Hypokalemia??

Hi, Its a long time since I posted. Stu had his ablation in Feb for flutter and he seemed to be back to his old self. Then in the last couple of months he is experiencing more and more tiredness, palps, tachcardia symptoms etc. The result from his pacer clinic was he is expereiencing alot of tachcardia. He had a holter monitor a few weeks back but haven't heard anything. He collapsed again and was hospitalised overnight. He kept going in and out of a sinus rythm. Docs said they normally see this sort of rythms he was getting when a patient takes party pill. Lol he most definatley hasn't !! He was given IV potassium as his levels were low. His rythm is normal again.  This low potassium thing is something that has happened when hes been admitted to hospital.  I just searched hypokalemia and he doesn't take any of the meds etc known to cause this. He has been taking a few potassium supplements from the health food shop but obviously they arent at the dose he needs. Is there anyone else who has a similar problem. Whats the cure??

[RC1088]

You can get a prescription for Potassium, it will be pharmaceutical grade, it will be in meq's instead of mg.  I have a 10 meq capsule I've used that was by prescription.  10meq is approx 750mg.  

The advantage as I see it, to the prescription capsules is the body is more likely to readily absorb and use Potassium in that form, PLUS, based on your individual potassium "deficit", your doctor can prescribe the right dosage for you, i.e. how many meq's per capsule and how many capsule's per day.

[stevie_wonder]

Take RC1088's advice. Taking unprescribed potassium isn't a good idea. Try to get it from foods instead. Also go to a doctor and find the reason for the potassium deficit. Sometimes it is something else altogether.

[Donna-lee]

This is the 3rd time the hospital has commented on low potassium but there has been no follow up except to give it intravenuously. Stu's diet is good and he is obviously not retaining or for some reason not getting the potassium he needs from his food. The supplement he takes each capsule is only 3% or 99mg of the RDI. The docs have said all the way through Stu's illness that his symptoms don't match his condition so maybe this hypokalemia might be the answer. He is having blood tests next week.  Thanks for your posts.

[PikaPika88]

Doona, nice to see you post again.  Stu still has problems after ablation?  Only ablated AF?  Dr didn't do anything about his tachy?  Is he still on medication?

I'm wondering everyone in the forum says taking more Potassium is a kind of benefit to the heart patient.  I myself also admitted to the hospital and was given 3 large tablets of Potassium at the ward.  It didn't do anything different to me.  When I see my blood work (at ER) result all chemistry works were in normal range???  Why they still wanted me to top up high?  I'm curious, if too much of potasssium in our body would end up with "CANCER" somewhere or not?  Cardio won't and don't have to responsible for "CANCER", would they?  I knew that when my cardio given me the verapamil and it striked my liver and caused "fatty liver" within 2 weeks.  What he said?  Doesn't matter, it'll correct itself later on.....  

[Donna-lee]

Stu was only ablated for arial flutter they said tachcardia might be next symptom. THey gave Stu potassium cause his bloodwork showed he was below normal range. He needs to have another test on Thursday. My research says low potassium levels can result in arrythmias. I wish it would all just go away no sooner do we think life has resumed to normal than along comes another complication/ symptom. Lol I guess that's what everyone else hopes for too.

[denjie]

i am denjie 19y/o and i have a hypo kalemia!and its getting worse!I have been hospitalize 4 6x now!and my doctor said to me that ill take kalium as a cure fot it!but the kalium is face out then my doctor said to me that there this acalka!i am eating bunch of banana everyday but my knees is getting weaker after 4 to 6 hours after eating banana or tking med.pls give an advice?

[kuda71856]

My 35 year old daughter went into cardiac arrest last month from they say low potassium. Please seek Dr. to have the levels checked regularly