posted
Several months ago I wound up the ER from some Lyme related issues, presumably from Babesia, mainly air hunger, chest discomfort and heart papitations. They found my potassium to be very low and I was put on supplements. I was rechecked after two weeks and my numbers had gone back up.
Now again, I am experiencing the heart paps, tingling sensations and chest discomfort. Wondering if it could be potassium issues again or if it is just the BBB trio causing me problems again.
Curious if anyone else's potassium levels were low and if you were ever given a satisfactory explanation.
Don't really want to have to go back to my pcp to have my levels rechecked - he doesn't get Lyme at all and is somewhat hostile to my treatment. I still have potassium tablets here, anyone know if they are safe to take for a few days to see if I notice any improvement?
Not going back to the LLMD for another two weeks and phone consults aren't an option.
Thanks in adavance.
Posts: 239 | From Virginia | Registered: Jun 2009
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posted
My pottassium is often low. Not low enough to necessarily have to supplement, but a little low to where my LLMD is always telling me to eat more fruit.
Usually, if I eat more fruit like she says, then my next blood test will have normal potassium.
Another doctor told me one time that low potassium is the most common lab result in CBC that they see in women.
I don't know if it's related to lyme or not.
Lymers
Posts: 287 | From Humboldt County, CA | Registered: Jul 2009
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Sammi
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 110
posted
When I first got sick, my potassium was severely low. I had to take several prescription potassium pills daily for a long time.
Posts: 4682 | Registered: Oct 2000
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posted
I have low potassium and take a prescription for it. Have for about 8 years now. I have not found a reason for it to be low but my aldosterone is often elevated and I think that makes you get rid of potassium, so maybe it has something to do w/that...?
Posts: 146 | From Midwest | Registered: Feb 2005
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Sammi
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 110
posted
Aimee, I had so many symptoms at that time it is hard to tell what was from what. I am sure some of the heart palpitations and weakness I had was from low potassium.
Posts: 4682 | Registered: Oct 2000
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ping
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Member # 6974
posted
My K+ readings have presented at the very low end of the normal range for decades. There were a couple of years where they were a bit higher, but now that I have to take a certain amount of diuretics for severe hypertension, K+ was showing low end of normal again.
I'm not sure what eating fruit, aside from bananas, has to do with raising K+; I didn't know that all fruits, in general had that much K+... Interesting, will have to research this.
One of the reasons my old LLMD and I traced to low K+ readings was and is, drinking too much water! I know how this sounds, but it's very possible that this could be a cause. I've come to view hydration differently in the past few months as something other than drinking lots of water. Don't get me wrong, a certain amount of water is needed, but it also leaches certain minerals out of the body, if you drink too much.
I've found that very watery fruits (esp. watermelon) are a better source for water and actually hold the water in your body for a longer period of time, allowing for full utilization. Along with this, I drink an electrolyte solution daily (1 serving, not 3) and my readings are much better now.
I think there's a homemade electrolyte solution in one of GiGi's posts on the Allergie-Immun thread. If you don't want to mix your own (as I don't), I by Selectrolytes from Morin Labs. FYI - Don't order this on-line through the paypal system they have, but rather call the toll free number and you'll get a much better shipping price. There are other electrolyte solutions on the market, but many are just too expensive and the cheap one's have way too much sugar.
posted
Not all fruit is high in potassium, but many fruits and veggies are.
Lymers
Posts: 287 | From Humboldt County, CA | Registered: Jul 2009
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beths
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 18864
posted
Coconut water is high in Potassium and low in calories
Posts: 1276 | From maryland | Registered: Jan 2009
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lymie_in_md
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 14197
posted
Here's one way to up your potassium. Buy some powdered potassium chloride, get a good quality msm powdered supplement, some vitamin C powder l-ascorbic version. Also some magnesium and some bicarbonate of soda. 1/4 teaspoon of potassium chloride in water with an 1/8 teaspoon of bicarbonate 1/8 teaspoon of vitamin C in a 16 oz bottle of water or coconut water. Coconut water would be better. If you use regular water or distilled sweeten with stevia about 1/16 teaspoon. Drink 48 to 64 ozs a day. By drinking a little at a time you build up your bodies potassium reserve little by little.
Add 1/4 teaspoon of MSM to increase permeability of your cells to use the potassium. I'm think a low potassium level creates symptoms such as insomnia in many lymies. You might also want to add some magnesium. As your drinking through out the day you are putting minerals slowly but steadily back into your body naturally.
The advantage of creating your own is to lower the amount of sugar. It cost far less then to purchase from vendors.
Just a thought...
-------------------- Bob Posts: 2150 | From Maryland | Registered: Dec 2007
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posted
I drink coconut water every day for potassium. It also helps a great deal with gastritis type symptoms.
It has some natural sugar, but I don't care. It makes me feel better, and my body likes it. It's loaded with electrolytes and I've been experiencing less cardiac arrhythmias as well.
If I don't have enough potassium, my serum levels are often low. A lot of times it's the only thing out of range on my bloodwork.
I read a thread where Marnie scientifically explains why potassium and magnesium are depleted, but I don't feel like searching.
Posts: 967 | From A deserted island without internet access | Registered: Sep 2009
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Tracy9
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 7521
posted
Recently I was pulled out of the prescription counter on a stretcher by ambulance at CVS in anaphylaxis. It was a reaction to IVIG I had just had at the hospital across the street, but the ER also found me to be very low in Potassium and stressed over and over that it could have caused a LOT of my symptoms.
I have been taking supplements for about a week now. I have been unable to get out of bed or function since I reacted to the IVIG...I guess my body is still fighting against the donor plasma/rejecting it. I am not sure how much of the symptoms are still from the low Potassium.
13 years Lyme & Co.; Small Fiber Neuropathy; Myasthenia Gravis, Adrenal Insufficiency. On chemo for 2 1/2 years as experimental treatment for MG. Posts: 4480 | From Northeastern Connecticut | Registered: Jun 2005
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posted
Thanks all for the input, much appreciated.
Thinking of trying to hold out till my appt next week to have my levels tested again to see if it is really my problem now before I start trying to fix things on my own.
Guess I should have magnesium tested as well?
Posts: 239 | From Virginia | Registered: Jun 2009
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