New Member - Potassium advice

[Guest guest]

Hi

I am new to all this, so just researching for info. I wondered whether i should

take a potassium supplement?

I live in the UK, I am 36, overweight mother of two. I have lost about 60lbs

since my biggest but it has taken me 6 years of on and off dieting and only

recent exercise (last 3years). I am now the slimmest I have been in about 8

years and the fittest I have been in my entire life. I still need to lose about

85lbs to be at a healthy weight. I train 6 days a week (running, spinning and

heavy weight training) and my blood pressure is higher than when I was at my

biggest and unhealthiest! even though my typical resting pulse rate is 52 when

Bp being taken! I eat a very clean and high protein diet with more than my five

a day but do add salt to my food as I crave it in great quantities sometimes.

I drink about 3litres of water a day on top of normal fluids. My symptoms are:-

very slow weight loss considering my diet and calorific burn. High and erratic

blood pressure, restless legs, fatigue, palpitations, dizziness, chronic

headaches/migraines, muscle twitching and cramps, burning ears, insomnia, night

waking for the loo. side flank and lower back ache.

My doc finally referred me to an endo at our local hospital who has recently

sent me for various bloods and 24hr urine testing. He also put me on 2.5mg

ramipril which seemed to lower my bp for three weeks, then it started to creep

up again. My Doc then increased the dose to 5mg but it was still high when I

went back to see the endo. My tests came back with suspected hyperaldosteronism.

I never heard of this before.

Since researching, I found that low K is often associated with this and low K

causes many of my symptoms. I am currently waiting for my ramipril meds to

leave my system before repeating my tests (6 weeks) so I am in limbo. I am now

on another blood pressure med. My question is...... should I take a potassium

supplement in the meantime to see if it helps with my symptoms? Or could this

interfere with my up and coming tests.

Also, any advice and help would be welcome. I have checked out the DASH diet

and to be honest I am not far off it anyway.

Many thanks

Penny