spirlhelix

Hi, Haley That is a test for pheochromocytoma, a tiny tumour which can be found on the adrenals or in a number of other places. For a tiny tumour, it can wreak enormous havoc on your system, sending your blood pressure zinging all over the place. They are not easy to find, however. Clonidine usually will bring your blood pressure down. Do you have problems with high blood pressure intermittently? They may test to see if this drug corrects that. Mostly people complain of sleepiness on clonidine. That's what it does to me. But if you only have to take it once, in the hospital where you can rest anyway, it does not sound so bad. Best of good fortune! Warmly, Pam

Thanks, Katherine! I found this on the same site you just mentioned earlier: http://www.barttersite.com/hypokalemia.htm Very good information. I think some may be of special interest to ADers, as some imbalanced states caused by autonomic dysfunction may lead to low potassium conditions, as you have mentioned, Katherine. For example, vomiting or diarrhea, familiar to AD'ers, are cited as conditions that can lead to low potassium. Warmly, Pam

Hi, Katherine Thanks for the list of potassium-rich foods. If anyone becomes seriously potassium deficient, intravenous therapy and immediate hosptialization may be required. It is good to do everything we can for our health through diet, but with these symptoms it would still be important to speak to a doctor and rule out a possible potassium depletion which is beyond what diet is able to address. I don't mean to frighten anyone, but there are some conditions which cause potassium loss even with supplementation and if the potassium drops low enough, it can lead to death. Very few people experience these low-potassium states, but they need to be ruled out. Frequent vomiting or diarrhea can lead to lethal potassium losses under some conditions. So can the use of diuretic medications which deplete potassium like hydrochlorothiazide. In addition, there are a few genetic disorders which unbalance the electrolytes fairly routinely. I have hyperaldosteronism, which is a hormone imbalance, and the two most common signs are uncontrolled hypertension and low potassium. Low potassium can make you feel extremely sick with muscle pain and weakness and even lead to temporary states of paralysis, called periodic paraylisis. I've been there, and it makes you feel so lousy you can't believe it. Hayley, I wonder why you say you are losing weight while reporting that you are eating all the time. Have they ruled out diabetes? I don't mean to alarm you, but I hope you don't attribute the cause of all your symptoms to POTS. Something else could be going on, too. Warmly, Pam

Hi, Haley Did you ever have your potassium levels checked? Low potassium makes you feel weak, sick, you are not able to concentrate your urine and may need to pee a lot, and can give you arrythmias. Suggest it to your doctor if he has not tested for it--and _don't_ make a fist or pump your hand for the nurse before she draws your blood, or your potassium level will be falsely elevated. Low serum potassium sounds like something that needs to be ruled out. Best wishes, Warmly, Pam

Yeah, let's all put on "La Boheme" and some new lipstick at the appointed hour! Or arrange a time and all start up the movie together. . . while we make comments on a "Moonstruck" thread!" Pam

Hi, Amy Thanks to you and Ernie for making me feel welcome. Yes, I already have a hypertension specialist (nephrologist) and a cardiologist (they are often at odds!). I have an endocrinologist too, but those are the two doctors I have been working with mostly during the past year. Thanks for your good advice! Warmly, Pam

That's okay, blackwolf, it was a bonus question! You were spot on #6! The psychologist (whose name is never mentioned, but whose "archetypes" repeat throughout the movie) is Carl Jung. I'll leave 7b so anyone can put up answers. There are no wrong answers; you can interpret symbols however you like. Thanks for chiming in! Warmly, Pam

Sorry Castirini is her maiden name her married name was Clark :-) (But I didn't know that until a couple of watchings ago) :-) 3. A rock and killed myself years ago...(scary I can hear her say it in my head!) 4.What you talkin I love flowers. Thanks Carmine... I just love how prosaic Loretta is--contrast the visual image with what she says; she looks like a highly romantic character as she cradles the rose near her face. . . and out of her mouth, the understated. "Thanks, Carmine." How resistant to being swept up by love. . .until it's too late! Smile. I could go on and tell you that whole scene. Maybe I have watched it toooo many times :-) Love Nicholas Cage!!!! Me, too. Oh, wow! Thanks for the tip. I forgot about the married name! Ok The bonus question: 5) What is the name of the restuarant were Johnnny proposes? The Grand Ticino. Ta-da! And now my bonus round, consisting of two questions: 6) How does Loretta answer the old woman who put a curse on Johnny's plane? 7a.) Name the famous psyhcologist whose concepts are frequently alluded to in the movie, 7b.) Or, (alternate question) name three possible symbolic meanings of the full moon in this movie.

Hi, Stacey! 1) That would be Loretta Cassarini. 2) "You got those bad eyes like a gypsy. I should have seen it yesterday!" Here are two for you: 3) "Bad luck! Is that all I'm ever going to have? I should have taken a _____" (complete the sentence). 4) What does Loretta say when one of her accounting customers gives her a rose? This is really amusing. I can't believe I have these lines memorized! I can never remember lines from a movie. It just goes to show how exceptional "Moonstruck" is. . . Warmly, Pam

Hi, Ernie Your family history seems very suggestive of familial primary aldosteronism. If I understand it correctly, even low normal potassium can cause "periodic paralysis" problems for many people. Sadly, most doctors know very little about Conn's or Glucocorticoid Responsive Aldosteronism (the condition which affects families). I encourage you to try out this list just so you can get some ammunition to bring with you to the doctor, so you can get the testing done promptly and without errors. http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/hyperaldosteronism/ Dr. Grim runs the list and he will be happy to assist you in finding the best way to get tested and understand the results. Best wishes to you, and I hope to see you on the hyperaldosteronism list! Warmly, Pam

Hi, Ernie So far, I have heard nothing that makes me think he could not have had primary aldosteronism. You don't know whether he ever had a heart attack or a stroke? Can you describe the health problems people have in your family; are strokes a common cause of death? If you would like to talk to a group of people, many of whom have periodic paralysis, a history of uncontrollable hypertension, and adrenal hyperplasia (like your brother had), you can contact us at: http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/hyperaldosteronism/ There is a very kind, helpful doctor who runs the list, Dr. Grim. I am sure he would be happy to discuss your family's situation and point you to someone who can help you get the proper testing to see if you have a similar problem to others in the group. Warmly, Pam

Hi, Ernie Do you or your other family members have low serum potassium levels? This result can be found on a renal blood test. Low potassium can lead to periodic paralysis. It would also go along with your brother's adrenal hyperplasia. Have your doctors tested for Conn's syndrome? Is there a history of hypertension or stroke in your family, sometimes with low potassium? If so, I would ask the doctors to test for Glucocorticoid Responsive Aldosteronism. There is a genetic test available by Dr. Lifton of Yale University. Wishing you the best! Warmly, Pam

Hi, Ernie I'm sorry to hear about your loss. It is great that you and your family are contributing to our understanding of these little-understood conditions, with his help. I'm trying to find a good source for this information (ran across it on the internet and now I can't find it again!)--but there is actually a theory that AD can lead to calcification of the adrenals and eventually adrenal tumors, responsible for causing Conn's syndrome or Primary Aldosteronism. One phase in this process is believed to be hyperplasia (overgrowth of adrenal glands). This would show up on a CAT scan. This progression is evidently seen frequently in those with severe sleep apnea. If your brother was experiencing this problem, he may have had uncontrollable hypertension, regardless of the medications he was on. The only one that would help would probably be Aldactone, which blocks the receptors for aldosterone. Do you know if they ever prescribed Aldactone, Spironolactone, or Inspra for your brother? I don't wish to be overly inquisitive, but can you share with us the cause of your brother's death? Thanks again for your willingness to contribute to our understanding of these conditions. Warmly, Pam

Thanks, everyone for your kind responses and encouragement! Hi, Runner Girl! I think I recognize you from the pheochromocytoma list. Nice to see you here! << 1) Have you been worked up for secondary causes of hypertension (I'm thinking specifically of pheochromocytoma), or does the doc think your aldosterone issues are to blame for the high blood pressure? 2) The facial flushing, tachy, and GI issues made me wonder about carcinoid syndrome. Has your doctor ruled that out? It's basically a 24-hour urine test for 5-HIAA. >> My malignant hypertension (used to be over 200 every day regardless of medication) was unquestionably due to hyperaldosteronism, which is a secondary form of hypertension. Naturally, I was worked up for pheo about four or five times before that diagnosis, but they did not find what they were looking for (as we know, that is often the case with pheo). Now that I am treated for hyperaldosteronism, this hypertension must (I figure) be due to a different cause. Here's my reasoning: hyperaldosteronism causes salt retention and consequently hypervolemia (too much blood volume), which leads to hypertension. I think folks on this list are accustomed to the opposite problem--poor salt retention, with low blood volume, leading to low blood pressure. But I don't think my daily "jumps" into the 200 range are caused by instant hypervolemia. My blood pressure not only rises quickly, it can drop 50 points in a matter of minutes (for example, as measured in the doctor's office and in the parking lot after leaving). I think it has been known to drop 40 points from sitting to standing, although that does not happen every time. If hypervolemia were the cause of the blood pressure spikes, that does not seem possible. I'm not skeptical enough to believe that lightning cannot strike twice: just because secondary hypertension is the exception rather than the rule does not mean I don't have another case of secondary hypertension going on (in addition to aldosteronism). So I will make sure the doctors look into pheo or other secondary causes, Runner Girl, and thanks for the suggestion. I will ask about the carcinoid syndrome as well. Better to rule it out than to wonder. Did you ever find a definitive diagnosis for your medical problem causing pheo symptoms? I hope things have been going better for you! Warmly, Pam

Hi! I'm new here, but I will give this a try. 1) Pam 2) Anything by **** Francis 3) Moonstruck (I see I'm not alone!) 4) My children, my cats, eating a good meal! Curling up with a book 5) I used to be a sign language interpreter. . . I study ancient forms of astrology. This was enjoyable. Thanks!