General Chat

Does anyone suffer from either/or a potassium/magnesium deficiency. I ask because, despite eating enough bananas and tomatoes to keep third world country going, and also despite potassium tablets on prescription, no matter what I do, I cannot increase my potassium levels, and now the magnesium is going the same way.
Every time, and it is quite often, that I go into hospital, after they have my pain under somwhat of a control, they start to pump potassium intraveniously into me. However, despite this, by the next time, it is just the same. The doctors seem to be concerned about this, so I wondered it anyone else was in the same position.
I have been to the phlebotomist at the local hospital for yet another blood letting, to see if my levels have increased since they did tests in hospital last Friday
I'd like to know why, what can I do about it, and if the levels cannot be increased, what does it mean.
Many Thanks
Julia in Derbshire

Edit to say, I am nipping out to have a quick reckie (sp) in Sainsbury's, but will be back in a couple of hours.

Julia having a look on web, this site seems to give quite an amount of info

http://www.emedicinehealth.com/low_potassium/article_em.htm

also googling Magnesium deficiency , the same seems to hold true on both , that certain medication , medical conditions may affect levels ,

Hope your doctor can get it sorted for you .

Rose xx

Are you on diuretics? They can affect potassium/magnesium levels.

Many thanks Rose, I will look up this site, and digest the information.

Carol, I am on blood pressure tablets, Furuzamide (sp) for fluid retention, and Statins for colesterol. But both my GP and Consultants know this. as every time I go into hospital, I take my meds. with me. Thanks to the furuzimide I can wear shoes for the first time in years, and don't feel like giving them up. I have a lovely turn of ankle now, if I do say so myself, and am forever looking at new shoes, even with heels.
Maybe when they look at the results of today's blood tests, someone will take the bull by the horns, and make a descision, instead of all the waffle I get fobbed of with. I understand that, although the hospital doctors wanted me to have today's tests, the results will go back to my own GP
Again ladies, many thanks for your imput.
Julia in Derbyshire

Julia this is an excellent site with loads of information re potassium which it seems one thing it does is lower blood pressure and a deficiency can affect muscles.

One cause for deficiency is diuretics

http://www.healthvitaminsguide.com/minerals/potassium.htm