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I'm on restricted physical activity. I'm to be active, but just not so much so that I work up a sweat as I would lose potassium. So, over the weekend I ended up with severe stomach upset and got weaker and weaker. Well, around 1 in the morning I woke up to a mess that required me to shower and to do laundry. I took some meds for it. And it took every ounce of strength I could muster to get those sheets and blankets down the hall to get them in to be cleaned. I collapsed on the couch with Alex the Mighty diligently staying by me.
I finally came around about noon. I awoke, took meds, ate, called my doctor. I was advised to go to the ER. My CSS took me. By this time, not only was I weak, but I was having muscle cramps, and the tingling in my hands that had started on Saturday was now leading to numbness. So, a couple of hours and several tests later and I have low-potassium. It was likely low before I got sick, but the illness made it that much worse. So, now I need to focus on eating foods high in potassium that are in my WOE, along with taking my new med. I have appointment with my doctor on Friday as I only have 3.5 days worth pills of potassium. It is also a possible contributing factor or cause for the hallucinations.
So, going to fix something to eat as a snack before bed then off. Peace, love, and chicken grease.
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 Comments
You are correct! Low levels of potassium can affect us psychologically: Mental lethargy, depression, mood swings, psychosis, disorientation and confusion are all examples of mental disorders that can manifest. In a way that is good news - it is something easy to remedy. Alex the Mighty is a good cat !
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Take care of you. Thank goodness for Alex.
30 Mar 15 by member: JennBuck61
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Yeah. He's my little protector. He curled up on my side and didn't move, that I know of. When I'd stir and groan a bit, he'd walk up a little ways, paw at my shoulder, nuzzle my cheek purring softly, give me a couple of licks then settle back down. It was really sweet.
30 Mar 15 by member: maelynpeacock
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Aww so sorry to hear about your recent spell. I'm on a ketogenic diet too and have been using Lo-Salt, which I think is 50% Sodium & 50% Potassium, to season my food.
31 Mar 15 by member: ebivr
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I've also been told about an item called "No Salt" that is just potassium, and I was given a list of foods and spices that contain potassium. I see my doc on Friday for a follow-up. My issue is that I exercise a lot, so I think I was burning through it like crazy, then got sick and there it went.
31 Mar 15 by member: maelynpeacock
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Maybe your doctor can advise you about how much you need based on your activity level? Talk about it in your follow-up with him/her.
31 Mar 15 by member: JennBuck61
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Just keep tabs on yourself before you get in that state again. Read up on potassium. It is so important to the heart and functions in the body. There are a number of foods high in potassium (including a banana). It is a 100 calorie treat well spent. Good Luck !
31 Mar 15 by member: englishmys
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I'm so sorry to hear that you had that happen to you; electrolyte imbalance is an extremely common thing which can happen and can cause a myriad of unpleasant symptoms.
Yes, salt substitutes like nu-salt and no-salt are potassium chloride, which give you far more potassium than supplement pills (which can only ever contain 99mg, or 3% of your daily intake; it's pathetic). Electrolytes are incredibly important for people who eat low carb/high fat as we tend to get rid of them more quickly than the majority of the population who eat the standard American diet.
Bananas are far too high in sugar for us (ridiculously high, even more than a Snickers bar), but there are tons of green, leafy alternatives with plenty of potassium like spinach, kale, broccoli, and avocado. I would additionally like to stress that magnesium is also of vital importance and would highly recommend magnesium citrate. 400mg a day before bed for excellent rest and will also help with leg cramps if you get them.
Sodium is the third electrolyte we should also make sure to get plenty of, but it's also the easiest to supplement as we can salt our foods.
Sodium, Magnesium, Potassium: your new best friends.
01 Apr 15 by member: Ketomancer
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I had my magnesium checked and it was fine. I can easily start taking it again, just to be safe. I have some. Sodium was fine as well. Potassium was my only one. I've had low potassium before. I'm wondering if I have a hard time absorbing it, because I eat a fair amount of stuff heavy in it and should be up in it, but I'm not. A friend supplied me with a list of foods and even spices that have potassium in them to add to my diet. Yeah, and I know bananas and oranges are way too high in sugar for us.
01 Apr 15 by member: maelynpeacock
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Apple cider vinegar is high in potassium. Its cheap and natural and if taken with a cup of hot water and a sweetener (or honey) and cinnamon it tastes like hot apple cider.
01 Apr 15 by member: jethoel
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oooo I am going to try what Jethoel mentioned. I hear apple cider vinegar is also great to drink for digestion. I use to drink it diluted with water...but with honey and cinnamon sounds yummm
01 Apr 15 by member: Panigale1199
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Mmmm!...I think I'll give it a go too. I have some Caramel DaVinci sugar free syrup, will see if that goes well with it.
01 Apr 15 by member: ebivr
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