Hi Eric... I think I need your Help please.  I  tried to start my own forum but obviously failed.  I did not mean to hijack "Hello From Texas" at all.  Is there a way you can move the above to its own forum & trash this? 

My appologies in advance & Thank you very much! 

Linda

Posted by: @dlkfiretruck

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Hi Eric... I think I need your Help please.  I  tried to start my own forum but obviously failed.  I did not mean to hijack "Hello From Texas" at all.  Is there a way you can move the above to its own forum & trash this? 

My appologies in advance & Thank you very much!

No trouble at all! This thread is now in a new home :)

Posted by: @dlkfiretruck

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First, the osto-e-z-vents, I place them at the top of my pouch & on their side so with the cap open it sort of resembles a pacman that may munch on off to the right.  I'm very left handed & have arthritis in my hands & finger joints & so far this has been the easiest placement for me to open the vent cap without becoming double jointed! Lol!  My pants waiste band, bcuz of weight loss, will slide down &  hook on the flaps we use to squeeze open the vent & open the vent up  which I only discover with the leak & has once popped the vent right off completely leaving me with a hole in my pouch & often a nasty leak if I've been bending over, which I do frequently in each day. I just can't figure out how to resolve this issue. Any suggestions would be so appreciated. 

Have you tried putting the vents in a different spot to see if it works better for you?

Alternatively, if that's not an option, can you consider putting something (maybe tape?) over the vent to secure it in place so that nothing can hook onto it?

Posted by: @dlkfiretruck

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Second, the Potassium thing has left me with a deeper fatigue level then the Iron seems capable of.

I wish I knew more about potassium deficiency. Sounds frustrating for sure.

Have your docs given you any idea as to what might be causing it?

The Mayo Clinic gives the following possible causes for potassium loss:

• Alcohol use (excessive)
• Chronic kidney disease
• Diabetic ketoacidosis (in which the body has high levels of blood acids called ketones)
• Diarrhea
• Diuretics (water retention relievers)
• Excessive laxative use
• Excessive sweating
• Folic acid deficiency
• Primary aldosteronism
• Some antibiotic use
• Vomiting

Of course, they only suggest speaking to your doctor to find the cause and solution, which is sound advice.

In my experience, many deficiencies aren't often caused by a lack of intake, but a problem with absorption.

Heck, I was stunned to learn recently that I have low Vitamin D, despite being out in the sun for a significant amount of time this past summer. It turns out that the sunscreen I've been using must be REALLY effective, so my body isn't converting any of that sunlight into vitamin D.

So in my case, it's not a lack of vitamin D but the ability for my body to actually absorb it. Perhaps something like that is going on with you?

Thank you so much for your help Eric! It's not like you don't have enough to do already without having to do this for me. Please know I appreciate your work & help fully. I can't seem to figure out how to post anything & I'll just go ahead & blame it on brain drain from anemia & potassium.  Honestly, this potassium thing has been so draining its almost unreal.  The affect both these deficiencies have had on my body & brain even, are a bit on the horrid side. I feel like I was just getting around the bend from the Anemia & managing to learn to "live & eat with it" as all forms of synthetic Iron & now Potassium seem to be rejected by this farce of a body!!  

Eric, Vitamin D deficiency!! Thats kind of crazy is'nt it?  I read up on the symptoms for it & am wondering if you'd share if you had symptoms of this?   I'd also love to know what other ostomates have dealt with in deficiencies, your symptoms & how you have recovered from it.  So if anyone wants to share please do so & know that here would be just fine by me.  Actually, I'd appreciate knowing I'm not alone in this battle of "EATING" my vitamins & absorbing them.  The majority of my issues come from fast transet times with my ileostomy short gut syndrome, I have such lovely guts. Absorption is definitly a big part of the problem.  But knowing & finding foods high in these vitamins & then having the energy to make them no matter how much I love cooking, sucks big time!  I feel like such a whiner!!! Ugh! Theres so many out there in a lot worse situations then this, I feel like I have no reason to even think of complaining/venting/ whining.....  

Eric, great idea!! Tape over the vent cap might make the waiste band slip over & not snag that little winged cap! I'll give it a try tomorrow. I was knocked off my feet yesterday from fatigue today & plan to be up & about tomorrow. I have moved these vents all around the surface of my pouch & so far the top has been the best position for them for me, but I may have to try again. I think I'll start with electrical tape, it has a nice surface for sliding something over it. 

Thank you again Eric!

I have used Imodium to slow down my gut and help with better vitamin absorption, and possibly helping to game weight back. Just a suggestion to ask your doctor about.

@rick  ... Thank you Rick! Every suggestion helps in some way. I will check with my GP but I have a nasty history of blockages even with SGS.

Every day I realize more & more how different everyones guts really are.