Congratulations Periodic Paralysis Network!!! Over 50,000 views!!!!!

Congratulations to us at the Periodic Paralysis Network!! We have just hit over 50,000 views on our PPN Blog!!!

PPN Blog: http://livingwithperiodicparalysis.blogspot.com/

550 Members!!!

We know have over 550 Members in our Periodic Paralysis Network Support Group!!!! We are providing HOPE through SUPPORT, EDUCATION and ADVOCACY!!!!

The following are the services and features of our PPN forum:

https://www.createspace.com/4111713 )

PPN Website: www.periodicparalysisnetwork.com

PPN Books:

"Living With Periodic Paralysis: The Mystery Unraveled"

CreateSpae https://www.createspace.com/4111713

"The Periodic Paralysis Guide And Workbook: Be The Best You Can Be Naturally"

https://www.createspace.com/4326356

"A Bill Of Rights For Periodic Paralysis Patients"

https://www.createspace.com/5705192

(Also found on our website http://www.periodicparalysisnetwork.com/books.htm and on Amazon)

PPN Blog: http://livingwithperiodicparalysis.blogspot.com/

PPN Book Discussion Group:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/periodicparalysisnetwork/

PPN Genealogy Discussion Group:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/580168915344191/

PPNI Genetics Discussion and Research Group:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1574048096186578/

The PPN Learning Center and Workshop:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1416848568618404/

Periodic Paralysis Caregivers:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/366386850151623/

PPN Website Facebook Page:

https://www.facebook.com/PeriodicParalysisNetwork

PPN Author's Page:

https://www.facebook.com/SusanQKnittleHunterauthor

Email: periodicparalysisnetwork@gmail.com

GoFundMe: http://www.gofundme.com/ftnr50

Bravelets: https://www.bravelets.com/bravepage/alone-in-the-dark-periodic-paralysis

Video about Periodic Paralysis: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YSRVOkdFRQc

Twitter: https://twitter.com/NetPeriodic

Periodic Paralysis World Awareness Day Page:

https://www.facebook.com/PPAwarenessDay/

Please check out our PPN Members World Map:

http://www.multiplottr.com/?map_id=55083

Thank you all for your support

Calvin Hunter and Susan Q. Knittle-Hunter

Co-Founders, Co-Creators, Co-Managers

Periodic Paralysis Network, Inc.

Sequim, Washington U.S.A.

Over 525 Members!!

This is good news and bad news!!! We now have over 525 members!! The bad news is that so many people are suffering from this cruel disease. The good news is that we are able to help and provide HOPE by sharing support, education and advocacy.
Thank you all for your support!!!
The following are the services and features of our PPN Forum:
PPN Website: www.periodicparalysisnetwork.com
PPN Support, Education and Advocacy Group:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/periodicparalysisnetworksupportgroup/
PPN Books:
"Living With Periodic Paralysis: The Mystery Unraveled"
"The Periodic Paralysis Guide And Workbook: Be The Best You Can Be Naturally"
"A Bill Of Rights For Periodic Paralysis Patients"
(All found on Amazon and on our website http://www.periodicparalysisnetwork.com/books.htm)
PPN Blog: http://livingwithperiodicparalysis.blogspot.com/
PPN Book Discussion Group:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/periodicparalysisnetwork/
PPN Genealogy Discussion Group:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/580168915344191/
PPNI Genetics Discussion and Research Group.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1574048096186578/
The PPN Learning Center and Workshop:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1416848568618404/
PPN Website Facebook Page:
https://www.facebook.com/PeriodicParalysisNetwork
PPN Author's Page:
https://www.facebook.com/SusanQKnittleHunterauthor
Email: periodicparalysisnetwork@gmail.com
GoFundMe: http://www.gofundme.com/ftnr50
Bravelets: https://www.bravelets.com/…/alone-in-the-dark-periodic-para…
Video about Periodic Paralysis: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YSRVOkdFRQc
Twitter: https://twitter.com/NetPeriodic
Periodic Paralysis World Awareness Day Page:
https://www.facebook.com/PPAwarenessDay/
Please check out our PPN Members World Map:
http://www.multiplottr.com/?map_id=55083
Thank you all for your support........

This is good news and bad news!!! We now have over 500 members!! The bad news is that so many people are suffering from this cruel disease. The good news is that we are able to help and provide HOPE by sharing support, education and advocacy.
Thank you all for your support!!!
The following are the services and features of our PPN Forum:

PPN Website: www.periodicparalysisnetwork.com
PPN Support, Education and Advocacy Group:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/periodicparalysisnetworksupportgroup/
PPN Books:
"Living With Periodic Paralysis: The Mystery Unraveled"
"The Periodic Paralysis Guide And Workbook: Be The Best You Can Be Naturally"
"A Bill Of Rights For Periodic Paralysis Patients"
(All found on Amazon and on our website http://www.periodicparalysisnetwork.com/books.htm)
PPN Blog: http://livingwithperiodicparalysis.blogspot.com/
PPN Book Discussion Group:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/periodicparalysisnetwork/
PPN Genealogy Discussion Group:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/580168915344191/
PPNI Genetics Discussion and Research Group.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1574048096186578/
The PPN Learning Center and Workshop:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1416848568618404/
PPN Website Facebook Page:
https://www.facebook.com/PeriodicParalysisNetwork
PPN Author's Page:
https://www.facebook.com/SusanQKnittleHunterauthor
Email: periodicparalysisnetwork@gmail.com
GoFundMe: http://www.gofundme.com/ftnr50
Bravelets: https://www.bravelets.com/…/alone-in-the-dark-periodic-para…
Video about Periodic Paralysis: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YSRVOkdFRQc
Twitter: https://twitter.com/NetPeriodic
Periodic Paralysis World Awareness Day Page:
https://www.facebook.com/PPAwarenessDay/
Please check out our PPN Members World Map:
http://www.multiplottr.com/?map_id=55083
Thank you all for your support........

Rare Disease Day Photo

We wanted to share our observation of Rare Disease Day by sharing a picture of us with our new Periodic Paralysis Awareness T-shirts!!
Thank you all for your support!!!
Calvin and Susan Hunter Co-Founders, Co-Creators and C-Managers of Periodic Paralysis Network.

What is Periodic Paralysis?? For "Rare Disease Day"

What is Periodic Paralysis?

Periodic Paralysis is a little known, misunderstood, under recognized and difficult to diagnose mineral metabolic disorder, also known as an ion channelopathy.

Do you have any of the following symptoms or a combination of them?

• Episodes of muscle weakness or paralysis in an arm or leg or the entire body?
• Wake up and cannot move?
• Racing or erratic heart beat?
• Fluctuating blood pressure?
• Difficulty breathing at times?
• Potassium levels too low or too high?
• Strange or opposite side effects from medications?
• Medications make your symptoms worse?
• Difficulty with anesthesia?
• Medical testing always negative?
• Doctors cannot figure out what is wrong?
  
  

You may have Periodic Paralysis!

On a cellular level, triggered by things such as sleep, exercise, sugar, salt, most medications, stress, cold, heat, anesthesia, adrenaline, IV’s and much more, potassium wrongly enters the muscles either temporarily weakening or paralyzing the individual. Episodes can be full body lasting hours or days. Dangerous heart arrhythmia, heart rate fluctuation, blood pressure fluctuation, choking, breathing difficulties, cardiac arrest and/or respiratory arrest can also accompany the episodes. Due to these complications, it is extremely important to avoid the episodes. Gradual, progressive, muscular weakness can also affect the individual with this condition.

There are several forms of Periodic Paralysis:

Hypokalemic Periodic Paralysis

Paralysis results from potassium moving from the blood into muscle cells in an abnormal way. It is associated with low levels of potassium in the blood (hypokalemia) during paralytic episodes.

Hyperkalemic Periodic Paralysis

Paralysis results from problems with the way the body controls sodium and potassium levels in cells. It is associated with high levels of potassium in the blood (hyperkalemia) during paralytic episodes.

Andersen-Tawil Syndrome (ATS)

Paralysis results when the channel does not open properly; potassium cannot leave the cell. This disrupts the flow of potassium ions in skeletal and cardiac muscle. During paralytic episodes, ATS can be associated with low potassium, high potassium or shifts within the normal (normokalemia) ranges of potassium. An arrhythmia, long Qt interval heartbeat, is associated with ATS as well as certain characteristics, such as webbed or partially webbed toes, crooked little fingers and dental anomalies.

Normokalemic Periodic Paralysis (NormoPP)

Paralysis results when potassium shifts within in normal ranges. This can happen in any form of Periodic Paralysis. The paralysis may result from the shifting itself, rather than low or high potassium or it may occur due to the shifting of the potassium, which can happen very quickly and is undetectable in lab testing.

Paramyotonia Congenita (PMC)

The skeletal muscles can become stiff, tight, tense or contracted and weak due when the sodium channels close much too slowly and the sodium, potassium, chloride and water continue to flow into the muscles. It is actually considered to be a form of Hyperkalemic Periodic Paralysis, however, the symptoms can appear from shifting of potassium into low or high ranges or even if potassium shifts within normal levels.

Thyrotoxic Periodic Paralysis (TPP)

Intermittent paralysis results from low potassium due to an overactive thyroid or hyperthyroidism. It can occur spontaneously or can result from a genetic mutation. Unlike the other forms of Periodic Paralysis, TPP can be treated and cured by removing or treating the thyroid.

Diagnosing:

Diagnosing for Periodic Paralysis takes an average of 20 years! This is due to the fact that all other conditions must be ruled out. Some of the known types of Periodic Paralysis have identified genetic markers. This means they can be diagnosed by DNA testing. But, many mutations have not been found yet so individuals with Periodic Paralysis need to be diagnosed based on the symptoms and characteristics.

Treatment:

There are no known cures, but the symptoms can be managed for most individuals using natural methods including diet changes and eliminating the triggers.

Please join us or contact us at the Periodic Paralysis Network

for more information.

We provide HOPE to individuals with Periodic Paralysis through:

*Awareness

*Support…

*Education

*Advocacy

For more information please contact us at:

PPNI Website:
www.periodicparalysisnetwork.com

PPNI Blog:

www.livingwithperiodicparalysis.blogspot.com

PPNI Email:
periodicparalysisnetwork@gmail.com

PPNI Books:

www.periodicparalysisnetwork.com/books.htm

PPNI Support Group:

www.facebook.com/groups/periodicparalysisnetworksupportgroup

Happy 5th Anniversary PPN and Periodic Paralysis Awareness Day!!

Happy 5th Anniversary PPN and Periodic Paralysis Awareness Day!!

February 7, 2016

Periodic Paralysis Awareness Campaign!!

Hello All,

Great News!!!! Our Periodic Paralysis Awareness Campaign has now begun!!!! It will last two weeks. The final day to order will be February 18.

There is a choice of 4 types of shirts. We have a sweatshirt hoodie, a shirt for women (more fitted), a long sleeve shirt and the general unisex shirt. These are all available in grey/silver (for potassium). We added a cream (signifies paralysis) color shirt and a PURPLE shirt. Potassium turns purple when it burns...so we wanted to add some fun for those who may want to make a bolder statement!!!!

We need to sell at least 50 shirts in order for them to be printed. The prices vary depending on the type of shirt. The general unisex shirt is $21.00.
The shirts will be sent out after the campaign closes. They do ship out of the USA.

This company has an outstanding reputation and has been wonderful to work with.

Thank you for your support.....

Donations may also be made.

Please share this with everyone!!!!

https://www.booster.com/periodic-paralysis-awareness

475 Members!!!

Thank you all for your support!!!

The following are the services and features of our PPN Forum:

PPN Website: www.periodicparalysisnetwork.com

PPN Support, Education and Advocacy Group:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/periodicparalysisnetworksupportgroup/

PPN Books:

"Living With Periodic Paralysis: The Mystery Unraveled"

"The Periodic Paralysis Guide And Workbook: Be The Best You Can Be Naturally"

"A Bill Of Rights For Periodic Paralysis Patients"

(All found on Amazon and on our website http://www.periodicparalysisnetwork.com/books.htm)

PPN Blog: http://livingwithperiodicparalysis.blogspot.com/

PPN Book Discussion Group:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/periodicparalysisnetwork/

PPN Genealogy Discussion Group:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/580168915344191/

PPNI Genetics Discussion and Research Group.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1574048096186578/

The PPN Learning Center and Workshop:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1416848568618404/

PPN Website Facebook Page:

https://www.facebook.com/PeriodicParalysisNetwork

PPN Author's Page:

https://www.facebook.com/SusanQKnittleHunterauthor

Email: periodicparalysisnetwork@gmail.com

GoFundMe: http://www.gofundme.com/ftnr50

Bravelets: https://www.bravelets.com/bravepage/alone-in-the-dark-periodic-paralysis

Video about Periodic Paralysis: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YSRVOkdFRQc

Twitter: https://twitter.com/NetPeriodic

Periodic Paralysis World Awareness Day Page:

https://www.facebook.com/PPAwarenessDay/

Please check out our PPN Members World Map:

http://www.multiplottr.com/?map_id=55083

Thank you all for your support........

Average Number of Paralytic Attacks Per Year?

Hello All,

Yesterday I received an email from a registered nurse researching some things about Periodic Paralysis. She had a question for which she could not find an answer anywhere.

This was her question:

Is there is an average number of attacks that patients with periodic paralysis experience per year?

This is my answer:

Thank you for contacting me. I am curious as to what context you are going to use this information??

You will not find this information anywhere that I know, because there is no such thing as an average number of attacks that someone with Periodic Paralysis has in a year. This is due to many factors, but the main three are that there are several different forms of Periodic Paralysis and within each of these forms, the symptoms and paralytic episodes can be very different for each person, even members in the same family. The second is because the causes behind the symptoms and paralytic attacks, which are called triggers, cause different symptoms and different types of paralytic episodes. The third factor that makes a difference is how well the symptoms and paralytic episodes are controlled. Everyone is different and many things can and do change over time for each person.

The episodes or attacks of paralysis are also very different. They may be full-body, which includes inability to move at all (eyes shut, no ability to speak, heart arrhythmia, blood pressure fluctuation, heart rate fluctuation, breathing issues…including cessation of breathing, low oxygen, choking and the possibility of death). The person can always hear what is going on, despite looking asleep or unconscious. The episodes can be any variation from this down to one leg or arm going numb or only the left side being affected, etc. They can also be flaccid or be total constriction of the muscles causing great pain. There may be ataxia or headaches, cramping or vision issues and more. Periodic Paralysis is more than periods of paralysis. These episodes may last for hours or days or may only last for a few minutes.

Triggers include drugs of any kind…including IVs, anesthesia, insulin, antibiotics, hormones, adrenaline/epinephrine, contrast dyes, anything over-the-counter…exercise, rest after exercise, exertion, stress…good and bad…weather changes, cold and heat, dehydration, menstrual cycle, foods, food additives, food coloring, processed foods, salt, sugar, gluten, carbohydrates, sleep…all stages…infections, influenza and much more.

If someone has discovered their triggers and then avoids them, and is following a p/H balanced diet and is managing their symptoms they may not have any episodes at all, unless occasionally they may accidentally get introduced to something else that may cause an episode. Some may continue to have episodes, despite doing everything correctly.

Some may never have an episode of any type, but instead have gradual permanent progressive muscle weakness PMW. Most all of us develop permanent progressive muscle weakness over our lifetime, especially those who were not diagnosed and treated in a timely manner.

To explain further, I will use myself as an example. Before I had a diagnosis, when my episodes became full-body, as described above, they became very severe lasting hours at a time. This happened four or five time a day and most of the time I was sleeping at night. This went on for months and months and no doctors understood what was happening or how to help me. We (my husband and I) finally figured out what I had and how I could help myself. All drugs were stopped, I got oxygen therapy, my husband began to feed me a p/H balanced diet, we discovered my triggers and avoided them. After a few months my episodes decreased to one or two a month, which were much less severe and shorter in duration. Several years later, I now have episodes only one or two every few months, however, permanent muscle weakness has nearly totally debilitated me. I am unable to do much more than sit in a recliner all day and must use a power wheelchair.

Over my first forty years or so, I had medical issues beginning as a child, all things easily explained away as other things, that I did not realize were partial paralytic episodes. Years of testing and wrong and unneeded drugs and medications due to wrong diagnoses changed/covered my symptoms and harmed me. It took over fifty years before I finally got my diagnosis of Andersen-Tawil Syndrome.

The average time it takes to get a diagnosis for Periodic Paralysis is twenty years. A great deal of damage can and is done during that time to the organs in the body, especially when misdiagnosed and improper drugs and medications are prescribed.

So, as you can see, there is no way to answer your question with a number. We are all different and our episodes are very different.

If you would like to know more please feel free to contact me.

I hope this is helpful.

Sincerely,

Susan Q. Knittle-Hunter

Managing Director

Periodic Paralysis Network

Until later…