High Potassium

[AnGelA65]

Hi
I have T2D, Atrial Fibrillation (had an ablation in 2/24 but still consider I have it) I have had arrhythmias since I was late 40’s.
Unfortunately I found I have Haemochromatosis C282y & H63d Compound variant.
I have found that my potassium level has varied over the years from middle values to 5. My latest eGFRcreat value is 90ml/min and has been lower in the past year but increased.
Now, looking at all my health issues I am rather concerned as the diabetes diagnosis was a 999 job in ICU for 2/3 days on drip, I was confused and incoherent, they’d MRI’d and another type of scan, I got no explanation as to why or what caused this.
Spoken to my GP who is usually quite good……. And I am not happy with ‘everything is fine’.
I am a retired Complementary Health Therapist and take responsibility for my own health.

I understand that high potassium may be playing a part in my heart issues etc and I’m rather stressed about the whole lot

 

[Ieva DUK]

Hi @AnGelA65 and welcome to the forum! Thank you for sharing all that you're dealing with. It sounds like you've been managing a lot of complex health challenges, and it’s completely understandable that you’re feeling stressed and unsettled by it all.
It’s clear you’re really knowledgeable and proactive about your health, which is such an important strength, especially when things feel confusing or unresolved. Given everything you’ve described - the potassium fluctuations, the heart issues, the ICU admission without clear explanation - it makes sense that you would want more thorough answers rather than being reassured that “everything is fine” without further investigation.
You deserve to feel confident in your care and to have your concerns properly heard. Some people find it helpful to request a more detailed review with their GP, perhaps even asking for specific referrals (for example to a cardiologist, endocrinologist, or a kidney specialist for kidney function and potassium management). You could also request copies of your recent test results if you haven't already, so you can review them yourself and ask more targeted questions.
Managing stress alongside all of this can be tough, but you're absolutely right to listen to your instincts - they’ve clearly served you well so far. Please don’t hesitate to keep pushing for the clarity and care you deserve, it can get tedious, but you need to advocate for yourself if you feel uneasy and don't have the right answers.
I'm sending you very best wishes, you're certainly not alone in this, and if you ever need a rant - we're all here to support you!

 

[AnGelA65]

Thank you for replying, I have access to NHS & GP apps showing test results, I rely on professional opinion as I’m not qualified to assess them. I have had SO many health issues for past 5/6 years the diabetes and finding I have genetic disorder just too much.
I will be having blood tests for both conditions and if necessary I will consult consultant endocrinologist I’ve seen in the past. Just such a complicated mix.
My immediate plan is to look at the potassium rich foods and reduce or change how I cook them.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

My potassium gets flagged as being high every so often. I find the reference ranges next to my results helpful. My Drs seem fairly relaxed about it, but I can understand why you would be worried with your mix of conditions.

 

[AnGelA65]

The last reading was 5, the top end is 5.2/ 5.3
I didn’t like that my GP said ‘the tubes are collected and transported to the lab and could get rattled around and warmed’
So does this mean the reading is unreliable!
It was a shock to find myself as an emergency in hospital and come out diabetic, no family history. I’m afraid I am not an advocate of ‘being laid back’ regarding health concerns, I’m more pro-active.

So trying to be less stressed about it and figure out what next.