Always something! I am sick of it!!!

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Debbi5108
Debbi5108 Member Posts: 182
edited June 2014 in Managing Side Effects of Breast Cancer and Its Treatment

I am about over the phone calls from the Onco group telling me this is to low that is to low when does it stop???  I have been strong and now that I am almost done 5 more treatments to go, I have low Potassium levels, I feel like crap and I think for once I may be a little down.  The meds they want to put you on have so many SE's that scare you like they want me to take Klor-Con m20 tablets but, if I do it can cause problems but, if I don't it can cause problems the heart problems are the ones that get my attention because my Dad died of a heart attack on Christmas Day and we had no prior warning, so now I am terrified. I usually just get on here and read and all of you make me feel like there is hope and you are so knowledgeable and I can usually calm myself down, But today not working very well.  Has anyone else had low Potassium levels and taken the Klor Con M 20??? Did anyone lose bunches of weight while on chemo ? I have lost almost thirty pounds and I don't like it as I have battled Anorexia in the past and won but, I eat all the time now and still lose. Thanks in advance.

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited December 2008

    Yes Debbie

    I had low potassium during radiation treatment...no explanation, it just showed up on day!!!

    They scared the crap out of me about it too, but I left there and bananas and forced myself to eat two a day...they also prescribed Klor Con for me and I took it...the following week my level was back to normal so now I have two huge bottles of Klor Con that I need to do something with...

    I cant help with the weight loss part but even though the Klor Con is scarey it will only take a few pills of it to get your levels back to normal..

    Best wishes

    Jule

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  • otter
    otter Member Posts: 6,099
    edited December 2008

    Debbi, I took Klor-Con (or K-Dur) for years and years, until my docs finally figured out why my potassium was so low.  This was totally unrelated to BC.

    Having a very low potassium level can be what's making you "feel like crap."  It can also be dangerous to the heart to have it so low.  So, if the docs think you need a potassium supplement, you should take it.  I don't remember the math, but once I calculated how many bananas I would have to eat, to get the same amount of potassium I was getting in one of those horse pill-potassium supllements, and I decided there was physically no way to eat that many bananas.

    You shouldn't be losing that much weight during chemo.  Are you sure you are drinking enough fluids?  Fluid loss is the most likely cause of abrupt weight loss, and there are a lot of ways we can lose--and not replace--fluids during chemo.  If your potassium is messed up, it's possible that your fluid balance is messed up, too.  So, you know the drill:  DRINK!  DRINK!   DRINK!

    otter 

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  • cp418
    cp418 Member Posts: 7,079
    edited December 2008

    Debbi - Is there a certified Nutritionist you can meet with?  IMO this person will help you best regarding healhy eating and supplements to combat your sideffects and concerns. You will not be so stress if the nutritionist can review your bloodwork and symptoms and get you set in the right direction.  Also many supplements actually make the chemo work better - - - you just need to find teh right person.  Best Wishes Joann

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  • Debbi5108
    Debbi5108 Member Posts: 182
    edited December 2008

    Hello to all and Thank You for your post, as they have alleviated some of my fears,  Jule I ate bananas, cauliflower, lima beans and anything else high in potassium that I could find and it still  didn't help but, I will keep trying.

    Otter, The pills are as big as you say and you huys convinced me enough to try them so I took it and so far I'm okay.  Question though they say I am to take one a day for How long??? they gave me 30 second?  When will I notice a difference in how I feel???????, Also I am drinking lots of fluids and eating well to be honest the last few days eating hasn't been a good idea as my stomach is whacked as for the weight loss I have no clue I started chemo in June and since then I have lost almost or a little over 30 lbs. I have no clue on that one except that I went from drinking a case of pepsi a day or close to it to drinking lots of water, so that could be the deal there.  Otter the heart thing is what really scares me due to my Dad and all.

    Joann,  I did meet with a nutritionist and your right about eating healthy and I have been before chemo I was a junkfood junkie and then one chemo and all that stuff tasted like crap and I wanted fruits and Vegies weird huh??  All the years of eating unhealthy I was healthy now that I m eating healthy I am having problems. LOl

    You guys have really made a difference for me and I appreciate it I just hope that I will feel better soon and not be so down I am so not used to that.  Thanks again and any other advice you can give I will take.  By tghe way I am stage 2 grade 2 ER/PR+ her2- and it is in my nodes however don't know how many as I am doing chemo before surgery and have 5 taxols left.

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