Low potassium/hypokalemia

[Ricekrispies1]

Does anyone know of any causes of low potassium which aren’t actually a problem?

For example, I read a post saying that a blood test shows high potassium could be falsely caused by eating too many bananas or food with high potassium content, or it could even be caused by problems when taking the blood itself or if the blood was left lying around in the lab for too long before testing it.

Is there anything that could cause falsely low potassium? Basically I was told I had low potassium and to take a prescription, I wasn’t told why it would be low and I got the impression it wasn’t really a problem, just one of those things.

Just wondered what kind of harmless things could cause this! I wasn’t sure if it was something I ate or if I drank too much water before the blood test perhaps

I can't think why someone would have hypokalaemia without a primary cause. It's not going to be a dietary deficiency. Your doctor should be trying to find out what's causing it.

Are you on any medications? Hypokalaemia is a fairly common side-effect.

Some people just have permanently low potassium. My mum and I do. (Well my mums passed now but she did)! Mine is always around 3-3.2 they don’t bother to treat it. They just tell me to eat more potassium rich foods… sweet potato is particularly good.

Why try to look for reasons to ignore it?

It's vital for your heart, other muscles and nerve functioning.

Some asthma inhalers can lower potassium. But if you need the inhalers there’s not much you can do about it!

It’s often seen after d&v as the K+ is lost in the fluids. Why did you have the blood test in the first place?

@NoNotHimTheOtherOne

I can't think why someone would have hypokalaemia without a primary cause. It's not going to be a dietary deficiency. Your doctor should be trying to find out what's causing it.

Are you on any medications? Hypokalaemia is a fairly common side-effect.

No not on any meds. I can’t recall the exact level but it wasn’t too far below normal, I think it was 3.2 or 3.3. I was prescribed some tablets which dissolve in water and then have to be drunk. It tasted disgusting haha When I was given the results on the phone they said it wasn’t too far below normal and my blood test was fine overall, I wasn’t under the impression it was anything bad just one of those things, that’s what made me wonder what type of thing could cause it. Thanks for replying!

I had it after Covid, in fact a lot of people with long Covid have had it. I believe it’s linked to postural tachycardia, which I also had, though there are likely other causes too.

@AtleastitsnotMonday

It’s often seen after d&v as the K+ is lost in the fluids. Why did you have the blood test in the first place?

Oh that’s the reason I had the blood test in the first place! It’s been a chronic problem though (d+v) and I’ve had countless blood tests for this before which all showed normal potassium levels, it was just this last which showed low potassium, which was strange as it wasn’t even the worst episode of sickness leading up to the blood test, yet previous worse episodes showed normal potassium levels

Sorry for the accidental drip feed but I just realised I completely missed an entire paragraph in my first post.

When I got the blood test, it took several attempts to actually get it. At any other blood tests I’ve had, I’ve been told I have great veins and I’m a great person to get blood from. I’m not at all nervous and even donating blood was easy and straightforward. However this time (the low potassium time) it was difficult for some reason and required several attempts. I think I remember at one point the needle went in and nothing came out but looking back I’m not sure if this would even be possible or if I’m completely misremembering what happened. It definitely took at least 4 attempts to get blood for the test.

I was extra confused because I read online that repeated attempts is more likely to cause high potassium rather than low

I analyse bloods for biochemistry.
Repeated attempts wouldn’t lower your potassium result. As a pp said it’s definitely likely to be related to D & V in my opinion.
I’d recommend a repeat in a few weeks. Low potassium isn’t as much of an urgent issue as high.

Do you drink a lot of fizzy drinks especially energy drinks ? They were the cause of my low potassium

Recently l had to have blood taken and they couldn't access a vein . I was seriously dehydrated. I had to drink a litre of water and try again. So that possibly explains that issue.
Also my friend had an eating disorder..making herself sick..and ran into huge difficulties with low potassium. Hers was deliberate but your d&v will have caused the same problem.

And the irony... Potassium supplements can cause loose stools so watch that you don't end up in a vicious circle.

I was in hospital with tachycardia which was caused by me being on a very low Carb diet. My potassium level was very low along with phosphate and magnesium (all the bodily salts and electrolytes basically). This caused me to go tachy. I had to have a potassium drip which solved the problem

Not very low Carb, very low calorie

Your low potassium was caused by your D&V and was nothing to do with the amount of attempts to get your blood. 3.2 is not too low (3.5 is normal) but it is an important electrolyte as very low potassium can cause heart problems. Take the tablets. If the D&V is resolved this will correct quickly.

@Spudina

Your low potassium was caused by your D&V and was nothing to do with the amount of attempts to get your blood. 3.2 is not too low (3.5 is normal) but it is an important electrolyte as very low potassium can cause heart problems. Take the tablets. If the D&V is resolved this will correct quickly.

That’s really helpful thanks. I knew it was nothing serious just was a bit curious as I had never heard of it before! The D/V is chronic unfortunately but I’ll just try and keep eating more foods with potassium. There wasn’t any need to do any repeat or follow up bloods so I knew it couldn’t be too far below normal