potassium
 

I'm on Day Three of IVIG, as an inpatient, and very homesick. I need two more transfusions, because I'm not having much of a response to it. Or maybe I would be way worse now without it--hard to say.

Anyway, my routine lab work came back showing my potassium is a bit low. I'm not surprised--I take HCTZ as a diuretic to ward off the menstrual migraines that used to plague me.

I've probably been lowish for a while. I"m wondering if any of the symptoms I put down to MG could have had more to do with the potassium deficiency. I haven't had any muscle cramping.

Thanks.

Abby

Hang in there! Here's hoping your next two IVIG's really help a lot!!

yes, low potassium can make MG symptoms worse.

I hope your treatments are going well. It isn't fun to be in the hospital but it's the place to be if something happens.

Did you see your results? How low was your potassium? Were you already supplementing with food or pills due to the diuretic?

http://www.fpnotebook.com/renal/potassium/Hypklm.htm

Did they check magnesium? Why they don't do that in MGers is beyond me. They often do the basic chem panel and not the comprehensive one. Anyway, get copies of your records.

You don't necessarily have to have muscle cramping with too little or too much potassium. It depends upon how low it gets or how initially weak your muscles are. I definitely get muscles cramps from too much potassium, which hasn't happened too often throughout the years.

I hope you see an improvement from the IVIG.

Annie

I think they said 3.4, which is not so bad, since the normal values I saw are 3.5-5. I have been eating a potassium rich diet, but not taking supplements. I will follow up with my primary care doctor soon, and ask him about the magnesium.

Thanks, Annie.

Abby