Low Potassium blood results

[Deniseelk]

My bloods have shown low Potassium, for the first time. I have to have it re-checked in a months time. I wonder if anyone has experience of finding out what caused the depletion? Was it the medication they take? ( I am on 400mg Hydroxychloroquine and weekly Benepali injections. I have had periods of oral Prednisolone and a few steroid jabs into joints). Also, what symptoms did they experience with low Potassium. I appear to eat many of the high Potassium containing foods so depletion is a surprise to me!

[Hidden]

I’m the opposite to you in that my potassium results are rising Just keeping an eye on them at the moment.

[mrdiggs]

I don't know that I have ever been tested for low levels but I can tell you that I get really bad cramping in my hands, feet and up my shin bone in legs. The only thing that will help is to take a potassium pill otherwise it can really be excruciating and last for a long time. it seems to come and go ,there are periods when they come every day and then I can go for a month or more and nothing.I take Methotrexate and Prednisone for my RA and have for the past 7 yrs. I am currently in a flair up so on increased doses of Prednisone with the normal decrease to come down slowly over a period of 16 weeks. Hoping it works, do feel better , at least I'm not totally exhausted all the time from fighting the inflammation throughout my entire body and having it jump from one set of joints to another.I put up a good fight for about 3 weeks but finally couldn't stand it anymore and upped the Prednisone.I am going to start tracking when I get these nasty cramping episodes and see if it is a forerunner for the start of a flair up.

[Timsywhimsy in reply to mrdiggs]

I just found out I have low potassium too. Diuretics and steroids can cause it, I believe. Is that first drug you mention a BP diuretic? I feel exhausted, hand, foot and leg muscle stiffness and dizzy, lightheaded.

[Deniseelk in reply to Timsywhimsy]

Hydroxychloroquine is not a diuretic, it’s a first line drug for Rheumatoid Arthritis to slow the disease progression. I did have two steroid shots into joint April and August 2018 then a months course of oral steroids this March. This is the first time I have had low Potassium. I did also have low Vit D back in March this year. With RA the symptoms appear pretty similar to those for low Potassium so hard to know what is what! Am trying very hard to eat even more food with Potassium ( feel like I am having to “ over eat” to get more in my diet 🤣). Re-testing soon so keen to see if my new diet has helped.... I pretty much eat lots of foods with Potassium anyway. How were you advised to up your Potassium levels?

[Timsywhimsy in reply to Deniseelk]

I’ve taken a few prescription pills but am really trying to add more to my diet—makes me realize how little I was probably getting before. Adding coconut water, low sodium v8. Bananas. White beans.

[embroy]

Have your kidney levels checked? Luckily I had no such problem. Have tried the Benapali Injections, but did not work for me. Give the medication a chance, might work for you. Good Luck, and stay Positive, whatever the situation, might help.

[Hidden]

It happened to me once was retested and all was fine. GP said it could have been a spoilt sample or as I was drinking a lot of water and I over did it. Who knows .