Anyone else have protein/potassium deficiencies?

[drew_wymore]

Hey All,
I was re-reading over all my medical chart from the past year or so including my blood work and I noticed I've been protein deficient and had low potassium on several occasions, anyone else low on anything? I am guessing its because I don't tolerate red meat very well anymore and because nuts are the devil I have few ways of getting proper protein except supplements which I haven't used yet because I hadn't noticed I had low levels.

 

[Kev]

Hmmm, never saw my 'charts', but I was put on a 'high protein' diet (and you can source protein from lots of things) ... And, for whatever reason, before serious issues arose.. like, before I was symptomatic, or diagnosed, or anything like that, I found that eating a banana a day on avg (lots of potassium there) kept 'things' healthy N regular. Not sure if there is any deeper connection involved in either.

 

[Guest]

i'm pretty sure potassium deficiency can be caused by diarrhea - (also vomiting) - as you dont just lose extra fluids. maybe because crohns sufferers are prone to the big D, they are by association prone to potassium and electrolyte deficiencies. also there is the possibility of poor absorption from what we eat.. so i guess these low readings are not surprising, nor uncommon, for us.

 

[drew_wymore]

Hmmm, never saw my 'charts', but I was put on a 'high protein' diet (and you can source protein from lots of things) ... And, for whatever reason, before serious issues arose.. like, before I was symptomatic, or diagnosed, or anything like that, I found that eating a banana a day on avg (lots of potassium there) kept 'things' healthy N regular. Not sure if there is any deeper connection involved in either.

Yea I'm looking at ways to get protein.

I had to have hard copies of my medical chart for insurance, so my GP printed off everything he had including the colonoscopy pictures and then I scanned them into a giant pdf doc so I could have it on my laptop.

 

[Susie B]

Hey Drew,

Low levels of potassium sound like dehydration but could have another cause, check with your doc. It's very common in Crohn's though because of diahorreoa and general malaise. I have had that many times and also suffer from low protein, specifically Albumin which I have had a feeding tube twice for in the last year. I never knew I had low levels until they came at me with the tube, I didn't really notice any symptoms I couldn't just put down to the Crohns. Ask your doc for a breakdown of exactly which kinds of protein you are short of to get an idea of what sources to look at to up your intake.

Hope this helps!

Susie

 

[saidinstouch]

Can you eat chicken or fish to get some protein in your diet? Also if you try to supplement your potassium make sure you are careful because too much potassium can cause irregular heart beats. I believe the FDA limits potassium capsules to 3% of the daily value and I recommend only taking at most 1-2 a day or talking to your doctor about a recommended dose if you feel that is too low.

 

[Kev]

Now all you have to do is keep it on a thumb drive or flash card N keep it with you at all times. Then. no matter where you go or what the circumstances, you have a full copy of your med records in case of emergency hospitalization, what have you

 

[drew_wymore]

Now all you have to do is keep it on a thumb drive or flash card N keep it with you at all times. Then. no matter where you go or what the circumstances, you have a full copy of your med records in case of emergency hospitalization, what have you

Thats the plan now It wasn't the original reason for getting the paperwork but it worked out really well.

@saidinstouch - I thought I remembered something about too much potassium, I'm finding lately I'm able to tolerate bananas as was mentioned so I'm going to go that route. I'm slowly but surely reintroducing fish and chicken into my diet and also using cheese as a way to get protein as well.

 

[D Bergy]

The first blood test I ever had at age 25 indicated I was protein deficient. I thought that was funny at the time because all I ate was protein. I thought the test was bogus, but I had no idea I had Crohn's.

Come to think of it, I had the blood test because I had some big D that would not go away. I ended up getting a Barium Enema, "not fun" and that stopped it oddly enough.

It only took another 20 years to get my next flare.

Dan

 

[BWS1982]

I was low on several components such as the albumin and potassium and iron etc...but that was after several months of hospital worthy conditions where I ate about 300 cals in crackers a day along with some water and gatorade (small potassium contents)....When the tests came back and I showed them to my mom (pharmacist) she told me to make up for a serious deficiency in Potassium, a banana or two a day would not cut it, I'd have to eat several more than that daily to see a marked difference, so I didn't bother.

Never thought as a weightlifting fan I'd be short on protein, since I used to average like 175 grams a day when I was able to be really active in the gym, but that's what crackers will do.

 

[Kev]

Wellll, too much potassium???? Only thing that springs to mind is... fictional story about an almost untraceable way of killing someone... think it used potassium chloride fluid in an IV line... stops the heart. If doctors try to revive the person, CPR or shock make detecting it almost impossible. But I could be totally wrong.