labas_2u@shaw.ca

I have hyponatremia on and off but not caused by an excessive intake of fluids. A simple urine test that measures the electrolytes in your urine will tell you if you are drinking too much and flushing the salt out. After recently going through a drastic drop in electrolytes, I had one doctor tell me I drink too much fluids and to cut back. This caused dehydration! Finally, another doctor measured the electrolytes in my urine which was nil and told me to go ahead and drink as much as I need too. Hope this helps Maggs

Hi John, Sorry, I have nothing to offer you in the way of advice, but please tell Linda Joy, I wish her all the best for a speedy recovery or resolution to this nightmare Maggs

Hey Cardiatec, Taking 50mg Atenolol and haven't noticed any decrease in the pooling but,... a little less facial flushing (less as in the depth of redness) Still flushing about the same amount of times but not walking around looking so much like a beet Maggs

Oh Lauren, I hope you are going to be o.k. Give us an update as soon as you can. Wishing you the best, Maggs

Oh TanneHill! We have all been in that situation...I felt so guilty for the longest time about my children and how they were 'given the short end of the stick' with having me for a mother. But now I see young adults filled with compassion and going into fields that will help others... None are aggressivley,upward mobile, heading into 6 figure careers. Instead they are finishing degrees in working with the learning disabled and law. They care about others and the enviornment. Many people had to help pick my children up for me and I left a lot of dishes and laundry undone. The guilt that I use to feel so overwhelming is gone and has been replaced with pride and a sense of contentment. Hang in there....it is a really rough ride but, for myself, is turning out to be pretty darn good. Maggs

That is really cool! (did I just reveal my age with that word??) You can count me in to purchase them!!! What a great idea!! Maggs

All the best in your new home Katherine!! Sending good wishes and blessings your way! Maggs

Hi Mom2Abby, I think there is a connection. I have seen blood glucose problems mention here a few times before. It would well be worth a search in the forum's archives to see which catagory you fall into, and how it is being treated. I can't remember the details but it sounded fairly common and there were some good suggestions too. p.s. I have impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) but my blood sugar is only elevated in the morning! Go figure! With this disorder, even the most straight-forward complications, our bodies screw it up!! Take care, Maggs

My goodness BendyScooby! Can you go to see another one? That is a long time to wait. Can an internalist or another doctor help you until then? I live in a small community in Northern Canada that does not even have a neurologist. We have 'travelling neurologists' and the wait is only anywhere from 2 weeks to 3 months tops! Are you waiting to see a specific neurologist or just one in general?? Good luck and keep us informed Maggs

That was GREAT Lauren!! I was hoping someone like yourself would answer... The combination of support and knowledge from this forum is the best! Maggs

Hi Cardiatec, I started on Atenolol in April and had a really hard time adjusting to it. I would hate to start all over again with another medication. But, it may be something I will have to do. I do not tolerate most medications at the best of times. I have break-through tachy quite a bit and lately (hot weather?) am having some pretty weird palpitations. Everything is really off right now so it may just be a temporary POT-hole I'm in. My heart rate will go from 120 bpm just resting and then drop down a while later when I am doing something. It is an awful feeling when your heart does not seem to be keeping in sync with your activity. Thanks for the advice though....will run it by my family doctor next week when I see her. How long would a 'change-over' take? Maggs

I hope everything works out for you Sunfish Glad to know you're home!! Maggs

Hi and welcome!! I am unable to answer your question but, I know that there are some awesome people here that are VERY knowledgable and that will be able to!! Sometimes responses are slow in coming because a lot of people (like myself) are not on here all that often. I know your fear and are anxious for someone to answer you. (I use to check the forum every 5 minutes when I first started posting) Once again...welcome and just hold tight... Maggs

Hi Cardiotec I take 50 mg Atenolol which worked good at first but now..... I have been on every kind of beta-blocker there is, don't know what I am going to do if this stops working Maggs

I have to take meds. My bp has been recorded at 210/135 and I have topped out at 240 bpm with tachycardia. I cannot function with these numbers. I work full time and am raising three children. I would have stroked out a long time ago without my medication. Like Melissa said...everyone's circumstances are different. Acceptance and balance are great and I would give anything to be in a postion just to use these two alone.

Jacquie, I don't take that medication but I understand med mix-up. Brain fog....gotta love it..... I am no expert but I understand the panicky feeling of not knowing how much medication I've had or suppose to have. I write it all down now and use one of those little pill divider cases with my meds seperated and pre-measured out. (feel like a little ol' lady) Sorry, can't help with what to do now but, maybe someone that takes this medication hopefully might. I think though, rather than worry yourself over it, a quick call to your doctor can sort it out and put your mind at ease.....????? Hope you are able to sort it out..... Maggs

Hi Cardiotec, I can't speak for the others but, for myself, winter is much better. Summer brings the heat which I cannot tolerate as well as problems with dehydration. I have more difficulty sleeping. Air conditioning bothers me.... , so that leaves me in a catch 22! Trying to stay cool in the heat and keeping up the fluids (which brings contant running to the washroom) saps alot of my limited energy. My electrolytes get thrown off too Aghhhhhhhhhhh Fall is my best season...warm during the day and cool at night Winter is alright but I have to really really bundle up..... as I live in a cold climate. Bottom line.....love the summer for gardening and getting out but....it comes with a price. My heartrate is much more stable in the winter...also have less problems with inflammation which is worsened by the heat. Maggs

Dear Julia You have to let all this involvemnet with them go. A long time ago, I divied up my friends and family into who cares and who doesn't and I am telling you it works! My problem lies with my husbands family. I still attend family functions but on a very limited basis. I do not argue, give advice or allow ANYONE to do the same to me. I just can't afford it. I will not allow myself to get upset over something or someone that does not have my best interest at heart. I don't tell them how I am feeling, doing or anything that leaves me open to them. We can now enjoy each other if the topics stay on the weather, 'what's new' and share positive information. I 'zone out' when derogatory comments come up about others and refuse to add anything to the conversation, as a matter of fact...I will go and talk to someone else or leave, feigning something to do. I simply cannot afford to get upset over someone elses ignorance, negativity or simple meaness. My husband, children and myself come first. It has to be that way because my health, vunerability and my validation with this disorder are so fragile. I will protect them at all cost. Family fight? Don't call me. Settle it yourself and don't even ASK me to take sides or even listen to the stupid way it got started. Because that is all it is. Some people have nothing better to do than cause trouble for the rest of the family. I remain on neutral ground at all times. There are lots of people out there that have to make others look bad so they look good. You know the ones....they are miserable themselves and try to make others that are happier, feel bad. When asked how I am feeling...I always answer 'not bad' and then ask them how that are doing. They have very little knowledge of what is going on in my life and I prefer it that way. No ammunition for when I leave the room.... They don't really care anyway about how I feel. I do not allow my husband to tell them even when I am in the hospital. The last thing I need at that point is someone there gathering 'dirt' This is my battle with this horrible illness and those that care are always standing behind me. I discuss this illness with very few people, so my backers are few but there for me. I would rather have a few good solid backers than a large platoon with turn-coats in them. Sorry to ramble on Julia but it REALLY DOES WORK.... Stay in contact with your family but on a very limited basis. Keep it limited to positive contacts. First sign of negativity...look at your watch or tell them over the phone 'Look at the time!....gotta go.......' Trust me... the first few contacts are going to be VERY short and far between....and that is for the better. They will catch on very quickly. We have a wedding coming up next month and just like the last one....I will be there with a nice gift, enjoy a good meal....talk to the 'nice' people, dance a couple dances with my hubby and then leave. I will always say hello and how are you to the trouble makers but not engage in any negativity with them. I am regarded as the really nice sister-in-law and aunt. I cannot solve their problems but I can offer a positive comment and best wishes for them. I cannot get involved with their dysfunctional destructive ways. So sorry to ramble Julia, hang in there and take care of yourself! Thinking of you, Maggs

Hi everyone... Just wondering how many people here also have inflammatory problems??? Mainly I have an inflammed right ureter right now and wondering about treatment. (I have no infection) The inflammation showed up on a CT scan about 2 weeks ago and it is still bothering me! My white count is also elevated. I keep getting 'colicky' attacks and it is driving me crazy. I am not on antibiotics because the urine cultures come back negative and I am VERY sensitive to most antibiotics so it is not an option right now. Any ideas/advice???? Thanks in advance, Maggs

Hi Cardiotec... Nina makes a lot of sense..... I've had pneumonia quite a bit, ended up with a pleural effusion, and now have linear scarring from it in my left lower lobe. Chest pain should still be investigated and not discussed over the phone. Just my 2 cents but with a lot of experience...... Please get it checked out Maggs

Sorry Sue.... I don't really measure anything and it really doesn't matter for these. But, a good guess-timate would be, say 3 cups of grated zucchini, 1/2 to 3/4 cups flour, 1 egg beaten and salt and pepper to taste. Melt butter (or olive oil) in frying pan. 'Batter' should be the consistancy of pancake batter. Scoop with ladle out of bowl and drop onto the hot skillet. Fry until golden brown, flip and fry the other side. I don't know if any of you have had potato pancakes, but I grew up on them and these come pretty darn close. We spread butter on the top of them just like 'real' pancakes....to die for....... Maggs oh...almost forgot......we were cooking low carb for awhile and omitted the flour......(and egg) Just melted butter in skillet, dropped in grated zucchini, salt and pepper and fried stirring once in awhile to get brown all over...kind of like hash browns.... Dont forget...grate with skin on if fresh and peel if hard......

Hi Jacquie I get lots of palpitations without the tachy. I can feel my heart skip around....thump loud....vibrate.....skip and slip....I have recordings of diffuse ST waves and others all the while my heart is not beating very fast. Sometimes I feel it slow down and it feels like it is not beating fast enough for whatever it is I am doing. I take 50mg Atenolol and it helps with the rapid heartbeat but it does not stop all the other 'activity' my heart seems to produce! Maggs

O.k. Sue Zucchini: We grow quite a bit of it... Large and fresh from the garden ( skin still soft )....BBQ....Slice into 1" slices, brush top side with olive oil, sprinkle top side with parmasean cheese....flip when slightly brown (a few minutes) brush top and sprinkle top side with more cheese. mmmmmmm Large with hard skin......( out of garden for a few days ) Peel and core out seeds. Grate into strainer, letting excess water run out, say 10 minutes. Put into bowl...add flour, salt and pepper until pancake batter consistancy...cook like pancakes in butter! Brown and turn on each side.... double mmmmmmmmm I use the skin if the zucchini is really fresh, otherwise peel it if it has been out of the garden for awhile. You can peel, de-seed and grate zucchini if you want to freeze it for future use in baking. Great in cakes. breads and muffins. Substitute it for carrots in your favourite carrot cake/bread/ muffin recipe!!! Have fun!!! Maggs

Oh Sonotec!! E-mail me any time!!! I would love to hear from you..... I am not on alot and sometimes tend to keep my e-mails short when I am not feeling well but..... I will ALWAYS answer your e-mail My e-mail address is labas_2u@shaw.ca I will be waiting to hear from you....... Maggs

Hi Cardiactec and welcome! The highest I ever hit was 240 (supraventricular tachycardia) and had to cardioverted twice in a row as it just would not come down My resting heartrate can run at 120 without a beta blocker. By the same token, I can run 52 bpm..... go figure! Maggs