potassium

[Guest guest]

I have been trying to research this, and have not yet come up with

any explanation. I, too, showed very low potassium during my

diabetic ketoacidosis attack and was given addtional potassium

through my IV for a day. At the time I was in too much of a fog to

ask why.

Perhaps one of our nurse members would know what the

correlation is.......ideas, anyone?

With hope and prayers,

Heidi

Heidi H. Griffeth

South Carolina

SE & SW Regional Rep.

PAI, Intl.

Note: All comments or advice are personal opinion only, and

should not be substituted for professional medical consultation.

robin wrote:

> Just thought I'd throw my two cents in that my potassium is low

whenever I have an attack too. What function does potassium

provide in the body?

[Guest guest]

Hi Heidi,

Probably because during ketoacidosis, the kidneys compensate by increasing

urine output. This results in lowered K, as well as other ions in the

bloodstream. It also compensates by buffering with increased NaHCO3 (Sodium

Bicarbonate).

Jerry

**********************************

----- Original Message -----

> I have been trying to research this, and have not yet come up with

> any explanation. I, too, showed very low potassium during my

> diabetic ketoacidosis attack and was given addtional potassium

> through my IV for a day.

[Guest guest]

Potassium is totally critical for life in humans. It is essential for

electrolyte balance, for good hydration, for muscles to contract, and for nerve

impulses to flow along nerves. It is one of the absolutely critical metallic

minerals needed for human health. Other metals are also critical like iron,

copper,

zinc, sodium, nickel, chromium, phosphorus, etc.

Did you ever wonder just how our digestive process takes these essential

metals from the food we eat and allows them to be processed with the sugars and

starches and proteins to then totally account for our normal body and health

functions. To balance the quantity to match our needs, not too little and not

too

much.

Is it any wonder that when we have " digestive " problems we might also incur

other problems in the blood and body chemistry that are harmful or just not

normal? Or that the stuff might be there but it may not be the right type or in

the right place?

The digestive process is an incredible process that defies total knowledge of

likely the medical community at this time, I know it sure defies my

knowledge. For instance, just how does an atom of potassium get from a carrot to

my

liver? And why that particular atom and why that liver? Food for thought and

remember that water and plenty of it is essential for all of the processes to

work.

Best wishes, Poncho - GA

[Guest guest]

For what it is worth almost every single time I was admitted for

pancreatitis I had to be given potassium, and magnessium. I was also

dehydrated everytime to, so I presumed it had to do with the

dehydration. I can't follow poncho's advice when I am moving towards

an attack -- hurts to much to accept any fluids or food.

But get this: when I was recovering in the hospital from the total

pancreatectomy I had inbalances then too. So without a pancreas I

still experienced the need for potassium and magnessium. So, not sure

where it comes from. Again, I suspect my diet sucked prior to the

procedure, and prior to the hospitalizations (I mean really 3 or 4

cans of ensure a day isn't the way the body wants food).

hmmmm....

Bert

[Guest guest]

Hi Terri,

I have problems with my potassium level being to low. I am taking potassium supplements and they are helping a lot. I am more tired when my potassium is low and my heart skips a lot more.

Hope this help.

Love to ya,

Hello all,

I was wondering if anyone was having a potassium problem. I am having

mine redrawn next week because in a month it had dropped dramatically.

I am not on a diuretic so there is no real reason it should have

dropped. I am not urinating too much because the neurogenic bladder

keeps me from urinating a lot anyway!

Well, if anyone has any suggestions let me know. I am hoping it was

just a lab error or we will have to add potassium to my list of growing

medications.

Also, has anyone used the fentanyl patch for pain relief? I am supposed

to start but my husband is in Hawaii for 90 days and I am afraid to

start it with no one but the dogs at home with me because of multiple

drug allergies (mostly pain meds).

Thanks for your help.

Terri G.

__.

[Guest guest]

Hello all,

I was wondering if anyone was having a potassium problem. I am having

mine redrawn next week because in a month it had dropped dramatically.

I am not on a diuretic so there is no real reason it should have

dropped. I am not urinating too much because the neurogenic bladder

keeps me from urinating a lot anyway!

Well, if anyone has any suggestions let me know. I am hoping it was

just a lab error or we will have to add potassium to my list of growing

medications.

Also, has anyone used the fentanyl patch for pain relief? I am supposed

to start but my husband is in Hawaii for 90 days and I am afraid to

start it with no one but the dogs at home with me because of multiple

drug allergies (mostly pain meds).

Thanks for your help.

Terri G.

[Guest guest]

Hi Terri and ,Low potassium was how my sarcoidosis started a long time ago. I would have skipped heartbeats and when a chem panel was drawn it always showed low K+. If the K+ is either too low or too high it can cause skips and leg cramps, etc. Very interesting that you experienced the skipped beats too and have sarcoidosis. Makes me wonder about a connection with the sarcoidosis b/c this was way before I was taking any meds.Blessings,Beckyiiii@... wrote: Hi Terri, I have problems with my potassium level being to low. I am taking potassium supplements and they are helping a lot. I am more tired when my potassium is low and my heart skips a lot more. Hope this help. Love to ya, In a message dated 8/4/2007 10:39:05 AM Eastern Daylight Time, mosaicgirl1 (AT) yahoo (DOT) com writes: Hello all, I was wondering if anyone was having a potassium problem. I am having mine redrawn next week because in a month it had dropped dramatically. I am not on a diuretic so there is no real reason it should have dropped. I am not urinating too much because the neurogenic bladder keeps me from urinating a lot anyway! Well, if anyone has any suggestions let me know. I am hoping it was just a lab error or we will have to add

potassium to my list of growing medications. Also, has anyone used the fentanyl patch for pain relief? I am supposed to start but my husband is in Hawaii for 90 days and I am afraid to start it with no one but the dogs at home with me because of multiple drug allergies (mostly pain meds). Thanks for your help. Terri G. __.

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[Guest guest]

Hi Terri,Not that you would but make sure you don't use a heating pad or waterbed with a heater while on the patch (where it touches the patch). The med can absorb too fast.Blessings,Beckymosaicgirl1 wrote: Hello all, I was wondering if anyone was having a potassium problem. I am having mine redrawn next week because in a month it had dropped dramatically. I am not on a diuretic so there is no real reason it should have dropped. I am not urinating too much because the

neurogenic bladder keeps me from urinating a lot anyway! Well, if anyone has any suggestions let me know. I am hoping it was just a lab error or we will have to add potassium to my list of growing medications. Also, has anyone used the fentanyl patch for pain relief? I am supposed to start but my husband is in Hawaii for 90 days and I am afraid to start it with no one but the dogs at home with me because of multiple drug allergies (mostly pain meds). Thanks for your help. Terri G.

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[Guest guest]

Hey guys,

I do have skipped beats and leg cramps. I am going to have it redrawn

on Monday and will let you know.

Terri

Hi Terri,

> I have problems with my potassium level being to low. I am taking

potassium supplements and they are helping a lot. I am more tired when

my potassium is low and my heart skips a lot more.

> Hope this help.

> Love to ya,

>

>

>

> In a message dated 8/4/2007 10:39:05 AM Eastern Daylight Time,

mosaicgirl1@... writes:

>

> Hello all,

>

> I was wondering if anyone was having a potassium problem. I am having

> mine redrawn next week because in a month it had dropped dramatically.

> I am not on a diuretic so there is no real reason it should have

> dropped. I am not urinating too much because the neurogenic bladder

> keeps me from urinating a lot anyway!

>

> Well, if anyone has any suggestions let me know. I am hoping it was

> just a lab error or we will have to add potassium to my list of

growing

> medications.

>

> Also, has anyone used the fentanyl patch for pain relief? I am

supposed

> to start but my husband is in Hawaii for 90 days and I am afraid to

> start it with no one but the dogs at home with me because of multiple

> drug allergies (mostly pain meds).

>

> Thanks for your help.

>

> Terri G.

>

>

>

>

> __.

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

> ---------------------------------

> Got a little couch potato?

> Check out fun summer activities for kids.

>

[Guest guest]

,

Thanks - I appreciate the response. Do you have problems thinking too

when the potassium is down? is it from the fatigue?

Terri G.

>

> Hi Terri,

> I have problems with my potassium level being to low. I am taking

> potassium supplements and they are helping a lot. I am more tired when

my potassium

> is low and my heart skips a lot more.

> Hope this help.

> Love to ya,

>

>

>

> In a message dated 8/4/2007 10:39:05 AM Eastern Daylight Time,

> mosaicgirl1@... writes:

> >

> > Hello all,

> >

> > I was wondering if anyone was having a potassium problem. I am

having

> > mine redrawn next week because in a month it had dropped

dramatically.

> > I am not on a diuretic so there is no real reason it should have

> > dropped. I am not urinating too much because the neurogenic bladder

> > keeps me from urinating a lot anyway!

> >

> > Well, if anyone has any suggestions let me know. I am hoping it was

> > just a lab error or we will have to add potassium to my list of

growing

> > medications.

> >

> > Also, has anyone used the fentanyl patch for pain relief? I am

supposed

> > to start but my husband is in Hawaii for 90 days and I am afraid to

> > start it with no one but the dogs at home with me because of

multiple

> > drug allergies (mostly pain meds).

> >

> > Thanks for your help.

> >

> > Terri G.

> >

> >

> >

> >

> > __.

> >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Terri,

When my potassium is low. I really feel tried and I do have problems with my thinking and I say words for things that are not the right word, but my family understands what I am trying to say. When I get my level up I do better. Did they tell you to take potassium. My Dr. said it is not good for it to be low and could cause a lot of problems.

Love to ya,

,

Thanks - I appreciate the response. Do you have problems thinking too

when the potassium is down? is it from the fatigue?

Terri G.

[Guest guest]

Becky, that's a good point. With the increase in meds being available in skin patches (including birth control), we need to make sure we learn & understand everything about our meds & dosing info.

Ramblin' Rose

Moderator

Reply-To: Neurosarcoidosis To: Neurosarcoidosis Subject: Re: potassiumDate: Sat, 4 Aug 2007 11:50:55 -0700 (PDT)

Hi Terri,Not that you would but make sure you don't use a heating pad or waterbed with a heater while on the patch (where it touches the patch). The med can absorb too fast.Blessings,Beckymosaicgirl1 <mosaicgirl1 (AT) yahoo (DOT) com> wrote:

Hello all,I was wondering if anyone was having a potassium problem. I am havingmine redrawn next week because in a month it had dropped dramatically. I am not on a diuretic so there is no real reason it should havedropped. I am not urinating too much because the neurogenic bladderkeeps me from urinating a lot anyway!Well, if anyone has any suggestions let me know. I am hoping it wasjust a lab error or we will have to add potassium to my list of growingmedications.Also, has anyone used the fentanyl patch for pain relief? I am supposedto start but my husband is in Hawaii for 90 days and I am afraid tostart it with no one but the dogs at home with me because of multipledrug allergies (mostly pain meds).Thanks for your help.Terri G.

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[Guest guest]

Becky I have little short fast hard pounds of my heart. Is that a "palpitation"(spelling?) I was ready to blame it on the chemo. Not sure if they check my vitamin levels or not. Good question to ask this Thursday.grannylunatic@...

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[Guest guest]

Hi ,Yes, that's palpitations. Skipped heartbeats are arrhythmia's. Tachycardia is a fast heartrate. The best way to describe it is that a palpitation is a heartbeat that you are aware of (you feel it forcefully beating). Everyone has these at some point and they are usually benign (r/t stress, potassium low/high or other lab abnormalities, exercise, meds, etc.). But, with a known sarcoidosis pt, ANY kind of cardiac anomaly should be investigated. The numbers are much higher than was previously thought regarding cardiac sarcoidosis involvement. Where it matters with irregular heartbeats is symptoms (dizziness, shortness of breath, etc.) and where the irregularity occurs in the QRST complex on the ekg strip, how close together, and wave widening/shortening. This can show a lot. If the doctor is suspicious there are tests that can be done. Blessings,Becky wrote: Becky I have little short fast hard pounds of my heart. Is that a "palpitation"(spelling?) I was ready to blame it on the chemo. Not sure if they check my vitamin levels or not. Good question to ask this Thursday.grannylunatic (AT) yahoo (DOT) com Shape Yahoo! in your own image. Join our Network

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[Guest guest]

iii

My doctor thought there might be a lab mistake(????) and I am having

redrawn tomorrow. If it is still low, I will go on the potassium. I

think it is low because of symptoms I have been having and I think the

lab is right.\

Terri

>

> Hi Terri,

> When my potassium is low. I really feel tried and I do have problems

with

> my thinking and I say words for things that are not the right word,

but my

> family understands what I am trying to say. When I get my level up I

do better.

> Did they tell you to take potassium. My Dr. said it is not good for it

to be

> low and could cause a lot of problems.

> Love to ya,

>

>

> In a message dated 8/4/2007 3:31:53 PM Eastern Daylight Time,

> mosaicgirl1@... writes:

> > ,

> >

> > Thanks - I appreciate the response. Do you have problems thinking

too

> > when the potassium is down? is it from the fatigue?

> >

> > Terri G.

>

[Guest guest]

Terri, when you have your blood drawn, ask the lab tech what the turnaround (time it takes to get the results) is, and bug the doctor's office if you don't hear from them as soon as they should have gotten the results. Do you know what your last potassium level was? Low potassium can cause serious heart arrhythmias, including cardiac arrest. I don't want to scare you, but I know that lab reports can lay around an office or clinic, get lost under other paperwork, etc. So don't be afraid to keep after them. Heck, I'll get after them myself! I don't remember now who it was, but years ago we had a member who deluged her doctor's office with emails or faxes, and it worked--the doctor called her!

Ramblin' Rose

Moderator

Reply-To: Neurosarcoidosis To: Neurosarcoidosis Subject: Re: potassiumDate: Sun, 05 Aug 2007 13:59:20 -0000

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[Guest guest]

Don't mean to butt in here, but thanks for the tip. I have had that problem for a long time, mixing up my words and all. Its awful. Thanks again, Anneiiii@... wrote: Hi Terri, When my potassium is low. I really feel tried and I do have problems with my thinking and I say words for things that are not the right word, but my family understands what I am trying to say. When I get my level up I do better. Did they tell you to take potassium. My Dr. said it is not good for it to be low and could cause a lot of problems.Love to ya,In a

message dated 8/4/2007 3:31:53 PM Eastern Daylight Time, mosaicgirl1@... writes: ,Thanks - I appreciate the response. Do you have problems thinking toowhen the potassium is down? is it from the fatigue?Terri G.

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[Guest guest]

Rose,

My Potassium in June was 4.2 and in July it was 3.3 so it is mildly low

but the doc doesn't believe it would drop that much in a month. I had

it redrawn today and I will start bugging him this Wednesday. If he

doesn't call me back I have his page and I will use it. What bothers me

is that the last lab work was drawn July 13th and I didn't get any info

until my appointment this past Friday. He looked suprised when he

looked at the lab work. My protein is borderline but that doesn't

surprise me cause I am not much of a meat eater and I am trying to

supplement with nuts and beans. My albumin is low and has been low for

some time. I used the link from this site to try to get an idea of why

that may be low and one of the reasons listed is inflammation. So, that

is probably why it stays low. Let's just hope so.

Well, I will let you know when I know.....I am eating bananas to make

sure I don't get into trouble. My ex father-in-law had a heart attack

because he lost all of his potassium from over prescribed diuretic.

Take care and thanks for the concern.

Terri

[Guest guest]

Anne, don't ever hesitate to reply to a post. It's not butting in. We want as much input as possible. Sometimes just knowing that others are experiencing the same symptoms is a comfort. Thanks for posting!

Ramblin' Rose

Moderator

Reply-To: Neurosarcoidosis To: Neurosarcoidosis Subject: Re: Re: potassiumDate: Mon, 6 Aug 2007 04:55:08 -0700 (PDT)

Don't mean to butt in here, but thanks for the tip. I have had that problem for a long time, mixing up my words and all. Its awful. Thanks again, Anneiiii (AT) cs (DOT) com wrote:

Hi Terri, When my potassium is low. I really feel tried and I do have problems with my thinking and I say words for things that are not the right word, but my family understands what I am trying to say. When I get my level up I do better. Did they tell you to take potassium. My Dr. said it is not good for it to be low and could cause a lot of problems.Love to ya,In a message dated 8/4/2007 3:31:53 PM Eastern Daylight Time, mosaicgirl1 (AT) yahoo (DOT) com writes:

,Thanks - I appreciate the response. Do you have problems thinking toowhen the potassium is down? is it from the fatigue?Terri G.

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