LAB RESULTS HAVE QUESTIONS

I called my Dr's office today (PCP) and they gave me some of my results.  They are saying my potassium is 2.9 (critically low), vit d is lowe, zinc low and that is all she told me.  She told me to call Dr. Evanson's office which I did.  I had to leave a message and am hoping they call me back.  I am on a potassium supplement already.  Any suggestions on all of this?

Jacque

Jacque, get on that potassium level STAT! Levels that low can mess with your heart rhythm. You need some IV potassium replacement, I'd probably go to the ER honestly. Then, they might have to increase you potassium supplement. Are you on a diuretic or something that would be lowering your potassium level?

Thanks for the advice.  I am on a water pill.  I haven't been having any heart stuff going on.  I had heart palpatations a long time ago and they thought it was anxiety so I also take a pill for that. 
Jacque

Most probably your water pill lowering you potassium. They might want to switch you to a "potassium sparing" diuretic or increase your potassium level. But your potassium will keep dropping as you pee off all that fluid when you take your diuretic. Call the office first thing in the am, definately needs addressed. Don't let them blow you off through the weekend.

Melissa

Ok Thanks Melissa!  I appreciate your help!
Jacque

Jacque,
My potassium was very low last June when I had my 6 mo post-op labs done.  Dr Mattar wanted my primary care doctor to treat it.  Dr Hallburg in Lafayette was very concerned about it and has been great with following all my bariatric labs.  She started me on 3 potassium pills daily which I still need to take for the levels to stay normal.
You might want to check with your PCP also.  I hope you can get an answer tomorrow.
Hugs,
~Bev

Thank You!  I work for Clarian Arnett and my PCP is also there.  That is who I heard the news from today.  Dr Evanson's office hasn't even called me on this yet.  I called and left them a message today to call me.  Thanks for the response.

Jacque

Did your PCP order the tests or Evanson? When I saw Dr E for my one year followup on May 7, he gave me the orders for my lab work, which was done May 18.  About 2 weeks ago I got the letter from his office giving me my results, and everything was OK except vitamin D which was slightly deficient.  With the letter I got 6 vit D pills, with orders to take 2 a week for 3 weeks, then go back in September for another test. 

Did you talk to anyone at his office yesterday? What did they recommend for your potassium? That's definitely not one to mess with!!

Hello!
Dr Evanson's office is the one that ordered the lab work.  They called me back today and told me that I had to deal with my PCP because he doesn't do that.  So my PCP ordered me to take 6 potassium supplements a day, 1 zinc (because that is also low) and then have more blood work done this Thursday to see if its changed any.  They said they would see what is going on then and decide on what to do from that point.

Jacque