Guest guest Posted December 8, 2004 Report Share Posted December 8, 2004 Jack did your doctor give you a referral to a dietician? Pierre answered your question about how low to go but I think getting into a dietician might be a good thing if you are having to deal with higher than normal potassium levels. I saw one a few times just to get me on track with the low sodium/low protein diet since at the time I was nearly vegan (ate no animal products at all). My body wasn't able to cope with the renal vegan diet so I reluctantly added meats back in...my serum albumin levels thanked me for it. Give your doctor a call and ask him to send you out to a dietician. They can do wonders when it comes to adjusting your diet to the lab numbers. Amy G. potassium My MD has alerted me that my potassium levels are going up. The last lab work had K as 5.7 (reference range 3.5-5.5). So he told me to go on a low K diet. My question is this: How low is low? Does it mean eliminate all orange juice, raisons, bananas, tomato, etc. from the diet? How many diets can we be on.....low protein, low potassium...? Anymore I should be aware of? I haven't posted in quite a while. I'm still doing ok. My energy level is still high. In fact, I'm playing tennis on a higher level. FYI, I'm 71,actively retired, still playing golf and bridge. Happy holidays to all. Jack (NY) To edit your settings for the group, go to our Yahoo Group home page: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/iga-nephropathy/ To unsubcribe via email, iga-nephropathy-unsubscribe Visit our companion website at www.igan.ca. The site is entirely supported by donations. If you would like to help, go to: http://www.igan.ca/id62.htm Thank you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 8, 2004 Report Share Posted December 8, 2004 Hi Jack, Welcome to the dreaded low potassium diet. Sorry to hear you have to go on it though. I am on travel and don't have the address with me, but perhaps another member has a link that will allow you to look up the potassium content of foods, but here is a short list. If nobody has the link, let me know and I will get it for you when I get back to my desktop on Saturday. Foods to avoid if you are told to go on a low potassium diet include: potatoes tomatoes oranges bananas broccoli tomatoe sauce orange juice squash peaches apricots plums There is another list of medium potassium levels, and the objective is to mix and match to keep within your daily goal. For example apples and pears are low, but if you eat too many of them, you could still go over your daily allotment. My memory isn't working too well the last few days and I can't recall other foods I avoid. Again, if you do not find the link, let me know and I will provide you with it on Saturday. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 8, 2004 Report Share Posted December 8, 2004 Thanks Pierre, that was just the resource I was thinking of for Jack but I could not remember where it was. I guess I should have checked on the www.igan.ca web site before I responded. That's what I get for answering before I read ahead :-) In a message dated 12/8/2004 8:32:20 AM Eastern Standard Time, " Pierre Lachaine " writes: > >Hi Jack > >A good renal dietician will tell you that you don't need to eliminate >anything, just adjust and keep track of the amounts. You might have to >severely restrict some high potassium foods though. > >Low protein, low sodium, low phosphorus and low potassium are all part of >the pre-dialysis and dialysis renal diets, but not necessarily all to the >same degree. This depends on the individual and his/her lab results. > >In your case, your potassium is starting to get up there. If it were to get >to 6 or more, it could be dangerous. Potassium is the only one of the list I >just gave that can be life threatening, so, it's something to take >seriously, but by the same token, you don't want to go overboard either. >Your body still needs some potassium, but you just have to reduce. Your next >and subsequent blood works will tell you and your doctor how you're doing. > >We're you giving a list of foods of some kind? I mean, that's something you >need to have. The goal for potassium is 1500 to 2500 mg per day. If you were >not told any specific number, I would err on the side of caution and go for >1500mg per day, and then see where that gets you. There are plenty of low >and moderate potassium foods in all food groups. Then there are the high >potassium ones like oranges, bananas, potatoes, tomatoes, beans, raisins, >etc. > >If you weren't given any handout or anything, I personally think you should >ask for some specifics. It's unprofessional in my opinion for a doctor to >just tell you to cut back on potassium without giving you any instructions >at all. But, that being said, thank God we have the internet these days. > >Go to the Links page of my website www.igan.ca . There, there's a section >where I've listed some " Nutritional Resources " websites that I think are >useful and worthwhile. The first one, the USDA Nutrient Database gives you >the potassium content of just about any food on the planet. The last two, > " Diet in Renal Failure " and " Renal Diet Guidelines " . > >Don't hesitate to ask if you have any questions after checking those out. > >Pierre > > potassium > > >> >> >> My MD has alerted me that my potassium levels are going up. The last >> lab work had K as 5.7 (reference range 3.5-5.5). So he told me to go >> on a low K diet. My question is this: How low is low? Does it mean >> eliminate all orange juice, raisons, bananas, tomato, etc. from the >> diet? >> How many diets can we be on.....low protein, low potassium...? >> Anymore I should be aware of? >> >> I haven't posted in quite a while. I'm still doing ok. My energy >> level is still high. In fact, I'm playing tennis on a higher level. >> FYI, I'm 71,actively retired, still playing golf and bridge. >> >> Happy holidays to all. >> >> Jack (NY) >> >> >> >> >> >> >> To edit your settings for the group, go to our Yahoo Group >> home page: >> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/iga-nephropathy/ >> >> To unsubcribe via email, >> iga-nephropathy-unsubscribe >> Visit our companion website at www.igan.ca. The site is entirely supported >by donations. If you would like to help, go to: >> http://www.igan.ca/id62.htm >> >> Thank you >> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 18, 2004 Report Share Posted December 18, 2004 Bree: I don't know if it is the potassium that is making you sick, but it sounds like a good candidate. If I remember correctly, Avapro is one of the drugs that has a tendency to raise serum potassium anyhow. I take Avapro, Labetalol, and Furosemide, so my Potassium is always running dangerously high. I avoid tomatoes, potatoes, and bananas, as well as breakfast cereal and most juices. I still run right on the edge and have to take Kayexalate from time to time. I would be very careful about this, as you can actually build up a potassium level so high that your heart will stop working -- Seriously!!! See a doctor, and have your potassium measured ASAP. Tomorrow would not be too soon. You should also request a consult with a dietician to go over an alternative diet that can reduce your potassium intake. Walt _____ From: bree horsfield Sent: Saturday, May 04, 2002 11:26 AM To: iga-nephropathy Subject: potassium Hi, My neph has put me up to 300mg Avapro a day. I am finding that every time I eat potatoes I feel sick. When I was on 150mg Avapro I could not eat bananas as I would feel sick. I am wondering if I can' t tolerate potassium like I used to and if this is the case should I cut out all foods with potassium. But there poses the question what other vitamins would I also be cutting out by not eating potassium rich foods. On the box is says do not take potassium supplements. Should I make an appointment to see neph about this, or should I just adjust my diet to accommodate as the avapro has not dropped my blood pressure to much and I feel fine taking 300mg. My neph put me on avapro for protein spillage not blood pressure. Bye Bree Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 21, 2004 Report Share Posted December 21, 2004 Hi Bree, If your potassium is 4.2, it is highly unlikely that having trouble with high potassium foods is related to your kidney function. I wonder if you are having allergic reactions to those two foods. My serum potassium normally no lower than 5.5, and often even up over 6.0 and those are they types of levels where they get concerned. Once, my potassium went to 7.0 and my Neph called me to get to the ER immediately. Needless to say, I am extremely careful about eating a very low potassium diet, but that only keeps me in the mid 5s. Bree, I would still mention it to your Neph to be on the safe side. Better safe than sorry, and high potassium does have the ability to stop your heart so it is important to take it seriously. In a message dated 5/6/2002 9:38:26 PM Eastern Daylight Time, " bree horsfield " writes: > >My serum potassium was 4.2mmol/L should be between 3.5 - 5.0. Bananas and potatoes affect me about 1.5hours after I have eaten them. >Bree > potassium > > > > > > Hi, > > My neph has put me up to 300mg Avapro a day. I am finding that every time > I eat potatoes I feel sick. When I was on 150mg Avapro I could not eat > bananas as I would feel sick. I am wondering if I can' t tolerate potassium > like I used to and if this is the case should I cut out all foods with > potassium. But there poses the question what other vitamins would I also be > cutting out by not eating potassium rich foods. On the box is says do not > take potassium supplements. > > Should I make an appointment to see neph about this, or should I just > adjust my diet to accommodate as the avapro has not dropped my blood > pressure to much and I feel fine taking 300mg. My neph put me on avapro for > protein spillage not blood pressure. > > > > Bye > > Bree > > > > > > > To edit your settings for the group, go to our Yahoo Group > home page: > http://groups.yahoo.com/group/iga-nephropathy/ > > To unsubcribe via email, > iga-nephropathy-unsubscribe > Visit our companion website at www.igan.ca. The site is entirely supported by donations. If you would like to help, go to: > http://www.igan.ca/id62.htm > > Thank you > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 21, 2004 Report Share Posted December 21, 2004 Hi Bree, If your potassium is 4.2, it is highly unlikely that having trouble with high potassium foods is related to your kidney function. I wonder if you are having allergic reactions to those two foods. My serum potassium normally no lower than 5.5, and often even up over 6.0 and those are they types of levels where they get concerned. Once, my potassium went to 7.0 and my Neph called me to get to the ER immediately. Needless to say, I am extremely careful about eating a very low potassium diet, but that only keeps me in the mid 5s. Bree, I would still mention it to your Neph to be on the safe side. Better safe than sorry, and high potassium does have the ability to stop your heart so it is important to take it seriously. In a message dated 5/6/2002 9:38:26 PM Eastern Daylight Time, " bree horsfield " writes: > >My serum potassium was 4.2mmol/L should be between 3.5 - 5.0. Bananas and potatoes affect me about 1.5hours after I have eaten them. >Bree > potassium > > > > > > Hi, > > My neph has put me up to 300mg Avapro a day. I am finding that every time > I eat potatoes I feel sick. When I was on 150mg Avapro I could not eat > bananas as I would feel sick. I am wondering if I can' t tolerate potassium > like I used to and if this is the case should I cut out all foods with > potassium. But there poses the question what other vitamins would I also be > cutting out by not eating potassium rich foods. On the box is says do not > take potassium supplements. > > Should I make an appointment to see neph about this, or should I just > adjust my diet to accommodate as the avapro has not dropped my blood > pressure to much and I feel fine taking 300mg. My neph put me on avapro for > protein spillage not blood pressure. > > > > Bye > > Bree > > > > > > > To edit your settings for the group, go to our Yahoo Group > home page: > http://groups.yahoo.com/group/iga-nephropathy/ > > To unsubcribe via email, > iga-nephropathy-unsubscribe > Visit our companion website at www.igan.ca. The site is entirely supported by donations. If you would like to help, go to: > http://www.igan.ca/id62.htm > > Thank you > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 6, 2005 Report Share Posted January 6, 2005 Thanks for the links . I agree with you that potassium should be listed! In a message dated 1/5/2005 12:03:49 PM Pacific Standard Time, garymattcohen@... writes: > No problem. It kinda stinks that the Nutrition Facts panel does not require > potassium, especially for foods that make the low sodium claim. I think that > should be changed. > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 2, 2010 Report Share Posted April 2, 2010 what is evwryone taking for potassium supplements? my dr rx potassium cl 10 meg just wondering how that compares thanks, s Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 2, 2010 Report Share Posted April 2, 2010 I've heard, though, that grapefruit is bad for those with hypothyroidism... > > I just discovered a little 6 oz can of unsweetened grapefruit juice has LOTS of potassium (220 mg) in it. Much more than Powerade (45 mg).... And I LOVE grapefruit juice! > Just thought I would pass this along. > > Cuddlebug/Judy > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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