Random Thoughts

In 2018, when I was going through a transition with the typical polyuria, I looked up what controls such things. Turns out it is the Renin Angiotensin system.

Specially, plasma Renin activity and aldosterone are the hormones involved. So, I had my levels checked. My aldosterone was low and my plasma Renin activity was low too. Blood chemistry was normal. However, if you combine that information with the that my cortisol levels don't really change during the day making my average level high but not my absolute level, you have a bit of a conundrum.

At the time, I didn't know what to make of it. I did send a note to my doctor, but he didn't act on it.

I believe this shows secondary hypoaldotestoronism. I certainly had all the primary symptoms of nausea, diarrhea, However, the higher cortisol is anomalous, as it would be expected to be low of aldosterone is low. This reinforces how strange this condition is and how the explanation is not likely to be anything common. In this case, the pituitary is driving the bus, making decisions that are not normally associated together in order to control electrolyte balance without regard to total volume.

As I sit here, today, I know I've lost huge volumes of fluid ( 3 inches in the waist, several inches on each leg while only losing 25-30 pounds) , yet my electrolytes remain within normal parameters. Just like when I did the Tulsa Run and forgot to drink and then vomited for hours, my electrolytes tested normal but the smart doctor used the wetness or rather dryness of my mouth to determine I needed IV fluids anyway. My pituitary wash making sure everything was normal. And that's one of the reasons this condition was mentioned in the article as having been looked into for super soldier research, and potentially contributes to it being redacted from easily available literature.