Pottasium Levels: Morning all, Has... - Asthma Community ...

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Pottasium Levels

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Morning all,

Has anyone else got problems keeping their pottasium levels up? My GP is considering putting me on Slow-K for a while to try and solve it because mine seem to run chronically low, and when I go into hospital end up needing IV K. Apparently this is quite common side effect of quite a few asthma meds, but despite eating plenty of bananas and kiwi's etc, I can't seem to get mine up, and the funky chicken is getting boring now!

Just want to make sure I'm not going mad thinking I'm the only one!

Ta,

Vicky x

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5 Replies

Hi Vicky

You're not alone there. I eat potassium rich food and yet every time I land in hospital I end up on both IV potassium and IV phosphate as I have very low levels. They come up for about a week and start falling again. Even though I'm on calcichew d3 my vitamin d levels are always too low as well. I just figure it's down to the meds I'm on.

I hope that if you start on the slow-k, it helps sort it for you.

Tassja

Xx

Kendavis359 profile image
Kendavis359

Hi, How does one check and monitor your potassium levels. Can you do it at home or is it constant blood tests? thanks

Yes, I have problems with my potassium levels, particularly in hospital when on much higher dose meds. I often have to have IV potassium. Apparently this can happen with asthma meds. I have a history of seizures, and the docs are looking into whether the low potassium may have caused this or contributed to it.

The difficulty I've been told is with establishing blood potassium levels unless done in the hospital where the sample can go straight to the lab. I don't know what the technical terms are, but my GP explained it to me as the cells 'popping' which leads to false results if there's any delay between the sample being taken and then being tested.

potassium levels can onnly be checked with normal bllod tests -sadly no home testing.

I also have probs with my pot levels and too end up on IV pot also phosphate and magnesium to restore levels.

I have tried both slow K and sando K and both make me violently sick so they have decided that as i seem to be symptom free i can cope with a low level - it is def caused by all the meds esp salbutamol/bricanyl.

I have a banana a day as well as lots of tomatoes but am allergic to kiwi.

Elephant have you tried quinine sulphate 300mg to help with the old funky chicken scenario it does help(funky chicken = cramps in lots of normal and strange places causing chicken style dancing)

potassium levels can onnly be checked with normal bllod tests -sadly no home testing.

I also have probs with my pot levels and too end up on IV pot also phosphate and magnesium to restore levels.

I have tried both slow K and sando K and both make me violently sick so they have decided that as i seem to be symptom free i can cope with a low level - it is def caused by all the meds esp salbutamol/bricanyl.

I have a banana a day as well as lots of tomatoes but am allergic to kiwi.

Elephant have you tried quinine sulphate 300mg to help with the old funky chicken scenario it does help(funky chicken = cramps in lots of normal and strange places causing chicken style dancing)

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