Perpetual Ruminations

More Medication Problems

Yes, I'm still having some issues with the new medications I was put on starting Monday. One is for neuropathy, and the other is for low potassium levels. I took both, according to directions, and ended up getting sicker than a dog. It was assumed to be the medication for neuropathy, which they had me stop taking.

Yesterday, I went in for some fluids via my port and discussed all of this. I was taken off the neuropathy, and that was supposed to solve the problem. I was also told to cut the potassium supplement in half and take half with lunch, the other half with dinner, to make it easier on me. I was also given potassium through my port with the liter of saltwater I was having pumped into me.

Today, with my lunch, I took half of a potassium tablet as directed and had to take anti-nausea medication shortly after. This has me wondering which one, or maybe both, made me so sick. I've been doing a bit of research and found some interesting facts about the potassium I was put on.

One thing I need to discuss with a different doctor (I'm not trusting the oncologist who prescribed it) is that I shouldn't be taking it with one of the other medications I'm on. I also, because of my throat restrictions, should have been put on the liquid form instead of the huge horse pill. Also, low magnesium levels could be causing my elevated sugar levels and lower potassium levels (according to my labs, my magnesium levels are lower than my potassium levels). Finally, I'm supposed to have my potassium levels checked frequently to ensure I don't raise the level too high, which is more dangerous than too low. I'm not scheduled for another lab for two weeks!

So yes, more confusion. I will be getting a second opinion from not just another doctor but from an entirely different health care system (in Fred Sanford's health care system, all the doctors will back the others). For now, it's off of both until I find out more from someone trained and knowledgeable about such things.