Question 1

can lupus cause low calcium and low potassium. is this a sign of kidney trouble?

Accepted Answer

No: Lupus can cause almost any symptom or problem.  Low potassium and calcium would be very unlikely.  Usually with kidney problems related to lupus potassium goes up not down.

Question 2

is low potassium linked to lupus?

Accepted Answer

Rare: Low potassium is not a common association with lupus. Medicines like water pill used to treat kidney disease caused by lupus can lead to potassium loss in the urine. Rarely lupus can affect tubules in the kidney that handles potassium and cause potassium loss

Question 3

my childs potassium, alkaline phosphate, carbon dioxide are low on blood test. test was done due to my lupus & hypothyroidism. what does this mean?

Accepted Answer

Hard to say: Random test results reported with no  history or exam findings make it impossible to decide if they are important or not. The normal values vary sometimes by age and we don't know if the report used proper kid or adult standards.You should review these with whoever ordered them.

Question 4

what are the causes of low potassium (hypokalemia)?

Accepted Answer

See below: A low potassium level has many causes, some are due to decreased intake, some due to increase loss from the skin, gut eg loose stools, urine eg alcohol intake, tubular problems or magnesium deficiency.Others are due to shift of potassium into the cells.

Question 5

i have chronically low potassium. is drinking coconut water safe? i drink 50 oz per day over the last few months & it has corrected my hypokalemia.

Accepted Answer

Safe: Coconut water is safe. It is likely that bananas will do the same good at lower cost.

Question 6

what can cause sudden dangerously low potassium, hypokalemia, causing me to collapse and nearly die?

what tests do i need?

Accepted Answer

Periodic paralysis?T: This sounds to me like hypokalemic periodic paralysis. I've seen good physicians miss this. Please read up on it, see if this fits you, talk with your physicians, see if a diagnosis can be made, if it can, discuss the implications with your family.

Question 7

i have hypokalemia which is low potassium in my blood should i play soccer today or wait?

Accepted Answer

Low potassium: You would be better off waiting for your potassium (k) levels to rise before you play soccer. The more important question is, why is your k low? Are you on any medications that would lower it, like diuretics? Do you have a low magnesium level? See a physician to get to the cause of your low k level. It is better to prevent a problem than treat it.

Question 8

i have a low potassium problem and kidney stones problem. is my hypokalemia the cause of my kidney stones? or the other way?

Accepted Answer

Not necessarily: These are not necessarily related, except for if you have what is called type 1 rta; in that case, innate kidney disease causes both low potassium (due to wasting) as well as kidney stone formation (low urine acid, high calcium excretion).

Question 9

how does hypokalemia affect leg muscle endurance activities like running and swimming? with low potassium can you still build muscle?

Accepted Answer

Muscle cramps: You need proteins to build and maintain muscle, but you need to right balance of fluids and electrolytes to have good muscle function. When your potassium is low, you are more likely to experience muscle cramps and fatigue.

Question 10

was diagnosed with hypokalemia after taking florinef (fludrocortisone). same day i had blood work for nt-probnp. could low potassium cause high bnp? mine was high

Accepted Answer

Florinef (fludrocortisone): Florinef (fludrocortisone) causes salt and fluid retention. The fluid retention may cause a rise in bnp. Suggest you discuss result with your md. Lowering of the potassium is a known side effect of Florinef (fludrocortisone) use.

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Doctor answers about:

Lupus and low potassium

A member asked:

Can lupus cause low calcium and low potassium. is this a sign of kidney trouble?

A member asked:

Is low potassium linked to lupus?

A member asked:

My childs potassium, alkaline phosphate, carbon dioxide are low on blood test. test was done due to my lupus & hypothyroidism. what does this mean?

A member asked:

What are the causes of low potassium (hypokalemia)?

A member asked:

I have chronically low potassium. is drinking coconut water safe? i drink 50 oz per day over the last few months & it has corrected my hypokalemia.

A member asked:

What can cause sudden dangerously low potassium, hypokalemia, causing me to collapse and nearly die? what tests do i need?

A member asked:

I have hypokalemia which is low potassium in my blood should i play soccer today or wait?

A member asked:

I have a low potassium problem and kidney stones problem. is my hypokalemia the cause of my kidney stones? or the other way?

A member asked:

How does hypokalemia affect leg muscle endurance activities like running and swimming? with low potassium can you still build muscle?

A member asked:

Was diagnosed with hypokalemia after taking florinef (fludrocortisone). same day i had blood work for nt-probnp. could low potassium cause high bnp? mine was high

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