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Potassium Anyone?

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 1/15/2008 1:19 AM (GMT 0)
During my last flare I was hospitalized for 2 weeks. I lost 50 lbs and was struggling to get better. One night in the hospital, the nurses were checking my vitals and asked me if my heart rate was usually this low. I was in a sleeping pill/demerol haze and was instantly scared. They were shaking me and asking again and again if my heart rate was usually low. I could feel my whole body shake with each slow heart beat. I told them I could not breath well and was rushed down to the cardiac care unit. After an EKG, and other tests, they concluded that I had a potassium deficiancy. So, I had to get 8 units of it through my IV with no pain killer. All my pain meds were cut in half due to the heart scare. I have NEVER felt so much pain in my life. It felt like my arm was being burned off with a torch. Theytried to cut down the potassium with the saline, but it still was terrible. I have had UC for 5 years now and have had several flares. Twice hospitalized and bed ridden for 3 months on the last one. I have taken everything from asacol to remicade and then some. 4 colonoscopies and several jugs of barium. Nothing was as horrible as that potassium. Anyone else had this experience? 
Posted 1/15/2008 1:29 AM (GMT 0)
YES! I had to have pottasium in my IV and it hurt so bad! Every time I complained about my IV hurting they would say "yeh that pottasium burns" Now i try to keep my pottasium up!!
Posted 1/15/2008 3:06 AM (GMT 0)

Yes, I had potassium given to me after surgery.  The IV of potassium was far more painful than the incision.  I hope I never have to experience that again!

Sue

Posted 1/15/2008 3:19 AM (GMT 0)
yes I had to get potassium also, I was to the point I couldnt stand, walk are lift my arms I was so low on potassuim and dehydrated at the same time, but honestly I felt so bad when I went in that I remembered it burning but at that point it was better then how I felt. They had me take potassium pills for 2 years after that. I still take them when in a bad flare. I think they piggy backed mine in to the iv, maybe thats why mine wasnt as bad.
Posted 1/15/2008 4:36 AM (GMT 0)
I'm glad I eat alot of bananas...what terrible experiances you guys have had!!!

:)
Posted 1/15/2008 2:30 PM (GMT 0)
My first few rounds on pred, I had low potassium. The doc prescribed these HUGE pills I had to take. Even though they were hard to swallow, etc - after hearing about the IV stuff, I'm glad I didn't have to do that!
Posted 1/15/2008 9:12 PM (GMT 0)
I also had potassium through my IV while in the hospital for UC. Over my 10 day stay, they had to move my IV once a day because my veins were "blowing" from the potassium. I still have trouble keeping IV's running. I often have to have my Remicade IV moved because my vein 'blows" now. I never had this problem before the potassium - so I blame it all on that!
Posted 1/16/2008 2:20 AM (GMT 0)
A person who does not have nausea & can swallow should be able to get potassium easily enough from fruit juice &/or bananas. It doesn't take a whole lot of juice to stabilize-- 1/2 cup (4 oz) daily can make a huge difference to your well-being. Potassium is a very important blood pressure regulator! / Old Hat (nearly 30 yrs with left-sided UC; currently on 3 Colazal daily for maintenance of remission)
Posted 2/7/2008 5:27 AM (GMT 0)
Raw goat milk from grass feed goats has a ton of very absorbable potassium
Posted 2/7/2008 5:23 PM (GMT 0)
It is very common for us IBDers to suffer from low pottasium.Can cause nasty cramping too, especially in the calf muscles
Posted 2/7/2008 5:28 PM (GMT 0)
My Gi says to make sure to get lots of potassium, especially when on steroids. He said to eat 3 bananas a day while on higher doses of pred. I now drink a lot of Oj (low acid kind, so much better for my reflux) whenever i start to feel tired and I can start to feel each heart beat i know to go eat a banana!
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