Is the answer age-related valid?

[hc75]

My potassium level showed up on my blood test as 6 and they gave me a binder for two days and a diet I must follow. What I can not get is an answer to my question is this a kidney problem or the effect of the blood pressure perindopril I have taken for ten years? I am 78.

[sylvi]

Sorry i can't help you with this question. Hugs,xxx

[helixhelix]

It is possible that they can’t answer as they don’t know. High potassium can be due to lots of things, but would probably need further investigation to find out why in your case. But the priority is to get it down.

Your blood pressure med is an ACE inhibitor so could be the reason, your age is another, and other reasons like RA for kidney function being affected a third.

You need to talk to your doctors again, but may never get an answer. The important thing is to turn it round so discuss whether another BP med would be worth trying.

[hc75 in reply to helixhelix]

This is extremely helpful thankyou VM!

[Bella59]

I also had high potassium couple times.I was eating quite a few bananas in a week.I have now just stopped bananas so will see if this has been the culprit.

[medway-lady]

I had an emergency phone call from GP some 20 years ago and it was are you feeling ok? Me ''yup just fine" well you've got a strange high potassium reading on the blood test so go straight to MMH and they'll admit and do another test. This was a very long time before the AKI and kidney failure and so I was admitted for another blood test at local A&E. It was fine and they said its one where if the blood taken is not shaken it does appear like me that your dead. lol I was told and if you've been given a diet like no grapes, banana's, baked beans or low salt salt, cola and coffee and tea in moderation in fact the general view is less brown food and drink as possible that they may be checking on your kidney function again anyway. Try not to worry and it sounds like you're in good hands. If in doubt always best to ask and kidney function does go down with age its a natural function and can go up and down especially if someone is dehydrated. So drink plenty of water and I'm afraid it sounds like a wait and see situation. x

[jonsev]

Perendopril is reputed to raise potassium levels and patients are advised to go easy on fruit such as banana and nuts.