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Post by jenny4904 on Feb 24, 2009 15:59:10 GMT -5
Hi, I don't seem to be able to drink my himalayan salted water as it gives me diarrhea, and migraines. I want to get on to Florinef, but am already worried that I may have depleted my electrolytes, because I have been suffering with diarrhea for about 3 weeks ,when I started drinking the salted water.
I'm not drinking too much only a little in my water bottle that I drink during the day, so it seems I can't even tolerate that! I am salting my food though! Gerateful for any help Jenny.
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Post by justaustin on Feb 24, 2009 16:55:12 GMT -5
Jenny,
I see that you are presently taking 25mg/day of HC and 55mcg/day of T3. Is that correct? What were your last thyroid labs?
What happens when you just salt your food?
I wonder if perhaps you are experiencing thyroid dumping related to your salt? Do you feel warmer after you consume salt? Have you tried stress dosing your HC, reducing your T3 and/or taking some potassium? With the diarrhea, your potassium has dropped. Try eating a banana and/or drinking some orange juice with 1/4tsp of nosalt/fakesalt (potassium). See how you feel.
I presently do not take florinef, so I havn't had experience with the salt/potassium balance. Lee should be around soon. She can correct me or add more if need be. I hope this helps in the meantime.
Laurie
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Post by jenny4904 on Feb 24, 2009 17:20:38 GMT -5
Hi Laurie, Thanks for your reply, I don't understand the thyroid dumping as regards to salt?? The salt has actually stopped some of my heat intolerance, so I know it works, and sometimes my BP rises on standing!! Although only sometimes !!
I will take your advice and take some potassium and hope the diarrhea stops soon as I have cut salt out of my drinking water, but I still salt my food!! Jenny
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Post by justaustin on Feb 24, 2009 17:59:46 GMT -5
Jenny,
Dumping is when you have a bunch of thyroid hormone being utilized at one time by your tissues. The symptoms resemble being hyperthyroid (elevated pulse,diarrhea,elevated body temp,feeling hot,irritable,hungry ). Does this sound like what you are experiencing? The salt could very well be another component of better utilization of your thyroid hormones. This would be in addition to optimal cortisol, optimizing ferritin, optimizing vitamin D levels,vitamin B12.....
If this is what is happening, then perhaps you need to reduce your T3 so that you are not having the diarrhea/dumping symptoms. This may be the new steady dose you will need indefinitely, or for the duration of dumping(if it's temporary) and you return of hypothyroid symptoms. Does this make sense?
I'm glad to read that the salt is helping with your heat intolerance. We are unique in that we each have different things that need balancing in this hormonal puzzle. Laurie
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Post by Lethal Lee on Feb 24, 2009 23:04:07 GMT -5
Hi, I don't seem to be able to drink my himalayan salted water as it gives me diarrhea, and migraines. I want to get on to Florinef, but am already worried that I may have depleted my electrolytes, because I have been suffering with diarrhea for about 3 weeks ,when I started drinking the salted water. I'm not drinking too much only a little in my water bottle that I drink during the day, so it seems I can't even tolerate that! I am salting my food though! Gerateful for any help Jenny. Hi Jenny, You may be one who has trouble holding onto Salt/Sodium in water. You can test this by doing a Salt loading test if you have a bP monitor at home. If you dont have one I strongly suggest you get one...invaluable to help monitor vitals especially if you do start on Florinef. Take BP & HR at rest then standing. After that drink 1/2 teasp Sea Salt in glass tepid water. Retake sitting & Standing BP & HR in 10 minute intervals over the next hour. What we are looking at is whether the Salt improved your BP & HR & made it rise on standing. Also looking for how long the improvement lasted. If it did improve the numbers initially then that supports the fact that optimiisong Sodium is needed. However if the improvement is soon lost it means you are unable to hang on to the Sodium & body is dumping it. If doing the Sea Salt just triggers peeing & causes diarreah then is likely the latter (dumping) is happening. Where you cant optimise Sodium with Sea Salt because of dumping then Florinef may well be the answer. There are a few here & on RTH where this happened. Once on Florinef they were able to do basic Sea Salt supping of 1/4 -1/2 teasp Sea Salt in water 2-3 times a day without causing dumping symptoms. Note you MUST do some Salt supping when on Florinef for the med to work effeciently..it needs some ingestion of Salt in oreder to have some Sodium to retain. Dont be afraid of Florinef. If it is what you need it makes a big sometimes HUGE difference. Sure it is a strong med that needs to be treated repectfully...so is HC!!!! Just start up in the recommended manner so to find your right dose & avoid possible side effects. Average dose around 1 tab but 1-2 tabs is fine. Some get by with less. Some do OK with single dose some need split dose to eliminate symptoms over entire 24 hours. Yes its true Potassium must be watched & supped if needed. I need rx Potassium & I recommend to ask Doc to prescribe it at same time as Florinef. Trying to keep Potassium optimised with OTC supps is difficult & time consuming. All meds have their "sides". No different to HC lowering DHEA & Testosterone for many requiring them to do DHEA HRT as well???
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Post by jenny4904 on Feb 25, 2009 16:50:39 GMT -5
Hi Lee, Thanks so much for your reply. I already did the test you mention, and I can't sustain the blood pressure rise! I think I will go on Florinef, but my Dr. won't RX potassium, and he would have a fit if he knew what I was doing!! I'ts very difficult in the UK to get a DR. who understands. Anyway if I buy slow K myself, what dose would I start out on? Appreciate all your help. Jenny.
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Post by Lethal Lee on Feb 26, 2009 10:03:33 GMT -5
HI Jenny
Test just before Xmas
Sodium 141 (135-145) Potassium 4.4 (3.5-4.5)
I know they don't look too bad, but UI have all the symptoms of low aldosterone, ie: sweating heat intolerant, light sensitivity, headaches, failed flashlight test, salt craving etc
The trouble with the Labs here are they are too old... they were tested two months ago.
If you are going to try Florinef I would get just Sodium & Potassium tested before you start. Then start 1/4 tab Florinef in am. In another 5-7 days add another 1/4 tab & so on. If symptoms start to reduce during day but reppear later in avo/evening consider adding next 1/4 tab later in the day. Average dose is 1 tab ( but some do less some need up to 2 tabs)some single dose some split dose.
Do basic Salt supping try 1/4 teasp twice a day. No more than that.......no point doing more if it induces diarreah & precipitates a Migraine.
Anyway if I buy slow K myself, what dose would I start out on? I cant really suggest a RX Potassium dose without a more recent test. Are you getting Slow-K? That is 600mg per tab. the slow release lasts around 4 hours so is best dosed at least twice a day as well. I also recommend retesting Sodium & Potassium once you get to 1 tab (or if you settle on a lower dose).
Of course IF you get low Potassium symptoms then try 1 tab with each Florinef dose. Certainly no more than 2 tabs in total (1200mg) I would think but just no way to be sure without testing. No way to know how much Florinef will lower your Potassium either that is so individual...so retesting is better way to go than guessing.
Unfortunately, I have started to get bad headaches almost daily now and it seems to have started when I started salt supping, because I stopped salt supping and they went away!! Sodium/Potassium opimisation & BALANCE is the key. My sons suffer Migraines too they are awful...do you think I can get them to drink regualar;y never mind Salt supp (tenneagers eh???)
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Post by jenny4904 on Feb 27, 2009 13:02:03 GMT -5
Hi Lee, Thanks so much for your help. I may have trouble getting the tests you mention, as our doctors over here will not test unless THEY think you have a problem. I am already at war with my doc, because I won't do as I'm told !! (and that means to take Thyroxine).
The other thing I'm worried about is my blood pressure, which runs about 164/99 when off meds!! Do I HAVE to come off blood pressure meds to take Florinef!!
Anyway, I appreciate all your help you can give. Best wishes jenny.
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