What causes sleepiness and stomach cramps with lower level of potassium?
Patient: I was just released from the hospital on May 21st. I was admitted because I could not urinate which was brought on all of a sudden. They treated me for low potassium levels of 2.4 and inflamation of the intestines. For the last two days all I want to do is sleep. I feel exhausted and can t stay awake ad I having stomach cramps again. Should I go to the hospital now or wait till morning and get a doctors appt. I don t know if this could be low potassium again. I don t want to over react. Doctor: Hi.Thanks for your query and an elucidate history and understanding of your problem. The over sleepiness and exhaustion can be due to low potassium levels as you have suspected correctly. The cause is the inflammation of the intestines , not allowing the absorption or the loss of potassium into the intestines from the body, what we call a third-space loss. You need to go back to the hospital. and get investigated urgently, particularly the serum electrolytes. and get corrected the balance of electrolytes, get proper supportive treatment and the treatment for your intestinal infection as unless it is corrected the other problems will prevail.