Hey Eric...

I'm sorry, I tried starting a new forum with the above & somehow did'nt succeed...is there any way you can move this for me to start a new forum or should I just delete it ??? 

Thank you...

Linda

Posted by: @dlkfiretruck

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Hey Eric...

I'm sorry, I tried starting a new forum with the above & somehow did'nt succeed...is there any way you can move this for me to start a new forum or should I just delete it ??? 

Thank you...

Linda

Here you go :)

I'm sorry to hear what you've been though, Linda!

No doubt you'd have some pretty serious medical issues related to low potassium and magnesium, since they do control muscle function, including the heart!

Hi Linda, So sorry to hear what’s been happening. The very best wishes 🤕🙏

@veganostomy  ... Thank you Eric for moving this! 

Thank you John & Eric,  Yes it was a nasty type ordeal. I've never had so many different tests done & so much blood work as I did that day & week.  I had to give myself a few pep talks a couple times! Lol.  Its going to take some time before I'm back to where I was with my health & energy... but now I know what to look for. 

Hi Linda.   I have had deficiencies in potassium, magnesium, sodium and B12 and other problems with white and reed blood count, liver enzymes etc.  Some of them where only addressed when I ask questions after reviewing my blood work results.  Experience has taught me to request copies of my test results and review them carefully and then research any indicated with a high or low level.  Then I'll discuss it with my doctor to determine what, if any action is required. It takes time but I have found it very helpful

@fred  ... Thank you Fred!! Yes, I was badly deficient in all the same as well & more. I do see my blood work and reports on line all the time, but bcuz I was so unwell at home I was unable to even think clearly enough to understand the results but normally I do the same as you do & learn what they mean. I wish my eyes had not been so screwy or I could have jumped on them, but... well, it is what it is.  I'll be watching those numbers pretty royally from now on as much as I'm able. 

Can I ask what your symptoms were regarding those deficient numbers in potassium & magnesium? What caused it for you, SGS?  I'm still dealing with some of the results of my bodies reactions to the deficiencies. Its still a very challenging time.

I appreciate your chiming in here Fred!  If  anyone with SGS would message here or privately & tell me how your situation is handled OR anyone with too much scar tissue that causes constant bowel pain, though all gut pain is nasty!!  I just really hate being on all these meds that don't fully help all the time. I don't even want to eat anymore but I do bcuz Its supposed to be good for our bodies & so called health but the cycle of pain just never ends. 

Thank you all for reading,  I'm sorry, I'm just so down & exhausted from all of this. 

Hi Linda,

Your point is well taken.  I have been hospitalized several times for bowel obstructions and not able to eat for extended periods of time. During those times I was not able to monitor. What does SGS stand for?

@fred  ... Sorry Fred, SGS stands for "short gut syndrome".  With No large intestine available & Not enough small intestine left to absorb enough vitamins & minerals to live life healthily. Not enough gut left to do more surgery of any bowel kind. If the surgeon was to go in & seperate scar tissue, then nick bowel or need to remove more due to a bowel perforation, the challenges the patient will face will become likley very difficult to live a "normal" healthy life. 

Its not fun with all the scar tissue from all the bowel surgery I've had. We all know that when its not an emergency its called elective surgery, but its not really elective when your as sick as many of us are when we needed the surgery in the first place & its going to help you live a better life then being bed & bathroom ridden. Erics story speaks so clearly of his need for the ostomy.  Elective surgery can still mean life saving surgery. Does this answer your question? 

Thank you for asking Fred. 

Yes.  Thank you.

Hi,

I’ve lost potassium and magnesium twice. Each time there I was there they infused and pills.  I was never told I had to stay in it for life as after I finished the pills they checked my levels and were good. Still good to this day. 

@chelly ...  Thank you Chelly for responding. I was wondering if maybe you were very low in Potassium & maybe not depleted.  They sure don't want anyone dropping below!! I find that the range for Potassium is so small. Dropping below that 3.? number is dangerous all around.  Maybe bcuz of my ❤️ history,  they sure kept a close eye on my heart the whole time until my numbers were back in the normal range. 

Somehow...I was not impressed with what my body was doing to me at all & yet I was impressed with its ability to fight through all it was going through.  Does anyone ever feel like that? 

@dlkfiretruck yes it sounds like yours was a more serious situation. Mine was 3. Something at the time but they let me go home. A week later after all the pills my doctor checked me again and I was back up. I think I may have been dehydrated. It was shortly after a hernia surgery but it was past the 6 weeks for sure. I dont think I was eating right or drinking enough. 
I hope you are feeling better these days.

@chelly Thank you chelly. I am doing better & the Buscopan is doing wonders as long as I take it on time, one hour before meals no less.  I am still trying to deal with learning that sometimes even a low dose narcotic is whats needed to do the job for this horrid pain & when its approved by a team of 3 GI's & rotating GP's & my GP, well, I'm thinking it has to be okay, but it still kind of goes against everything I've practiced & learned my whole life. 

I have found for the nausea, the little round Gravol tablets make me too drugged & sleepy feeling & BTW, Oddly enough I don't feel drugged by the low dose narcotic like I do on the little round Gravol!!  So I've been taking the Long Acting oval, two layer Gravol & talk about a difference!! Bonus is it takes the nausea away rather quickly & keeps working beyond 4 hours. The Package says up to 12 hours but bcuz I process foods so quickly It can be only 5 or 6 hours on a good day for me. 

I'm on a regular two week schedule for blood work to moniter all my vitamins & minerals now. I'm really hoping my blood veins will be easier to take blood from now that the potassium & magnesium is under control & hanging in there at the required levels of  especially Potassium @ 3.6 to 5.2, such a small range to keep us functioning eh?!! Lol! My appetite is back & I credit the food chanels for making me want to eat again! Lolol!!! 

I’m glad to hear that you’re feeling better and that they are looking out for you with the blood work, etc. thoughts and prayers your way

@dlkfiretruck Wow, Linda! I’ve haven’t been on the site for awhile - so sorry to hear about all the difficulties you’ve been having. Glad to hear that the Buscopan is helping and that you’re out of hospital now. Good grief, you’ve had a rough go. Take it easy.

Laurie

@tigerlily  ... Thank you Chelly & Laurie!  I am getting there but had a slight draw back.  Last week I woke up in agony & had to call an ambulance again. Our little hospitals ER was closed as has been happening due to Doctor shortages, so they trucked me back to the big hospital about an hour away.  Just as they got me in the ambulance the paramedics started looking for a vien so they could adminster meds. They actually got one in my hand the first try, bit as typical wuth my viens, it blew the next morning. Once the IV was started one of the Paramedics gave me this tube to inhale some meds similar to what they said was like the affects of laughing gas, only better!!! I want a life time supply at home!!! Talk about an amazing medication.  It worked very well & about the time we arrived I had been falling asleep. I dont remember arriving at the hospital or being put in a room & placed on another stretcher. I'll tell you... Laughing Gas in my dentist chair was NEVER  that good! Lol!  Has anyone ever been given such a thing?? 

Oh my Linda!! What ordeals you're going through!! 

Re the laughing gas, yes, I got something similar when I dislocated my elbow. Didn't really knock me out like it did to you. But, different country, so who knows if we got the same thing?

I have some trauma related to laughing gas. The smell gives me an anxiety attack. It's not used much here anymore, only as recreational drugs by teens and tweens.