WARNING - LOW POTASSIUM IS DANGEROUS

Hi Hannah,

I found a company -- Bella Viva -- that does in fact sell SOME organic dried fruits that contain no sulfites.

http://www.bellaviva.com/organic-dried-fruit

Click on the fruit you're interested in, then you can click on "Allergen", and that will tell you what possible allergens may be present, and specifically if sulfites are used.

Their non-organic fruits all use sulfur dioxide -- basically sulfites -- in the drying process.

Hope this helps.

Thanks danny for your research!

I realize this is possibly a long shot, but I've been having some problems on-and-off with supplements lately .. one disclaimer is that I've been withdrawing from Lyrica, and my anxiety levels are elevated as a result.

At the moment, I'm taking just Uridine (as Uridine Monophosphate). The capsules come as a 250mg powder, from Jarrow's.

Because it's water-soluble, I tip about half the capsule into a glass of water, dissolve it and then drink.

I've been suffering from torturous akathisia and find the Uridine very beneficial in that regard (it normalizes dopamine levels), but immediately (within 60 seconds) of ingesting, my stomach will feel firm and bloated, almost as if pregnant, and I find breathing becomes more difficult.

It could just be increased anxiety .. but the bloating is unusual, and so I checked and it looks like the Uridine comes as disodium.

One thing I was wondering .. is it possible the Uridine, since it's a salt, is affecting Potassium levels, causing bloating/water retention and hence difficulty breathing?

I don't supplement with any other minerals (and can't tolerate Magnesium), so would there be any harm in taking a potassium supplement to see if it fixes the bloating, or do I risk causing further imbalances?

Hi Outdamnspot,

Some things I read suggest that vitamin B6 may be helpful. Are there any other drugs involved? Is anxiety a "normal" symptom that is being increased from withdrawal from lyrica?

Thanks for your reply, Freddd.

I've tried B6, but unfortunately it's a bit too much for my system right now (seems like everything is!) and it just makes me overstimulated.

Anxiety is a normal symptom, yes .. but the movement issues aren't .. and anxiety has been brought to very high levels.

The most prominent things I have noticed have been the bloating, muscle tension, painfully tight hamstrings, fatigue and weakness (which aren't usual for me).

Low potassium can cause paralysis of stomach and intestines, painfully tight muscles, fatigue and weakness and emotional changes. Depending upon a lot of other factors it could be a cause. That can be tested for by a doctor. Serum levels of potassium can change rapidly. Many of us who have "normal" levels of 4.3 or less can have temporary low potassium caused by a period of methylation, and B6 could be a limiting factor of that considering your response. Who knows. It is involved with MeCbl and methylfolate in some methylation reactions.

Low potassium not raised can cause serious and even fatal problems so it is nothing to ignore and hope it goes away.

Started methylation protocol around a week ago. Included around 2-3 mg methyl B12, 1,6 mg folate and some other occasional donors, however, now I'm just on the B-vitamins with a lowered dose because of the symptoms explained below.

I've experienced profound changes in heartbeat around 4-5 days after I started, my heartbeat was around 44 when normally it is around 52-53 (given I lay in bed resting). Following days also included shortness of breath and (what I believe) was irregular heartbeat. This was pretty scary and provoked sort of severe anxiety as well. Also been experiencing tingling in my fingers sporadically throughout the days since started and sometimes cold hands/feet.

So my thought is: Low potassium? Got it coming in next 2-3 days, been reducing my dosage way since this happened. Anyone have a clue if this might be it or something else?

Hi Kracken,

Here is a list of the symptoms typical from methylation startup as reported by lots of people .

Version 1.2 12/08/2013

Group 1 – Hypokalemia onset. Symptoms may appear with serum potassium as high as 4.3. May become dangerous if ignored. Considered “rare” with CyCbl (Cyanocobalamin) it is very common with MeCbl (methylcobalamin) and AdoCbl (adenosylcobalamin) and less so with HyCbl (Hydroxycobalamin).

There does not appear to be a clear order of onset. The order of onset varies widely from person to person but many appear consistent for each episode for any given person. There tend to be more and more intense symptoms as it gets worse. Some people have ended up in the ER because of not recognizing the symptoms.

IBS – Steady constipation, Nausea, Vomiting, Paralyzed Ileum,

Hard knots of muscle, Sudden muscle spasms when relaxed, Sudden muscle spasms when stretching , Sudden muscle spasms when kneeling, Sudden muscle spasms when reaching , Sudden muscle spasms when turning upper body to side, Tightening of muscles, spasms and excruciating pain in neck muscles, waking up screaming in pain from muscle spasms in legs. Muscle weakness

Abnormal heart rhythms (dysrhythmias), increased pulse rate, increased blood pressure

Emotional changes and/or instability, dermal or sub-dermal Itching, and if not treated potentially paralysis and death.


Group 2a - Both

IBS – Diarrhea alternating with constipation, IBS – Normal alternating with constipation


Group 2b – Either or both

Headache, Increased malaise, Fatigue



Group 3 - Induced and/or Paradoxical Folate deficiency or insufficiency

These symptoms appear in 2 forms generally, the milder symptoms that start with partial methylation block and the more severe symptoms that come on as partial methylation block gets worse or very quickly with methyltrap onset.

Edema - An additional thing I would like to mention. I would never have found it without 5 years of watching the onset of paradoxical folate insufficiency and trying to catch it earlier and earlier and to figure out what was causing it and to reverse it. For me the onset order goes back to the day of onset now with edema and a sudden increase of weight. I noticed that within 2 hours of taking sufficient Metafolin I would have an increase in urine output.


Old symptoms returning

Edema

Angular Cheilitis, Canker sores,

Skin rashes, increased acne, Skin peeling around fingernails, Skin cracking and peeling at fingertips,

Increased hypersensitive responses, Runny nose, Increased allergies, Increased Multiple Chemical Sensitivities, Increased asthma, rapidly increasing Generalized inflammation in body, Increased Inflammation pain in muscles, Increased Inflammation pain in joints, Achy muscles, Flu like symptoms

IBS – Steady diarrhea, IBS – Diarrhea alternating with normal, Stomach ache, Uneasy digestive tract,

Coated tongue, Depression, Less sociable, Impaired planning and logic, Brain fog, Low energy, Light headedness, Sluggishness, Increase irritability, Heart palpitations,


Longer term, very serious

Loss of reflexes, Fevers, Forgetfulness, Confusion, Difficulty walking, Behavioral disorders, Dementia, Reduced sense of taste, bleeding easily




Group 4 - HyCbl onset, degraded MeCbl onset, MeCbl after photolytic breakdown onset.

Itchy bumps generally on scalp or face that develops to acne like lesions in a few days from start.

@Freddd et al

Howdy. I just wanted to pop in and say that I thought I didn't have any potassium issues from the protocol, however I have discovered that some of my symptoms dissipate when I take potassium gluconate. I've only tried tablets so far, two after a meal, four after dinner, totaling 800mg for the day. I was waking early with severe tenseness and pain and that is greatly relieved. Painful arm spasms at times were also relieved. I've had these symptoms before starting the protocol so I suspect that I was deficient in potassium prior to the protocol, but I am waiting on a well timed blood test result to hopefully tell me that is/was the case. This has been an exciting discovery.

Hi CaliObserver,

Very interesting. It seems I had these low potassium symptoms going back to childhood, "growing pains" my docs called them,. So growing tissue depletes potassium causing symptoms, literally growing pains. Then a study a few years ago tied "growing pains" to FMS later in life. Very interesting and a completely unexpected direction.

@Freddd
Woot! My doctor told me I had growing pains also when I was a child. I just got my lab results. I only know to look at a couple of things. My MCV is 92.5. My K is 3.9. My D vitamin is a 82.2. Do you know of any other pertinent markers I may have available?