potassium and hgb

[spectda]

Will taking potassium supplements help with the effects of low hgb. My hgb was at 8.6   two days ago and I can't take procrit. My riba is reduced, but I feel very week and out of breath as of last night. I know several people have gone lower then 8.6, so I assume even though it feels terrible it's safe. I was at 9.3 earlier in the week and it felt much better.

[spectda]

thanks for the suggestion. I guess I will run everything through the doc/nurse.
- Dave

[spectda]

they checked my records and said potassium is good, I eat a banana each day for a while now because I read they are very good for the heart.

[meakea]

I remember others mentioning that they took folic acid which they felt helped with the fatigue/weakness while on TX but I don't know if it actually raised the numbers.  

[Diane12855]

My doctor told me to eat a bananna every day because with all the water we drink there is a possibility of our potassium being too low, and that can cause troubles too. I don't recall any info about potassium and hgb though.

Diane

[spectda]

My doctor wants me to take iron supplements. He said although hemolytic anemia is not the same as iron poor blood that the cells need enough iron to make the hgb. He wants me to take 325 mg three times a day and see if it helps with the hgb. I've been a vegetarian for 35 years, I don't usually feel tired when not on tx.

[tashka]

No, taking potassium supplements will not have any effect on hemoglobin.

Be careful when taking this supplement. It can be very harmful if taken in excess. Extra potassium can cause arrythmia and have other negative effects on the heart. Also extra potassium can interact with some medications.

Please, discuss this supplement with your doctor.

[wtgb]

Dave
sorry to hear about your hgb.  The one positive of your hgb decreaseing is that it is working and definately getting absorbed.  i know this low hgb puts an extra challenge to your side affects.  My hgb did go up .5 points. After reading your post i'm wondering if it was the extra bannanas i had that particular week.  It is something to be aware of: pottassium affect on hgb.  One day at a time.  You and so many others on this forum are such an inspiration to keep going.  Thanks

[pcds]

Since stopping tx I have been eating every sort of food indicated for HGB except red meat.  Taking a huge number of supplements, and my platelets are the lowest they have every been.  My HGB is better but not near baseline before tx. I'll continue to eat like this, but believe diet can only do so much.  This posion we take in tx rules and destroys.  Do what you can, hope for things getting better and when it seems like it's so awful, just remember you are killing off this virus and you will be well.
Judy

[spectda]

Thanks fashion and eureka. It sounds like like it's safe although pretty tough. my hgb was 8.9 two weeks ago, then I dose reduce riba a little and it went to 9.3 now it's 8.6. I know that it can bounce around on it's own.

i will try to eat iron rich foods that are vegetarian and perhaps the supplements.

Fashion-How much and what type/brand of potassium are you taking?

Maybe if I get in the 7's Ill feel better!~ LOL
jean didn't seem to be to happy in the 7s though!

[eureka254]

Sorry can't help on the question about potassium and its relationship to hemoglobin.  I know iron usually raises hemoglobin, but high iron isn't always good for the liver, either... maybe for the time being adding just a little more iron-rich food to your diet (red meat, broccoli, dark greens, etc.) to give you a little hgb boost?  Hopefully someone who's better at the biochemistry will pop in.

I know you must feel crummy...!  I remember the crawling around my husband did when he got to that level of anemia.  He actually felt his worst when it got just below 9, and when he started to drop close to and below 8, he actually felt better, weirdly enough.  As far as safety, if it makes you feel any better, my husband hit a low of 7.3 and didn't feel like he was dying (though his doctors and nurses were bugging out a little because he has cardiac artery disease as well and they insisted he get transfused even though he didn't feel he needed it --- for him below 8 was considered the red-zone).

Going below 8 can pose significant risks, so for you it looks like it's gonna be a balancing act between enough riba and enough hgb.  It really ***** that you can't use the procrit -- I hope your hgb bounces back soon, I'll be keeping my fingers and toes crossed for you!  Hang in there.  ~eureka

[fashion345]

I take potassium since my potassium tested low at the beginning of treatment.  My hgb did increase to 12.3 from 11, however I also started taking extra C and E as I read on a previous blog that there was data to indicate that this would help.  I think it may have helped and I feel better.  Try this and see what happens.

Hope it works!