Outaker Posted July 8, 2019 Report Share Posted July 8, 2019 I have noticed that my bloodwork always shows low potassium since I end up in the er every 2 weeks.. anyonelde have this problem Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MomtoGiuliana Posted July 8, 2019 Report Share Posted July 8, 2019 I tend to have low potassium. It is more likely when I am in a POTS flare. I am not really sure of the reason for this, my specialist told me slightly low potassium is an issue for some people. It can be exacerbated for some by taking too much salt (he told me) and encouraged me to be careful about over-doing salt intake, although an increase in salt intake is recommended for POTS patients (which is a little confusing). When I was at the ER the very first time for POTS I remember they asked me if I had been vomiting a lot bc my potassium was low. I had not had any intestinal upset at all! There have been past discussions about this on the forum. eg https://www.dinet.org/forums/topic/18019-low-potassium/ If you are taking florinef that can cause your kidneys to excrete potassium so it is important to eat potassium rich foods if on florinef. But if you are like me, you may need to make sure you are eating potassium rich foods regardless. Fruits and juices are particularly rich in potassium and can provide a quick infusion of potassium. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pistol Posted July 8, 2019 Report Share Posted July 8, 2019 @Outaker I used to show low potassium AFTER getting Saline infusions in the hospital - do they give you fluids? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Outaker Posted July 8, 2019 Author Report Share Posted July 8, 2019 Nope This is happening upon arrival- MY theory is the hyperadrenergic state makes us piss out the potassium - or it can be the sodium and potassium imbalance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KiminOrlando Posted July 8, 2019 Report Share Posted July 8, 2019 Florinef also causes low potassium. Not sure if you are taking it or not. My doctor put me on prescription potassium supplements and I have been able to maintain a steady level now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derek1987 Posted July 8, 2019 Report Share Posted July 8, 2019 Lisinopril caused me to have low potassium. Now that I'm not on that anymore, my potassium has remained in the normal range. Just my knowledge I can share with ya. It might not be that way for everyone though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WinterSown Posted July 9, 2019 Report Share Posted July 9, 2019 Heat and sweat can also effect your numbers--summertime is sweaty time 😞 You can try to eat more foods that are potassium-rich, it's a nice list and you probably already eat these foods--so eat them more often. It's all yummy stuff. https://www.webmd.com/diet/foods-rich-in-potassium#1-4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jessica_ Posted July 9, 2019 Report Share Posted July 9, 2019 My Potassium is always low too and so is my Magnesium. I try to eat Bananas and drink sugar free Gatorade regularly. That seems to keep me feeling stable. Usually when my potassium starts to fall I get more leg cramps and muscle twitches. We all have way too much in common and there has to be a reason! I wish someone could figure out this puzzle for all of us. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sue1234 Posted July 9, 2019 Report Share Posted July 9, 2019 Do you know if your cortisol is elevated? Having Cushing's Disease can cause low potassium. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Outaker Posted July 10, 2019 Author Report Share Posted July 10, 2019 NO idea i will take cortisol supplements Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bombsh3ll Posted July 11, 2019 Report Share Posted July 11, 2019 On 7/8/2019 at 8:53 PM, Outaker said: MY theory is the hyperadrenergic state makes us piss out the potassium I am not sure if it increases urinary excretion, but excess catecholamines certainly drive free potassium into cells, lowering blood concentration. When I was working in hospitals, salbutamol which is a beta-2 adrenergic receptor agonist, was routinely used as a treatment to lower blood potassium in patients whose blood potassium was dangerously high. B xxx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scout Posted July 12, 2019 Report Share Posted July 12, 2019 Have you had your renin / aldosterone levels checked? Low potassium can be caused by excess aldosterone, I believe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Outaker Posted July 12, 2019 Author Report Share Posted July 12, 2019 having it checked next week Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wootser Posted July 12, 2019 Report Share Posted July 12, 2019 I have had low, sometimes critically low, potassium most of my adult life, and this in spite of taking prescribed potassium supplements. Unfortunately, I now have congestive heart failure and some other heart issues, so I have to take a diuretic. Diuretics tend to leach potassium from the body. I do wonder if this potassium deficiency that seems to affect so many of us is related to our dysautonomia. Has your doctor recommended prescription-strength potassium supplements? That might help. There are a couple of prescription potassium supplements out there now that are not as difficult to swallow as the original enormous potassium chloride tablets. Might be worth looking into. You would probably need your potassium levels checked from time to time -- I do. OTC potassium supplements are really worthless. Also, try potassium-rich foods. One of the best is low-sodium V-8; lots of potassium, not a lot of sodium to overbalance it. Best wishes -- this is a stubborn problem, I know. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bombsh3ll Posted July 14, 2019 Report Share Posted July 14, 2019 Florinef, other steroids, insulin, furosemide, beta agonists for asthma etc) supplements eg licorice root, & conditions such as excess secretion of cortisol, aldosterone or insulin, or any bowel problem causing diarrhoea for example, can cause low potassium, from my knowledge. If you are deficient and/or supplementing it is important to have regular blood tests and medical follow up. Best wishes, B xxx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Outaker Posted July 14, 2019 Author Report Share Posted July 14, 2019 My potassium is 3.4 again at er ... amazing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bombsh3ll Posted July 15, 2019 Report Share Posted July 15, 2019 12 hours ago, Outaker said: My potassium is 3.4 again at I am not sure what range your lab is using but in the UK normal range starts at 3.5, so it is low but not dangerously so. Have you got a plan for supplementation & further investigations? B xxx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sue1234 Posted July 15, 2019 Report Share Posted July 15, 2019 On 7/9/2019 at 7:39 PM, Outaker said: NO idea i will take cortisol supplements I'm not sure what you mean by this...are you taking cortisol supplements already, before this low potassium lab test? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bombsh3ll Posted July 15, 2019 Report Share Posted July 15, 2019 19 minutes ago, sue1234 said: I'm not sure what you mean by this...are you taking cortisol supplements already, before this low potassium lab test? Yes, any kind of cortisol supplement can potentially lower the potassium. When I used to take licorice root (which basically tricks your own cortisol into acting like aldosterone, but has the unfortunate side effect of raising overall cortisol), my potassium tended to run low. Untreated my K+ runs higher as I am mineralocorticoid deficient. B xxx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Outaker Posted July 16, 2019 Author Report Share Posted July 16, 2019 9 hours ago, bombsh3ll said: Yes, any kind of cortisol supplement can potentially lower the potassium. When I used to take licorice root (which basically tricks your own cortisol into acting like aldosterone, but has the unfortunate side effect of raising overall cortisol), my potassium tended to run low. Untreated my K+ runs higher as I am mineralocorticoid deficient. B xxx Coconut water should help in theory? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
potsiebarbie Posted July 16, 2019 Report Share Posted July 16, 2019 I have a genetic kidney defect condition called gitelman syndrome. It causes me to have renal magnesium wasting. Most people with it also lose potassium. I would recommend a 24 hr urine checking your electrolytes to see if your kidneys are excreting an abnormal amount. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Outaker Posted July 16, 2019 Author Report Share Posted July 16, 2019 How are you managing that Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Outaker Posted July 16, 2019 Author Report Share Posted July 16, 2019 3 hours ago, potsiebarbie said: I have a genetic kidney defect condition called gitelman syndrome. It causes me to have renal magnesium wasting. Most people with it also lose potassium. I would recommend a 24 hr urine checking your electrolytes to see if your kidneys are excreting an abnormal amount. Who diagnosed you with Gitelman? Nephrologist ? Los Angeles? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lily Posted July 18, 2019 Report Share Posted July 18, 2019 You can also get potassium from low sodium salt. It used potassium chloride instead of sodium chloride. Perhaps consider mixing the two together in your salt shaker. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
potsiebarbie Posted July 21, 2019 Report Share Posted July 21, 2019 On 7/15/2019 at 10:29 PM, Outaker said: Who diagnosed you with Gitelman? Nephrologist ? Los Angeles? Yes a nephrologist. Yes in the L.A. County. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.