Have a Banana, Not Anymore

Good evening,

Eat fruit they say, so I have a Banana most days as part of my breakfast.

Bloods taken last week, showed my potassium levels were too high, so I must cease eating bananas. Fair enough.

Heart Failure nurse was going to increase Entresto dosage this morning and add another tablet into the cocktail, but couldn't because of the potassium levels. My iron count was relatively ok though on the positive side. So I remain as I was for now.

Good point from the bloods was my kidney function remaining steady with the Entresto, so I'm still at the line of Stage 3b/4 CKD.

I never realised the different factors to take into account with meds for HF.

[MichaelJH Heart Star]

Horrible things bananas (no emoji either)! Actually I am intolerant to them!

[Hidden in reply to MichaelJH]

My sister says they're horrible, she has a low potassium level, so her doctor and suggested that she has one a day. Still doesn't like them 😃

[Nettekin]

Hi Heed. When my husband was monitored for high potassium levels, we discovered that dairy products are surprisingly high in potassium. Strangely the lower the fat content the higher the the levels. Worth a look. Best wishes.

[DaveSpice in reply to Nettekin]

I never consume any low fat food, it is nealy all unhealthy and makes you fat.

[Hidden in reply to DaveSpice]

Same here, I've just had bacon and sausage sarnies for breakfast, but, I do grill them.

[Hidden in reply to Nettekin]

Hi, it's a minefield, you don't know what to do for the best. My wife says I should stop drinking milk, but, as I drink full -fat, it should be better for me....

Thanks

[BritTania]

In 2018 I had a eGFR of 43, CKD 3 to eGFR 66 in 2020. Like you I decided to increase my fruit intake. I also pushed myself to drink more water during the day. My specialist said he didn’t care what I drank just so long as it was liquid. So I increased my liquids by having my normal amount of tea coffee colours et cetera with making sure I had four glasses of water. I also increased my fruit intake eating bags and bags of satsumas cherries grapes watermelon anything watery and it seem to do the trick for me with my kidneys. Just thought I’d share! Good luck!

[Hidden in reply to BritTania]

Hi, I got copied into a letter from the HF nurse, to the GP on Friday and my eGFR was 36, so better than I thought. I think I need to get my liquid intake up a bit.Thanks

[BritTania]

In 2018 I had a eGFR of 43, CKD 3 to eGFR 66 in 2020. Like you I decided to increase my fruit intake. I also pushed myself to drink more water during the day. My specialist said he didn’t care what I drank just so long as it was liquid. So I increased my liquids by having my normal amount of tea coffee colours et cetera with making sure I had four glasses of water. I also increased my fruit intake eating bags and bags of satsumas cherries grapes watermelon anything watery and it seem to do the trick for me with my kidneys. Just thought I’d share! Good luck!

[Janma123]

My dad was a banana eater until his potassium levels skyrocketed and he was admitted to hospital. The GP had said about bananas raising potassium levels, the doctor who was treating him in hospital said that it was a load of rubbish and that the amount of potassium obtained from a single banana wouldn’t do any harm!

[DaveSpice]

Everyone is different and the meds we are all taking can have many odd side effects, I have had a banana for breakfast every day for the last 2 years and am fine. I myself have gout and marginally high uric acid, but have cut out nearly all high/medium purin foods. It is very important to eat plenty of fruit and vegetables, raw where possible, so switch to something lower in K.

[tamariki]

II remember during the war going to the cinema with my mum. There was a news item about the yanks launching ships for Britain. They were using bananas on the slipway. I asked my mum if we could get bananas which were rationed at that time, but she said they were bad for me spine, so never got any. I take 240mg ever day since my heart attack.

[Alison_L]

I was told by a cardiac nurse that I'd have to eat about 30 bananas a day to make much difference to my potassium level. I stick to one a day, and pot level is fine!

[Bekiebexs]

Hi Heed, my potassium level was dangerously high and one of my medications was halved .My cardiologist told me to stop eating …….

Tomatoes

Bananas

Avocados

Oranges

Nuts

Also no salt which I don’t have anyway .

My potassium level went right down to 4.7

so now back on my full medication .

Hope this helps .

[Curlyman83]

When I was in hospital after my TIA my bloods showed I had raised potassium levels. Didn’t stop them serving me bananas for tea. Luckily, I knew they contain high level of potassium and said to the nurse “do you really think I should be eating this?” She looked rather embarrassed and apologised. Not her fault, but good job I was on the ball.

Was also given some one else’s medication! Again, good job I was on the ball!! 😂

[Gladwyn in reply to Curlyman83]

Certainly was Curlyman!!