Question:
Do any of you watch your potassium levels?
I had been so worried about protein that I never thought about potassium.. until I read a post on the message board about a young woman dying AT A SUPPORT GROUP! Apparently she stood up to leave and had a heart attack. The autopsy showed that she was lacking potassium and that is what caused it. I am so scared. I feel like I am on the verge of death all the time.. if this or that level falls I am doomed. I am only 10 days post op and I can't imagine living the rest of my life in fear! — Jen S. (posted on August 25, 2001)
August 25, 2001
I just finished six days in the hospital to get my potassium back up.
However, it shouldn't fall, even in a post op unless you get dehydrated.
That's what did it to me. Potassium is something they test with almost any
blood work. It's not a tough thing to ask your PCP to run a basic profile
and include your potassium. You can also make sure you're eating some
foods high in potassium like bannanas and kiwi. Additionaly, there's a
salt substitute that's all potassium and you can add it to lots of things.
If your potassium is low, be careful with the hospital. I have not found a
single potassium pill or capsule that wasn't time release. These are not
effective for RNY patients and can get stuck if they don't dissolve
quickly. There are also drinks but I have yet to meet someone who could
choke them down. I never had to ask anyone specifically about my
potassium, I think it's a standard check if you go in for any kind of ER
visit or general blood work.
— kcanges
August 25, 2001
Potassium is in your MultiVitamin. I am pre-op and I find that taking a
potassium supplement in addition to my multiVit. makes me feel
better,especially when it is hot. Also some need extra when on a high
protein diet. Adkins has his readers take extra potassium also. We don't
know the full story behind the young lady's death, so don't scare yourself.
Just stay informed, discuss this matter with your surgeon and PCP, and ask
for a blood test if you need confirmation for your own peace of mind. BTW,
give your drs. office a SASE so they will send you a copy of your test.
Good luck
— angel C.
August 25, 2001
It is normal to feel completely overwhelmed and even frightened by all the
things that you have to remember to do when before all we did was eat. But
trust me, it will become old hat before too long. Does your surgeon
require blood workups every 3 months? Mine does and I have requested a
copy be faxed to me as well as my doctor. That way I can keep track of all
of my levels and see how they flucuate. I am not an expert on it by any
means, but I would think that if there were a problem with that lady's
potassium level, there would have been some other symptoms that should have
been a clue. My mom has to take potassium pills and she had been having
terrible muscle cramping especially in her legs befoe it was checked. I
can not stress how important it is to pay attention to the signals that
your body is sending you and see your doctor if anything is not right. We
are totally responsible for our health and need to be listening to our
bodies. I am 13 months post-op and make sure to get my protein, water,
vitamins and excerise all in. By the way, the last time I was in to see my
PCP for a checkup, I took the lab reports with me for him to check out and
explain a few of them to me and he was VERY PLEASED with my numbers!
— livnliter
August 25, 2001
YOU BET I DO! Since 1993 I've had to take duretics and my potassium is
ALWAYS on the low side. Very low. I can almost always tell when it is
dropping even lower than it's "normal low" as I start to get
"light headed". Well around 4 or 5 weeks ago I was feeling really
squirly. Not only was I light headed but my head got numb and tingly. It
was like the tingly you get when your leg falls asleep. Well, I actually
felt it travel down my face to my nose, chin, throat, chest, upper stomach
area, arms and hands. Then it stopped just as fast and went away. (I was
DRIVING at the time). But my hands continued to stay numb. Then in a few
mintues this whole mess would start up again. Then just my nose would get
numb. Then quit and another part of my body would do it. I was'nt in any
pain, but I knew something was wrong. I went to my doctor but he was booked
solid for 24 hours and I felt this may be an emergency so I went to the
hospital's emergency room. By this time my hands were "very
numb". You should have seen my hand and fingers when the blood
pressure cuff was on... I had absolutely NO control over it! It had NO
BLOOD in it when they were taking my BP. My hand would curl back to my
wrist. The next time they took my BP my index finger rose staight up. (I'm
glad it was'nt "the bird"). I never had anything like that happen
in my life. They immediatly put me on a heart monitor (especially when I
told them I suspected LOW POTASSIUM). Anyway they ran many blood tests and
sure enough my potassim was in the dangerous level. Then I had to have two
bags of Pot IVed into my hand. This was a very slow process. An hour for
each bag. I was there from about 1pm to 6:15pm. It is an understatement to
say this was an unpleasent experience. ;) Before I left the hospital they
gave me pot in a soft capsel. (I stressed there was no way I could get the
regular monster sized pot pills down). I was given a prescription for them
(soft cap, not the others) and took them to Wal-Marts pharmancy. I asked if
they would be soft cap. When I got them they were HUGE hard pills. Then I
got this "this is all we got". And of course (having problems
with small pills) I would NOT take them. So here I am needing them in the
worse kind of way and not daring to take them. A few days later I saw my
doctor and told him about the pills. I got something to this effect: "
you wanted this surgery! You fought long and hard to get it, now you got
it." He was laughing all this time. In other words, "Piss on
me".
(Pardon me for being blunt- I try not to be if possible).
I told him that these soft caps ARE available but the hospital would not
let me get them there. He did'nt give a
crap. He just kept on laughing and said "you'll have to take
them". But I would'nt. A week later when I went back to get a B12
shot, one of the lady doctors came into see me this time. And when she
found out about this problem she went right out to have the people under
her make some phone calls to local pharmacies and they found one that got
the pills for me! I have always prefered women doctors to men. They listen,
and they care. They've got men doctors beat any day of the week. (Somehow
I've got to switch to her).
Anyway, I'm sorry this is so long. But have this checked.
If it is too low it keeps the muscles from working? Or something like that.
Of course the heart is a muscle so you could go into a heart attack. I
think "most of us" who have had WLS are probally not going to
have a problem, but the directics I take are well known for lowering pot
levels. But all of us should be having regular blood tests to check for
things like anemia, B12 and other things. I wish I knew EVERYTHING that
should be checked for but I don't. If you suspect low pot, then get it
checked! Don't fool around with it. And if your level is ok, then you don't
have to worry about it anymore. ;) My gut feeling is you are most likely ok
unless you are on a directic. But, hey... banannas are great tasting! Why
not eat one a day. :)
— Danmark
August 25, 2001
Hey Jen. I am 10 weeks post. At my 1 month bloodwork, the results came
back that I was 1 point lower than the accepted potassium level. I take
Potassium Chloride every evening. It is in powder packets. I have to
dissolve the packet in a minimum of 4 oz water and drink it slowly over 5
minutes. It tastes like orange flavored salt. (Remember that No Salt
stuff that people use to skip the salt? That's what it is). Anyway, it is
tolerable for me. I hate bananas but understand that potassium is also in
potatoes (and someone below said kiwi). Anyway, I do this once a day. I
don't have a problem with it. It is an unpleasant 5 minutes but tolerable.
I request a copy of my records too. I also have an iron deficiency so I'm
up to 3 multi-vits a day. I had terribly unbalanced eating habits pre-op
so I'm not surprised. Good luck. Don't worry, just be proactive and make
sure you get copies of your pre and post blood work.
— Kimberly L.
August 25, 2001
My sympathy goes out to Stephanie's family......I too will now watch my
potassium level....But we all have to remember we all have PCP(or should
have one)and should also see him/her.Our Surgeon do the surgery but our PCP
knows our history and our bodies.
My PCP know about my surgery and I insisted that she has knowledge in this
area...which she has been going back to her medical book and has been
reading up on what I will need as far as after care.
I plan on seeing her right after my surgery too, and at least once a month
thereafter for the next 2 years. I will continue to see my surgeon and let
them both know How I feel. When I had my breast reduction two years ago,
about six weeks after surgery I went to see my PCP.
I feel so bad for Stephanie and may she rest in peace. Only God knows why
and it not for us to ask.... but if anything could come out of this is
awareness....We should get an check up at least every six weeks by our PCP,
this is a major operation and not a cure but a tool to get healthy.
God Bless each and every one of us in Jesus Name AMEN
— blank first name B.
August 25, 2001
You need 2400MeQ of Potassium daily. A banana only has 400. You need
Potassium for your heart. Muscle weakness is one of the first signs of low
potassium. It is normal to be fearful early postop. You just had your
comfort system shut down. The Large hard Potassium that everyone talks
about are completely disolvable. Put them in a little warm water. It is
like a magic trick. It will also disolve in your pouch in seconds. You just
have to be sure to drink plenty liquids with Potassium because it takes the
fluid out of the tissue by osmosis, or something like that!! And Postassium
does come in a liquid, but I couldn't stomach the taste!!! Major Yucky.. I
was in the hospital for low Potassium a couple of months ago. Good Luck,
and God Bless --
— CohenHeart
August 25, 2001
I watch mine, but during the first year post-op, regular labs got me on a
regimen of 4 OTC cheapo potassiums a day. That's held me steady since 1995,
with very little deviation in labs taken every 3 months. And you know, I
was probably low pre-op, too, but nobody checked.
— vitalady
August 26, 2001
Hi - I also watch my potassium level after being low early
post-op....Another good source of potassium is V-8 juice or tomato juice (I
prefer V-8). And as mentioned...potatoes and bananas....Good luck! Karan
— chance2lv
August 26, 2001
Everyone please keep in mind that too much potassium can be as dangerous as
too little...it can kill you. Please have your potassium checked and speak
with your surgeon before taking large amounts of potassium supplement.
— Kellie L.
May 12, 2002
— blank first name B.
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