Did she have a heart attack because she was anorexic? Nutritional deprivation, especially coupled with vomiting, which Murphy was experiencing at the time of her death, can result in potassium levels low enough to cause cardiac arrest.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/12/21/brittany-murphys-weight-e_n_399891.html

I really loved Brittany Murphy but if our role models are dying, what is happening to the world?

Okay, she is a 24 yo arab. healthy until Oct 18th when she took her last bite. The vet came out Sat Oct 19th. she was lying on the ground, not rolling,k normal temp, respiration, bp. checked her teeth. SLIGHT ridges on upper right but nothing at all to be concerned with. @ days later she had shallow breaths, respirations, calle dthe vet out again. they administered, pain IV meds, sedation, full exam, rectal, mouth recheck, administered oil (for possible impaction) along with epsom salts after emtying the stomach. They retrieved only 2 quarts of water out of the stomach (5-6 is cause for concern). so the stomach is not emptying perfect but no alarm. Bloodwork up done. NOTHING shows, infection, no liver / kidney failure, only shows dehydration. We have given her IV potassium (since shes not getting hay in her) and we pumped her tummy full of 2-3 gallons of water. We have fed her seperately since \then from our other horse, BELIEVE mewhen I say she hasnt eaten. two weeks in she took one mouthful of hay, wont eat grain, sometimes sucks on the water we put in it to entice her. Like I said earlier she wont even eat her favorites. She has lost weight a bit looking like it here in week three. She conserves her energy lots. she looks at the hay, sticks her head in the bucket like she desires to eat,m but I even had to shove the watermelon in her mouth once to get her to chew. The vet is at a loss. They had one just recently that stopped eating for ane whole month then just started up again. We believe if she doesnt start she either has a lipoma surrounding her intestines, or a stone that is making her uncomnfortable.. Our goal now is to ENTICE her to eat.. ANY IDEAS??? BTW I cant figure out how to answer you all back without writing another question… help
thanks nataliee for the reply help,. As in the original post, we have pureed apples, bananas, offered straight sugar, watermelon, peppermint treats (she actually ate 3) of course they are the size of the tip of my thumb, and made her peppermint tea to add to her grain to make it smell better, sprinkled pepperment whole food non caffeine oil on her hay, carrots, etc.. I am with you. she is ill inside and cannot do anything to make herself want to actually eat as of yet. Unfortunately, although she is seemingly confortable, she is standing almost all the time now, we are gone for 9 days in 1 and 1/2 weeks. I desperately need her to eat or tell us something. We should responsibly euthanize her if she is not eating by then. I cannot leave her in this state with a sitter.. Pus that would have been 4 1/2 weeks by then.. Quite frankly, the vet is surprised she is doing so well so far considering the history of the last 3 weeks. I will chekc into the appetite liquid someone noted. anything!

is there a primary alcohol that cannot be dehydrated? i need a haloalkane with 5 carbons, 11 hydrogens and one bromine that reacts with sodium hydroxide to form F which has an OH bond whose IR value is broad indicating hydrogen bonding. F will not undergo dehydration with conc. sulphuric acid but will react with potassium manganate (vii) (to form what i think is a carboxylic acid).

I had several teeth pulled over 10 days ago and am still having nausea, vomiting and headache. Seven days after the extractions I ended up in the hospital over night dehydrated and my potassium was very low. That was three days ago and I am still sick. I am not taking any pain pills or antibiotics and there is no infection.

I’ve been getting cramps everyday in swim practice. They aren’t cramps that I can swim through either– I have to sit out and stretch for at least 20 minutes, and even after that, they leave my legs very sore for a number of days. My coach said it’s from dehydration and a lack of Potassium, but I’ve been drinking so much water lately that I’ve been using the bathroom about every 45 minutes and I’ve been eating 2 bananas a day (breakfast, and whan I get home from school.) What can I do to stop these dreaded cramps?!
Any recommendations?

Hi, I was treated in the ER for hypokalaemia with IV potassium and then on K+ supplements in the hospital for a few days. Also had slightly raised creatinine (no treatment needed it resolved itself) I also had ECG changes (T wave inversion). No explanation for hypokalaemia…had not had any vomiting/diarrhoea, not on medication, no excessive vomiting or sweating, don’t have an eating disorder or use diuretics, and apart from the slightly rasied creatinine, urine was fine.
Had stress testand echo which were both ok.
Any ideas?
edit: was told by ER drs that potassium level was too low to have been caused by dietary insufficiency.

OK i’m not looking for lectures. I use this on top of exercise and healthy diet. I know the risks related to potassium deficiency, electrolyte imbalances and dehydration, which is why I add lots of salt to everything I eat, drink lots of water, and drink apple cider vinegar which prevents potassium loss. Also my GP checks my blood regularly and cant find any problems.
Anyway, back to how many. I take 3-4 before or after everything I eat and I still am not dependent on them. I can go a few days without needing any. So has anyone taken more than this?

Doctor ran blood test, potassium fine, sed rate fine, kidney and liver fine. I drink 4 bottles of water everyday so no possibility of dehydration. They especially hurt if i’m in the car with the heat on. They cramp sooo hard. Other days they cramp even when they’re not hot, mostly in the calves.

Doctor ran blood test, potassium fine, sed rate fine, kidney and liver fine. I drink 4 bottles of water everyday so no possibility of dehydration. They especially hurt if i’m in the car with the heat on. They cramp sooo hard. Other days they cramp even when they’re not hot, mostly in the calves.

Has anyone had this with their dog? My dog has epilespy and has to take phenobarbital and potassium bromide. I’m not sure if the meds have anything to do with it. I told the vet about it last time she had her blood work and she didn’t seem concerned. She isn’t gagging, having a hard time breathing, coughing or vomiting, but she sounds like she almost has a sore throat (without pain). Any ideas?