Juggling potassium, magnesium, & calcium

[happyspirit]

For the last several months I have had to juggle magnesium, calcium, & potassium to prevent arrhythmia. Sometimes it's too much of one of them that's causing the arrhythmia, sometimes it's too little. When an arrhythmia flares up, it takes me several days of adding more of, or eliminating these minerals in order to figure which of them is out of balance. I eventually figure it out after several days of no sleep and being uncomfortable. This is driving me crazy! Does anyone else have to do this??? Is there a way to keep them all in balance all of the time?? What throws it out of balance in the first place??

[Mel22]

I struggle with it every day. My doctors didn't figure out my PVCs were caused by low potassium until I bottomed out in the ER with a potassium level of 2.8 (3.5-4.5). I take prescription strength supplements everyday but when I exercise or take my diuretic for HBP (nothing else works, believe me, I've tried) more than half the time I'm supposed to take it, I end up with low levels. Doctor thinks I may have a tumor on my kidneys. I'll be doing (another) 24 hour urine soon.

Just want you to know you are not alone!

[happyspirit]

Thank-you for your comment. Actually, potassium, magnesium, & calcium aren't "chemicals," nor are they "passive." They are minerals/electrolytes which are critical for health and for normal heart rhythms. Too much or too little of any of them can potentially be fatal. I am convinced that many people who are suffering from heart rhythm disturbances, and taking medications for them, would benefit from having their electrolytes checked. I had horrible arrhythmia until my doctor checked my electrolytes and discovered that I was low in all 3 minerals. Once I started eating foods which contained these minerals, and added them as supplements, my arrhythmia improved significantly. My challenge now is keeping them balanced, which leads my cardiologist to think that perhaps I have some underlying condition which is causing this imbalance.  I posted my question on this site so that someone who has already experienced this might have some suggestions as to what the condition might be which is causing the imbalances. Also, emotional stress rarely causes me to have arrhythmia. It is almost always an electrolyte imbalance, MSG, (which I now avoid) or alcohol. (which I also avoid)

I wish you the best of health.

[Jerry_NJ]

I am surprised you are so sensitive to the amount of these rather passive chemicals you add to your diet.  I assume you are not taking "massive" doses of any of them.  In general that isn't a good idea, and, no, I do not know what level is considered massive.

Perhaps something else is triggering your arrhythmia, emotional stress, for example.