Hi,
yes you are quite right with the ‘loss of body fluids’ as a potential cause for low potassium (hypokalemia). I have suffered from the symptoms you mentioned (severe sweating, particularly during the night – prior to wearing a Philadelphia collar) and the muscle twitching (fasciculations) and cramps and pre-cramps, I haven’t had the muscle stiffness upon over-stretching though but the rest I can relate to.
I have to admit, I have also wondered how to ‘up’ my potassium levels, so thank you for raising this and prompting me to look into it! My food intake (which includes a banana every day) still doesn’t increase my levels by that much – though at the moment, although low, I am in the normal range.
I’ve just been doing a little bit of research because I wondered if a deficiency in something else could contribute (i.e. something necessary to assist absorption/retention, or something) and I came across folic acid. Now I have to say that my symptoms haven’t been as bad since I have been supplementing with B vitamins, which include folic acid.
Also interestingly snd perhaps more importantly, we talk a lot on here about Magnesium Deficiency, which I try and correct with Epsom Salt baths. It is rife amongst us and this article talks about how being Magnesium deficient can stop us from retaining potassium, exacerbating Hypokalemia !
http://jasn.asnjournals.org/content/18/10/2649.full
Regards
Barbara