Potassium loss
Hello:
I just got a call from my PCP that my blood reports had come back fine
except for my potassium levels. She was concerned that I might be taking an over
the counter dirurectic (which I am not) or some medication that was causing me
to lose more potassium than normal (which I am not) I am tking no medication
and sometimes forget to take my vitamins (I know, I know) My diet is normal,
but smaller quantities of course. I eat protein, vegatables and then fruit.
I lost 104 pounds in about 6 1/2 months, but seem to have stabilized. I
feel great and have more energy than I used to have.
Any feedback you could offer with regards to this issues and wls would help
as I am going in to have the test retaken tommorrow and then see her. She said
this is not normally a test that gives a false positive.
Thank you and Good luck and God Bless. You do an important work.
Judy H. Wright
Personal and oral historian,parent educator and coach
Author of over 20 books, international speaker and trainer
September 24th, 2005 at 1:31 am
Hi Judy,
Low potassium can be common after gastric-bypass. There are other causes for
low potassium besides the use of a diuretic. One is poor nutrition or
starvation, which in a way we go through, also if you aren’t getting enough
water. My last blood work came back with low potassium and my surgeons office
put me on a supplement for a few weeks and everything was fine. Just a word of
advice, don’t let your PCP put you on a pill form of potassium if they try to
prescribe to you, there is a tablet that dissolves in water or juice. My PCP
prescribed the pill at first and it got stuck for 3 days, not pleasant. Good
luck to you! =)
Amy