High Potassium: False Readings And Treatment

Warning: Don't Trust Your 'Diagnosis' Before The Second Test

Hyperkalemia can be caused by some truly frightening medical conditions, so it's no wonder that my physician's assistant was so proactive when my readings came back high — though she wouldn't even tell me exactly how high. I was quite annoyed about having to come in for yet another blood test so soon after the first one. This forced me to take time off work. But yes, I did want to know whether I really did have hyperkalemia.

If you are in a similar situation, it is important to be aware that many initial readings of high potassium are in fact false readings. Blood cells can rupture during or shortly after a blood test, triggering them to leak their potassium into the sample your lab will be testing and indeed falsely elevating the results shown. This is such a common problem that physicians widely recognize the need for a repeat blood test for final diagnosis. 

The second time they drew my blood, they did it with a special thin needle with a sort of stopper inside to make the blood come in all at once. They didn't use the elastic band this time either. Now, my potassium was 4.5. That's on the high end of normal, but within the normal range nonetheless. You, too, may find that your second and more careful blood test tells a different story. In short, there's no reason to panic until you have been tested thoroughly.

Treatment For Hyperkalemia

If you do turn out to have hyperkalemia, your treatment plan may involve a wide variety of solutions, including emergency treatment, lifestyle changes, and medication.

IV calcium, glucose and insulin are all emergency treatments. Kidney dialysis may be necessary to filter the potassium from your blood if your kidney function is poor. Don't panic, though, as this is not the first line of treatment and is only used in life-threatening situations. You may be given sodium polystyrene sulfonate and diuretics as well. Soda bicarbonate is a treatment that's viable in certain cases, if elevated potassium levels are caused by acidosis.

In terms of lifestyle changes, you may be told to either reduce or stop your potassium supplements, if you are taking any, and to alter your diet to cut down on foods rich in potassium. I did this just in case, as soon as the first call came through. I'm a bit of a tomato addict. They're a really good source of potassium, so of course I cut them out immediately, along with spinach, egg plant, bananas and avocado. Coffee is also full of potassium. I'm currently trying to cut down, but it's hard. Basically, all my favorite foods have tons of potassium. I said good bye to Himalaya salt, which can also raise potassium levels.

You may also need to switch over to different medications if you're taking any, because certain medications can lead to higher potassium levels. 

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While hyperkalemia definitely needs to be taken seriously because it can cause life-threatening heart rhythm issues, it can generally be managed well. Discuss your concerns and your treatment with your doctor and follow their instructions to the letter, and everything will probably be OK fairly soon.