Community Conversation => Transitioning => Hormone replacement therapy => Topic started by: Shelina on August 09, 2009, 01:13:32 PM Return to Full Version

Title: Spiro and dangerous Potasiums
Post by: Shelina on August 09, 2009, 01:13:32 PM
I love eating french fries a lot. I heard it's dangerous taking Potasium with Spiro.

1. I am no more eating bananas but I can't retain on french fries, is this really that dangerous to me?

2. Concerning bananas, is it really that dangerous to take them, can I not even take one or two

3. What else are dangerous and should be avoided?
Title: Re: Spiro and dangerous Potasiums
Post by: Myself on August 09, 2009, 01:19:32 PM
When I was on spiro I ate a lot of chocolate still and was fine :)
French fries too!

But add sodium to your diet.
Title: Re: Spiro and dangerous Potasiums
Post by: CharleneT on August 09, 2009, 01:21:29 PM
Remember the idea is to avoid too much potassium in your food.  Hence it is a balancing act, if you want to eat a banana you can, just be careful of the other foods.  I do not know how much potassium is in French Fries, so I can't comment on that one.  It also depends on how healthy your kidney's are, if they are normal and your diet pretty normal, you won't have a problem.  DO get tested to make sure !!

Title: Re: Spiro and dangerous Potasiums
Post by: Shelina on August 09, 2009, 01:53:11 PM
Quote from: Myself on August 09, 2009, 01:19:32 PM
When I was on spiro I ate a lot of chocolate still and was fine :)
French fries too!

But add sodium to your diet.

CHOCOLATE HAS POTASSIUM?!!!  :o OMG! Chocolate is my favorite flavor and the whole day everything is chocolate with me, chocolates drinks, chocolate cakes, chocolates, all chocolate. If chocolate is rich in Potasium, then I think I should either reduce my spiro dose or shift to Cyproterone or other anti-androgen.

Concerning sodium? Why did you say add sodium, what's its effect? Besides salt, I don't know anything else which has Sodium.
Title: Re: Spiro and dangerous Potasiums
Post by: LordKAT on August 09, 2009, 02:16:17 PM
Salt is a class of mineral. Potassium and sodium are both salts.
Title: Re: Spiro and dangerous Potasiums
Post by: FairyGirl on August 09, 2009, 02:31:57 PM
some good info on potassium rich foods here (link disabled with space after www.):

www. buzzle.com/articles/potassium-rich-foods-list-of-foods-high-in-potassium.html

This article also says that sweating (as in exercising) depletes potassium the same as it does other salts. Nothing mentioned about chocolate but it mainly lists fruits and veggies.
Title: Re: Spiro and dangerous Potasiums
Post by: Hannah on August 09, 2009, 04:00:10 PM
I was really obsessive compulsive about this at first too and it really hasn't been an issue. I would think the general rule of thumb would be to watch for potassium overdose symptoms and drink lots of fluids.

Seriously chocolate is like the best part of hrt, I would hate to hear you gave it up  ^-^
Title: Re: Spiro and dangerous Potasiums
Post by: Alyssa M. on August 09, 2009, 06:19:24 PM
To be precise, potassium (K) and soduim (Na) are both metals. Salt, as a stand-alone term, generally refers to sodium chloride (NaCl), but salt as a general term means a compund combining positively charged metal ions with negative ions. Na+ and K+ are used to create a voltage gradient across cell membranes which powers active transport of molecules needed for cell function. So it's kind of important.

You should ask your doctor about what foods you should avoid with spiro. Mine says none; she says only that you chould keep from taking any dietary supplements (like vitamin pills) that have potassium in them. If you have regular blood work, especially early on, you can catch any problems that arise.
Title: Re: Spiro and dangerous Potasiums
Post by: FairyGirl on August 09, 2009, 09:49:10 PM
that's good to know Alyssa, thanks :) Because of this thread I was researching hyperkalemia this morning and that is some scary stuff :icon_yikes: