Pseudotumor Cerebri Support Group

Pseudotumor cerebri (PTC) is a neurological disorder that is characterized by increased intracranial pressure, in the absence of a tumor or other diseases affecting the brain or its lining. Diagnosis requires brain scans and lumbar puncture. Characteristic symptoms are headache, transient visual obscurations or transient visual loss in one or both eyes usually lasting...

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Update on low CO2

tsmama
tsmama
Hi all!

I saw my NO on Friday to discuss my low CO2 levels, low K levels and high chloride. I was also having some shortness of breath.

He decreased my diamox from 1750 to 1500mg, prescribed a K supplement, (that the pharmacy never got, and since it's the weekend I can't get ahold of my NO to resend it, will have to wait until to or row.) he said that the K will only really help with the tingling in my hands and feet (and face and legs.) and that the decrease in diamox will be what helps my CO2 levels, and my breathing improve.
Does that make sense?
I am supposed to call him and my GP if I am not feeling better by tomorrow. Im still doing the sigh/yawn, trying to get a deep enough breath thing, but it might be getting better, I don't know.
I can tell you that my headaches have gotten worse since the decrease in meds.
So basically, I'm not sure what to think.

Thanks for your support everyone!
Beth
tsmama
tsmama
I have also spent all day feeling dizzy.
Guess I'll be making that call to my GP and NO tomorrow. :(
deleted_user
deleted_user
Did he give you Potassium Citrate ? If your Chloride levels are high , that is what you need - not Potassium Chloride.
deleted_user
deleted_user
Did he give you Potassium Citrate or Potassium Bicarbonate ? If your Chloride levels are high , that is what you need - not Potassium Chloride. Hang in there . Eat some alkaline foods - do a Google search for them. Lemons and citrus foods are good....they are acidic but turn into Alkaline in your body and this can help you feel better. Flax oil is also really good. I take a 1000mg supplement of Flax oil. It is Alkaline as well.
deleted_user
deleted_user
Did he give you Potassium Citrate or Potassium Bicarbonate ? If your Chloride levels are high , that is what you need - not Potassium Chloride. Hang in there . Eat some alkaline foods - do a Google search for them. Lemons and citrus foods are good....they are acidic but turn into Alkaline in your body and this can help you feel better. Flax oil is also really good. I take a 1000mg supplement of Flax oil. It is Alkaline as well.
deleted_user
deleted_user
Did he give you Potassium Citrate or Potassium Bicarbonate ? If your Chloride levels are high , that is what you need - not Potassium Chloride. Hang in there . Eat some alkaline foods - do a Google search for them. Lemons and citrus foods are good....they are acidic but turn into Alkaline in your body and this can help you feel better. Flax oil is also really good. I take a 1000mg supplement of Flax oil. It is Alkaline as well.
deleted_user
deleted_user
Did he give you Potassium Citrate or Potassium Bicarbonate ? If your Chloride levels are high , that is what you need - not Potassium Chloride. Hang in there . Eat some alkaline foods - do a Google search for them. Lemons and citrus foods are good....they are acidic but turn into Alkaline in your body and this can help you feel better. Flax oil is also really good. I take a 1000mg supplement of Flax oil. It is Alkaline as well.
deleted_user
deleted_user
Did he give you Potassium Citrate or Potassium Bicarbonate ? If your Chloride levels are high , that is what you need - not Potassium Chloride. Hang in there . Eat some alkaline foods - do a Google search for them. Lemons and citrus foods are good....they are acidic but turn into Alkaline in your body and this can help you feel better. Flax oil is also really good. I take a 1000mg supplement of Flax oil. It is Alkaline as well.
deleted_user
deleted_user
WOW....something weird going on with DS today !!!! Sorry bout that !
tsmama
tsmama
That was very strange! LOL

I am actually not taking anything, since there seems to be a break down somewhere between my NO's office and the pharmacy. I will be getting a written script on Wednesday. I did request either K-citrate or K-Bicarb, so hopefully the NO was listening. If not, then I will bring it up again.

I did speak with the NO's office via email today, and he assured me that I could be having "rebound" symptoms for the decrease in meds, and that I should feel better by Wednesday or Thursday. If I don't then I am to call him back and he will get me in to my GP to rule out anything else that could be causing the dizziness/vertigo. If everything checks out through the GP, then I'm guessing that we will be decreasing the Diamox more, possibly trying something else.

I'm getting frustrates, because it seems like I just get to feeling human, and something else pops up. But I suppose that is to be expected with IIH...
I'm hoping with my continuing weight loss that I will see more improvement in my PAPS and visual fields and that maybe, I will go into remission. Hope never hurt, so I keep at it.

Thanks for your help Fayerae!