I swear managing RA mustnearly be a profession for all of us afflicted ones!! lolol
ETA: I just read your ETA and tell you that I have nearly turned yella with all the bananas I have been eating! My regular Doc told me to eat them because of the diuretic and now I wonder if I have had low levels before that. I dont know if Pot. levels are tested unless there is a concern. Must check with her. I printed this out to read at work. Maybe it's part of my problem. The B12 supplements have done zilch for me. I have no energy at all. I don't know if adrenal fatigue is real or not by things I've read. But it certainly seems to be a possible side effect of prednisone use...
Lyndzee I think links always print blue and then it just carries on...
I don't take a diuretic but was told they should be supplemented with potassium.
Jan
Bananas give me a belly ache I love they way they smell!I have been on a supplement for the past few weeks. Very hard on your stomach. Yuk! My RA Doc told me it was from the MTX and prednisone.I would hope that your doctor would have you on potassium supplements along with your diuretics. I'v been on Lasix for several years and must ALWAYS take potassium. In fact, I currently take 1-1/2 Lasix a day and 2 potassium (Klor-Con 80) twice a day because once a day still left me with a deficiency of potassium.
Too little or too much potassium in our bodies can cause very serious problems! A few years ago, I checked into the hospital for a surgical procedure I needed. After doing routine blood work, including potassium levels, they came in and told me my surgery couldn't be done because my potassium was too low and I could have heart failure during surgery. They considered admitting me to get the level raised so surgery could be done, but said it was way too dangerous to raise it too quickly. They said that if it was too high, I could suffer brain damage! After that episode, I have been VERY careful to take my Potassium with the Lasix and my levels are checked regularly.
Sorry to go on so long, but I just wanted to give you an example of how necessary it is to get enough potassium, especially with diuretics.
Please talk to your doctor about it!
Good luck!
Hugs, Nini
by the way, I edited because it posted before I was done...maybe it was trying to tell me something
Cheers
Lyn
Not sure how all of this plays in, but my father (who does not have RA-but whose brother has mild RA) has addison's of some variety and not the classic variety. He takes hydrocortisone I think. Only dx when he was in his 50's.
I've been on extra potassium for about 6 years. Am also on Lasix but I have a potassium that bounces around. After my TKR the bottom fell out of my potassium and I had IV potassium and it's something I don't want to repeat. My patients had always complained about the burning pain and now I know why. I take Klor Con twice a day and also eat potassium rich foods. Lindy
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