disturbedme
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 12346
posted
Quick question. Since I became really ill with this disease I've had low potassium levels on most of my serum tests. If it's not low, it's normal low. I would probably do well on prescribed potassium, as it seems food sources don't really help raise my potassium levels that noticeably.
Anyone know why this happens or if anyone else has noticed this?
Thanks!
-------------------- One can never consent to creep when one feels an impulse to soar. ~ Helen Keller
My Lyme Story Posts: 2965 | From Land of Confusion (bitten in KS, moved to PA, now living in MD) | Registered: Jun 2007
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lymie_in_md
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 14197
posted
Lymies are minerally unbalanced, and potassium levels are unusually low. I know mine were! Try looking into vitamin K2 (to rebalance calcium) and KPU (to restore b6 and zinc), both protocols work to adjust those imbalances. I believe it is part of the issue.
Try looking into the following link on this k vitamin. I'm not sure how it may plays in potassium, but it might add to the discussion.
And I think your right, I don't think diet or supplementation specifically with potassium can help raise potassium levels.
-------------------- Bob Posts: 2150 | From Maryland | Registered: Dec 2007
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ping
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 6974
posted
disturbedme - For a quicker and much cheaper solution and one that worked for me, go to the health food store and purchase Country Life brand CaMgK supp pills. The supp is balanced correctly for the amounts that are needed for each mineral and releases rather slowly. Start with one per day and be careful if you're taking abx that don't mix well with calcium (usually the tetracyclines). I used to take it at night before bedtime, at least 2 hours after my evening dose of minocycline.
Of course, you'll have to keep getting tested to find out what dosage actually works for you.
Best of health to you.
[ 12-22-2009, 11:06 AM: Message edited by: ping ]
-------------------- ping "We are more than containers for Lyme" Posts: 1302 | From Back in TX again | Registered: Mar 2005
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djf2005
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 11449
posted
Liquid electrolytes can help too.
E-lyte has a somewhat decent brand as well as biopure.
Derek
-------------------- "Experience is not what happens to you; it is what you do with what happens to you."
lymie_in_md
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 14197
posted
You take a supplement to increase potassium but it doesn't get absorbed by the gut and just passes through the body. Just supplementing may not get the minerals your body needs.
If you have a high potassium diet, the question to a doctor might be, "where's the potassium going? and why isn't being absorbed?"
If we understand the process, its possible to come up with a far different solution. How does potassium get processed by the body?
-------------------- Bob Posts: 2150 | From Maryland | Registered: Dec 2007
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feelfit
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Member # 12770
posted
I have low potassium and high sodium. I eat mostly high amts. of fruit and veggies+ juicing. I use no salt at all.
Looking at my diet, one would conclude that the numbers should be switched around....same with you Disturbed, as I know that you are a vegetarian.
I think that Bob is right, have to find the reason that our bodies are probably expelling potassium without 'using' it.
Is your sodium high end normal?
I also have tachycardia as you do and low potassium could be the culprit......
feelfit
Posts: 3975 | From usa | Registered: Aug 2007
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lymie_in_md
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Member # 14197
posted
The idea of using a vitamin like k2 could possibly utilize calcium in the body. Then when calcium is used correctly the gut wall strengthens. When the gut wall strengthens a better gut flora occurs. When the gut flora is normalized, well potassium is used effectively.
This is just supposition, read the link i posted. The idea of processes not blind supplementation appears where many doctors are going. At a cap lyme meeting an llmd resonated with many of these types of directions.
If you look at the Gerson diet its about forcing potassium into the cells, by giving cells no other choice.
-------------------- Bob Posts: 2150 | From Maryland | Registered: Dec 2007
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disturbedme
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 12346
posted
Bob, interesting you say that because I was taking K complex with K2 for a while a few months ago but stopped. Maybe I should start taking it again.
-------------------- One can never consent to creep when one feels an impulse to soar. ~ Helen Keller
My Lyme Story Posts: 2965 | From Land of Confusion (bitten in KS, moved to PA, now living in MD) | Registered: Jun 2007
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Hoosiers51
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 15759
posted
At one point, my sodium was low in blood tests, and at another point, my chloride was low. By low, I mean, out of range.
Those are both electrolytes, from what I know, and I think potassium is too, right?
So maybe it's just a part of having Lyme/being sick for so long.....maybe it takes a toll on our electrolytes?
Anyone think this could be the case?
I do know that I feel better when I take electrolytes. Can anyone recommend good brands?
Posts: 4590 | From Midwest | Registered: Jun 2008
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Hoosiers51
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
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posted
Don't potassium and magnesium have some kind of relationship? Not sure if it's an inverse relationship (as one goes up, the other goes down) or if it's the opposite (they both go up or both go down together), or neither?
That might be something to look into. Maybe it has something to do with too much or not enough Mag?
I might just be pulling this out of thin air though....I'm remembering something along those lines that I read once.
Posts: 4590 | From Midwest | Registered: Jun 2008
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lymie_in_md
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Member # 14197
posted
It's more like potassium and calcium then mg.
You really need some specialized training to determine how to rebalance minerals in the body. All I was trying to say is there is a process. You may need to do KPU to get your zinc and b6 levels correct before you can take on K2 or maybe its a combination of both -- each person requires different measures. Magnesium is important in whatever you do. Then there are the bicarbonates sodium and potassium. Eat lots of seaweed for iodine.
Then you need a combination of herbals to kill viruses or parasites you might stir up. As well as binders where it is a specific binder at the right times.
its not easy driving this symphony of activities.
This has become more the role LLMDs are taking beyond ABX.
-------------------- Bob Posts: 2150 | From Maryland | Registered: Dec 2007
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