Originally Posted by koffee brown
I don't know about you, but I'd GO in and see the doctor, and I'd be running. What if these are just temporary solutions?
If you have an unresponsive doctor, get a new one. I'm not impressed with your doctor from what you told me.
Good luck, dude. Don't treat your health lightly!
Koffee
Originally Posted by MKRG
At first this post really freaked me out. I'm glad things are better now. I'm thinking I may try some potassium because I have palpitations from time to time (benign). I'm apt to agree with Koffee that I would get it checked out.
Thanks for your thoughts.
Just a bit of perspective. I have had palpitations before, caused by caffeine (which I TOTALLY avoid), and have discussed them with previous docs. With a totally normal EKG just weeks before, and with reading a whole lot about palpitations,
which are almost always benign, I was in no hurry to go and see a specialist. My functioning was generally not affected, and the major risk I took with a specialist was to start a regimen of more meds, which have more side effects, which cause more problems and it is a never-ending downward spiral. We are going through something similar (downward spiral from meds) right now with my wife - different situation entirely, but at one time she went through 15 meds, and
the major problem was the side effects of the meds she was on. There is no medicine without side effects, and I was willing to take the risk that i could figure this thing out myself.
But, I am NOT impressed with the response of the doc. I could have forced it more, and gone to see someone, but didn't feel that urgency. Unfortunately, we have been forced to recently move to a HMO, and right now she is the best available one in the HMO! Sadly, our medical system, particularly for those of us on or approaching Medicare, leaves something to be desired.
Originally Posted by JLD
I was thinking, Some blood pressure medications act on the kidneys-as diuretics-so-you may have been depleting your potassium anyway. What I want to suggest-is get that doctor to give you the plain facts on whether or not the present bp med you are taking, demands supplements with potassium and magnesium . And a blood test for present levels of these substances in your system.
Yes, HCTZ IS a diuretic. I know and knew that, and that is why I am kicking myself around the block for not figuring this out sooner. Soemtimes you miss the forest for the trees. But, the doc should have seen it! Also, no doc or scientist truly knows how different combinations of meds interact with each other in any one person's body. They think they do, and they have studies for the general population, but they really don't know for ANY ONE person.
From the internet:
Palpitations are often not serious. However, it depends on whether or not the sensations represent an abnormal heart rhythm (called an arrhythmia). You are more likely to have an abnormal heart rhythm if you have:
Known heart disease at the time the palpitations begin
No, my heart had recently been checked out as excellent
Significant risk factors for heart disease
No, I don't.
An abnormal heart valve
No, I had just been checked carefully.
An electrolyte abnormality -- for example, low potassium
Bingo!
Common Causes
Heart palpitations can be caused by:
Exercise
I do about 3 hours of exercise daily.
Anxiety, stress, fear
Well, wife is going through a pretty (extremely) rough time right now with some PTSD
Fever
No
Caffeine, nicotine, cocaine, diet pills
AVoid with the plague
Overactive thyroid
Just had a completely normal full panel of blood tests
Anemia
Ditto
Hyperventilation
Nope
Low levels of oxygen in your blood
Just had a completely normal full panel of blood tests
Medications such as thyroid pills, asthma drugs, beta blockers for high blood pressure or heart disease, or anti-arrhythmics (medications to treat an irregular heart rhythm can sometimes cause a different irregular rhythm) Not taking any of these
Mitral valve prolapse -- the valve that separates the left upper chamber (atrium) from the left lower chamber (ventricle) of the heart does not close properly
Just checked with annual physical
Heart disease
Just checked with annual physical
If it starts again, and I am not correct but just had a lucky fluke with the magnesium and potassium, I will go and see the doc!