Hello Loosie,
potassium is one of the "macro" minerals along with calcium, magnesium, phosphorous, sodium, and Iron.
If your symptoms are concomitant with potassium deficiency ((hypokalemia)then your pre-fast diet will have been inadequate, which means you are essentially malnourished.

The symptoms of Potassium deficiency include: weakness, lack of energy, muscle cramps, stomach disturbances, an irregular heartbeat, and an abnormal EKG (electrocardiogram).
Potassium deficiency will also increase acid levels in the body, lowering the natural pH, which will have far reaching effects. Lack of potassium can also aggravate problems caused by lack of protein. Potassium deficiency can cause problems with the formation of connective tissue, and can make normally strong body tissue vulnerable to all kinds of problems.
A deficiency of potassium (hypokalemia) can also occur in people with chronic disease or as a result of the aging process. The most common problems associated with reduced potassium levels are hypertension, congestive heart failure, cardiac arrhythmias, depression, and fatigue.

I think you have to take into account the overall symptom-complex that you are experiencing and not just "leg pains" as a starting point.
It may also be wise to have a a full body mineral analysis before undertaking another fast, to establish if this is the true cause. If so, then you will need to improve your pre-fast diet for a month or two before undertaking another fast.

Leg pains in isolation, tell me that this is NOT potassium deficiency.

I also find it hard to believe that you are potassium deficient, as this mineral is abundant in many foodstuffs, unless you have a mal-absorption problem.

Regards

Chrisb1.

Potassium deficiency is not a normal symptom of fasting, any more than any other deficiency is. Ketones are excreted through the urine in every faster and this does not happen to all of us I assure you. Your symptom is a rare occurrance during a fast and I think you'll have to look beyond potassium deficiency to find the real reason. As a rule deficiencies are 'healed' through fasting rather than made worse, because the nutrients are usually there just not accessable while we follow the diet/lifestyle of choice which stops the body functioning at it's fully capacity.

However there are some pre-existing conditions that can become worse and need medical advice and/or supervision for while fasting. Yours may be one of these. Try this url for a list of fasting retreats around the world, also there is a page there that lists fasting supervisors offering consults via phone or the internet:


http://fastingconnection.com/fastingretreats/


Good luck.

Andrew.

Loosie,

Have you found an answer to your leg pain during a water only fast? I had the exact same thing happen with a water only fast . On the 5th day I had to stop the fast and I am perplexed as to why. I spoke to a naturopath yesterday and she thinks maybe potassium and magnesium deficiency. I may spend the money to find the cause.

Loosie !
I have done 5-day fasts 3 times.Lemon water and black coffee only, initially. The only real problem was after my first fast, after refeeding.
I ate too much in one go and got stomach pains in the night. Next time I started drinking bone broth last day, time after during last two days. One mug 4th day and two last day. Now I am aware that it is good to increase magnesium before and take some during fasts Most is recycled but some is used up. I take half 400 mg Magnesium oxide twice a day, with coffee, as it depletes magnesium. Now from the third day, I take a cup of chicken broth with unrefined Sea Salt added. Did have stretches in calves before I supplemented with magnesium and also took Epsom Salt baths. That took all leg pains away completely and it also increased my exercise tolerance.
I also take one small potassium tablet a day when fasting but I don't know if any effects. I am fasting now and my blood glucose is around 3.25 today and yesterday. I have lots of energy all the time after now 3 days, 72 hours, fasting. Hence ketones for sure, else I would have no energy.