Life with Gitelman Syndrome: Suzanne Dunn | Ep21

Suzanne Dunn was just 19 years old and pregnant when her body began shutting down. She couldn’t walk. She was crawling. Her potassium levels dropped to a life-threatening 1.3—and doctors scrambled to stabilize her without fully understanding what was happening. What followed was decades of extreme fatigue, full-body cramping, heart palpitations, and a rare diagnosis that few in the medical system recognized: Gitelman Syndrome.In this episode of The Rock Bottom Podcast, Suzanne shares her long and difficult journey through misdiagnosis, repeated ER visits, and years of treatments that never fully worked. At one point, she spent over 50 days hospitalized in a single year—stuck in a cycle of temporary relief, only to crash again days later. She describes what it feels like when your electrolytes drop so low that your body begins to fail—and how frustrating it is to know something is wrong, but not be fully understood by the people trying to help you.Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice. Always consult a qualified health professional before making changes to your health routine.Chapters00:00 Coming Up This Episode00:22 Podcast Intro: Suzanne Dunn’s Story01:06 Interview Begins: Welcome Suzanne01:23 What Is Gitelman Syndrome?02:12 Life-Threatening Pregnancy & First Diagnosis06:39 “I was crawling…” — Severe Symptoms Begin07:13 Heart Palpitations, Delirium, and Electrolyte Crash11:17 Magnesium Infusions & ER Reality13:00 50 Days Hospitalized & Medical Frustration14:05 The Magnesium Oxide Mistake20:20 Tracking Labs & Finding Patterns23:35 “I’m going to figure this out myself”30:01 What Rock Bottom Felt Like34:11 Rock Bottom Score: “I was at a one”41:43 Life Now: “I’m at an eight”Presented by: @JigsawHealthTVSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6Zpj6O04BDznHju7zG8ErR?si=bc40afcbe5b145c1Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-rock-bottom-podcast/id1809787645Do you have a health horror story that inspires? Apply to be a guest on the podcast: https://forms.gle/aqwJVZXAFFjnyTyS8