Been diagnosted w/ ulcerative colitis, gastritis and diverticulosis.What do low potassium levels mean?

Question

have had one colonoscopy, but the doc wants to do another, as my levels are still very low, and my pains have not completely gone away. I've lost 120 pounds, and have very little interest in food, although I do eat, everything, just not much.At 147lbs, I'm fine. Just very weak and vervous. What do low potassium levels mean?

Answer 1

Like the other ladies said, potassium is an alkali metal and is considered to be one of the major electrolytes.  It's essential to maintain a normal fluid balance between blood/tissue fluid and cells.  It's necessary for growth and repair.  And it plays a vital role in nerve conduction and muscle contraction.

Low potassium levels is called hypokalemia and the symptoms are usually fairly mild.  Weakness, tingling/numbness, muscle cramps,  nausea & vomiting, arrhythmias, constipation and low blood pressure (hypotension) are some of the possible symptoms.  Depression and psychosis are two others.  Having a very low level -- less than 2.5 mEq/mL -- is a medical emergency.  There is a very real risk for cardiac arrest.

I expect that your digestive conditions are at fault.  Are you not taking a potassium supplement?

Answer 2

Low potassium levels can mean one or more of many things, in the sense of what the underlying cause of the deficiency could be.

First of all, a potassium deficiency is known as hypokalemia, which literally means low potassium in the blood (hypo - low; kal - potassium; emia - blood). It's possible that the low potassium levels have been caused by one of the conditions you have been diagnosed with, although I personally haven't heard of any of those causing low potassium levels.

Some frequent causes are:

Certain antibiotics (have you taken any lately?)

Diuretics usage (or these?)

Kidney conditions (could this apply?)

Low magnesium levels (did you have that tested?)

There are more causes listed at the source website, but these were some that stood out as distinct possibilities. If you're curious about a specific potential cause, you can ask your doctor about it. He'll most likely be able to test you for that (if it's a condition), which even if it comes up negative, at least will clear your mind of that possibility.

In the meantime, unless you have reason to think that you should avoid extra potassium intake, why not read up on foods rich in potassium and focus a little more on those for a while?

Answer 3

Potassium is an electrolyte that is important to the function of the nerve and muscle cells, including the heart.  People can die from cardiac arrest when potassium levels become dangerously low.   Potassium is found in   bananas, oranges, tomatoes, spinach and other green leafy vegetables, melons, peas and beans, and potatoes.

drinking Gatorade or other electrolyte filled drinks can help also.

Answer 4

Low potassium levels can cause weakness, heart flutters, muscle cramps and other things. Low potassium can be caused by a poor diet. If u have UC with diarrhea that can contribute to it. I have crohn's with diarrhea and my blood work will come back jacked lots of times.. I had low sodium at one point (which I found weird)..