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AIBU?

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Original poster

Any drs or nurses that could help? Please

63 replies

Potassium123 · 07/06/2024 11:16

Hi

i made a thread recently but can’t find it now arghh, I name changed for it and can’t remember what I name changed to either so just figured it would be easier to start a whole new thread,

I was unwell over a month ago and in hospital for a few days, they picked up I had low potassium and gave me a prescription for sando k and told me to get a blood test in a few days. I did that and the potassium was still low, so more sando k and another blood test. And repeat. And repeat. Now unfortunately this is my 5th (I think) prescription for sando k. I just took it 3x a day for 7 days last week and had a blood test yesterday- they’ve just called with the results because apparently the potassium was 2.8. Am I being UR to be a bit worried about this? It was previously in the low 3s so I know 2.8 is a bit lower, but it’s not serious is it? From googling it says it’s only serious from 2.5? I’ve got another prescription for sando k and more blood tests next week, just slightly worried as the last few doses of sando K didn’t do much and if it’s 2.8 now I’m worried it’ll keep falling. I’ve tried eating loads of potatoes and bananas but I’ve been having awful headaches and pins and needles which I’m not sure if is down to the low potassium or me worrying about it!

can anyone please offer any advice or knowledge about this? Or any advice at all? Thanks in advance, just a bit of an anxious person in general x

OP posts:
TraitorsGate · 07/06/2024 12:26

Who rang you ? Was it the hospital or the gp surgery, not everyone is familiar with blood tests so our advice is to go to your hospital, have it rechecked and take medical advice, you may needs fluids with potassium replacement in it but that's the doctors decision. If you don't want to go to hosputal you can call 111 for advice but they will say the same.

Greenqueen40 · 07/06/2024 12:23

2.8 is way too low, we would give a potassium infusion for this at work. Go to ED.

Bremusa · 07/06/2024 12:21

This is going to sound bonkers but do you eat a lot of liquorice?

user8800 · 07/06/2024 12:18

Go to a&e
You are in danger of a cardiac event

Original poster
Potassium123 · 07/06/2024 12:17

And it’s not been vomiting and diarrhoea everyday, just a few episodes over the last few weeks (mainly on the day of the exam itself) but im guessing even a few episodes would be enough to bring it down? I’m otherwise fit and healthy x

OP posts:
Original poster
Potassium123 · 07/06/2024 12:16

Sorry I’m incapable of typing a message without waffling!!

basically I’m just worried that it’s 2.8 now and what if it drops lower than that between now and the next blood test in 1 week (obviously I’ll continue taking the prescription and eating bananas and potatoes but I did that last week and still dropped from 3 something to 2.8)

OP posts:
Howtonamechange · 07/06/2024 12:15

Yes agreed. That needs to be replaced urgently. I would also ask them to check and replace your magnesium.
The cause is you vomiting and diarrhea.

Original poster
Potassium123 · 07/06/2024 12:14

Sorry, I didn’t mean to be ambiguous in my OP and I’ve just realised I missed out a pretty big part of it. I think I might know why it’s low (well I think, anyway) I’ve had diarrhoea and vomiting on and off for a few weeks- I’m not unwell at all, I’ve just had exams etc and I always get d&v when I’m stressed about exams so i think it’s from exam anxiety! Or at least that’s not helping it. So the potassium was low originally because I was unwell with an unrelated infection (hence why I was in hospital in the first place) and then since then I’ve been having diarrhoea and vomiting on and off because of exam stress so I think that’s maybe why it’s not coming up enough. But I’ve been following the prescriptions exactly as they told me to do (originally it was 2 tablets 3 times a day for 3 days- I had a few of those prescriptions) then the last prescription last week was 2 tablets 3 times a day for 7 days but now it’s 2.8, I’ve also been eating loads of bananas and potatoes

I was just more worried about how low it is today rather than the cause because I’m pretty sure it’s just from exam stress but 2.8 isn’t life threatening or serious is it? It said on google it’s 2.5 to be serious so I’m totally clueless about all this but just a bit of a worrier! If it makes any difference I had the blood test yesterday morning and they called me this morning, so if it 2.8 was really low then they would have called same day wouldn’t they so I’m thinking it can’t be that bad? Sorry hope this makes sense! X

OP posts:
AnnaMagnani · 07/06/2024 12:00

A+E should refer this on to Medicine.

As a bare minimum you need an ECG today and a recheck of bloods. And not to go home without a safe potassium and a cause for what is happening to you.

Allthecatseverywhereallatonce · 07/06/2024 11:53

As a nurse I agree with other posters. This does warrant further investigation. Not sure if A&E would help as you are being treated so it is a chronic problem. I guess they could give you IV potassium which might help.

TraitorsGate · 07/06/2024 11:42

Who rang you, I would go to hospital to have your bloods rechecked, an ecg and see what treatment you need. Are you on any other medication or have any medical conditions that can affect it.

AnnaMagnani · 07/06/2024 11:34

You need to go to A and E now.

2.8 needs urgent treatment.

You also need a proper diagnosis and treatment, not just repeated courses of Sando K and advice to eat bananas.

KentInAutumn · 07/06/2024 11:30

Do you take any medicines? One of them could be causing this. Or do you have any medical conditions?

Tbh I would ask the Doctors caring for you to reassure you as only they know the full context.