post-op death - Page 2 - ThinnerTimes - Gastric Bypass Forum, Lap Band Forum, and Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy Forum

Josephine · 10-15-2009, 03:59 AM

*takes 2 potassium pills*

I hope she's in heaven now looking down on her family and guiding them in the right direction and I hope the heaviness in their hearts lifts soon for them. :'( It's heartbreaking, and I'm glad it's not something that TT has had to deal with in the time I've been here. (Except for poor Melissa's murder. RIP :'( )

FatButNotHappy · 10-15-2009, 05:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Josephine

*takes 2 potassium pills*
and I'm glad it's not something that TT has had to deal with in the time I've been here. (Except for poor Melissa's murder. RIP :'( )

WHAT??? When? Who?

Josephine · 10-15-2009, 05:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FatButNotHappy

WHAT??? When? Who?

I'm sorry, I shouldn't have brought it up.... but we did lose her.

MBatten is her username. It's a tragedy what happened, but I hope we won't hijack this thread with it. Doing a search on her username will tell you everything.

Axel · 10-15-2009, 05:59 AM

I'm sorry for their loss. It's hard to think that people die from something we all desperately want and complain about when we don't receive it.

I pray that the family makes it through.

*hugs*
Axel

styxchic76 · 10-15-2009, 06:02 AM

Wow. So sad that she died. May she rest in peace.

The hospital prolonged my stay yesterday due to my potassium level being .5 off from normal. I did get go home after the two hour drip. Thanx for posting the signs of low potassium.

Beth in Texas · 10-15-2009, 06:12 AM

Thanks so much for posting...I feel the fate thing coming on in a way. I have a problem rejecting high potassium foods, and today is the day I visit the NUT for the 4th time because my insurance said I have to have 90-day NUT consultation not 3 month visits.

I will definitely ask her what I can do, as I have half of the symptoms that Kelly listed.

I truly feel for the family who lost their sister, and will take it as a sign for all of us to be more prevalent in keeping up with not only our labs but our vitamins/diet.

Laureate · 10-15-2009, 06:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by poet_kelly

OK, I looked up symptoms of low potassium. Apparently it can be caused by a number of things, including vomiting. So if you are vomiting a lot, perhaps you would want to have your potassium checked.

Muscles need potassium in order to contract, and that includes the heart muscle. If there is not enough potassium, your heart cannot beat effectively

Symptoms of low potassium include weakness, fatigue, cramping in the arm or leg muscles, numbness or tingling, nausea, palpitations (feeling your heart beat irregularly), excessive urination, excessive thirst, fainting, and psychological symptoms like depression and hallucinations.

Kelly

I had some early issues with this after my thyroid surgery. My symptoms were it felt like tiny spider webs were brushing across my face (I wasn't moving). I wasn't severely down in my numbers, but enough that they called me back in the hospital for an IV and kept me overnight.

Melissah · 10-15-2009, 07:46 AM

This is just horribly scary for those that are pre-op. Since I read this last night I have been researching vitamins and what to take after from what they recommend to above and beyond.

I also frequent that other board and I seen so many of her posts before and after surgery and how happy she was making this choice. The saddest was she was doing it so she could live a long life for her children. You just never know. I pray for comfort for her family at this sad time.

Baja Big Dog · 10-15-2009, 08:14 AM

I conciser my6self a self proclaimed expert on Potassium, I had a real scare with it, and I noticed that someone mentioned "takes 2 Potassium pills".
to all here...do NOT take any supplements without the advice of your doctor,

Potassium is a killer, as the OP's story states, but it is very easy to "MIS" diagnose the problem, I had a two week scare after being told to eliminate all leafy greens, potatoes and any other high potassium foods, after some research (a LOT of research, REMEMBER MAMA CORRINE!!) and educating myself on the results of high potassium, I learned that its pretty hard for us to have a real effect on the increase of potassium, (to dangerous levels).

Potassium is something that requires the blood to be drawn in a certain order, and without the turnicut being released immediately before the sample bottle for potassium is taken, and also squeezing the little ball can skew the readings.

I had to wait for two weeks, to be retested to find out my levels were fine, and it was probably an error when the blood was drawn.

Again....DO NOT TAKE ANY INCREASED POTASSIUM WITHOUT THE ADVICE OF YOUR DOCTOR!!!

poet_kelly · 10-15-2009, 08:16 AM

Thanks, Baja. I was certainly not suggesting that we should all run about and buy some potassium. If you think your potassium might be low, call your doc and ask for a blood test.

Kelly