off subject some.

[Guest guest]

and anyone:

A co - worker had a hysterectomy several months ago and doctors are fighting

to keep her potassium levels up. No matter what the M.D's do her potassium

is staying dangerously low. I'm sure she is deficient in another

supplement that is causing this. Anyone with any ideas ????

Any help would be appreciated.

Retta

Re: Progress - Added Iron, Potassium - new

boost

Hi Retta,

Glad to hear that you're doing so well. Generally muscle cramps indicate

magnesium deficiency and some people have had to increase mag to the point

where they are taking 3 times as much mag as cal. Also I think the potassium

helps the mag work better, so perhaps the potassium will be an improvement.

I

believe that potassium supplements are limited by law to less than 100 mgs.

I

don't know the full story, but I believe that excess potassium (probably

combined with a calcium and/or magnesium deficiency) can cause severe

problems. That is why I would urge anyone taking potassium to try to get it

mostly from foods and take a maximum of 1200 mgs of potassium a day. More

might be ok, but let's play it safe until we know for sure. I wouldn't go

for

an extended time taking potassium without cal/mag. Also, you may be at the

point where you can use iron. Try 18-25 mgs and see what happens. Pay

attention to your heart rate, your energy level, and your body temperature

(see if you feel warmer).

In a message dated 3/5/2001 10:18:23 AM Pacific Standard Time,

laurettamcwilliams@... writes:

<< The only problem I'm having is with the Calcium/Magnesium (stopped

taking)

no matter what ratio I tried I would get muscle cramps. I started taking

potassium yesterday to see if this would help. Has anyone found more than

99

mcg's in a supplement? Taking 10 pills of potassium seems like a lot.(oh

well, what's a few more as long as they get the job done. LOL.) Do you

think I should take potassium

by its self for a few days and then try adding CAL/MAG back. Maybe I need

to add iron. >>

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 3/7/01 8:21:12 AM Pacific Standard Time,

laurettamcwilliams@... writes:

<< A co - worker had a hysterectomy several months ago and doctors are

fighting

to keep her potassium levels up. No matter what the M.D's do her potassium

is staying dangerously low. I'm sure she is deficient in another

supplement that is causing this. Anyone with any ideas ???? >>

Hi Retta,

I'm supposing that they are giving her potassium. Perhaps by I.V.? I know

that potassium needs to be balanced with calcium, magnesium, and sodium, so

that would be the first place I'd look. Also K seems to interact with copper

and/or zinc. Copper seems to help magnesium and I'm looking at the

possibility that potassium metabolism is assisted by zinc. This may be just

my desire for symmetry, but I've seen some evidence in the literature

suggesting some kind of link between zinc and potassium.

There could also be some trace mineral essential for potassium metabolism

(lithium, rubidium, and cesium are also alkaline minerals which may function

with potassium-- see Periodic Table). I have experimented a little with

cesium and there are references in the literature that cesium causes

potassium deficiency, so maybe they work together.

There is also a possibility that some toxic mineral (or chemical) is

depleting the potassium. Cesium, rubidium, barium (rat poison), and other

minerals could do this.

If it is related to the hysterectomy, then is might be related to

estrogen/progesterone balance, which again is related to copper/zinc balance.

I'd get a hair analysis asap to see if there is some mineral problem.