I had a follow up appointment with my PCP yesterday and was telling her that I have been lightheaded and nauseous constantly for about a week and a half. She decided to do some blood work to rule things out. Well I got a phone call today from her nurse and apparently I have a rather large potassium deficiency. The nurse gave me a list of stuff to eat (90% of which aren't on my list of approved foods yet) and said that I must get my blood drawn next week again to make sure it has improved. If it's not better then I may end up in the hospital!

I'm happy that I know what is causing the exhaustion, nausea, and dizziness, but am very concerned that I won't be able to fix it on my own.

The foods she told me to eat are:

bananas (not on my approved foods list until week 8)

Avocado

legumes

potatoes with the skin on

leafy green veggies

nuts

milk

yogurt

I figured I would start with milk and yogurt, and maybe some Soups like split pea or lentil Soup.

Has anyone else had this happen?

How low are we talking about here guys? Would you all mind to share some of your levels? Mine came back today as 3.1 (normal is 3.5-5.1). It is interesting to me though that I have had almost ALL the symptoms listed below, even down to the eye twitching thing.

Just as an FYI and wondering if anything can be connected.....my biliruben and globulin levels were elevated. We were originally thinking I might be anemic b/c of some (TMI alert) rectal bleeding. I'm thinking now that the dizziness, etc is from potassium level though.

Would welcome any thoughts though.

Lanette, my levels are at 3.1 as well. That is considered low. I would talk to your doctor about what to do.

Mine is 3.1 also. HHHMMMM. I was told today to drink Gatorade 2 and to eat some banana.

Lanette, my levels are at 3.1 as well. That is considered low. I would talk to your doctor about what to do.

I looked back and mine was 3.9 in November, so I was on the low side prior to surgery. I have had IBS type issues ever since had my gallbladder out years ago. I am thinking that between that and less food intake the drop in potassium level was inevitable. I gag at the smell and taste of banana's so I am going to try some G2.

Anyone will want to be very careful with taking additional Potassium supplements. I do take them, however I have to because of the low carb eating and I am also on a diuretic. My body cannot handle getting off of them since I've been on them for so long due to HBP - however someday I hope to be able to get off once I can eat more balanced meals.

Anyhow, I get my supplement from Vitamin Shoppe and they come in little 3% RDA capsules. You can break them open and use them in shakes etc if you are on liquids only. My first suggestion however would be to go along with anything your Dr. prescribes. Bananas are very high in potassium and before my low carb eating I was actually instructed by my Dr. to eat one small banana every day to balance out my diuretics.

Good luck!! Keep in touch with your Dr. very closely on this. Potassium is a very critical part of our nutritional needs. No gray areas, both too little or too much can kill us.

This is SO important! Thanks so much Diva for this information. Iron is another one that can be dangerous so be careful what you're taking and only take or do what YOUR doctor tells you.

Renee`

Try coconut water. It has more potassium than gatorade or a banana.

I'm happy to report that my potassium levels are back up in the normal range and are staying there with just food (I'm eating a lot of yogurt). Now I have to focus on getting my vitamin D levels up.

I have the same problem with bananas... just the smell makes me gag, so I've never eaten one... in my whole life..

Add to that a potassium and Iron deficiency I've had cuz of a medicine I've been taking since kindergarten, and it equals a whole lot of Vitamins...

I take Spring Valley's Natural Potassium Gluconate.... 3% RDA... and i take 2-3 tabs daily.. within a few days after my surgery I was already starting to cramp up... first to go is always my feet, then my calves... I know I've been too lax on skipping them when my thighs start to cramp... ever had a thigh cramp?? you don't want to go there...

Post-op my solution was to dissolve 2 caplets overnight in about a quarter cup of G2 and then drink it in the morning.. they dissolve really well..... I did the same thing to my B-12.... no problems... Just don't try to dissolve any vitamins with a coating... very nasty!!

I looked back and mine was 3.9 in November, so I was on the low side prior to surgery. I have had IBS type issues ever since had my gallbladder out years ago. I am thinking that between that and less food intake the drop in potassium level was inevitable. I gag at the smell and taste of banana's so I am going to try some G2.

I had a follow up appointment with my PCP yesterday and was telling her that I have been lightheaded and nauseous constantly for about a week and a half. She decided to do some blood work to rule things out. Well I got a phone call today from her nurse and apparently I have a rather large potassium deficiency. The nurse gave me a list of stuff to eat (90% of which aren't on my list of approved foods yet) and said that I must get my blood drawn next week again to make sure it has improved. If it's not better then I may end up in the hospital!

I'm happy that I know what is causing the exhaustion, nausea, and dizziness, but am very concerned that I won't be able to fix it on my own.

The foods she told me to eat are:

bananas (not on my approved foods list until week 8)

Avocado

legumes

potatoes with the skin on

leafy green veggies

nuts

milk

yogurt

I figured I would start with milk and yogurt, and maybe some Soups like split pea or lentil Soup.

Has anyone else had this happen?

My husband had the sleeve done on June 28th and has the same exact symptons as you. He is on Phase 2 of the diet and barely can eat he stomach is so upset. Maybe I will have his blood drawn. Good Luck.

Just a quick overview of the importance of Potassium.

Importance of Potassium in human body:

Potassium is a very important mineral that helps us feel and be healthy everyday. Potassium is found inside the human body cells (also found outside the body cells in very small quantity of about 2-3% of total Potassium contents of the body). Potassium plays an important role in smooth muscular and cellular functioning, cardiovascular functioning, muscle contractions, nerve transmission, in conversion of glucose into glycogen and muscle building etc. Potassium in body is necessary to monitor and regulate aldosterone (hormone found in human body). It also plays an important role of a catalyst for many types of enzymes inside the human body, in other terms; it helps in spawning many important chemical reactions inside human body. It is believed by many people (doctors) that Potassium helps in improving ATP hydrolysis.

Potassium is called Natural Diuretic as it easily gets absorbed by our body and almost 85-90% of it is excreted from our bowels and kidneys (urine). Because of its alkaline property, it is a very important mineral which helps our body system to maintain of pH level balanced and also to maintain proper level of Water inside body. The most important function of Potassium in human body is to keep blood pressure under control and help in intra-cellular nutrient transfer. It also helps in keeping acne, some type of allergies, fatigue, kidney stones etc. problems at bay.

It is very important to take healthy and Potassium rich diet everyday in order to keep our body functioning properly and feel healthy.

A few weeks ago I spend an entire week in the hospital having a PICC line inserted in order to get IV potassium because my level was critical. It had bottomed out and I was having horrible symptoms. Low potassium is nothing to play around with. And getting IV potassium burns like the devil unless its in a central line or PICC line.