Conference vmszoo::medical

2044.0. "Low Potassium levels" by YIELD::STOOKER () Fri Apr 11 1997 07:42

    I have a problem.   Due to Bartter's syndrome, I am losing quite a bit
    of potassium in my system.   My potassium level is usually at a
    low-normal of 3.1.  However, recently, my potassium level has dropped
    to 2.8.  I was taking only 20 mq of potassium today..  The doctor upped
    my potassium to 40 mq and although my potassium level did increase
    somewhat, the doctor wasn't satisfied and raised my potassium level to 
    60 mq/day.   
    
    Now, my SO is telling me that I have this terrible chemical odor
    emitting from my body.   This really bothers me, because I share an
    office with a co-worker and I'm constantly in contact with people. 
    Now, I'm really self-conscious about this.   Could this odor be coming
    from the potassium supplements that I'm taking?   If so, is there
    anything that I can do about it?  Breath mints might help the bad
    breath odor, but it sure isn't going to take care of the odor if it is
    coming out of my body. I'm going to be having a hysterectomy
    some time in the next month or two, so my potassium level is critical.
    The other issue with so much potassium is that it is literally killing
    my stomach.  I'm also taking IBUPROFIN along with the potassium because
    my doctor told me that a "side effect" of the IBUPROFIN is to prevent
    my kidneys from dumping the potassium.  I'm also taking Tagamet to help
    relieve some of the stomach discomfort.
    
    I will be contacting my doctor about this today, but I was hoping to be
    armed with a little more information as to whether this "odor" is
    caused from the Potassium supplements, or could there just be something
    totally different going on in my body.
    
    Thanks for any help.
    
    Sarah