Low potassium levels

[Mangopassionfruitpineapple]

Hello!

I had some bloods taken due to some ongoing health complaints (skin and IBS), and the results came back that my potassium levels are lower than they should be. I was surprised at this as I eat a lot of potassium rich foods on a daily basis, but I guess it’s probably a side effect of the IBS flare up. I’ve been given a prescription for it, for a month I think, however I completely forgot to ask what to do after this.
Does anyone know, for low potassium levels would you usually just take the prescription and that will be it, or will it be a long term thing? Is it likely I’ll need to get another blood test to recheck it? I should have asked on the phone but I stupidly forgot!

Glad it’s nothing serious but I just thought I’d post to see if anyone else has had this/anything similar.

Thanks in advance!

Were you tested for diabetes and kidney disease first? Mum has colitis and often gets low potassium during an outbreak but the ‘hypokaelmia through idb) is a diagnosis that only happens after everything else is excluded.

@GrumpyHoonMain

Were you tested for diabetes and kidney disease first? Mum has colitis and often gets low potassium during an outbreak but the ‘hypokaelmia through idb) is a diagnosis that only happens after everything else is excluded.

I’m not actually sure if I was tested for any of that- they took a blood test but they said everything else was ok but my U’s and E’s (I think that’s what it’s called?!) showed that my potassium levels were too low. I just assumed that anything else like diabetes or kidney disease would show up in that too but I’m not sure now they didn’t mention why my potassium was low, just that I’ve to collect a prescription for it, and I just assumed it was probably due to the IBS.

Thank you for the advice! I hope your mum is okay!

I was told that I had hypokalaemia (low potassium) - I had had routine blood tests done for another condition, but I don't know why my potassium was tested. I had a prescription for potassium, and also had more blood tests, which apparently showed nothing to worry about.

I was tested again after taking the potassium, which showed my level had risen. The GP prescribed more potassium as I was still having symptoms.

Some time later, when it was deemed that I was "cured", my symptoms returned, my potassium was tested but not deemed low enough for the GP to worry about (very frustrating). I was warned off taking my own supplements, but I did anyway for a while as I was unwell.

And here we are again - I have symptoms back, and am not keen on contacting the GP again as I was given short shrift last time (my level was 3.5 when 3.5 was bottom of the range).

My understanding is that potassium is not diet-related unless you are actually starving, but I am unhappy that I am being left with symptoms still and no explanation. I have been trying to find info on private potassium testing (I already pay for private blood tests for my other condition as I have a very unhelpful GP surgery and a long history of mismanagement of my health).

Sorry that I haven't actually got anything useful to say to help, but will watch with interest to see if anyone else has anything else to add.