I have chronic potassium (K)deficiency and need to take a lot of slow release K (Slow K, Micro K). Anyone else have this issue? I'm trying to figure out what causes it. It may be related to kidney issues, although blood work has always been normal, or candida. Candida causes high urinary losses of taurine, which is needed for proper K utilization. However, I still have this problem despite taking 6 gms of taurine/day.
Posted by feelfit (Member # 12770) on :
I have borderline low potassium and high sodium. My blod work is fine. I eat mostly fruits and veggies and very little sodium....so technically, it doesn't make sense.
I do not have thrush but do have gut issues that may indicate candidia. I do urinate a lot, I mean tons.
Is there a way to measure taurnine? Have you had your kidneys tested through a 24 hour urine test? Are you treating candidia?
PS no matter how much i increase my potassium intake, mine too, barely remains within range.
Feelfit
Posted by disturbedme (Member # 12346) on :
Ever since I got very ill with this disease, I've had very low, low, or low normal potassium. I've had to have prescription potassium at one point and it still didn't go up, so we had to do another round of potassium pills.
Not sure why it's been like this!
Posted by djf2005 (Member # 11449) on :
This is interesting as I have low potassium and although am absent of thrush, I suspect some type of fungal issue playing a role in this.
Thanks
D
Posted by Pam08 (Member # 19203) on :
What medications are you taking? Could any of them be depleting your potassium?
I was taking Zithromax and it caused my potassium to go to low. Even after I started taking the potassium pills it was still low. I had to stop the Zithromax. It isn't a common side effect with Zithromax but I of course was one of the rare people that had this problem.
So definitely check into your meds. I really had to look hard to find anything about zithromax depleting potassium since it is not a common side effect. I only found one tiny mention online somewhere that said this was possible. Then my doc also confirmed it as well at my next appointment.
I am sure it could also just be the Lyme. You never know what it can do. It seems to effect everything.
Take Care! Pam
Posted by Sammi (Member # 110) on :
When I was first diagnosed, I had severe low potassium. I had to take high doses of prescription potassium for years.
In my case, the cause was not found. My levels are normal now.
Posted by blaze (Member # 16838) on :
Your real problem may not be a true potassium deficiency but rather a deficiency triggered by exposure to electromagnetic radiation and microwaves/radiowaves, and your body's subsequent loss of potassium.
Potassium is mentioned several times in the article below, along with calcium. But basically, you lose calcium from these exposures, and then potassium hops in to replace the missing calcium....
Thanks everyone for your help! Paul
Posted by seekhelp (Member # 15067) on :
What about the opposite issue meaning abnormally high potassium serum levels? Any thoughts what this means, especially if you take diuretics and would expect to have K depletion, do not supplement with potassium, etc.
Posted by paul2jc (Member # 16526) on :
Sorry, don't really know about this. Could it be that the K isn't being properly utilized and so it remains in the blood? THe heart muscle is supposed to contain a lot of K. Any heart symptoms? Kidney issues?