Low Potassium and tachycardia

I'm having a major problem with low potassium. It went really low n I near had heart atttack - level 3.4 not considered to be that low. The problem got worse they gave me oral k in er but this shot my bloods up 10 points which is impossible maybe bloods went up but overall storage did not...well I'll spare u all details but I suffered profoundly n was put off as psychosimatic when in fact I was starved of potassium..when I eventually figured it out I started drinking coco water which got rid of dangerous symptoms but I was still so depleted..I eventually got supplements but then ripped up my stomach with an antibiotic n couldn't take...no1 would believe me so it went untreated 4 so long...now I have lots of supplement prescribed by doctor but it's still not enough....I literally cannot get in enough to override deficiency iv no energy bad cramps n I don't know what on earth to do!!! Up to st pats day my body was seriously pained n heart palps so I upped n improved but still not enough: the problem-supplement are hard on stomach n can't risk ripping that up again! If they were not hard on tummy it would be easy.

Low potassium causing tacchycardia/arrythmias has nothing to do with SVT which is a disorder of conduction.  

Sounds like you still need more potassium.

Please please please get your aldosterone and renin checked. Any of you who've had low potassium and tachycardia. And Google "Conn's" and "Primary Hyperaldosteronism".

I wish someone had told me that before I had to go to ER/A&E nine times... with BP up to 255 and pulse up to 177.

Oh, and if you get diagnosed, join the Facebook Hyperaldosteronism Support Group, great advice there

I have the same symptoms and have had them for 7 years now. Drs couldn't figure out what it was until one time i was hospitalized due to my low potassium and there was this really great smart Dr the did a full blood test and found out I had hypokalemia periodic paralysis. It's in the genes and sometimes doesn't show if the Drs aren't looking for it. Hope this helps.

I am going through the same thing. I am on prescription potassium and my body will just not absorb. The doctors don't know why. If you do find out a cause, please let me know. And I will let you know if my doctors figure out anything. I hope you feel better soon. Good luck

Might not help the girls but I suggest the guys go get tested. I finally found my problem and its no SVT related. I got tested for fertility and it came back that I'm a XXY, my body is pumping out estrogen and testosterone but not using either effectively. Apparently this can really screw your hormones up and directly effects POTASSIUM and MAGNESIUM. So all you guys out there popping the potassium pills need to go get yourself checked for this. 

BTW I drink VitaCoco and it relieves my potassium symptoms quite a bit. 

This is sad. I have the same problem. It is sad talking about it. My heart rate went over 220 beats. This is very sad.

Hi welshgirl13, I totally understand how you are feeling. I am just now reading your discussion and maybe things have changed since you posted more than a year ago. My heart started raicing when I was in 9th grade. I did not know what was happening. My mom took me to the doctor and I was first prescribed phenobarbitol (used for seizures) I quit taking it after a short time. I learned how to make my heart stop racing by myself, straining, slow breathing, and time. As I got older it would come and go. I could go for 6 to 8 months without a problem, then BAM! it was back and I did not know why. I have never done drugs or drank alcohol excessively, I eat right and exercise. The doctors told me that I was healthy and could not figure out what was happening. Finally in the late 1990's, while at work (I am a nurse) it did it and I was able to get an EKG strip of my heart racing at about 230 beats per minute. The doctor put me on cardizem and another drug, normally used for other heart problems and high blood pressure. One of the drugs gave me the worst headaches and the drugs did not seem to work, I still had the problems and I never knew when it was going to happen. I ended up going to heart specialist in the late 2000's and was put on Toprol (another high blood pressure drug) after 2 years of taking this, my blood pressure dropping to the point of passing out (I do not nor have I ever had high blood pressure) and was still having tachycardia (medical term for a rapid heartbeat), I was to the point of going to have the heart ablation done. I started realizing that my heart almost always began to race when I layed on my right side. Medical doctors really seemed to have no clue about what to do. In 2010 I went to a naturopath for another problem and asked about my heart problem. Funny how he knew exactly what my problem was, put me on potassium, took me off all stimulants and caffiene and I have had very few problems since. I take no drugs and I really feel pretty good. I am now 53 years old, never had the ablation and do not plan too.

This is a super old thread I know but it came up in my search to link low potassium with some of my symptoms. I was curious if you ever found your answer as to what is going on and to ask you if your doctors have checked your aldosterone and renin levels? Especially DURING one of these episodes. When aldosterone levels are elevated, potassium levels drop. Aldosterone is produced in the adrenal glands so maybe you have an underlying issue there. That is what my problem is but we are trying to rule in/out a couple more things on top of that.

But I stress having tests done while you have the episodes because if it is an aldosterone secreting tumor (not to scare you!) it can be intermittent and if it's not secreting at the time they test you may never get an answer. I was having an episode as well the day I ended up begging my doctor to check my aldosterone levels. The other major symptom of elevated aldosterone is fluid retention. Do you experience this? I have suffered with it for my entire life and no one knew why. I'm 19 years into trying to find a diagnosis now. It has gotten much worse and now I gain 17 pounds (1.21 st converted) of fluid weight easy in two days. We're waiting on me to have other episodes to rule out another type of tumor as well so it's a waiting game for me right now. I know how scary it can be having a pulse rate so high and chest pains so I really hope you've found your answer!

You can message me if you'd like!

Take care,

Alicia

Go see a chiropractor. I get it all the time and it stops after I've had an adjustment. He can explain why being out of place affects the heart stomach etc. it may not be it but in my case it helped.