I went to the Doctor last Wednesday for a check up. Nothing big just some small things. She said she didn't like the blood pressure numbers she has seen for the last year or so. She decided to have me do a full work up with blood work, and for me to monitor my blood pressure for six weeks. I do have high blood pressure. I've had it for about six years now. It's hereditary, both parents and four out of the six kids have it. I did change medications about a year ago. Also, my right hand and arm all the way up to my shoulder had been really sore. She wasn't sure why, and said it sounded like a nerve problem.
Fast forward to yesterday (Friday) I decided to go ahead and stop at the hospital to do the blood work on my way to work. In the afternoon I noticed a missed call from my Doctor's office. There was a voicemail that said I needed to call them back ASAP. Worried I called back. She said that my potassium levels were critically low. She said I was at 3.0 and they hospitalize when you get to 2.8 and you can have cardiac problems at 2.5 or sooner.
You start having headaches, fatigue, and muscle cramps, then ultimately heart problems.
Like I said before my arm had been hurting up to my shoulder for about a week. On Friday, my other shoulder was hurting. Friday I was subbing in a class, and my right leg starting getting horrible cramps. This past few weeks I've been extra tried, and have had really bad headaches. This was all before I got the phone call.
Within an hour of getting home from work, I was in so much pain! I was having muscle cramps in my legs, arms, and pelvic area. I took a hot bath thinking that might help the pain. I could barley walk. I called my brother who is an ER Nurse to get some advice. He said that we needed to buy potassium supplements asap. He said to take 10 of them and my muscle cramps should get better. Patrick ran to the store and bought some, and also Ensure (because it's high is potassium). Within 1 hour the cramps were gone. I had 1 more Ensure before I went to bed.
Basically they think the blood pressure meds I have been on were causing my body to deplete it of the potassium I need. They stopped that one and put me on a new one. I go back for blood work in a week. After that they will decide if more needs to be done.
This morning and today my body is sore! I feel like I was hit by a car. I'm exhausted. I have a pretty good headache as well. Patrick bought orange juice, and bananas. I took three more potassium pills. My brother said no more after that. If my potassium drops again they need to know, and that means it is not the blood pressure med that was causing it. Hopefully I start feeling better.
It was a scary experience.
