Potassium level high

[Olivia007]

My husband was put on Potassium chloride to prevent kidney stomes. He has stage 3 kidney disease. His potassium level came back 5.8 Is it because of the medication or the kidney disease. I wonder why this doctor would put him on potassium meds if he has kidney disease?

[Hidden]

The accepted normal range for potassium (k) in the blood test is 3.5 - 5.1.

Your husband's result of 5.8 is significantly above that. Was this prescribed for him by a nephrologist or a PCP? What were you told about the test result by the physician?

I had a high spike in my potassium about five years ago and spent several hours in an ER. Contact the prescribing physician and get further instructions. If it isn't a nephrologist, find a good one to help him treat his CKD.

[Olivia007 in reply to Hidden]

He was told to retest a week from his last visit which would be today? My mom has renal failure so I pretty much know a lot unfortunately about kidney disease.

So we shall see after the retest no one seemed really concerned and my husband doesn’t have any symptoms.

Thank u

[Hidden in reply to Olivia007]

In my opinion, that physician's reaction seems wildly inappropriate. The retest is a good idea, but why didn't he tell him to stop taking the potassium until the results were in for the re-draw? A good nephrologist would handle this in a much more professional manner.

[Olivia007 in reply to Hidden]

Hello Mr_Kidney what stage are you in? I ask because I’m The Who’s husband is in denial about his disease he doesn’t really watch what’s he eat, He has diabetes High blood pressure and cholesterol and he just found out about a year ago he had kidney disease stage 3 and diabetes about 3 months ago. His kidney disease we don’t know if it was caused by what i mentioned above he also was an Advil pill popper for many years like over 10 years and about 6-9 pills a day?

He doesn’t want to talk about the disease but I lost my mom to renal failure and I’m scared for him.

At stage 3 do u feel ok physically? Sometimes he will say his stomach hurts and go to bed and we don’t see him till the next day and then he fine and bouncing around like nothing happened.

So I really don’t know what one feels like having this disease my mom was always sick and even on dialysis she seemed sicker but she was 80

I really worry about him and he just won’t listed to really anyone?

He has had blood work for the past 3 weeks and all tests come back very unstable one week his gfr is 36 the next 57 the last one 46 the the Bun and creatine were all high so how to you tell it’s so inconsistent?

Thanks for your help in advance

Oh and his potassium is normal a week ago it was 5.8 this week 4.5

It’s crazy

[Hidden in reply to Olivia007]

I'm in stage 3. I have some symptoms from time to time. If it's my legs cramping and I'm not near a blood draw I get out my bike, put it in an easy gear and work out the cramps. If the weather is lousy I use the incline machine.

No amount of ignoring medical advice, following a kidney-friendly meal plan, and dealing with a real health issue is going to make your husbands CKD go away. In my opinion, it goes beyond denial, it's stupid. You can't fix stupid.

Your husband is on a self-destructive path and that can end badly for everyone. Make sure he has an Advance Directive and a Durable Medical Power of Attorney prepared. As he continued to abuse his kidneys, they will strike back. It will not be pretty.

Hospitalizations, emergency procedures, huge expenses, and a complete lack of quality of life await him unless he quickly wakes up and decides to take care of himself and by extension, his family.

I was diagnosed with CKD two and a half years ago with a GFR of 32. Since then my GFR has averaged 51.

I follow my meal plan, keep my T2D in check without medications, my HBP is under control with medications, I exercise daily, make all of my medical appointments, take my medications, stay positive and proactive.

I'm doing all I can to hold off dialysis for as long as possible however should that time come I've already researched the various modalities of dialysis, spoken to my nephrologist, and decided which method will work for me in order to continue with the lifestyle I've earned and enjoy.

Finally, there is only so much you can do to wake him up to reality. Protect yourself and the rest of your family from his apparent insensitivity.

[Olivia007 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you, I hope the best for you keep doing what your doing! 😊

[Jayhawker in reply to Olivia007]

Hi, I’ll weigh in on your husbands situation...

I’m both a type II diabetic and have CKD. When I was still in Stage III I felt quite good most of the time. Although, I’ve had severe anemia with my CKD from very early in the disease progression. Until that was under effective treatment I was definitely struggling.

Since your husband isn’t really watching his diet much, I’d suspect both his tummy troubles and some of the variation in his renal panel data are due to diet. Overduing carb intake can cause a variety of symptoms as can bouncing back and forth from low to high carb days with food intake—this is for diabetics.

Lab values do bounce around some, but what you’re describing seems to be more than I’d expect or certainly more than I’ve experienced with my own data. My nephrologist has consistently said that the BUN data is often the least stable data. However, even now (I’m in Stage V now) my data is quite stable. My creatinine ranges from 2.8-3.0 only and my resulting eGFR ranges from 15-17. (I realize that this data is technically fairly consistently coming in in Stage IV st this point. However, my nephrologist hasn’t restated me so it’s still staged in Stage V.) My electrolytes are in the normal range consistently. I have, over the past 8 months, developed a secondary hyperthyroid condition which is apparently still mild but is under treatment.

However, the aforementioned wouldn’t be possible for me without strict attention to my diet. I’m only taking the following medications at this point:

Sodium bicarbonate (4x a day, 650mg for???)

Auryxia (3x a day, 210mg for anemia)

Rayaldee (2x a day, 30mg for hyperparathyroidism)

I’m not taking any meds for my diabetic condition. I am also taking no medication for blood pressure. Neither of these are needed for me in great part due to dietary management as well as daily exercise.

I think this effort is worthwhile specifically because it causes me to feel and function better.

When I’m off my game with diet and/or exercise I feel it immediately and my labs definitely show it as well.

Jayhawker

[Olivia007 in reply to Jayhawker]

Wow that’s great how u r managing it by diet and exercise good job. My husband has always been stubborn and delusional so I can’t really do anything if I do I’m accused of nagging and not caring but like I mentioned before my mom struggled because she too didn’t watch her diet and we all suffered when she suffered I just don’t know if I can handle this again?

Thank you,

Olivia

[Jayhawker in reply to Olivia007]

It has to be difficult. Hopefully he’ll get serious about this while he’s still in Stage III. He could possibly improve his renal function overall if he’d get serious now. He might be able to stabilize his data and at a minimum slow the progression. But the ball is in his court, so to speak. (Rock chalk Jayhawk; go KU!!! Sorry, couldn’t resist—KU has a basketball game this afternoon

Jayhawker

[Bassetmommer NKF Ambassador]

Hi Olivia,

That is a very high reading for potassium. Did the doctor who prescribed the potassium chloride say anything to him about that reading because he should have. I would call them immediately. High potassium can lead to heart issues. If he/she doesn't talk to you, then I would suggest finding another doctor......but in the meantime, you might want to got to urgent care. This is not a condition to let go.

There are many other ways to control stones, depending on what type. I had stones and take something that does not raise my potassium but I have uric acid.

kidneyfund.org/kidney-disea...

[Olivia007 in reply to Bassetmommer]

I agree with u 100% but I’m surprised a nephrologist would take his time with the results. He told my husband who is in denial about his illness anyway a week later? He advised him to go get retested for his potassium level the doctor didn’t seem to concerned. My husband is not taking his diet seriously either. Thanks for ur input. I just thought with a doctor being a specialist would know better giving someone more potassium when his patient has stage 3 kidney disease? Wow

[Bassetmommer NKF Ambassador in reply to Olivia007]

HI again,

Not everyone has an issue with potassium, so maybe when he began therapy, he didn't. But now it is time to look at something else. I take sodium citrate, which you would think the sodium would be not good for me. But, I do not have issues with water retention and my sodium levels in my blood are low. But...I do not use or cook or eat added salt in my foods. Do go get the recheck and talk to the doc about something else for the stones.

[Olivia007 in reply to Bassetmommer]

Thank u will do it’s nice to get a different perspective

[Hidden in reply to Olivia007]

Do you know what they call the person who graduates last in their class at medical school?

Doctor

[Olivia007 in reply to Hidden]

No what?

[Hidden in reply to Olivia007]

Scroll down from the question.

[Olivia007 in reply to Hidden]

😂

[DarlaPupMom]

Hi Olivia, Several years ago I got a call from my nephrologist that my potassium level was high (nearly 6) and I should get to the nearest ER. I was Hiking in Utah at the time but did as he directed. It had been several weeks since I had had my blood tested and was feeling fine. The ER's result: 4. I was very carefully following a CKD way of eating during my trip so was ahead of the game. In your case, you'd have to asks the prescribing physician regarding what they give you and keep monitoring what you eat. You know about CKD so just keep keeping on. At times it's a struggle to keep on a steady keel regarding shopping, prepping and cooking but this Forum is really going to help me. I'm new here. Praying the very best for you.

[Olivia007 in reply to DarlaPupMom]

Did u go to ER and if so what did they do?

[DarlaPupMom in reply to Olivia007]

Yes Olivia. I should have clarified that. My husband was alarmed; I wasn't because I felt fine and was literally eating, as my husband said, "Like a primate" - veggies and some fruit, very little protein and some carbs. But my hotel told me where the nearest ER was in town and we went immediately. The nurses there asked how long did it take for a blood test to return (where I lived) since I was just learning about it. It had taken two weeks and they were annoyed at that. But that was at least five years ago. Now there are online patient portals that give you the results when they send results to your doctor. I've learned you don't have to stress with numbers. Do your very best to follow a CKD diet. The NKF and this Forum is excellent. Wishing you the very best.

[GAL14]

My nephrologist told me you will feel fine with high potassium until your heart stops quite the wake up call

[Olivia007 in reply to GAL14]

Yikes

[lowraind]

I do not think you ever answered the question regarding who prescribed the meds. Either way, I would find a new doctor(s).

[Olivia007 in reply to lowraind]

Nephrologist

[lowraind in reply to Olivia007]

I agree with Mr. Kidney--response was "wildly inappropriate".

[swimchic]

He was probably put on potassium because some of his other meds deplete it. Usually early stages of ckd take potassium, but then it goes the opposite in later stages, like 3b beyond. My potassium has been over 6 a few times, and let me tell you, that med to bring it down is awful. Beyond awful. You never wanna get to the point where you’re throwing that down the hatch. 😖

Sounds like it’s definitely time to stop the potassium supplement and watch it closer, but in stage 3 he should be able to just stop that and not be too strict on his diet yet. Wish y’all the best.