hospitalization and low potassium

[Guest guest]

Hi All,

I was in the hospital for 2 1/2 days with what I think was a stroke-like

episode. The docs treated me for a stroke. It came on very rapidly (within 5

minutes) which is very unusual for me. I first developed numbness in my lips

and cheeks, then my tongue felt swollen and I couldn't swallow. Then my face

began to sag and I couldn't open my eyes or move my lips. I was coherent

but felt strange. My friend took me to the hospital where for once they took

me seriously. They did a CT scan, MRI, ultrasound of arteries, x-rays, Echo,

EKG and lots of blood work. I don't have any results yet because they

wouldn't let me see them but my doctor told me that my potassium was very low

(2.2)

and my WBC was high. I'm going to try to get the results tomorrow. I have

been sick lately with what appeared to be a bad infection. They treated me

with IV potassium and high dose IV antibiotics for the past 2 days. The

numbness is almost gone and I'm much better although very tired. Have any of

you

had problems with low potassium? I am not on diuretics or laxatives and have

not had diarrhea or vomiting. I'm wondering if the low potassium caused the

SLE or was a result??Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

S

[Guest guest]

I am so sorry you have had to go through this, but maybe it will give

you some answers in the end.

I have low potassium, calcium, phosphorus, along with very low

magnesium. This is due to my kidneys spilling it. I just have to

supplement and keep close tabs on my levels. You might want to make

sure your other electrolytes are in the normal range. I hope this

provides you with some answers about why you have been feeling so

poorly.

Think warm Florida thoughts for those of us in the north. We got 8

inches of snow on top of the 4 we already had. I know this doesn't

sound like much for a Buffalo girl, but it has folks indoors until

plowed out. I guess the east coast is getting it now and will probably

have even more.

Thinking of you and sending big hugs.

laurie

> Hi All,

>

> I was in the hospital for 2 1/2 days with what I think was a stroke-like

> episode. The docs treated me for a stroke. It came on very rapidly

> (within 5

> minutes) which is very unusual for me. I first developed numbness in my

> lips

> and cheeks, then my tongue felt swollen and I couldn't swallow. Then my

> face

> began to sag and I couldn't open my eyes or move my lips. I was coherent

> but felt strange. My friend took me to the hospital where for once they

> took

> me seriously. They did a CT scan, MRI, ultrasound of arteries, x-rays,

> Echo,

> EKG and lots of blood work. I don't have any results yet because they

> wouldn't let me see them but my doctor told me that my potassium was very

> low (2.2)

> and my WBC was high. I'm going to try to get the results tomorrow. I

> have

> been sick lately with what appeared to be a bad infection. They treated

> me

> with IV potassium and high dose IV antibiotics for the past 2 days. The

> numbness is almost gone and I'm much better although very tired. Have any

> of you

> had problems with low potassium? I am not on diuretics or laxatives and

> have

> not had diarrhea or vomiting. I'm wondering if the low potassium caused

> the

> SLE or was a result??Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

>

> S

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Low potassium is definitely associated with my SLEs--both low potassium and

low phosphate. I take 100 meq Klor-Con EF per day which is half potassium

bicarbonate and half potassium citrate and this helps prevent SLEs for me. I

also take K-Phos Neutral which is rx phosphate.

Hope you can continue to rest and recover.

Barbara

> Hi All,

>

> I was in the hospital for 2 1/2 days with what I think was a stroke-like

> episode. The docs treated me for a stroke. It came on very rapidly

(within 5

> minutes) which is very unusual for me. I first developed numbness in my

lips

> and cheeks, then my tongue felt swollen and I couldn't swallow. Then my

face

> began to sag and I couldn't open my eyes or move my lips. I was coherent

> but felt strange. My friend took me to the hospital where for once they

took

> me seriously. They did a CT scan, MRI, ultrasound of arteries, x-rays,

Echo,

> EKG and lots of blood work. I don't have any results yet because they

> wouldn't let me see them but my doctor told me that my potassium was very

low

> (2.2)

> and my WBC was high. I'm going to try to get the results tomorrow. I

have

> been sick lately with what appeared to be a bad infection. They treated

me

> with IV potassium and high dose IV antibiotics for the past 2 days. The

> numbness is almost gone and I'm much better although very tired. Have

any of

> you

> had problems with low potassium? I am not on diuretics or laxatives and

have

> not had diarrhea or vomiting. I'm wondering if the low potassium caused

the

> SLE or was a result??Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

>

> S

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

Both of my girls tend to have low potassium values for no apparent reason. We

do supplement potassium when they take PRN diuretics related to fluid balance

issues. Even when retaining significant fluid their K+ values will run 3.0-3.4

's lowest K+ of record was 1.6-1.8 at that time she was minimally

responsive. Even then we could never determine why it was so low.

JSchwartzo@... wrote:

I'm wondering if the low potassium caused the

SLE or was a result??Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

S

Joanne Kocourek (mom to , lies, and )

visit us at: http://www.caringbridge.org/il/annakris

[Guest guest]

Dear Jen, so sorry to hear you have been SO ill! I have just the oppisite,

High potassiun (5.5-6.5). Yhis was my first sign years ago that something was

wrong. Kind of ironic that old roomates have the oppisite. Hope you are on the

way to recovery soon

Martha