Low potassium? - ThinnerTimes - Gastric Bypass Forum, Lap Band Forum, and Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy Forum

BrandnewMe · 10-31-2009, 03:58 PM

I've been waking up at night with my legs cramping and they ache during the day. I found a liquid potassium/magnesium at the Vitamin Shoppe. It tastes horrible but is this what I should take? My doc doesn't do bloodwork till 3 months post op and I just saw him for my 6 week checkup. I can't do bananas to bring it up because I dump on them.

Should I call and ask him to get it tested for me or is taking the OTC liquid okay? Other than the legs cramping, I haven't felt any other symptoms.

poet_kelly · 10-31-2009, 05:47 PM

I would ask to be tested before taking potassium. I may be mistaken, but I think it's bad to have high potassium, so you don't want to take it if you don't need it.

Kelly

sherry7 · 10-31-2009, 06:06 PM

I would definitely get tested. If your surgeon won't do it, your PCP should.

Over the counter potassium is virtually worthless if you already have low potassium...it's just not strong enough. And as Kelly said, high potassium can be just as dangerous as low potassium, so it's not good to medicate yourself.

Low potassium is nothing to mess around with. I've had it since before surgery, and ended up in the hospital twice getting it pumped into me by IV. I take prescription potassium supplements, and once figured out that I'd have to eat 48 bananas each day to equal the amount of potassium I get in those 2 pills.