Potassium Level Dropped

On Sunday my potassium level dropped and I got shocked from my device 2 times.  They put me on potassium tablets now.  What can I do to make sure this doesn’t happen to me again?  I was feeling great all day and all night and the next thing I know I’m getting shocked hoping it was going to be the last day I ever see.

The doctors always say that the device did its job, but I want answers, I want to make sure this won’t happen again.

Please help.

4 Comments

potassium drop

by manaman - 2012-06-27 02:06:19

If you are a blood pressure med it is highly possible that it is pulling the potassium from your body. If this is true I would most certainly look at taking at least 99 mg of potassium (get it from any drug store over the counter ) and I would also look at supplementing with magnesium on a daily basis.
Good luck!
Cecil

I still dont feel good

by kelly20 - 2012-06-27 05:06:39

They have me taking prescription potassium, I have been taking this since Sunday, I still feel like crap my chest hurts real bad. Ive tried to get up and do stuff and then my chest starts hurting real bad like Im gonna get shocked again. I dont know if im just emotional and that why Im feeling like this, I just want to go back to the way things were. I know in the past when I got shocked I usaully hurt for a few days afterwards. But I have never been shocked twice before and now I am really scared.

Potassium Levels

by SMITTY - 2012-06-27 11:06:24

Hi Kelly,

Sounds like your problems are much too complex for me, with my meager knowledge, to make many comments here. However I do know that potassium deficiency can cause arrhythmia and if that got bad enough your defib unit could see that as a ventricular fibrillation and as the dr said, "do it's job." However, the other pain you describe should not automatically follow action by the defib unit. Also, are they doing labs to check your potassium levels. The recommended potassium level is 3.7 to 5.2 MEQ. The ringer is if you get too much potassium the results can be almost as bad as too little. So labs to be sure you are getting the correct amount is very important. Also, there are several other minerals that can cause heart arrhythmia and I guess could cause problems like you are having.

If at all possible I suggest that you get another dr that will take more interest in your heart problem than it sounds like the one you have is doing. You also need a dr that will explain to you in terms that you understand what is going on. To me just saying the PM is doing its job is a very poor answer for some one that received two shocks in one day and still has pain in the heart area. Like I said heart problems can be very complex with some having simple answers and with some requiring the knowledge of an experienced cardiologist.

Oh yes, for what its worth, I have been up and down the road with problems that can be caused by too little or too much potassium. The big difference in us is I have only a pacemaker so have had no shocks.

Good luck,

Smitty

Potassium level dropped.

by Hawkc216 - 2012-07-12 08:07:13

I have similar issues with my electrolyte /potassium levels dropping. I have been hospitalized several times for this. I drink Gatorade, eat potassium rich foods, and it can still happen. Are you on diuretics? Let your Dr know, he may increase your potassium intake or decrease your diuretics. Good luck!

You know you're wired when...

You read consumer reports before upgrading to a new model.

Member Quotes

99% of the time, I totally forget I even have this device.