QUESTION:

My wife has Barter's Syndrome. This is a very rare condition in which the body depletes itself of potassium. Maintenance medication daily of K is prescribed. My wife refuses (absolutely) to take her daily medication of K. She waits until she has an episode (cramps in extremities are the start) then takes the medication (KCL).

She also has (perhaps) BPD.

Is there any known linkage between BPD and chronically low serum K?

DR. HELLER'S ANSWER:

There is no linkage, although low blood potassium levels will almost certainly aggravate her condition.

There are many reasons individuals refuse to take their medications, and BPD can be one of them. Sometimes manipulation and control is the issue, sometimes fear of medication, sometimes outrage at the unfairness of needing medication, sometimes deliberate self-destructiveness.

I strongly advise you get all her diagnoses evaluated and successfully treated before she gets into serious trouble.

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