Hypokalemia and addison

Hey everybody. First let me say how thankful I am for this thread 🙏🏼 I've already learned a handful of things and hope to learn much more.
I'm Campbell, 21 years old, and I've been dealing with adrenal insufficiency & hypoparathyroidism since I was 8. I've had adrenal crises, hypokalemia, hypocalcemia, hyponatremia crises many times, seizures, and.... you get it. Every day I deal with hives. I've stopped using scented laundry detergent, I avoid preservatives, plasticizers, and other harmful ingredients in my diet. I drink 2-3 liters of water every day, chronic hives happen to me every day, for honestly the last decade.
I accept any questions or concerns why I haven't been to a specific allergist or dermatologist about this, as I should've years ago. I thought I'd consult this beautiful community and see what y'all have to say. Any similarities? Any specific reactions from Addison's disease and things in our daily lives?
Thank you, Campbell
P.S. I'll disclose my daily medications

During my pursuit of studying for NCLEX, i've made a few reads here and there of material what the NCLEX is. To explain to you the concept of NCLEX i will be using kindergarten terms to generally describe how it works (from my point of view since i am mentally a kindergarten)
NCLEX is like a Fruits Basket. It has different type of fruit that we pick up randomly and required to describe what "to do" or "how to handle" that fruit.
In order to pass, you need to correctly answer 4 out of 10 Basic fruit that you pick up. Apple + Banana + Melon + Strawberry = you pass
The problem is you have to answer a minimum of 10 fruit. So even if you answer the 4 basic fruit, you will still need to pick up 6 more in order to comply to the standards of bare minimum. The situation gets trickier and depends on how many fruits you answered correctly. here are possible scenarios:
Answered 4 Fruit correctly:
A. Since you proven competency with the basic content, the Basket will now give you fruits you don't know on questions 6 to 10. To add difficulty, the basket will mix two fruits (e.g Strawberry Mango or Papaya Orange) or change the fruit name to their scientific name instead of Banana, they will use Musa Acuminata. This is done to add level of proficiency to verify if a little deviation will shake your fundamental concepts of proficiency. Let me illustrate this Medically;
You answered correctly on 4 topics: Diabetes + Diuretics + Therapeutic communication + Tracheostomy care. Since you answered correctly you will get the next question with a mixture of a patient taking Diuretics but has Hypokalemia. its testing your concept which safer practice to follow in situations that tackles 2 principles. Patient has diabetes but will be going for surgery, can they stop insulin? do they need to fast? they switch terms that are analogous. instead of saying a patient with Addisons, they will say a patient with Adrenocortal insufficiency. Instead of saying Dumping syndrome, they will say a patient who had bilroth surgery who is complaining of dizziness and abdominal pain.
Another probable chance is since you proven your competency minimally, you will be asked fruits you never heard of or seen. What do you teach a patient eating Hylocereus undatus? it is basically a cactus. why is the fruits basket doing this? because you have passed the bare minimum, it needs to know your critical knowledge in situations you dont know.
What do you teach a patient eating Hylocereus undatus? a. Remove the thorns b. Check if fruit is edible c. Wash it thoroughly D. Consume the stem only
Since we don't know it is a cactus, we will rely on common sense answering this. Which of the following option will not kill me? your guess is the same as mine.
Do i get score on these "hard question fruits"? NO. it just bounces you back on the basic fruits to see if you are also competent on other basic fruit. that is the line you have to maintain. this is the reason why people "feels" like they failed after the exam. They disregard the basic 4 fruit they got right and focusing only on the cactus question nobody knows what it is. I've experience it. this was my theory before i took NCLEX and taking it answered my theories.
Answered half of the fruit correctly
B. You answered 2 fruits correctly but not the other two. You got Apple + Banana correctly but not Melon and Strawberry. Now that the basket knows you don't know Melon and Strawberry, it will GIVE you another chance if you know this fruit. Melon will be intentionally given to you, or Watermelon which is in the same family as Melon to test your concept on the same family subject. Let me illustrate it medically:
You missed the question about Diabetes type 1. You will get a question about DKA. or Insulin. Or Management of Hyperglycemia. The test is adaptive but its giving you chances to prove your knowledge on other aspect of it. Does not mean you got NPH wrong you failed that subject. The basket will give you a chance by asking another topic that falls in that umbrella.
This is why some people feels the exam was easier because they were given easy to distinguish fruits. The basket is adapting to your level of competency with the hope of you still answering correctly so it can mark you as pass. The basket actually wants you to PASS. you just need to distinguish the right amount of fruits.
Since you only answered 2 correct fruits, the Basket will drag more question until its maximum. until you have proven basic knowledge of this fruit. How does this work?
2 concept:
Basic fruits (easy question) gets lets say 1 point. You need 4/10 points on easy fruits to pass. So if you only get 3 right, the basket will extend the 10 to 15 or up to 35. until it determined the 4/10 rule on the easy ones.
Complicated fruits (Hard question) you don't need to get this fruit right. It doesn't even have a ratio for you to pass it since getting it wrong will give you a basic fruit to give you a change. basically, these are fillers. BUT if you do get this right, you accumulate let's say 3 points per correct question.
So you're saying if i get 4 basic fruits correctly in the beginning i already pass? yes and No. the issue here is the minimum number of fruits you need to answer vs the number of fruits correctly answered. since you answered all correct in the first 4, 5 will be a hard question if you get it right you get another hard question which solidifies passing further. if you get the wrong answer you go back to basic fruit on number 6. if you miss number 6, you will be given an easier fruit. it is important to get number 6 correct. this is the reason why we study the whole fruits basket and not just a fruit you love.
Answered 1 fruit correctly out of 4:
This is the situation where people reach the maximum number of NCLEX question 145. the key concept here is the basket is unsure if you know all the fruits BUT is giving you a chance to prove competency on the same subject with different topics. These are the exam experience of people that had easy question but went all the way to 145. remember that the number of questions you answer for the basket does not matter at all. what matter is the basket marked your minimum competency to pass.
So to illustrate, You got banana right but not Melon, strawberry and orange. The basket understands that your level of competency so it will ask similar basic information that you should know for apple, avocado, and ect.
Key points to ease your Anxiety:

1. The Basket wants you to pass, it gives you a chance to pass. don't give up.
2. According to NCSBN the passing rate for 1st time is 80%. Don't listen to the 20% who failed and ranting everywhere that they did their best because surely, we will never measure collectively what they meant with "did their best". only you know yourself that you put your heart into it. only YOU. stop asking for validations. Validate yourself
3. The reason i used fruits is because it is a common knowledge. a lot of the topics i had required common knowledge. even the Hard fruits. and the sole purpose of the hard fruits is to distinguish your ability to make decision in situations you dont know. as a Nurse you don't kill your patient. you all learned that i 1st grade that to kill a person is bad.
4. Anxiety narrows your concept of fruits. but knowing how the exam works can lessen that anxiety. you need to manage the anxiety to fully conceptualize the question on a fruit. Manage your anxiety by all means. Be it cursing or slapping your boyfriend. so be it. MANAGE THE ANXIETY.

Again, these are my personal research. I used to work on research and SEO back in the day before i decided to pursue nursing. I have work in General survey and data collection. and i have used this concept to ease my anxiety for NCLEX.
I hope this is a great help for you. If you feel supporting ( YOU DONT HAVE TO) i accept donation on my paypal: PM ME . i can also guide and tutor you, you may DM me for more details. yes i do charge.
Thanks everyone! and God bless!

Age: 24. Sex: Female. Height: 5'3". Weight: 102 lbs. Race: White Ashkenazi Jew. Location: Atlanta, Georgia.
Current medications: 17g Miralax 3 times a week (started June 29, 2016). 0.2mg fludrocortisone (started 0.1g May 28, 2018; increased November 14, 2018). 120mg diltiazem (started September 26, 2018). 80meq potassium chloride (started 10meq November 15, 2018; increased to 20meq March 12, 2019; increased to 40meq March 10, 2020; increased to 60meq March 9, 2021; increased to 80meq July 8, 2021). 50mg spironolactone (started 25mg July 28, 2021; increased August 23, 2021).
Existing relevant medical issues: dysautonomia/hypotension; Raynaud's; HEDS; chronic constipation since infancy; psoriasis; type I chiari malformation (4-7mm; not peg-shaped, normal CSF flow, no syrinx).
Duration of complaint: Hypokalemia (3.4 nmol/L) first noted May 11, 2018; 3.7 nmol/L Jun 1, 2018; 3.4 nmol/L November 14, 2018; 3.5 nmol/L December 17, 2018; 3.2 nmol/L March 2, 2019; 3.5 nmol/L May 10, 2019; 3.1 nmol/L September 25, 2019 and March 5, 2020; 3.6 nmol/L July 13, 2020 and March 8, 2021; 3.4 nmol/L May 26, 2021: 3.7 nmol/L July 2, 2021; 3.5 nmol/L July 26, 2021; 3.6 nmol/L August 17, 2021.
tl;dr I had mild hypokalemia when I was first tested May 11, 2018, my levels tanked to 3.1 nmol/L at their lowest after going on fludrocortisone, and they rose to at most 3.7 nmol/L with supplements. The level of supplement that I'm on seems to have no effect on the level of my potassium, and I'm up to 80meq a day. 25mg of spironolactone also made no difference. 50mg of spironolactone has caused unwanted side effects, and I'm tired of piling on medications and supplements as well as the frequent bloodwork. Because my potassium is back within a normal range or close to it (3.4 to 3.7 for over a year) and we haven't found any underlying cause, I'm tempted to ask my cardiologist to let me take supplements, check my potassium levels only at appointments, and stop worrying about it. Is that smart, or is it potentially ignoring something serious?
Symptoms: I have occasional muscle cramps but primarily deal with constant fatigue and headaches. I have moderate postural headaches that were helped a lot by the fludrocortisone but are still pretty bad when I first get up in the mornings. Unfortunately, the spironolactone is countering the benefits of the fludrocortisone, and I've started having grey-outs again and increased nausea. Additionally, the spironolactone wrecked my menstrual cycle. (I started my period the day after increasing my dose despite being halfway through my cycle.) I'd really like to go off of it.
Other tests: My blood pressure is generally low, hence the fludrocortisone. I had a normal echocardiogram June 15, 2018. I get yearly ECGs but only saw the actual interpretation for the most recent one, on March 8, 2021. It mentioned sinus bradycardia and inverted T-waves but no significant change since my last ECG. I have a copy of my ECG from September 8, 2017; to me, it looks like V1 had a T-wave inversion then as well but that the T-wave inversions on V2 and V3 are newer, but I'm NAD and can't say for sure if that's right or if it means anything.
Other routine bloodwork is normal, including sodium, BUN, creatinine, and TSH. Magnesium was 2.0 mg/Dl on July 13, 2020 and May 26, 2021. My thyroid was last thoroughly checked May 11, 2018 and was healthy. My iron was borderline low September 25, 2019 (50 mcg/dL), but vitamin B12 was fine, as was my CBC. I've had many autoimmune tests and been normal on all of them, including tests for Addison's, scleroderma, systemic sclerosis, Sjögren’s, SLE, MCTD, and celiac.
I had an ACHT stimulation test on June 1, 2018. At 8:12am, my cortisol was 14.9 mcg/dL on one test and 14.1 mcg/dL on another. At 9:25am (30 min after stimulation), it was 16.9 mcg/dL. At 9:55, it was 18.8 mcg/dL. My endocrinologist said this was borderline (though I realize the guidelines have since changed) but that it wasn't worth repeating the test for another few years. Other bloodwork was normal; ACHT was 25 pg/mL, dhea sulfate was 151 mcg/dL, and aldosterone was 7.6 ng/dL. November 14, 2018, renin activity was 2.3 ng/mL/hr and aldosterone was <3.0 ng/dL.
Other: I don't drink, smoke, or use any recreational substances, and I'm current on all vaccines. To my knowledge, I've avoided having COVID. I see a cardiologist every 6 months (and am due for another appointment next month), saw an endocrinologist most recently March 10, 2020, and saw my obgyn within the last month. I had an MRI in early July to check up on the malformation first noted when I was 16, but I'm still waiting to talk to the neurologist.
I primarily want to know what's going on with my body because my doctors don't seem to know where to go from here. I also want to know how worried about this I should be. Because my potassium levels are technically normal range or close to it now, does it really make sense to keep trying so many things? I'd really like to just take supplements and not worry about trying anything else. This has dragged on for so long that I'm getting burnt out on the entire process. My cardiologist seems to be taking it pretty seriously though, so should I try whatever medication is next in line? Should I be pushing for more tests and answers? Is it possible my body is just like this as a normal variation?
Thank you for your time.

Age: 24. Sex: Female. Height: 5'3". Weight: 102 lbs. Race: White Ashkenazi Jew. Location: Atlanta, Georgia.
Current medications: 17g Miralax 3 times a week (started June 29, 2016). 0.2mg fludrocortisone (started 0.1g May 28, 2018; increased November 14, 2018). 120mg diltiazem (started September 26, 2018). 80meq potassium chloride (started 10meq November 15, 2018; increased to 20meq March 12, 2019; increased to 40meq March 10, 2020; increased to 60meq March 9, 2021; increased to 80meq July 8, 2021). 50mg spironolactone (started 25mg July 28, 2021; increased August 23, 2021).
Existing relevant medical issues: dysautonomia/hypotension; Raynaud's; HEDS; chronic constipation since infancy; psoriasis; type I chiari malformation (4-7mm; not peg-shaped, normal CSF flow, no syrinx).
Duration of complaint: Hypokalemia (3.4 nmol/L) first noted May 11, 2018; 3.7 nmol/L Jun 1, 2018; 3.4 nmol/L November 14, 2018; 3.5 nmol/L December 17, 2018; 3.2 nmol/L March 2, 2019; 3.5 nmol/L May 10, 2019; 3.1 nmol/L September 25, 2019 and March 5, 2020; 3.6 nmol/L July 13, 2020 and March 8, 2021; 3.4 nmol/L May 26, 2021: 3.7 nmol/L July 2, 2021; 3.5 nmol/L July 26, 2021; 3.6 nmol/L August 17, 2021.
tl;dr I had mild hypokalemia when I was first tested May 11, 2018, my levels tanked to 3.1 nmol/L at their lowest after going on fludrocortisone, and they rose to at most 3.7 nmol/L with supplements. The level of supplement that I'm on seems to have no effect on the level of my potassium, and I'm up to 80meq a day. 25mg of spironolactone also made no difference. 50mg of spironolactone has caused unwanted side effects, and I'm tired of piling on medications and supplements as well as the frequent bloodwork. Because my potassium is back within a normal range or close to it (3.4 to 3.7 for over a year) and we haven't found any underlying cause, I'm tempted to ask my cardiologist to let me take supplements, check my potassium levels only at appointments, and stop worrying about it. Is that smart, or is it potentially ignoring something serious?
Symptoms: I have occasional muscle cramps but primarily deal with constant fatigue and headaches. I have moderate postural headaches that were helped a lot by the fludrocortisone but are still pretty bad when I first get up in the mornings. Unfortunately, the spironolactone is countering the benefits of the fludrocortisone, and I've started having grey-outs again and increased nausea. Additionally, the spironolactone wrecked my menstrual cycle. (I started my period the day after increasing my dose despite being halfway through my cycle.) I'd really like to go off of it.
Other tests: My blood pressure is generally low, hence the fludrocortisone. I had a normal echocardiogram June 15, 2018. I get yearly ECGs but only saw the actual interpretation for the most recent one, on March 8, 2021. It mentioned sinus bradycardia and inverted T-waves but no significant change since my last ECG. I have a copy of my ECG from September 8, 2017; to me, it looks like V1 had a T-wave inversion then as well but that the T-wave inversions on V2 and V3 are newer, but I'm NAD and can't say for sure if that's right or if it means anything.
Other routine bloodwork is normal, including sodium, BUN, creatinine, and TSH. Magnesium was 2.0 mg/Dl on July 13, 2020 and May 26, 2021. My thyroid was last thoroughly checked May 11, 2018 and was healthy. My iron was borderline low September 25, 2019 (50 mcg/dL), but vitamin B12 was fine, as was my CBC. I've had many autoimmune tests and been normal on all of them, including tests for Addison's, scleroderma, systemic sclerosis, Sjögren’s, SLE, MCTD, and celiac.
I had an ACHT stimulation test on June 1, 2018. At 8:12am, my cortisol was 14.9 mcg/dL on one test and 14.1 mcg/dL on another. At 9:25am (30 min after stimulation), it was 16.9 mcg/dL. At 9:55, it was 18.8 mcg/dL. My endocrinologist said this was borderline (though I realize the guidelines have since changed) but that it wasn't worth repeating the test for another few years. Other bloodwork was normal; ACHT was 25 pg/mL, dhea sulfate was 151 mcg/dL, and aldosterone was 7.6 ng/dL. November 14, 2018, renin activity was 2.3 ng/mL/hr and aldosterone was <3.0 ng/dL.
Other: I don't drink, smoke, or use any recreational substances, and I'm current on all vaccines. To my knowledge, I've avoided having COVID. I see a cardiologist every 6 months (and am due for another appointment next month), saw an endocrinologist most recently March 10, 2020, and saw my obgyn within the last month. I had an MRI in early July to check up on the malformation first noted when I was 16, but I'm still waiting to talk to the neurologist.
I primarily want to know what's going on with my body because my doctors don't seem to know where to go from here. I also want to know how worried about this I should be. Because my potassium levels are technically normal range or close to it now, does it really make sense to keep trying so many things? I'd really like to just take supplements and not worry about trying anything else. This has dragged on for so long that I'm getting burnt out on the entire process. My cardiologist seems to be taking it pretty seriously though, so should I try whatever medication is next in line? Should I be pushing for more tests and answers? Is it possible my body is just like this as a normal variation?
Thank you for your time.

Biotin deficiency:

• Hair loss (alopecia)
• Conjunctivitis
• Dermatitis in the form of a scaly, red rash around the eyes, nose, mouth, and genital area.
• Neurological symptoms in adults, such as depression, lethargy, hallucination, and numbness and tingling of the extremities

Calcium deficiency:

• Tetany - One of the first signs of a deficiency is a nervous affliction called Tetany, which is characterised by muscle cramps, numbness and tingling in the arms and legs.
• Osteoporosis - Another calcium deficiency ailment is Osteoporosis, in which the bones become porous and fragile because calcium is withdrawn from the bones and other areas faster than it is deposited in them.
• Other symptoms - Cramps, Joint pains, Heart palpitations, Increased cholesterol levels, Slow pulse rates, Insomnia, Impaired growth, Excessive irritability or nerves, Brittle nails, Eczema, Numbness or tingling of the arms and/or legs.

Chloride deficiency:

• heavy sweating, as large amounts of sodium and chloride can be lost in perspiration
• excessive fluid loss due to prolonged diarrhea or vomiting, or overuse of coffee or laxatives or diuretics
• over-hydration
• burns
• congestive heart failure
• certain kidney disorders
• Addison's disease
• most often seen in infants on chloride-deficient formulae

Chromium deficiency:

• severely impaired glucose tolerance
• a loss of weight
• confusion
• nerve damage

Copper deficiency:

• anemia
• neutropenia
• thrombocytopenia

Iodine deficiency:

• hypothyroidism, symptoms of which are extreme fatigue, goiter, mental slowing, depression, weight gain, and low basal body temperatures
• leading cause of preventable mental retardation
• iodine may also help prevent diseases of the oral and salivary glands

Iron deficiency:

• fatigue
• dizziness
• pallor
• hair loss
• Twitches
• irritability
• weakness
• pica
• brittle or grooved nails
• Plummer-Vinson syndrome: painful atrophy of the mucous membrane covering the tongue, the pharynx and the esophagus
• impaired immune function[1]
• pagophagia
• restless legs syndrome[2]

Magnesium deficiency:

• hyperexcitability, dizziness, muscle cramps, muscle weakness and fatigue.
• Severe magnesium deficiency can cause hypocalcemia, low serum potassium levels (hypokalemia), retention of sodium, low circulating levels of parathyroid hormone (PTH), neurological and muscular symptoms (tremor, muscle spasms, tetany), loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, personality changes and death from heart failure
• Magnesium plays an important role in carbohydrate metabolism and its deficiency may worsen insulin resistance, a condition that often precedes diabetes, or may be a consequence of insulin resistance.[4] Deficiency * irregular heart beat.

Manganese deficiency:

• skeletal deformation in animals
• inhibits the production of collagen in wound healing

Molybdenum deficiency:

• can disrupt certain enzymes involved in these processes and cause buildup of unnecessary products
• Laboratory tests may show an unusually low level of uric acid concentration.
• the first symptoms of Molybdenum deficiency are most often related to malfunction of the liver - jaundice, nausea, and fatigue Potassium deficiency:
• Weakness, tiredness, or cramping in arm or leg muscles, sometimes severe enough to cause inability to move arms or legs due to weakness (much like a paralysis)
• Tingling or numbness
• Nausea or vomiting
• Abdominal cramping, bloating
• Constipation
• Palpitations (feeling your heart beat irregularly)
• Passing large amounts of urine or feeling very thirsty most of the time
• Fainting due to low blood pressure
• Abnormal psychological behavior: depression, psychosis, delirium, confusion, or hallucinations.

Phosphorus deficiency:

• week bones or teeth
• joint pain and stiffness
• less energy
• lack of appetite

Selenium deficiency:

• general fatigue
• hypothyroidism
• mental fatigue
• reproductive disorders

Sodium deficiency:

• nausea and vomiting, headache, confusion, lethargy, fatigue, appetite loss, restlessness and irritability, muscle weakness, spasms, or cramps, seizures, and decreased consciousness or coma
• associated with many medical illnesses, such as congestive heart failure, liver failure, renal failure, or pneumonia

Vitamin A deficiency:

• poor dim light vision, poor hair and skin quality, and muscle fatigue
• short term deficiency ca lead to increased instances of upper respiratory infections
• many long-term, irreversible symptoms of vitamin A deficiency that can occur, especially in underdeveloped countries, are blindness, and improper muscular development in children
• damage to the respiratory tract and lungs

Vitamin B1 (Thiamine) deficiency:

• symptoms are similar to those of congestive heart failure
• difficulty breathing with exercise or exertion or when lying down, and swelling in the legs.
• dry beriberi, symptoms include weakness or paralysis of muscles or limbs, changes in thinking, difficulty sensing vibration, and other nervous system symptoms.

Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin) deficiency:

• cracked and red lips, inflammation of the lining of mouth and tongue, mouth ulcers, cracks at the corners of the mouth (angular cheilitis), and a sore throat.
• dry and scaling skin, fluid in the mucous membranes, and iron-deficiency anemia
• The eyes may also become bloodshot, itchy, watery and sensitive to bright light

Vitamin B3 (Niacin) deficiency:

• causes the disease pellagra, which is characterized by diarrhea, dermatitis, and dementia, as well as “Casal's necklace” lesions on the lower neck, hyperpigmentation, thickening of the skin, inflammation of the mouth and tongue, digestive disturbances, amnesia, delirium, and eventually death, if left untreated.
• Common psychiatric symptoms of niacin deficiency include irritability, poor concentration, anxiety, fatigue, restlessness, apathy, and depression

Vitamin B5 (Panthothenic Acid) deficiency:

• fatigue and apathy
• numbness and cramps
• hypoglyemia
• excessive stress
• insomia
• rheumatoid arthritis
• poor blood profile

Vitamin B6 deficiency:

• inflammation of the skin
• sore tongue
• depression
• cognitive problems and eventually convulsions

Vitamin B9 (folic acid) deficiency:

• Loss of appetite, and weight loss can occur. Additional signs are weakness, sore tongue, headaches, heart palpitations, irritability, and behavioral disorders.
• In adults, anemia (macrocytic, megaloblastic anemia) can be a sign of advanced folate deficiency
• In infants and children, folate deficiency can slow growth rate. Women with folate deficiency who become pregnant are more likely to give birth to low birth weight and premature infants, and infants with neural tube defects Vitamin B12 deficiency: *weakness, tiredness or light-headedness *rapid heartbeat and breathing *pale skin *sore tongue *easy bruising or bleeding, including bleeding gums *stomach upset and weight loss *diarrhea or constipation *If the deficiency is not corrected, it can damage the nerve cells. If this happens, vitamin B12 deficiency effects may include: tingling or numbness in fingers and toes, difficulty walking, mood changes or depression, memory loss, disorientation, and dementia

Vitamin C deficiency:

• Chronic low energy, strength, and/or depression. Even bone strength is affected. Since acidosis and scurvy are similar, the classic acidosis symptom of wasting away becomes evident while losing weight.
• Bleeding gums, loose teeth, or gingivitis. This is an obvious and easy to notice sign that the collagen needed for building and maintaining tissue is deteriorating. Vitamin C is vital for collagen.
• Rapid mood changes, short tempers, and irritability can be an early sign of scurvy. Add more vitamin C to your diet or look into other possibilities before seeking pharmaceutical interventions.
• Bruises that occur easily, and often linger may be an indication of vitamin C deficiency. Low healing of minor wounds and dryer hair may also point to inadequate vitamin C levels.
• Chronic limb or joint pain is another sign for you to check into low vitamin C as a missing nutrient. Sometimes scurvy gets to a point where bleeding occurs within joints, causing severe pain.
• Anemia is another sign of possible vitamin C deficiency. If you seem to catch every cold or flu that comes your way, maybe more vitamin C will help elevate your immune system.

Vitamin D deficiency:

• rickets
• Increased risk of death from cardiovascular disease
• Cognitive impairment in older adults
• Severe asthma in children
• Cancer

Vitamin E deficiency:

• neuromuscular problems such as spinocerebellar ataxia and myopathies
• Other neurological signs may include dysarthria, absence of deep tendon reflexes, loss of vibratory sensation and proprioception, and positive Babinski sign
• Deficiency can also cause anemia due to oxidative damage to red blood cells,[1] retinopathy[2][3][4] and impairment of the immune response

Vitamin K deficiency:

• Newborns are especially prone to vitamin K deficiency. As a result, a form of vitamin K deficiency, called hemorrhagic disease of the newborn, may develop. This disease involves spontaneous bleeding beneath the skin or elsewhere in the infant's body, and occurs in about 1% of all infants. In rare cases, it causes death due to spontaneous bleeding in the brain.
• Vitamin K deficiency in adults is rare. When it occurs, it is found in people with diseases that prevent the absorption of fat. These diseases include cystic fibrosis, celiac disease, and cholestasis. Vitamin K deficiency can exist in adults treated with antibiotics that kill the bacteria that normally live in the digestive tract. As mentioned, the intestine-bacteria supply part of our daily requirement of vitamin K. Vitamin K deficiency can result in bleeding gums, and in skin that is easily bruised.
• Chronically low levels of vitamin K are correlated with higher risk of hip fracture in older men and women

Zinc deficiency:

• Compromised immune system: Zinc affects cell activities. Zinc deficiency can cause reduced or weakened antibodies and compromise the immune system. Thus the deficient person will be prone to infection or flu.
• Diarrhea
• Hair loss and skin lesions
• Loss of appetite and/or anorexia
• Impairment of cognitive and motor functions
• Other signs of zinc deficiency are reduced fertility, rashes on the skin, spots on fingernails, sleep disturbance, loss of sex drive, loss of taste or smell, and ­ in some cases ­ mild anemia.