Too high Potassium level

Posted by brotherchuckles80 @brotherchuckles80, Apr 9, 2024

I recently had some lab work done and discovered that I am in the early stages of Kidney disease. One of the areas that I am very high in is too much Potassium.
I have been researching the good and bad foods. I would like to find out from you folks, who battle this problem, some recipes you use to lower and keep lower the Potassium level. I know that I need to drink more water bt beyond that. Thank you. Charles aka brotherchuckles80

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) Support Group.

Ginger, Volunteer Mentor | @gingerw | Jan 26 11:58am

In reply to @omarpinelo305 "Hello I’m new to this group I’ve been on dialysis over 20 years and I’ve never..." + (show)

@omarpinelo305 Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect! I see that @brotherchuckles80 has already responded to you.

With potassium, watching things like citrus fruit, orange juice, bananas, potatoes, tomatoes or tomato-based foods are a simple can-do. Reading labels can help. Watch your drink supplements like Gatorade and such. Diet plays such a big part in the day-to-day management of our disease, and we have a responsibility to ourselves to oversee it.

When do you see your doctor next for more labs? I will be anxious to hear about your numbers then!
Ginger

Cheryl, Volunteer Mentor | @cehunt57 | Feb 12 7:35pm

@omarpinelo305 I also want to welcome you to Mayo Clinic Connect. @brotherchuckles80 and @gingerw have made some helpful dietary suggestions. If you can get a referral to a renal dietician s/he can provide lists of the amounts of potassium (and other substances you need to be aware of) in the foods and beverages you consume. You’ve been on dialysis for a long time. What kind? Perhaps the dialysis provider has a renal dietician that you can consult with? Last but not least, you mentioned a little shortness of breath and chest pains. That can be scary. Make sure you mention that to your dialysis provider &/or Dr. you may need to get something checked out. I had a spell of that in the middle of the night last summer. My husband took me to one of the local hospital’s emergency department. They did some tests and scans. It turned out to some sort of muscle spasm that happened to be at my heart. They deemed it to be “something but nothing (to be concerned about)”. In the process other bad / worse things were ruled out. That was nice to know. I feel it was one of those “better safe than sorry” situations. How are you feeling now?