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Doctors Lounge - Endocrinology Answers
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| dba3mom
- Mon Nov 12, 2007 3:28 pm |
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I am a 39 yr old female. At age 29 I was diagnosed with High Blood pressure & low potassium (had low potassium for a few yrs b4) Started taking Atenoretic 50 mg - 1 a day for blood pressure and potassium pills. 2-3 years later, I had swelling so they switched me to Atenolol/Chlorthal 50/25 - 1 a day. Each year my potassium has gotten worse. About 5 yrs ago they added Spironolactone 25 mg twice a day to help w/potassium. In the past 6 months my potassium pills have doubled (I now take 12 - 10meq potassium pills a day) we are having difficulty keeping my potassium above the "low" normal. My doctor tested for aldosterone and renin, both of which came back high. She sent me to an Endocrinologist who did a renal artery duplex test which came back normal. All kidney blood test have come back normal & no signs of diabetes. My blood pressure has remained in control all these years and still is (113/68) give or take a few on each. I have high cholesterol -238. Not on meds for this.
I did not take spironlactone for 3 days (kept forgetting to pick up at pharmacy) I had tingling in hands, legs & face along w/ chest pains) Once the medicine was in my system, all symptoms went away.
I am tired ALL the time, I have muscle weakness, get sick when I exercise w/ cramps & diarrhea. I pee every hour or two – periods are irregular & I’m thirsty all the time.
The Endocrinologist sent me back to my doctor. Basically endocrinologist is done w/me & so my doctor has ordered and MRI (next wk) & recommended I see a kidney specialist..can't get in until December.
Family History: Dad has aneurysm on artery leading to kidney. Also has heart disease, high cholesterol, & circulation disease - bergers disease, had lower left leg amputated approx. 30 yrs ago. He had heart attack approx 15 yrs ago, had a balloon approx 10 yrs ago, stints - past couple of yrs and open heart surgery this yr. My grandmother - Dad’s Mom passed away of heart attack 20 yrs ago.
Any advice would be great.
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| Dr. Chan Lowe
- Wed Nov 28, 2007 10:38 pm |
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 Hi Dba3mom,
Aldosterone is a hormone in the body that helps increase blood pressure by signalling for increase reabsorption of sodium from the kidneys. The body must maintain electrical neutrality and sodium is positively charged. As a response to the increased sodium, potassium (also positively charged) must decrease.
Seeing the kidney specialist is an excellent idea. The kidney is a huge factor in renin and aldosterone.
Your weakness, etc. may actually be linked to your low potassium levels. Not taking your spironolactone may have resulted in your potassium levels dropping even more causing your new symptoms.
The kidney specialist can help determine why you are having these problems and recommend some treatments to help get this under control.
Best wishes.
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