven't been fine all this time it's just that nothing would ever show up in the blood work.  Now that the potassium is low I hope they will start ordering some new and more tests.

I will NOT be going back to mayo.  If these dr's in my home city can't help I will be taking a trip to California

The dr's that I have dealt with have a set of tests for pit tumors and if you don't test out of "normal" then there is nothing wrong with you even when you tell them you don't feel right.

It's all about money!!!!!!

[testdeprived]

north im surprised youve lasted this long youve been dealing with this tumor for a while. im surprised youve been fine up until now, but i guess like me the symptoms come and go.

it still disgusts me that mayo wont help you. i hope you get better.9and then  tell me who helped you ahahahhah jss.)

[rumpled]

When I had low renin, I had to start florinef. That was when I had Cushing's. Then I had my adrenals got removed and my renin went up which still seems contrary. Then somehow, I still need to take the florinef - so somehow, you need it when you are low and high - and for the life of me, even though it has been explained - that one just defeats my logic and I don't get it. Renin is weird.

But I had low BP throughout - a couple of high spikes - but even my buds with higher BP had to take it... alas, it gives you the florinef fluffies - a bit of weight gain - if not given right - of water weight...

[North48]

Thanks for your help.  
After reading about low potassium I have realized that they have never tested me for renin and aldosterone and the pituitary could be the culprit for the low levels. Surprise!! Surprise!!   Which explains why 6 yrs ago I started with high blood pressure (no family history) then joint pain, numbness, weight gain, headaches, discovered the pit tumor etc. and now this.

I agree...... I believe they are treating the symptoms and not the problem.

This was a new internist (new to me) and I felt she was just trying to get me figured out.  I go back in 3 weeks for more blood work and to check on the potassium and sodium so I will ask for the renin and aldosterone too.

Thanks again it's just so nice to bounce some of this stuff off on someone that understands some of this

[rumpled]

I think they need to test your renin and aldosterone... BTW - craving salt means usually that you need it and being at the bottom of the range is not a good thing IMHO.

In my body (LOL), when I get wonkered, I tank in both. My tumor twin wonks out in K for no reason. I know another Cushie that does the same - No K, no reason.

Yeah... I think they are treating the symptom, but not the source/cause. But that is just my whine. Care for a glass?