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Chronic hyponatremia
Anyone else have chronic hyponatremia? I'm a 62 year old male on meds for hypertensiona and high cholesterol and prone to anxiety and depression. My sodium numbers have been low for a couple of decades now, most often just below normal at around 131 or 132, but as low as 127 (and once 124 due to a specific medication).
Different doctors reacted differently when they saw those numbers. Some basically ignoring it since I told them its always low, others expressing more concern. (I've never had any obvious symptoms.) My total fluid intake, including coffee, soda, protein shake, etc, and water is around 124 oz a day. I often feel thirsty, so 64 oz of that total intake is water.
Last week during a visit to a kidney guy, partly due to curiosity about this issue and some high blood pressure issues, my sodium level was 128 (down from 131 the month before at another doctor.) He wants to restrict my fluid intake to 1 liter a day, which I said was basically impossible, but that I would do what I could -- likely reduce from 124 oz a day to perhaps 80 oz total and half my straight water intake -- and see if that moves the needle and we'll retest on Wednesday.
Thoughts, anyone?
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Have him tested to see what is causing the low sodium. My husbands doctors were only treating the Hyponatremia, did not do any tests to find out what was causing it. By accident ( mid April), they found out that he had Small Cell Carcinoma). He tripped and fell on his way to the ER. They did an XRay of his shoulder and part of his chest. Found a lump. Did a biopsy, and found the lung cancer. He had not smoked in over 50 years. We were all set to do chemo. He started feeling bad again, thinking his sodium levels were low so went to the ER, they did more tests and found the cancer had progressed to his liver. He was gone within 5 days.
I am 73 yr old female who has had 5 episodes of hyponatremia in 4 years. After seeing nephrology who gave me a clean bill of health and an Endocronologist who also said she had no explanation I am currently having another episode and it is so frustrating. Limiting fluids to 2 liters per day and drinking electrolytes daily and my symptoms persist.
When my sodium drops I become nauseous, my B/P sky rockets and my leg muscles contract non stop.
No one has any answers other than limit your fluids. It’s an awful way to feel with no resolve. Comes out of nowhere but the symptoms are exactly the same every time. Any feedback would be appreciated
Well I have never had symptoms, but I’ve always had sodium that’s a little low. I could only limit my liquids so much without being miserable, so they prescribed salt tablets and taking two of those a day have taken me into the normal zone for the first time in many many years. Plus I continue to drink plenty of liquids. So maybe you could ask for salt tablets as well and see if that helps?
In my aged father's case, and he learned his elder sister was the same, they take salt in a glass of water. My father drinks water like a fish....all day...meaning he flushes out many elements, including sodium if the kidneys can't quite keep up. So, he was advised to take a pinch of salt in all of his water. He doesn't really like it as it tastes weird, brackish, but it keeps him out of hospital. As an old man who fell badly three times last summer, once breaking a vertebra, we convinced his GP, who actually came to his apartment to check on him, to order a test every two months to ensure he wasn't slipping, or going the other way...to much. It has been nine months now and he feels fine, no symptoms (enough to feel awful, bad enough to ask to be taken to the ER).
This time of year, as an outdoorsy guy who gardens, often in the noonday sun, I sweat a lot. I also go for aggressive long walks in the afternoon, no matter the season. This means my hat and clothing look crusty when I return. So, I eat some chease, salt my coffee some, and generally make sure I don't go wanting. I had that happen as a teenager working in the summer heat cutting jackpines (lodgepole) at a mine where they did blasting in an open pit. They needed stoppers for the tops of the holes into which prilled (correct spelling) ammonium nitrate was poured to make the explosion, and those were always a short length of jackpine, which grew all over the place in vast numbers. That summer, I was the lucky sod who got to cut them, peel them, and stack them. I drank a lot of water from a sweating canvas bag (the evaporated 'loss' out the sides of the bag kept the contents cool). It only took a few days and I began to feel terrible. Cramps, nausea, lack of motivation (to return to the job). I saw a doctor who diagnosed lack of salt. Didn't even need a blood or urine test.
My sodium test result is 29
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1 ReactionI have chronic low blood sodium. My base is 131 and I've been hospitalized a few times when it has gone down to 124 or 126. I was finally diagnosed with hyponatremia caused by SIADH.
I am now taking Ure-Na which has kept my sodium at 132 but makes me very sick to my stomach.
I take it with baking soda and a ginger tablet but nothing helps. Anyone else taking Ure-Na and able to manage the digestive side effects? Thanks.
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2 ReactionsIs that a prescription salt medication? I’ve not heard of it but would like to know more
It's not a perscription per se, it's considered "medical food" and my kidney doctor told me to start taking it. It's supposed to be taken under a doctor's supervision. It comes in packets that you add water to.
It helps control how much sodium leaves my body thru my urine. I really don't know much more than that. Sorry
How about trying the sodium chloride I've been taking? Doesn't bother my stomach or antyhing else, and helped get me from 131 or so to 135-ish
Thanks. I do put extra salt and eat saltier foods but I am also on medication for high blood pressure.