experiences with causes of low potassium?

[wants2know]

I'm concerned that what the doctor thinks is the cause of my low potassium is actually not the cause. I have been on a diuretic for 14 years. I've never had a problem with it. I had a seizure and the k was low so I'm off the diuretic. They keep testing my k and it's gone down slightly since I stopped the supplements in the past week. And I'm off the diuretic... so I'm being cautiously curious about other experiences with low k and seizure experiences. I started feeling extremely fatigued about a year ago. I can look at old blood work taken twice in the past year and see that my k was gradually lowering, but not enough to be alarming. So I'm wondering what else might be going on here, and if my story might sound familiar to anyone else? Thanks for reading!!!

 

[walkerjm3]

Do you take a potassium supplement of any kind including a multivitamin?

 

[wants2know]

No I Dont.

 

[masterjen]

I'm a bit lost. If your potassium is low, why were the supplements stopped? Are your other electrolytes normal? Potassium and sodium need to be carefully balanced, and if they are out of whack, it can affect neurological activity.
Do you eat bananas? They are high in potassium. And there are other potassium rich foods as well, of course. Add (more) potassium-rich foods to your diet, ask for a retest of your potassium levels after a while (I don't know for how long - ask your pharmacist or doctor), and if there is no improvement in potassium levels then ask your doctor if you should start supplements again.

 

[wants2know]

They stopped the supplement because I was well within a normal range and didn't want me to get too much k which causes other problems. I eat bananas and all that. My concern isn't really getting the k to stay put... but what is the REAL problem? And should I be asking my doc different questions?

 

[Nakamova]

Your metabolism can change over time, so even if the diuretic was fine in the past, it might have become problematic at the time of your seizure. But it would be unlikely for low potassium alone to cause the seizure unless the levels were dramatically low. Had you been experiencing multiple symptoms of low potassium (arrhythmias and muscle cramps) prior to the seizure?

It can be tricky to unravel primary and secondary triggers with seizures. Do your docs think the low potassium levels were causative, correlative or coincidental to your seizure? Do they point to some other underlying disorder? Why were you taking the diuretic? Were there other factors that may have triggered your seizure (such as fatigue, low blood sugar, other kinds of physical, physiological, or environmental stress)?

One last thought -- are you on Topomax? It can cause low potassium levels.

 

[wants2know]

The level was 2.8 at the time of the seizure. No to the topomax. High blood pressure is my biggest problem. No heart problems or symptoms. I had much more muscle cramps than usual in the last few months. Tingly fingers. Some increased bruising that I noticed was odd. I'd been very fatigued for quite a while. Extremely stressed. But that has been the case for quite a while. They all agree the low k was at least contributing in a big way to the seizure.

 

[lindsayschu2]

I had the same problem, but was on a diuretic and topamax at the same time. I think there is also an interplay between potassium and magnesium levels. If magnesium is low, potassium can also be low. Nakamova may know more on that.

 

[Nakamova]

Yes, magnesium can play a role in potassium levels. Primary magnesium depletion can result in a secondary effect of potassium depletion (but not vice versa). In this scenario, the magnesium deficiency has to be corrected before addressing the potassium deficiency.

 

[MAB]

I'm a bit lost. If your potassium is low, why were the supplements stopped? Are your other electrolytes normal? Potassium and sodium need to be carefully balanced, and if they are out of whack, it can affect neurological activity.
Do you eat bananas? They are high in potassium. And there are other potassium rich foods as well, of course. Add (more) potassium-rich foods to your diet, ask for a retest of your potassium levels after a while (I don't know for how long - ask your pharmacist or doctor), and if there is no improvement in potassium levels then ask your doctor if you should start supplements again.

My sodium level is so out of whack that they think that is what caused my simple partials to go status 2 weeks ago. I'm trying to drink 3/4 of a teaspoon of salt mixed in an electrolyte drink at least every other day. I woke up a few times with cramps in my legs and feet this morning so I am increasing the drinks to everyday.

 

[wants2know]

I wish there was a home test to tell me if I was getting too low...like diabetes. I go to a a dietician next week to make sure I'm eating the right stuff... maybe ill even lose weight. That would be a bonus I guess! There was also concern about an underactive thyroid and I don't know how that may play into potassium issues.... they will test that again. I feel like I'm taking a crash course in medicine...and flunking! I'm so ill informed... and it hasn't helped that this event occurred as I was looking for a new primary since mine left recently. So this guy doesn't know me at all and it's a very lonely feeling, where I'm battling advocating and questioning and not trying to come across as disrespectful or rude. GRRRRRRRR!!!!!

 

[MAB]

I'm sorry you are experiencing this. My primary care doctor DX'ed the low sodium level 2-3 months ago. It was so bad she had me come back the next day to repeat the test. It was worse the next day. I was feeling so bad with horrible cramps in my feet that I almost couldn't drive and I was in and out of bed all night long. I even starting sleeping with my shoes on because that helped a little with the cramping feet.

It was still low 2 weeks ago when the neuro had me tested even though I have been using lots of salt.

They want me to see a nephrologist but I haven't had time. Maybe you need to see a nephrologist?

 

[wants2know]

Maybe MAB. I will definitely stay on top of it. I guess it wouldn't be a bad idea with my blood pressure issues. Maybe you need to make the time to go hmmmm? I'm one to talk...queen of procrastination here! Although after dealing with my $140 copay to see the neurologist twice... I'm feeling a little protective of my checkbook as well. I appreciate the insights and information here from you folks here. Thank you!!

 

[MAB]

Wow, a $140. co-pay. I need to quit complaining about my $40. co-pay for a specialist. I made an appointment with the nephrologist but had to cancel because I realized it was my grandson's birthday. That was on May 8 and I haven't rescheduled. I'm just tired of seeing doctors.

Really with your high blood pressure, if it isn't controlled, you might benefit from seeing a nephrologist.

 

[wants2know]

I felt like that after my stroke. No judgement here!

 

[MAB]

I felt like that after my stroke. No judgement here!

I had a stroke (very, very small, it only showed up on the CT or MRI scan. I can't remember which test showed it). I had to almost demand the life squad take me to the hospital. I think the ER doctor ordered all the tests just to cover his butt. He came back in my little cubicle and told me I was being admitted for a stroke. I have had simple partial seizures since that day. For 3 years they treated me for TIA's when it was really partial seizures.

 

[wants2know]

Mine was very small as well. Temporal lobe. I have no residual effects. I have not had seizures post stroke until now.... I'm not sure if that is usual or not. But neurology was clear it makes me more susceptible to having them in the future. I need to look up simple partial... I've wondered if I could have been having lesser seizures during this time period and not have known. Like when I get dates and days confused.... a joke amongst my friends it happens so often now.

 

[wants2know]

We're your eegs normal?

 

[MAB]

We're your eegs normal?

I had 2, one EEG shorty after the stroke because my main complaint was total complete overwhelming exhaustion after having what I thought was a TIA and another last week. Both normal. They are called hour long EEG's but half the time they spend putting the leads on and them removing them. They started believing strongly that they were seizures and not TIA's when I started developing phantom odors. They have lessened since I started on medication but still go status from time to time.

I never considered the short 10-15 seconds partials that big a deal but neuro said I am to call every time I have one no matter how short they are. I'm going to have to put her on speed dial if she wants to know about all the short ones.