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Community Conversation => Transitioning => Hormone replacement therapy => Topic started by: bobbisue on December 07, 2017, 04:31:20 PM

Title: What foods do I need to avoid on spiro
Post by: bobbisue on December 07, 2017, 04:31:20 PM
     Due to medical issues I have been switched from cypro to spiro and I understand there are foods I should avoid can anyone help with this

     bobbisue :)
Title: Re: What foods do I need to avoid on spiro
Post by: Colleen_definitely on December 07, 2017, 04:45:48 PM
Bananas, potatoes, anything really high in potassium.  You can still have them, just don't go crazy eating them.
Title: Re: What foods do I need to avoid on spiro
Post by: CarlyMcx on December 07, 2017, 04:47:11 PM
For sure anything that gives you gas.  Spironolactone turned my manly little putts into epic long winded blasts of thunderousness.
Title: Re: What foods do I need to avoid on spiro
Post by: Devlyn on December 07, 2017, 05:11:32 PM
More important than avoiding any food item is drinking eight glasses of water every day and getting plenty of salt in your diet. That's water, not drinks. You can't count milk, soda, coffee, tea, juice, nothing but clear water. You'll start craving the salt eventually, but add it right from the beginning before the effects of low blood pressure send you sprawling.

Hugs, Devlyn
Title: Re: What foods do I need to avoid on spiro
Post by: Lucy Ross on December 07, 2017, 05:28:20 PM
What Devlyn said.  Pint glasses are the fastest way to gulp down liquids, I slam one down after waking, before/after meals, and throughout the day.  I'll coat about 70% of the bottom with salt for the first few pints, to get my request salt intake, and otherwise just eat my usual simple diet; other girls wolf down crazy things like Cajun spice okra tips coated with rosemary and basil to deal with salt cravings, but I just add a pinch of the stuff here and there.

If your legs cramp up when you wake up you're low on salt, I haven't had that problem in months, after 5 months of HRT.  I'm on a low dose of spiro and moderate dose of estradiol.  The water's essential, when starting out I became dehydrated without feeling thirsty, which made it feel like my blood had turned to jello.  Being a stranger to exercise I didn't know anything about dehydration, my idea of working out is to slam the car door.
Title: Re: What foods do I need to avoid on spiro
Post by: ajtent on December 13, 2017, 02:25:05 PM
Quote from: Devlyn Marie on December 07, 2017, 05:11:32 PM
More important than avoiding any food item is drinking eight glasses of water every day and getting plenty of salt in your diet. That's water, not drinks. You can't count milk, soda, coffee, tea, juice, nothing but clear water. You'll start craving the salt eventually, but add it right from the beginning before the effects of low blood pressure send you sprawling.

Hugs, Devlyn

I would have a hard time dealing with gas and drinking so much water.
Isn't this a good reason for an Orchie?
Title: Re: What foods do I need to avoid on spiro
Post by: Charlie Nicki on December 13, 2017, 03:10:29 PM
Apparently anything high on potassium. But everyone is different, when I had my last medical exams everything was fine so I eat and drink whatever I want. I do make sure I drink lots of water and salt everything (which I like anyway).
Title: Re: What foods do I need to avoid on spiro
Post by: KathyLauren on December 13, 2017, 03:17:53 PM
My doc told me not to worry about diet.  YMMV, so pay attention to whatever your doc says.  I just eat normally and drink lots of water.  I do try to avoid low-sodium foods, as often they are flavoured with potassium salt instead of sodium salt.  You want to avoid unnecessary potassium.
Title: Re: What foods do I need to avoid on spiro
Post by: Daisy Jane on December 13, 2017, 04:46:08 PM
Grapefruit interferes with Spiro.
Title: Re: What foods do I need to avoid on spiro
Post by: Roll on December 13, 2017, 10:25:52 PM
Grapefruit interferes with everything. ;D

But good thread, I needed this info too! Fortunately, I have a huge finishing salt obsession, so that shouldn't be an issue.
Title: Re: What foods do I need to avoid on spiro
Post by: Maddie86 on December 14, 2017, 06:15:42 AM
limiting my potato intake has kinda bummed me out. I love home fries so much  :(
Title: Re: What foods do I need to avoid on spiro
Post by: Lucy Ross on December 14, 2017, 06:37:00 AM
Did your Doc specifically say to limit carbs big time, Maddie? I have big no nos for breakfast like Potatoes Obrien, waffles, muffins; haven't given up on rice or bread in any way.  Beer, now that's another story, quitting the suds shed a ton of weight a year ago.  But carbs and I get along fine, despite the lowish dose of spiro, my panels show my K is normal. Actually my sodium level was the alarming one right after starting HRT.

I started HRT 5 days before you, too.  Go class of '17!

I'm going to have to keep an eye out for whatever it is that gives me thunderous tooting, that's happened once or twice too.
Title: Re: What foods do I need to avoid on spiro
Post by: KayXo on December 14, 2017, 07:59:51 AM
Quote from: Daisy Jane on December 13, 2017, 04:46:08 PM
Grapefruit interferes with Spiro.

It doesn't because Spiro is NOT metabolized by CYP3A4. Interestingly, Spiro and its metabolites are thought to induce and inhibit CYP3A4, respectively which can affect metabolization of estradiol, if taken orally.

Title: Re: What foods do I need to avoid on spiro
Post by: Maddie86 on December 14, 2017, 12:07:42 PM
Quote from: Lucy Ross on December 14, 2017, 06:37:00 AM
Did your Doc specifically say to limit carbs big time, Maddie? I have big no nos for breakfast like Potatoes Obrien, waffles, muffins; haven't given up on rice or bread in any way.  Beer, now that's another story, quitting the suds shed a ton of weight a year ago.  But carbs and I get along fine, despite the lowish dose of spiro, my panels show my K is normal. Actually my sodium level was the alarming one right after starting HRT.

I started HRT 5 days before you, too.  Go class of '17!

I'm going to have to keep an eye out for whatever it is that gives me thunderous tooting, that's happened once or twice too.

He actually told me that I don't need to change my diet at this time, but that was at my last visit in September. I'm going to see him tomorrow and we'll see how things are. I'm not avoiding carbs, I'm just trying to limit my potassium and potatoes has a good amount of it. Hopefully my potassium is still fine, because at the end of the month I'm going to a dinner party that has pierogies :D
Title: Re: What foods do I need to avoid on spiro
Post by: laurenb on December 14, 2017, 12:37:34 PM
I'm vegetarian. Prior to HRT my potassium ran pretty high normally - like 4.8 to 5.0. Post HRT (1 year yesterday!!), I haven't tested over what it was and I don't limit anything. Your doc will check your K in the blood test. I think keeping the water flowing and Na at high levels helps the kidney move out the K enough that it doesn't accumulate.
Title: Re: What foods do I need to avoid on spiro
Post by: Dena on December 14, 2017, 03:12:26 PM
There is a third food to watch out for and that's Orange Juice. The big three in the U.S. diet are potatoes, bananas and orange juice but in other cuisine you may find other foods that are an issue. This is also a problem for kidney patients and when we had one living with us, we bough food value book which proved very useful. Today phone apps are available that can do the same job as well as track other foods you are interested in.
Title: Re: What foods do I need to avoid on spiro
Post by: KayXo on December 15, 2017, 10:52:05 AM
Any kind of fruit juice is not good or healthy...in my book though there are exceptional circumstances that require it. As always, check with your doctors. ;)
Title: Re: What foods do I need to avoid on spiro
Post by: Deborah on December 15, 2017, 11:05:36 AM
Most processed fruit juices are full of sugar and preservatives.  Even making your own just gives you the sugar without any of the fiber.  Fruit is good if you eat it whole.  It's not so good when it is just the juice.


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