Paralysis Attack (Hypokalemic Periodic Paralysis)

[jaxxen11]

I have this and I just got out of the hospital. I have thyroid problem though, according to the reading of the throat ultrasound that was done to me. However, I told friend doctor about my condition and he told me about hypokalemic periodic paralysis attack, and I found this video, which is a very similar scenario that happened to me a day ago.

[DwyaneWadeCounty]

Is it normal for children to have episodes of weakness for no reason?

When I was a kid, like once in a while for no reason I would wake up in the morning feeling weak, as if I was paralyzed or something. That TERRIBLE weakness would last at least one day. My brother also experienced the same thing too when he was younger. I asked my friend and he said that he too experienced the same thing.

[sa612136]

I'm a medical student who just stumbled upon your video. Recently I read a case report in NEJM covering Hypokalemic periodic paralysis and I wanted to say thank you for recording your episode. I did not fully appreciate how these paralytic episodes can affect someone.

[thethirdworld]

Just had my first paralysis attack on monday morning. Wish I had seen this video before it all happened.

[doIsoundlikeicare]

Thank you.

[Orangesmiles1]

you might have hypokelemia.

[gleof06]

there was this one night we were drinking cocktail... my friend suddenly vomited, hyperventilated.. and his fingers and toes got stiffed and has difficulty moving and openig his fingers... i suspected hypokalemia... am i right? he doesnt ant to be hospitalised so wat would be the first aid in this situation?? what dosage of KCl would be apropriate??

[BeardedDragon645]

I have this

[iuvius]

I can relate. 

[marilyn1222]

How do you get diagnosed with this? I have had my blood tested, and it comes back normal. They can't figure me out. However, I have these symptoms, but it affects my skeletal muscles. Someone please help.

[grayback32]

eat lots of banana, it helps. i have hypokalemia too

[emarbiz]

this is kind of depressing coz i feel whe he feel

[emarbiz]

i also have this kind of condition the scariest part is the second day where all of your body is totally paralyzed then after three days it will gradually back to normal but you will feel that you have a sore muscle

[yvrakas22]

This makes me scared to sleep.

[dubblecheeze]

I just found out my brother has this. He was talking about some of his early symptoms and i could relate to all of them. There has been some occasions were i was awake, but couldn't even open my eyes or yell out. It was terrifying. About 3 weeks ago i couldn't move and i was questioning myself about whether i not i stopped breathing. I often wake up with hand numbness. Sometimes while relaxing it feels like i cant move my legs. I'm talking to my doc asap

[shinjiprofile]

i have this to...and everytime it attacks i feel so helpless and whats makes it worse is that some people think im just acting they dont help me get up... so I make sure I have alot of kalium Durules in my pocket...

[yedibrother]

The Lord is your healer. The Lord is the one that heals us always. Just believe always good thoughts. The Lord gave us purpose in our life. He gave his self on the cross. He let us repent for our sins. Always turn to the Lord when you need him. Praise him,thank him,do good deeds,love everyone,ask the Lord to help through all trials.Remember always have faith. The Lord loves you. God made this whole beautiful creation.

[MsArtemisX]

My eyes watered to watch this.. I'm sorry that you have to live with this. I had no idea that something like this existed until my new doctor sent me for testing today. It's a relief to know what was going on, yet scary to know that it's not just a bad day or some glitch but something that I'll have to manage and try to prevent:/ Thank you for your bravery in posting this, it did far more than anything I've read about it and truly helps to raise awareness:)

[cpringuer]

Thank you Dr Levitt this video really helped me when I was first diagnosed 6 months ago. In NZ it seems like I am the only person with this condition there are no groups here this video put me on the right path to finding the Periodic Paralysis Association and understanding more about what is happening to me. Keep up the great work, you have become a hero in my eyes.

[DarkKomotonoto]

I have this sickness, and i fucking hate it. Ways to make it better is DO NOT THINK ABOUT GETTING WEAK. Also take a month without getting weak, and u will better your mind with the food you eat, if you feel weak GET UP AND START EXERCISING RIGHT AWAY. A good substitute is natural orange juice like TROPICANA. After exercising (make sure your muscles are kinda stressed) drink some OJ or w/e potassium supplement u have and then rest for a little (sit down). Hope this helps.

[Neo2906]

jesus,my horse is an Impressive breed. hmm, i thought that HYPP is just a horse problem. that`s real bad man !!!

[2842742726]

my friend rashid from wapda mangla dam also suffers from this desease and latest attack was on 8th june 2011. i have seen the attack. all the symptoms are present during the attack, after attack he feels very weakness

this gentleman is very very brave man and i wish all HPP sufring persons get a relief

[seriousgirl87]

this happened to me when I was 8months pregnant,. i cant walk or even lift my arms,. my neck is affected,. I didnt know what happened to me,. my mother rush me in the hospital.

[roldanmae123]

my husband died because of this, it became complicated... CARDIAC ARREST SECONDARY TO HYPOKALLEMIA

[morimando]

It looks to me like it was hyperkalemic, since it got worse after the intake of potassium. From my personal experience, I am under the impression that although one kind (hypo/hyper) may be dominant (for me the latter), both can occur and misjudging and thus mistreating the episode can be dangerous. Since you are a doctor, I think you are sure you only have hypokalemic episodes but for me I prefer to eat some sugar and only if that does not help within 30minutes, I try some banana ;)

[joshcute100385]

OMG it's just 1st time happen to me yesterday... my whole body is paralyze and my chest have like and an elephant so heavy.. and im struggling for breath and my hands are twisted im very scared and i thought im gonna die already lucky i survive tnx GOD

[dcos5]

@joshcute100385 sounds like you have clogged arteries or had a heart attack. My brothers friends dad had that same sensation you described. He went to his doctor and found his arteries were blocked up very badly I forget the percentage. His doc told him if he hadn't come in that night he would of died.

[joshcute100385]

@dcos5 oh i go for an ECG and luckily i have no heart problem it's just my potassium level really went down coz of to much exercise and no potassium intake so now i have to eat banana every time.. :)

[OZRIC1985]

This is scary! I went to the hospital when I was feeling very weak and feeling sick. I drove myself to the emergency room somehow. My potassium was dangerously low at 2.5mEq/L. They gave me potassium chloride tablets and gave me a prescription to take every day. Hypokalemia is no joke. :-(

[Eric1989Aballa]

it seems that i'm watching my body getting thru it.. it really hurt ''I SWEAR'' when it attack!!!

EVERYTIME THIS HAPPEN I REALLY HAVE TO RELAY ONTO MY MOTHER AND BROTHER,... actually it attack at this moment.. luckily it may feet that is in pain not my upper body... this is the reason i got here because i need to know if I'm alone or not... this is too encouraging vid i hope it won'l happen again... but i'm not going to the doctor yet I don't want my Family to get worried about

[xxtheriotxx]

I'm 13 and I have this. So does my father. we've been dealing with this for years. Send me a message of a blogging website about this.

[MsElle7887]

hope you feel better :) and never get any attacks worse . Jesus will help you Amen

[Genebx]

It was like watching myself in another person's body. I have been through this. Not really sure what to say...

[HKPPresearchandcure]

Jake, (Dr. Levitt),

This is only the second time I have seen this video, and it is chilling to witness because anyone who has had a severe episode, or many regular episodes which are severe; it is even frightening to watch. The hardest part is knowing the "trigger" and how much liquid K+ to take to resolve an episode. When one is alone if often feels like life or death. Thank you for your courage and bravery ( not bravado!) for showing the world this very misunderstood medical disease.

[squintdrummerjosh]

Awesome vid. You explained everything that happens, what I'm thinking and feeling, word-for-word, down to a T.

The aches, the shivering, (I really enjoyed the blanket one because it annoys me so much when it happens, haha)

IDK, but for some reason though, I've been getting better over the last fews years. And weight training has seemed to help, oddly enough...

[morimando]

@squintdrummerjosh: Training helped me very much as well (though hyperkalemic), especially if all body muscles are trained.

[hssenior]

i know how it feels i have this disease

[Settledit]

Thank you so much for this. I was dx about a year and half ago. Life has gotten very strange and it's hard to explain what I go through. Thanks for showing the world that this disease is real and causes a lot of distress in the lives of the patient and their family / care givers.

[Surfjockey]

Jake mate. Been there, but you're dead right about employers, they don't believe you've just had a hell of a night being paralysed. The problem is they only ever see you when you full fit and its not as if they going to see you walking while your having an attack. This has greatly hampered my career prospects to the point that I never mention it till I have a job. The worst thing is you work late for making up for coming late and will even over compensate by this never pleases. Take care Guy.

[squintdrummerjosh]

@Surfjockey  Yeah, man. Been there. Got fired for it once.

[stevezur]

@Surfjockey I can remember back in high school limping into class late and and trying to explain to the teacher I wasn't joking that I could barely walk. I would then get better while sitting there and be fine at the end of the class. You should have seen the look on the teacher's face after I just got up and walked out without a problem. I gave up trying to explain it to everyone. Even to this day there's only a handful of my friends that know I have it.

[boodahduck2]

Thank you for this brave posting. I subscribed to your channel to help fine -tune RN training for wart training. I am privileged to see your hypokalemia posts and I am wondering if you should adjust the Tag if you want more hits.