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  • #1

    Water pills - anyone have experience???

    I've had a spinal cord injury for the last 6 years which affects major muscle groups in my legs. Because the muscles don't function properly, water pools in my legs throughout the day. I've dealt with this through the years by taking hydrocholorothiazide (a water pill that I'm sure that's spelled wrong) once a day in the mornings.

    I know that the Atkins diet is a natural diuretic and had planned on discontinuing the medication. I stopped on monday...but the problem is that I'm swelling up like CRAZY now. My weight is actually going up terribly because of this. It's not helping that the weather was blissfully hot today, which increases my swelling even when I'm on water pills.

    So the question is...if I restart my water pill regimine (at this point, I see no choice but to take it in the morning...I'm starting to get muscle aches due to the retention)...when should I stop exactly? Does anyone have experience here? I don't take a high enough dose to "taper" off...but I know that eventually I shouldn't need it anymore. I'm not sure what to do here.

    If it helps any...I am taking perscription potassium supplements. I continued taking them over the last 4 days...so that part should be ok.

    I would appreciate any guidance if there happens to be others on here that continued their water pills for a while or even if you are still on them now.

    Thanks!
    Becki


    Started: 3/2/09

    ~280~270~260~250~240~230~220~210~200~190

    Realistic Final Goal: 190
    Stretch Goal: 140


    Successfully did Atkins in 1998 using 1992 copy of the book...before it was "hip". Lost 60lbs, exercised daily, felt and looked great. And then I moved in with a junk-food loving man, my mom got sick and passed away, then I suffered a spinal cord injury, and junk-food dude left me...and now I weigh 292lbs. That's 22lbs MORE than I weighed the first time around. It's 10 years later...I know this will work for me again.
    Tags: None
  • #2
    Re: Water pills - anyone have experience???

    Hi Becki! I've taken the medication that you are using and simultaneously lost weight on the Atkins program. I needed it because when I'm on my feet for long periods of time. the capillaries in my ankles fill with water and my ankles would just burn.

    I think the most important thing is that you talk with your doctor before you stop using any medication. You will need to take special precautions to prevent dehydration (there is a blood test to detect it).

    Please talk to your doctor about your specific medical needs, and good luck on the program.
    F ~ 5' 5"
    262/262/135
    Restart 1/1/10
    2 week Induction



    Comment

    • #3
      Re: Water pills - anyone have experience???

      I need to bring this back up again...I'm so frustrated right now!

      I think I'm experiencing a potassium issue due to still being on the water pill. I'm extremely fatigued (I'm on day 2 of week 3), the muscles in my legs are extremely weak to the point I'm having a difficult time ambulating (more than my usual from my spinal cord injury), I have a sore quadricep for what seems like no reason and limbs are periodically falling asleep for no apparent reason.

      I called the doc and am going in for a blood draw...so that's fine.

      My frustration is that EVERYONE is saying I need to stop Atkins because of this...and when I try to explain to them that I know it has to do with my water pill COMBINED with Atkins...they don't want to hear it! To them...Atkins is evil and it's causing my problems! UGH!

      I know I need to come off the water pill and this situation might resolve...but I'm scared to because when I did that two weeks ago, I gained 5 pounds of water in one day! I just want some doctors guidance on how to proceed...not advice to "go back to Weight Watchers" or to "see a nutritionist". Dude...I've been fat since birth...don't you think I've done all that? Criminy...I've done it in the last YEAR alone. This works...this works without causing these kinds of issues...I just need to get off this dang water pill or something! Freakin Weight Watchers isn't the answer!

      End rant!

      Edited to add that I can't see my cardiologist till the 16th of June...but at least I get to have the blood test today.


      Started: 3/2/09

      ~280~270~260~250~240~230~220~210~200~190

      Realistic Final Goal: 190
      Stretch Goal: 140


      Successfully did Atkins in 1998 using 1992 copy of the book...before it was "hip". Lost 60lbs, exercised daily, felt and looked great. And then I moved in with a junk-food loving man, my mom got sick and passed away, then I suffered a spinal cord injury, and junk-food dude left me...and now I weigh 292lbs. That's 22lbs MORE than I weighed the first time around. It's 10 years later...I know this will work for me again.

      Comment

      • #4
        Re: Water pills - anyone have experience???

        You are right...it's Atkins combined with the water pill. Atkins is a strong diuretic alone and combined with the water pill - it's huge. My mom has a potassium disorder (Barter's Syndrome) where she needs to take large doses of potassium in order to stay alive. If she were to do Atkins she would surely need to up her dosage. I know that this is a different situation, but would the doctor's be willing to talk about potassium supplements if water pills are necessary?
        ~Nichole
        Female/Back on the wagon 04.13.08



        Comment

        • #5
          Re: Water pills - anyone have experience???

          I'm already on potassium supplements...I personally believe I either need to go off the pill (hoping that 3 weeks in my body is maybe ready???) or increase the potassium dosage. When they started me on them, I was on a schedule where I alternate takeing one or two a day, every other day.

          I'm sooooo tired these days that I can't exercise. I'm barely able to walk. The grocery store yesterday was a huge challenge for me. I'm extremely irritable and have cried at work TWICE in the last week. Something isn't right. But...the blood has been drawn and I'll know something in the morning. I also had a pregnancy test done...but it was negative. Seemed like a good thing to rule out given the symptoms.


          Started: 3/2/09

          ~280~270~260~250~240~230~220~210~200~190

          Realistic Final Goal: 190
          Stretch Goal: 140


          Successfully did Atkins in 1998 using 1992 copy of the book...before it was "hip". Lost 60lbs, exercised daily, felt and looked great. And then I moved in with a junk-food loving man, my mom got sick and passed away, then I suffered a spinal cord injury, and junk-food dude left me...and now I weigh 292lbs. That's 22lbs MORE than I weighed the first time around. It's 10 years later...I know this will work for me again.

          Comment

          • #6
            Re: Water pills - anyone have experience???

            Awww I'm sorry you're feeling this way. My mom told me something awhile back about potassium and magnesium going hand in hand so it could be either of those two or maybe something else entirely. Before we knew anything about her levels she was feeling so out of sorts. There is a slew of reasons you might not be feeling like your normal self, I hope that they get to the bottom of this soon. {{{Hugs}}} Please update us with the test results. Thinking of you in the meantime.
            ~Nichole
            Female/Back on the wagon 04.13.08



            Comment

            • #7
              Re: Water pills - anyone have experience???

              Doc just called...they are increasing my potassium supplements to 4 times the quantity I was taking before and then will retest next week.

              I am looking forward to feeling stronger soon!


              Started: 3/2/09

              ~280~270~260~250~240~230~220~210~200~190

              Realistic Final Goal: 190
              Stretch Goal: 140


              Successfully did Atkins in 1998 using 1992 copy of the book...before it was "hip". Lost 60lbs, exercised daily, felt and looked great. And then I moved in with a junk-food loving man, my mom got sick and passed away, then I suffered a spinal cord injury, and junk-food dude left me...and now I weigh 292lbs. That's 22lbs MORE than I weighed the first time around. It's 10 years later...I know this will work for me again.

              Comment

              • #8
                Re: Water pills - anyone have experience???

                I am so happy to hear that your doctor is working with you on this!

                Great news! I hope you feel better very soon.
                F ~ 5' 5"
                262/262/135
                Restart 1/1/10
                2 week Induction



                Comment

                • #9
                  Re: Water pills - anyone have experience???

                  YEAH!!! Glad to get the update...feel better quickly!
                  ~Nichole
                  Female/Back on the wagon 04.13.08



                  Comment

                  • #10
                    Re: Water pills - anyone have experience???

                    I had a life-long problem with low potassium and I took prescription potassium most of the time. Hydrochlorothiazide is potassium sparing, so it didn't cause me much trouble. I was on it every day when I first started Atkins, but was able to get off it for quite a while. I now have lymphedema due to surgery and have to take it again. The one thing that is different is that with Atkins and eating lots of veggies high in potassium, like spinach and red bell peppers, I am never low on potassium in my every 90 day blood work. I used to eat tons of bananas to keep up my potassium level, but now it's nice and high from eating tasty, Atkins-friendly veggies. I have not taken prescription potassium since I first started Atkins over two years ago. For the first time in my life, I did not need intravenous potassium before my last three surgeries.

                    If you need to take the fluid pill due to health reasons, please don't worry about taking it while doing Atkins. Just take it until your body adjusts to it's new way of eating and lets go of some excess fluid on it's own and then discuss tapering off with your doctor.

                    Sunny!
                    People who say it can't be done, should not interrupt those doing it.


                    "Some men give up their designs when they have almost reached the goal; While others, on the contrary, obtain a victory by exerting, at the last moment, more vigorous efforts than ever before."
                    ~~Herodotus


                    Doin' the "Real Deal" Atkins 2002 since 9/15/2005
                    Sunny's Secrets: My Journal



                    Comment

                    • #11
                      Re: Water pills - anyone have experience???

                      Thanks Sunny...that's the same on I'm on. I was hoping to eventually come off of it, but now I'm not sure since my ankles are still poofy even while I'm taking my correct dose AND not eating carbs. That is frustrating! But...as long as we work out the kinks with the potassium, I'm ok continuing to take it. However...I've heard it can cause stalls...and either I'm in that "piss" phase...or my water pill is actually stalling me (not sure of the science behind this, though). I know I'm not eating too many calories because I'm barely eating. My only saving grace is that what I AM eating is calorie dense. Example...breakfast yesterday...two pieces of sausage. Lunch was chicken caesar salad and dinner was leftover chicken and broccoli with cheese sauce...of which I ate maybe 6 bites before I was full. I would claim starvation mode if it wasn't for the salad dressing and the cheese sauce. I'm in ketosis to be sure...so maybe it really is the "piss" thing. I dunno...I know I need to work out to help things along...but haven't had energy for that yet because of the potassium. It's starting to come around though.

                      Can high doses of potassium make you swell? Can it give you heartburn? I'm having both issues since upping the dose.


                      Started: 3/2/09

                      ~280~270~260~250~240~230~220~210~200~190

                      Realistic Final Goal: 190
                      Stretch Goal: 140


                      Successfully did Atkins in 1998 using 1992 copy of the book...before it was "hip". Lost 60lbs, exercised daily, felt and looked great. And then I moved in with a junk-food loving man, my mom got sick and passed away, then I suffered a spinal cord injury, and junk-food dude left me...and now I weigh 292lbs. That's 22lbs MORE than I weighed the first time around. It's 10 years later...I know this will work for me again.

                      Comment

                      • #12
                        Re: Water pills - anyone have experience???

                        Originally posted by rajenki View Post
                        Thanks Sunny...that's the same on I'm on. I was hoping to eventually come off of it, but now I'm not sure since my ankles are still poofy even while I'm taking my correct dose AND not eating carbs. That is frustrating! But...as long as we work out the kinks with the potassium, I'm ok continuing to take it. However...I've heard it can cause stalls...and either I'm in that "piss" phase...or my water pill is actually stalling me (not sure of the science behind this, though). I know I'm not eating too many calories because I'm barely eating. My only saving grace is that what I AM eating is calorie dense. Example...breakfast yesterday...two pieces of sausage. Lunch was chicken caesar salad and dinner was leftover chicken and broccoli with cheese sauce...of which I ate maybe 6 bites before I was full. I would claim starvation mode if it wasn't for the salad dressing and the cheese sauce. I'm in ketosis to be sure...so maybe it really is the "piss" thing. I dunno...I know I need to work out to help things along...but haven't had energy for that yet because of the potassium. It's starting to come around though.

                        Can high doses of potassium make you swell? Can it give you heartburn? I'm having both issues since upping the dose.
                        I'm not sure about the heartburn, but it could possibly make you swell. The combination of potassium, magnesium and sodium have to be carefully balanced to mantain the proper fluid in your cells. All three of these are water soluble and if you lose too much of any one, your body will hang on to fluid so more won't be washed out. If one is way out of balance, your body will have to stay puffy to hold on to what it has. You might have to increase your salt and take magnesium so your body can let go of the fluid. If you are eating mostly unprocessed foods, you could be taking in too little sodium. The last time I was hugely swollen, blood work showed that I was very low on blood sodium. I don't like the taste of salt, so I have a hard time getting it in.
                        People who say it can't be done, should not interrupt those doing it.


                        "Some men give up their designs when they have almost reached the goal; While others, on the contrary, obtain a victory by exerting, at the last moment, more vigorous efforts than ever before."
                        ~~Herodotus


                        Doin' the "Real Deal" Atkins 2002 since 9/15/2005
                        Sunny's Secrets: My Journal



                        Comment

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