In the hospital. Almost died of low potasium

[OMI100]

We all fight the "Medical Standards of Care".
Insurance companies also have standards as to what they will cover based on what the diagnosis is.
You can look at your insurance companies formulary (I think that is what it is called) and see what they cover and what the rate of coverage is.
I am pretty sure most insurance companies will NOT cover a drug that is prescribed for an "off label" use.
Most likely "fertility" yes... "TRT" No.
BUT if you can get a script, the pharmacies will fill it, BUT you will not be able to use your insurance and you will have to pay full retail price.

 

[ratbag]

I see your FT3 is lowish and they didn't do an FT4... but your T4 looks lowish too. I wonder what your thyroid antibodies are. Most HRT MD's would try to raise your FT3 and FT4. Increasing these values should make you feel better and possibly solve some of you other low lab numbers.

 

[Deleted member 17030]

Have you had any Corticosteroid use before this happened? I think usually Potassium is lowered when you have high Cortisol. You look like what someone would that stopped taking Prednisone too fast. I have read about it but I am no expert. We get HCG from the cash only doctors because insurance don't cover it and regular doctors go by the standard insurance protocol. Insurance pays for it if your going to a fertility clinic where they will know all about it.

Very good observation Captain. Yes I have. In fact I had a 40mg shot of Kenolog the same morning this all happened. I have been getting these Cortisone shots every 3-4 months the past 6 years to control the awful exzema I have on both my hands. The dermotologists says its safe to do so after every 3 months. I told the ER docs about it and they didn't seem to care or think it was even an issue that I had gotten a shot earlier that day. But then again they were only concerned with saving my life and not why it happened.

Check out this video of my hand I made a year ago, you wont believe it lol. Of course this will all be discussed with the Endo dr apt coming up soon. I have been getting these cortisone shots for 6 years, no prior issues with them, but that might be changing. Don't know how I would live my life without these cortisone shots to control this.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MKDWWaSFWzw&feature=youtu.be

 

[Deleted member 17030]

Wondering about 3 things in the tests:

-This shows up repeatedly, I don't think you commented on this previously on this thread, : "Comment: HIGH DOSES OF BIOTIN TAKEN WITHIN 8 HOURS OF BLOOD COLLECTION MAY INTERFERE WITH THE RESULTS OF THIS ASSAY"

-Glucose was high on all results. I'm assuming for one that you were not fasting for any of the tests, but any relation to kidneys? With diabetes, kidneys can kick into high gear from high blood glucose/ketones/acidosis. I don't know how to interpret ph in the test results, but could excreting potassium also be a result?

- As FL noted, Phosphorus was also low.

No fasting, I drink lots of soda throughout the day. That needs to change, I get it. The food the hospital provided had packs of sugar with it and I used it also.

 

[Deleted member 17030]

We all fight the "Medical Standards of Care".
Insurance companies also have standards as to what they will cover based on what the diagnosis is.
You can look at your insurance companies formulary (I think that is what it is called) and see what they cover and what the rate of coverage is.
I am pretty sure most insurance companies will NOT cover a drug that is prescribed for an "off label" use.
Most likely "fertility" yes... "TRT" No.
BUT if you can get a script, the pharmacies will fill it, BUT you will not be able to use your insurance and you will have to pay full retail price.

That's what I figured, since Insurance companies don't cover HCG for TRT use, the mainstream medical docs don't prescribe it. You would think they would tell you about it and at least give you the option to pay out of pocket.

It also seems to me from what I read on this forum that HCG in general seems to be a crap shoot and doesn't work half the time because the drug is fragile and goes to pot.

 

[Deleted member 16042]

No fasting, I drink lots of soda throughout the day. That needs to change, I get it. The food the hospital provided had packs of sugar with it and I used it also.

Krikey, seems like that hospital is trying to keep you in the ICU.

 

[captain]

I looked up Kenolog and 40mg looks like a mega dose. I would guess this is the source of your problems. It is causing the high glucose as well.

 

[Matt Leiser]

No fasting, I drink lots of soda throughout the day. That needs to change, I get it. The food the hospital provided had packs of sugar with it and I used it also.

So glad you are home and doing better. I just logged on to see if you had posted any additional updates. That’s scary as hell. I saw in all 3 lab reports your glucose was extremely high though coming down each draw. Do you have any lipid profiles or hemoglobin a1c results?

I whole heartedly agree on cutting out the soda. It will be a really quick win for you.

 

[Vettester Chris]

Scary stuff!! I hope you are up and running back to normal soon! Glad you got treated quick!

 

[Deleted member 17030]

So glad you are home and doing better. I just logged on to see if you had posted any additional updates. That's scary as hell. I saw in all 3 lab reports your glucose was extremely high though coming down each draw. Do you have any lipid profiles or hemoglobin a1c results?

I whole heartedly agree on cutting out the soda. It will be a really quick win for you.

The only update I have is I tried to call the Endocrinologist this morning the ER told me to follow up with and they said it would be May 21st lol before first apt.

They gave ne a # to another Wellstar endo and I got a appointment for March 13th.

In the interim I am going to take potassium supplements and eat a lot of bananas for the low potassium issue. I will have to live with that and the low Cortisol issue until March.

I am continuing my TRT as scheduled. I go for labs on the 17th and follow up with Urologist on 27th.

I feel good and am back at work like normal.

 

[Saul]

The only update I have is I tried to call the Endocrinologist this morning the ER told me to follow up with and they said it would be May 21st lol before first apt.

They gave ne a # to another Wellstar endo and I got a appointment for March 13th.

In the interim I am going to take potassium supplements and eat a lot of bananas for the low potassium issue. I will have to live with that and the low Cortisol issue until March.

Glad you are feeling better. Scary stuff. I had a similar experience with a long wait for Dr. ACA added numerous patients to the system but no new doctors. Typical gov. action. I agree, stop the soda. That stuff is poison : ( I was given a shot of kenalog once for allergies. Worked great. The next doctor in a different refused to give it to me for allergies saying it was too dangerous and overkill. I don't know who is right. Good luck.