Anyone have trouble with low potassium?

Sunday evening I had to go to the ER with a weird heart rhythm and feeling poorly. All week I had been having terrible leg and hand cramping at night and had not been sleeping well but otherwise felt fine until then. Since I had been cramping, I was adding bananas intentionally so I know I had eaten 2 large bananas within 12 hours of going to the ER. I had not had any alcohol in a week or more (alcohol can drain K+ and Mg+ from you), diarrhea, or other illness.

Turned out my heart was in a normal rhythm (for me) but my potassium (K+) and blood pressure were low. They gave me a large dose of K+ and my symptoms improved. They sent me home with a 7 day Rx for more K+ and told me to follow up with my heart doc today. My cardiologist is great and I am currently waiting for him to call me back and let me know what he suggests but he doesn't have a specialization in RNY. I am wondering if he will look at heart stuff only and might overlook something WLS related.

So...my question to you all is if you think the low K+ could be RNY related? Anyone else have trouble with this? I searched the forums and didn't find much. The posts I saw were all related to low K+ right after surgery. I am 2+ yrs out.

For reference: I am at goal and have been maintaining at 125-130 for about a year now. I have had no diet changes recently. I have a known cardiac condition that was diagnosed prior to RNY which causes as sorts of fun trouble but the low K+ is new. I was not dehydrated and my kidney function was normal (BUN and Creatinine all normal). My heart condition is a genetic degenerative conductivity disorder which is progressive, incurable, sort of managed with meds (slowing the progress at least), a cardiac ablation (4 yrs ago), and regular heart doctor visits. My EF is 35% currently. All my previous K+ draws have been in the high normal range. My iron and CBC panel were checked and all normal at the ER. Just low BP (107/48) and low K+ (3.2)...

Ideas?

Thanks!

~Elizabeth

You might ask your surgeon for an electrophysiologist reco for someone he knows that understands RNY. The specialty that likely did your ablation. Super cardios that only deal with heard conduction issues - only about 1,000 or less in the country. I wouldn't want to mess around with heard conduction issues without the RNY knowledge. At minimum I'd want my Cardiologist to want to consult with my surgeon's office, if that doesn't work. I have all kinds of malabsorption issues - such that I see the head of Vascular in my hospital system. No one else would touch me and my surgeon called him to get me added as a patient. Really worth the effort. Everyone tells me to do things differently until I mention his name as the doctor managing my PE/DVT issues. He quotes RNY and cardio statics all the time as he defines what he wants to do.

Good luck!

The ablation doctor, Cardiac Electrophysiology specialist, and my cardio are in the same practice. I will definitely ask about seeing him and what their experience level is with the RNY/WLS issues.

Right now they are still working on trying to sort out the K+ level. Doc stopped Lasix (a daily med to help with CHF swelling) and having me only take the supplement for one more day. Stop the extra K+ and draw labs on Monday to see if my body (RNY and all) is absorbing enough without the Lasix leeching it out. Then go see him on Wednesday for follow up. Sounds like a pretty good plan to me. Here's hoping!

Sorry you have conduction issues too. No fun. For me it is a helpless feeling when my heart gets out of whack.

~E

I am by no means an expert! In my years as an RN, and some practice with cardiac care, Lasix is known to flush potassium and chloride from the body as you pee out the excess fluid. It could be as simple as needing a potassium supplement while taking the Lasix. Hoping for the best outcome for you!!

Yes, my heart doctor's RN seemed peeved that the ER doctor (at a Heart Hospital mind you) didn't tell me to d/c the Lasix. Ah well... it will get sorted out. Today I feel better so I feel like the suppliment and stopping the Lasix is helping.

~E

Hi Elizabeth,

My family doctor told me I tested low for Potassium and I've been taking 2 tablets KLOR-CON M20 ER 20MEQ (reading off the bottle here), for several months. I'm almost 2 years out. (RNY Febr. 2016) I also eat a lot of bananas.

HUGS!

Karen

Karen,

Thanks. That is good info. It could be the Lasix or it could just be RNY absorption. Good to know. I will see what they find in my follow up labs.

Hope you are having a wonderful day!

~E

Good to see you Elizabeth! I miss seeing you on the menu board. So sorry about all your heart problems.