A drug question about potassium
I don't know much about drugs. I never even did the funs ones that a lot of people our age did back in the 60's. LOL! I'm not very chemistry minded, and do not even understand the function of most of the 10-12 drugs prescribed that I must take on a daily basis. It really blows my mind when I hear so many of you talking about the different drugs you take and y'all really seem to know so much about them! To me, they are like taxes and insurance, don't really care to read a lot about them, just do what I'm told, pay when I'm told, take the dosages I'm told. I never even think about them if I'm feeling good, and often forget to take the pills I really need to take when I do feel good! It's only when I'm in pain that I worry about drugs, and taking meds on schedule. But....can someone tell me why a drug that you take on a daily basis would not dissolve and absorb in your body? I'll try to word this delicately, 'cause it's a little bit of a gross subject....but, I take lasix, so I must take this huge potassium pill...it's big enough to choke a horse. I discovered this morning that yesterday's morning potassium pill just passed through without dissolving. That's never happened before. It does possibly explain why I had foot and leg cramps last night. I'm wondering if maybe that's why this morning I awoke with one of my thumbs and whole wrist completely "out" like a sprain. I had attributed this earlier to a cold front in the weather; it came in overnight here. Until I discovered the potassium pill passed through without even dissolving! All my life I've experience problems with joints that just "go out" for no reason....wrists, ankles, knees, hips. Usually when one goes out.... as the left wrist/thumb did today, the opposing joint will usually go too. I can expect the right one to go out at any time now. I keep wrists braces for these occasions and ankle wraps for the occasions when the ankles go. They will stay out for a period of time that I never have understood. Sometimes a day; sometimes for weeks, or months. And then, as suddenly as it came on, it will leave! Often, when it does leave, the pain moves to one of the other joint areas that I mentioned, and hits both of those. But I have not had this happen in a long time...in fact, not since my bypass. It used to happen on a very regular basis. But I wasn't taken potassium before the bypass either! The non-absorption of this potassium pill has me wondering if that's why I've always had problems with my joints. Like my body didn't get the level it needed for a 24 hour period. No doctor has ever offered an expaination to my questions about the joints before, although I know I have had low potassium levels in the past at times. I just never tied this to the joint problem...only to the leg/foot cramps. And don't you just love it when you ask a question, and the doctor just has a "duh" look, and starts double talking.....at the end of the visit, you realize that you never got an answer to your question. Anybody else take potassium or have knowledge about how/if it will effect the joints? Connie Connie Turner
I thought that potasium was for the heart and motabilisim. connie Turner <connieque@... I don't know much about drugs. I never even did the funs ones that a lot of people our age did back in the 60's. LOL! I'm not very chemistry minded, and do not even understand the function of most of the 10-12 drugs prescribed that I must take on a daily basis. It really blows my mind when I hear so many of you talking about the different drugs you take and y'all really seem to know so much about them! To me, they are like taxes and insurance, don't really care to read a lot about them, just do what I'm told, pay when I'm told, take the dosages I'm told. I never even think about them if I'm feeling good, and often forget to take the pills I really need to take when I do feel good! It's only when I'm in pain that I worry about drugs, and taking meds on schedule. But....can someone tell me why a drug that you take on a daily basis would not dissolve and absorb in your body? I'll try to word this delicately, 'cause it's a little bit of a gross subject....but, I take lasix, so I must take this huge potassium pill...it's big enough to choke a horse. I discovered this morning that yesterday's morning potassium pill just passed through without dissolving. That's never happened before. It does possibly explain why I had foot and leg cramps last night. I'm wondering if maybe that's why this morning I awoke with one of my thumbs and whole wrist completely "out" like a sprain. I had attributed this earlier to a cold front in the weather; it came in overnight here. Until I discovered the potassium pill passed through without even dissolving! All my life I've experience problems with joints that just "go out" for no reason....wrists, ankles, knees, hips. Usually when one goes out.... as the left wrist/thumb did today, the opposing joint will usually go too. I can expect the right one to go out at any time now. I keep wrists braces for these occasions and ankle wraps for the occasions when the ankles go. They will stay out for a period of time that I never have understood. Sometimes a day; sometimes for weeks, or months. And then, as suddenly as it came on, it will leave! Often, when it does leave, the pain moves to one of the other joint areas that I mentioned, and hits both of those. But I have not had this happen in a long time...in fact, not since my bypass. It used to happen on a very regular basis. But I wasn't taken potassium before the bypass either! The non-absorption of this potassium pill has me wondering if that's why I've always had problems with my joints. Like my body didn't get the level it needed for a 24 hour period. No doctor has ever offered an expaination to my questions about the joints before, although I know I have had low potassium levels in the past at times. I just never tied this to the joint problem...only to the leg/foot cramps. And don't you just love it when you ask a question, and the doctor just has a "duh" look, and starts double talking.....at the end of the visit, you realize that you never got an answer to your question. Anybody else take potassium or have knowledge about how/if it will effect the joints? Connie Connie Turner
And, I thought I took it to prevent muscle cramps because I have to take a water pill that will flush away the natural potassium level in my body. I have made an appoinment for next Wednesday with my primary care doctor to see about going back on Lexapro. Alhough he is not the one who prescribed either the lasix or the potassium pills, maybe he can clue me in. The cardio doc is the one who prescribed them because I was retaining fluids; my legs/arms were swelling. But he said in order to take the lasix to flush fluids, I had to take the potassium to replace those levels. But I know I have had to take potassium pills in the past as a much younger woman, and my heart problems weren't diagnosed at the time. So I don't really think they are just for heart patients. Who...knows? Maybe I'll get an answer when I see him on Wednesday. I just thought it strange that after more than 24 hours in my system, that a pill had not even began to dissolve. I've just never had that happen before. Connie Steven Young <say309@... I thought that potasium was for the heart and motabilisim. connie Turner <connieque@... I don't know much about drugs. I never even did the funs ones that a lot of people our age did back in the 60's. LOL! I'm not very chemistry minded, and do not even understand the function of most of the 10-12 drugs prescribed that I must take on a daily basis. It really blows my mind when I hear so many of you talking about the different drugs you take and y'all really seem to know so much about them! To me, they are like taxes and insurance, don't really care to read a lot about them, just do what I'm told, pay when I'm told, take the dosages I'm told. I never even think about them if I'm feeling good, and often forget to take the pills I really need to take when I do feel good! It's only when I'm in pain that I worry about drugs, and taking meds on schedule. But....can someone tell me why a drug that you take on a daily basis would not dissolve and absorb in your body? I'll try to word this delicately, 'cause it's a little bit of a gross subject....but, I take lasix, so I must take this huge potassium pill...it's big enough to choke a horse. I discovered this morning that yesterday's morning potassium pill just passed through without dissolving. That's never happened before. It does possibly explain why I had foot and leg cramps last night. I'm wondering if maybe that's why this morning I awoke with one of my thumbs and whole wrist completely "out" like a sprain. I had attributed this earlier to a cold front in the weather; it came in overnight here. Until I discovered the potassium pill passed through without even dissolving! All my life I've experience problems with joints that just "go out" for no reason....wrists, ankles, knees, hips. Usually when one goes out.... as the left wrist/thumb did today, the opposing joint will usually go too. I can expect the right one to go out at any time now. I keep wrists braces for these occasions and ankle wraps for the occasions when the ankles go. They will stay out for a period of time that I never have understood. Sometimes a day; sometimes for weeks, or months. And then, as suddenly as it came on, it will leave! Often, when it does leave, the pain moves to one of the other joint areas that I mentioned, and hits both of those. But I have not had this happen in a long time...in fact, not since my bypass. It used to happen on a very regular basis. But I wasn't taken potassium before the bypass either! The non-absorption of this potassium pill has me wondering if that's why I've always had problems with my joints. Like my body didn't get the level it needed for a 24 hour period. No doctor has ever offered an expaination to my questions about the joints before, although I know I have had low potassium levels in the past at times. I just never tied this to the joint problem...only to the leg/foot cramps. And don't you just love it when you ask a question, and the doctor just has a "duh" look, and starts double talking.....at the end of the visit, you realize that you never got an answer to your question. Anybody else take potassium or have knowledge about how/if it will effect the joints? Connie Connie Turner Connie Turner
Connie it does...when you take lasix...you need potasium..l was told that too.. l take 1 Lexapro a day...does wonders for my moods...lol tell us what the Doc...says OK Rita And, I thought I took it to prevent muscle cramps because I have to take a water pill that will flush away the natural potassium level in my body. I have made an appoinment for next Wednesday with my primary care doctor to see about going back on Lexapro. Alhough he is not the one who prescribed either the lasix or the potassium pills, maybe he can clue me in. The cardio doc is the one who prescribed them because I was retaining fluids; my legs/arms were swelling. But he said in order to take the lasix to flush fluids, I had to take the potassium to replace those levels. But I know I have had to take potassium pills in the past as a much younger woman, and my heart problems weren't diagnosed at the time. So I don't really think they are just for heart patients. Who...knows? Maybe I'll get an answer when I see him on Wednesday. I just thought it strange that after more than 24 hours in my system, that a pill had not even began to dissolve. I've just never had that happen before. Connie Steven Young <say309@... I thought that potasium was for the heart and motabilisim. connie Turner <connieque@... I don't know much about drugs. I never even did the funs ones that a lot of people our age did back in the 60's. LOL! I'm not very chemistry minded, and do not even understand the function of most of the 10-12 drugs prescribed that I must take on a daily basis. It really blows my mind when I hear so many of you talking about the different drugs you take and y'all really seem to know so much about them! To me, they are like taxes and insurance, don't really care to read a lot about them, just do what I'm told, pay when I'm told, take the dosages I'm told. I never even think about them if I'm feeling good, and often forget to take the pills I really need to take when I do feel good! It's only when I'm in pain that I worry about drugs, and taking meds on schedule. But....can someone tell me why a drug that you take on a daily basis would not dissolve and absorb in your body? I'll try to word this delicately, 'cause it's a little bit of a gross subject....but, I take lasix, so I must take this huge potassium pill...it's big enough to choke a horse. I discovered this morning that yesterday's morning potassium pill just passed through without dissolving. That's never happened before. It does possibly explain why I had foot and leg cramps last night. I'm wondering if maybe that's why this morning I awoke with one of my thumbs and whole wrist completely "out" like a sprain. I had attributed this earlier to a cold front in the weather; it came in overnight here. Until I discovered the potassium pill passed through without even dissolving! All my life I've experience problems with joints that just "go out" for no reason....wrists, ankles, knees, hips. Usually when one goes out.... as the left wrist/thumb did today, the opposing joint will usually go too. I can expect the right one to go out at any time now. I keep wrists braces for these occasions and ankle wraps for the occasions when the ankles go. They will stay out for a period of time that I never have understood. Sometimes a day; sometimes for weeks, or months. And then, as suddenly as it came on, it will leave! Often, when it does leave, the pain moves to one of the other joint areas that I mentioned, and hits both of those. But I have not had this happen in a long time...in fact, not since my bypass. It used to happen on a very regular basis. But I wasn't taken potassium before the bypass either! The non-absorption of this potassium pill has me wondering if that's why I've always had problems with my joints. Like my body didn't get the level it needed for a 24 hour period. No doctor has ever offered an expaination to my questions about the joints before, although I know I have had low potassium levels in the past at times. I just never tied this to the joint problem...only to the leg/foot cramps. And don't you just love it when you ask a question, and the doctor just has a "duh" look, and starts double talking.....at the end of the visit, you realize that you never got an answer to your question. Anybody else take potassium or have knowledge about how/if it will effect the joints? Connie Connie Turner Connie Turner
Connie, I have arthritis in my fingers and thumb and they swell and hurt. Two of my fingers have what they call, arthritic cysts on them. My hips do ache sometimes and also my knees. When the weather is cold and rainy, I hurt all over in every joint. My shoulder has ached since the bypass surgery and I think that might also be arthritis in that joint. It does make you tired to always be in pain. Guess the only thing you can take if you have heart disease is advil or tylenol. They both help some but the pain always comes back. My thumbs get really sore sometimes and I have dropped stuff when they are really hurting. You are younger than me, I'm 62, but I have had joint pain since I was in my 20's. It just seems to get worse with time. I have had the cysts on my fingers since about 45. I did play sports in school and was a very active person and I smoked for 35 years. I didn't just play around with it. I smoked 21/2 to 3 packs everyday until I quit in 1991 at 49. That was after I had a heart attack and the doctor told me if I didn't quit smoking I would have another heart attack. That was my drug of choice so I never got into the street stuff but I was a kid willing to try anything so I'm very lucky that I grew up in a small town and those drugs were not around yet. They are out there everywhere today and I do know people who smoke pot all the time and they are my age so I don't think it is too bad as they seem as healthy as most their age. Ann
Ann, Yes, I've had the bone/joint/connective tissue ALL my life...even in grade school. My neck and feet especially. And, yes....I know lots of people my age who smoke weed. I know a lot more that still WOULD if it weren't for drug testing in the work place today! LOL These are the ones whose eyes still light up at the memories of good times and the enhanced sex life they enjoyed while using. I have been walking before with some who will recognize the smell of it in the air and start looking around to see where it's coming from....and I don't even recognize the smell. I have never smoked cigarettes, although for some reason, all doctors always closely question me on that....I guess because of my lungs and heart problems they find it hard to believe that I have never smoked. I have a hard time even being around anyone who is smoking. I do agree with you that I don't see a lot of damage to those who have done, and are still doing the weed. And I really think it should at least be legalized for medical purposes in controlling pain. It is after all not unlike that of any other controlled substance which are also addictive. I've seen enough pain and sorrow from cancer etc., that I think it should be legally, medically available for those with cancer, or MS, or whatever disease that weed would ease pain and suffering. Connie STEVE RAY <ramblingrays@... Connie, I have arthritis in my fingers and thumb and they swell and hurt. Two of my fingers have what they call, arthritic cysts on them. My hips do ache sometimes and also my knees. When the weather is cold and rainy, I hurt all over in every joint. My shoulder has ached since the bypass surgery and I think that might also be arthritis in that joint. It does make you tired to always be in pain. Guess the only thing you can take if you have heart disease is advil or tylenol. They both help some but the pain always comes back. My thumbs get really sore sometimes and I have dropped stuff when they are really hurting. You are younger than me, I'm 62, but I have had joint pain since I was in my 20's. It just seems to get worse with time. I have had the cysts on my fingers since about 45. I did play sports in school and was a very active person and I smoked for 35 years. I didn't just play around with it. I smoked 21/2 to 3 packs everyday until I quit in 1991 at 49. That was after I had a heart attack and the doctor told me if I didn't quit smoking I would have another heart attack. That was my drug of choice so I never got into the street stuff but I was a kid willing to try anything so I'm very lucky that I grew up in a small town and those drugs were not around yet. They are out there everywhere today and I do know people who smoke pot all the time and they are my age so I don't think it is too bad as they seem as healthy as most their age. Ann Connie Turner
I tryied weed 1 time and was all swolen up. I am alergic to it. I never smoked weed again. LOL Steve Y. [INLINE] connie Turner <connieque@... Ann, Yes, I've had the bone/joint/connective tissue ALL my life...even in grade school. My neck and feet especially. And, yes....I know lots of people my age who smoke weed. I know a lot more that still WOULD if it weren't for drug testing in the work place today! LOL These are the ones whose eyes still light up at the memories of good times and the enhanced sex life they enjoyed while using. I have been walking before with some who will recognize the smell of it in the air and start looking around to see where it's coming from....and I don't even recognize the smell. I have never smoked cigarettes, although for some reason, all doctors always closely question me on that....I guess because of my lungs and heart problems they find it hard to believe that I have never smoked. I have a hard time even being around anyone who is smoking. I do agree with you that I don't see a lot of damage to those who have done, and are still doing the weed. And I really think it should at least be legalized for medical purposes in controlling pain. It is after all not unlike that of any other controlled substance which are also addictive. I've seen enough pain and sorrow from cancer etc., that I think it should be legally, medically available for those with cancer, or MS, or whatever disease that weed would ease pain and suffering. Connie STEVE RAY <ramblingrays@... Connie, I have arthritis in my fingers and thumb and they swell and hurt. Two of my fingers have what they call, arthritic cysts on them. My hips do ache sometimes and also my knees. When the weather is cold and rainy, I hurt all over in every joint. My shoulder has ached since the bypass surgery and I think that might also be arthritis in that joint. It does make you tired to always be in pain. Guess the only thing you can take if you have heart disease is advil or tylenol. They both help some but the pain always comes back. My thumbs get really sore sometimes and I have dropped stuff when they are really hurting. You are younger than me, I'm 62, but I have had joint pain since I was in my 20's. It just seems to get worse with time. I have had the cysts on my fingers since about 45. I did play sports in school and was a very active person and I smoked for 35 years. I didn't just play around with it. I smoked 21/2 to 3 packs everyday until I quit in 1991 at 49. That was after I had a heart attack and the doctor told me if I didn't quit smoking I would have another heart attack. That was my drug of choice so I never got into the street stuff but I was a kid willing to try anything so I'm very lucky that I grew up in a small town and those drugs were not around yet. They are out there everywhere today and I do know people who smoke pot all the time and they are my age so I don't think it is too bad as they seem as healthy as most their age. Ann Connie Turner
We made lousy '60's flower children...didn't we, Steve! CT Steven Young <say309@... I tryied weed 1 time and was all swolen up. I am alergic to it. I never smoked weed again. LOL Steve Y. [INLINE] connie Turner <connieque@... Ann, Yes, I've had the bone/joint/connective tissue ALL my life...even in grade school. My neck and feet especially. And, yes....I know lots of people my age who smoke weed. I know a lot more that still WOULD if it weren't for drug testing in the work place today! LOL These are the ones whose eyes still light up at the memories of good times and the enhanced sex life they enjoyed while using. I have been walking before with some who will recognize the smell of it in the air and start looking around to see where it's coming from....and I don't even recognize the smell. I have never smoked cigarettes, although for some reason, all doctors always closely question me on that....I guess because of my lungs and heart problems they find it hard to believe that I have never smoked. I have a hard time even being around anyone who is smoking. I do agree with you that I don't see a lot of damage to those who have done, and are still doing the weed. And I really think it should at least be legalized for medical purposes in controlling pain. It is after all not unlike that of any other controlled substance which are also addictive. I've seen enough pain and sorrow from cancer etc., that I think it should be legally, medically available for those with cancer, or MS, or whatever disease that weed would ease pain and suffering. Connie STEVE RAY <ramblingrays@... Connie, I have arthritis in my fingers and thumb and they swell and hurt. Two of my fingers have what they call, arthritic cysts on them. My hips do ache sometimes and also my knees. When the weather is cold and rainy, I hurt all over in every joint. My shoulder has ached since the bypass surgery and I think that might also be arthritis in that joint. It does make you tired to always be in pain. Guess the only thing you can take if you have heart disease is advil or tylenol. They both help some but the pain always comes back. My thumbs get really sore sometimes and I have dropped stuff when they are really hurting. You are younger than me, I'm 62, but I have had joint pain since I was in my 20's. It just seems to get worse with time. I have had the cysts on my fingers since about 45. I did play sports in school and was a very active person and I smoked for 35 years. I didn't just play around with it. I smoked 21/2 to 3 packs everyday until I quit in 1991 at 49. That was after I had a heart attack and the doctor told me if I didn't quit smoking I would have another heart attack. That was my drug of choice so I never got into the street stuff but I was a kid willing to try anything so I'm very lucky that I grew up in a small town and those drugs were not around yet. They are out there everywhere today and I do know people who smoke pot all the time and they are my age so I don't think it is too bad as they seem as healthy as most their age. Ann Connie Turner Connie Turner