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The Kitchen Table

Low Potassium

16 years ago

Had my physical and doc found I have low potassium, so took another blood test. Anyone here have this? What do they do for it?

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Comments (19)

izzie
16 years ago
My grandparents had trouble with that. I think it's a side effect from some medication, high blood pressure meds. The cure, eat 1/2 of a banana a day or take a supplement, but ask your Dr.
User
16 years ago
eat lots of bananas, add them when ever you can to any recipes
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msmarion
16 years ago
Orange juice is full of potassium. My DH also takes prescribed potassium.
joann23456
16 years ago
Bananas, tomatoes and cantaloupe are all high in potassium. However, if you're not just mildly low, you'll probably need to take a supplement. For example, a medium banana, a large tomato, and a cup of cantaloupe each have only 12% of your minimum daily requirement of potassium.

Make sure your doctor knows if you're taking any laxatives or herbal supplements, in addition to regular prescriptions such as blood pressure medicine or diuretics. All of these can cause low potassium levels.
susanjf_gw
16 years ago
just follow what your dr suggests...quite a few "good" foods contain potassium...

found this list..hope it helps..sure did me... found a couple of items i shouldn't eating, (i'm on a low potassium diet)

Here is a link that might be useful: http://www.vaughns-1-pagers.com/food/potassium-foods.htm
nicole__
16 years ago
Yogurt has more potassium than a banana. I personally am not low or high on anything...just average...:0)
hayjud_mn
16 years ago
I had/have low potassium. I'm waiting to hear from the Dr.
I started by taking a potassium supplement that I bought at Sam's Club (99mg.) Then last January I increased from one tablet, to four tablets a day. After that increase, I felt like a new person. For the first time in ages I felt like I didn't have to "work at being alive." That is the best way I can discribe it. That great feeling only lasted for about a week and then I only felt OK. That is why it is being checked again.

Potassium does affect everything, all the cells, in your body.

When I mentioned eating bananas to the Dr. I got a big laugh. He said I could never eat enough, it needs to be supplements.
carol_in_california
16 years ago
Be careful taking OTC potassium....it is associated with the problems....stomach ones, I think but it has been long ago since I worked.
Potatoes are also high in potassium.
You need to talk to your doc and have him find the reason for the low reading....usually it isn't just dietary.
oldgardener_2009
16 years ago
My blood pressure med sucks the potassium right out of me. Doc has always told me to get potassium from my food and has never prescribed a supplement for me.
sjerin
16 years ago
Please ask your doctor what he recommends in the way of supplements before starting any as you also have to take care not to take in too much potassium--it can mess with heart rhythms one way or the other, I forget which!
Terri_PacNW
16 years ago
Are you taking a diuretic too? My husband started having low potassium..and his Dr changed his meds a bit to adjust(HBP Meds)...as we already include high potassium foods in our diets.
...low potassium is easier to work with than high..High will give you stroke like symptoms...way more scary...so be careful not to over take your system with potassium supplements especially if you have kidney issues as well..
Jasdip
16 years ago
DH needs to eat a banana or drink oj every day to get the potassium his blood pressure meds depletes. His blood pressure medication is a diuretic.
velleen-2207
16 years ago
I have been on potassium pills for years,I have CHF so I am on Lasix. That takes potassium out of your body,so have to take Potassium.
jemdandy
16 years ago
If you are taking a diuretic, it can be lowering your potassium as well. As your doctor. I take a precribed dose of potassium each day as a precaution because of my diuretic. Prescription tablets of potassium is low cost.
3katz4me
16 years ago
I had it once due to HBP meds. It was dangerously low - discovered not by my doctor who prescribed the medication but by a different specialist who ran some blood tests. I asked what kind of symptoms would I notice from this? His reply was "Other than being dead"? He wouldn't let me leave the facility until I picked up a prescription for mega-dose potassium supplements. Needless to say I got off that medication pronto as soon as I got back in to the internist. Electrolyte imbalances like seriously low potassium can cause major heart problems.
kathi_mdgd
16 years ago
I still have my port in from chemo and as long as i have it,i have to take ,blood thinner, potassium pills and a water pill,also.I also drink OJ every morning,have yogurt as well as eat a banana almost daily.
Kathi.
Lindsey_CA
16 years ago
Maintaining the proper level of potassium is crucial to our overall health. I'm going to add a link to a University of Maryland Medical Center web page about potassium. It's written in plain English and easy to understand. There is a wealth of good information on the page.

If your potassium level falls too low, your heart will stop beating. An exceedingly high level of potassium can kill you. It's nothing to mess around with.

Here is a link that might be useful: University of Maryland Medical Center - Potassium
jemdandy
16 years ago
University of Maryland medical Center - Potassium

Excellent article!
joyfulguy
16 years ago
With varicose veins, I've had some edema in my lower legs, with some discolouration, and my doc has prescribed squeezy socks and a diuretic, also told me to eat bananas and oranges, to keep potassium up. Not sure if o j has equal value - haven't seen him to ask him, and appreciate your messages here that it looks as though some recommend it.

Not enthused about your proposal, Lindsey CA - low potassium, your heart may stop beating ... high potassium ... can kill you.

Sort of like being between a rock and a hard place, isn't that?

ole joyful

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