Residual Effects of Low Potassium
Hello All;
Would like some feedback from you. You all know of my wonderful experience at SpaER from a couple of weeks ago. I've been doing better, my fissure is healing steadily (no pain for a couple of weeks now, some mild discomfort if my bathroom break was extra productive), my potassium is doing well with the Rx and I go back to have it checked again next week. Here's my problem . . . I'm suddenly dealing with shortness of breath upon exertion.
Since the day before I went to the ER, I have been experiencing shortness of breath upon activity. I had not experienced this since before my surgery when I was close to 500lbs. For example, I would have to stop 3-4 times to rest while rolling the garbage can up my steep driveway to the street (when I did do it). I'd have to stop and rest upon climbing the steps to my front door (only 8 steps). I rarely went into the basement for the same reason, because I'd have to come back up.
Since surgery and immediate post-op recovery, I have not experienced this at all until the day before I went to the ER. In fact, earlier in the week, I went to the track and walked 4 laps around until the fissure became too uncomfortable with the activity. My breathing was elevated, but in a good, cleansing way. In the ER, I was breathing extremely heavy and sweating profusely just from walking in from the parking lot and they asked me if that was normal. I was able to say emphatically and truthfully, NO, it is NOT normal for me.
But while I feel better overall, I am still experiencing shortness of breath pretty quickly with any exertion and it's actually to an uncomfortable degree. Yesterday, I had to stop 3 times taking the garbage up to the street and I've alway reveled in it since surgery because it still amazes me that I can just roll right up there with no problem, but suddenly I can't anymore. I walked from my building to the transit station entrance which hasn't given me any problem since my DS, but was breathing very heavy and quite uncomfortably (to the point of pain) by the time I got to the escalator. The only reason I didn't stop and rest on the way is because I was too embarrassed.
I don't know if this is just a residual weakness from such a fun-filled month during June & July (Problems with potassium due to HCT which went un-diagnosed for one month - not that I wasn't trying to find out - , development of the fissure and all that goes along with that healing and ultimate constipation for a week before the dam broke, followed by my potassium tanking and subsequent hospitalization), which will improve and resolve on it's own with time . . . OR . . . if there's some actual damage that has been done due to the potassium being so low at one point that needs to be addressed. When they had me on the heart monitor in the ER, there was nothing alarming in the readings.
One thing that did happen was they had that little thing on my finger measure my O2 and each time I began to drift off [edited to clarify drift off to sleep, not passing out], it sounded and what I noticed is that it sounded when my O2 level dropped to 92. I think that is unusual because in my last sleep study a few weeks ago, it never got below 97, which is why they finally, officially cleared me of sleep apnea. But, I'm thinking I want to go back to see my pulmonologist about this.
Just wanted to add that my potassium has tanked once before. It was 1.6 when I went to the ER during what I learned was a gallbladder attack in 2001.
At this point, I'm rambling and trying to organize things in my mind. I wanted to get your thoughts on this. I mean, I know that the body doesn't bounce right back completely from illness even though you may feel better . . . and I'm inclined to think that it just needs a little more time to recover completely from the affects of the last 6 weeks, but I also don't want to ignore something more serious. Would appreciate your input.
JoAnn
Would like some feedback from you. You all know of my wonderful experience at SpaER from a couple of weeks ago. I've been doing better, my fissure is healing steadily (no pain for a couple of weeks now, some mild discomfort if my bathroom break was extra productive), my potassium is doing well with the Rx and I go back to have it checked again next week. Here's my problem . . . I'm suddenly dealing with shortness of breath upon exertion.
Since the day before I went to the ER, I have been experiencing shortness of breath upon activity. I had not experienced this since before my surgery when I was close to 500lbs. For example, I would have to stop 3-4 times to rest while rolling the garbage can up my steep driveway to the street (when I did do it). I'd have to stop and rest upon climbing the steps to my front door (only 8 steps). I rarely went into the basement for the same reason, because I'd have to come back up.
Since surgery and immediate post-op recovery, I have not experienced this at all until the day before I went to the ER. In fact, earlier in the week, I went to the track and walked 4 laps around until the fissure became too uncomfortable with the activity. My breathing was elevated, but in a good, cleansing way. In the ER, I was breathing extremely heavy and sweating profusely just from walking in from the parking lot and they asked me if that was normal. I was able to say emphatically and truthfully, NO, it is NOT normal for me.
But while I feel better overall, I am still experiencing shortness of breath pretty quickly with any exertion and it's actually to an uncomfortable degree. Yesterday, I had to stop 3 times taking the garbage up to the street and I've alway reveled in it since surgery because it still amazes me that I can just roll right up there with no problem, but suddenly I can't anymore. I walked from my building to the transit station entrance which hasn't given me any problem since my DS, but was breathing very heavy and quite uncomfortably (to the point of pain) by the time I got to the escalator. The only reason I didn't stop and rest on the way is because I was too embarrassed.
I don't know if this is just a residual weakness from such a fun-filled month during June & July (Problems with potassium due to HCT which went un-diagnosed for one month - not that I wasn't trying to find out - , development of the fissure and all that goes along with that healing and ultimate constipation for a week before the dam broke, followed by my potassium tanking and subsequent hospitalization), which will improve and resolve on it's own with time . . . OR . . . if there's some actual damage that has been done due to the potassium being so low at one point that needs to be addressed. When they had me on the heart monitor in the ER, there was nothing alarming in the readings.
One thing that did happen was they had that little thing on my finger measure my O2 and each time I began to drift off [edited to clarify drift off to sleep, not passing out], it sounded and what I noticed is that it sounded when my O2 level dropped to 92. I think that is unusual because in my last sleep study a few weeks ago, it never got below 97, which is why they finally, officially cleared me of sleep apnea. But, I'm thinking I want to go back to see my pulmonologist about this.
Just wanted to add that my potassium has tanked once before. It was 1.6 when I went to the ER during what I learned was a gallbladder attack in 2001.
At this point, I'm rambling and trying to organize things in my mind. I wanted to get your thoughts on this. I mean, I know that the body doesn't bounce right back completely from illness even though you may feel better . . . and I'm inclined to think that it just needs a little more time to recover completely from the affects of the last 6 weeks, but I also don't want to ignore something more serious. Would appreciate your input.
JoAnn
Diva Jojo: SW: 440lbs -- CW: 274lbs -- GW: 240lbs
5'9.5" | HW: 368 | SW: 353 | CW: 155 +/- 5 lbs | Angel to 
I've been on a rx potassium dose for 4 years. It just sits at 4.0 so we stay on it. I like you feel it is one of the things I'll be on from here on out. And maybe even without the surgery I would have been on it. It just is and will be.
Christine "Life is like a jar of jalapenos. What you
do today, might burn your ass tomorrow".
Check out www.dsfacts.com for information on Duodenal Switch
do today, might burn your ass tomorrow".
Check out www.dsfacts.com for information on Duodenal Switch
Your symptoms can be from heart issues, to yes pulmonary.. Have you had a Right/ Left heart cath since the weight loss ?, and or any lung tests??
It may not be just the potassium, and having a C O / heart monitor on just gives you what it is doing AT THAT MOMENT, you have it on.
You could have blockages causing things at any time...
If on exertion you are short of breath,,, make sure they do the cath, and lung scan if it continues. just because you have lost weight does not mean you may not need a c pap or have vessel issues....
Call your Doc
It may not be just the potassium, and having a C O / heart monitor on just gives you what it is doing AT THAT MOMENT, you have it on.
You could have blockages causing things at any time...
If on exertion you are short of breath,,, make sure they do the cath, and lung scan if it continues. just because you have lost weight does not mean you may not need a c pap or have vessel issues....
Call your Doc
Not to my knowledge. The pulmonary center I was going to was strictly for the sleep apnea treatment. The only thing heart related I've had were the stress test during my pre-op workup and a couple of G's (EEG, ECG, EKG?) before and after at some point.
Diva Jojo: SW: 440lbs -- CW: 274lbs -- GW: 240lbs
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