Warning to Others - Drinking Too Much Water Can Be Deadly and this is real.

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  • GottaBurnEmAll
    GottaBurnEmAll Posts: 7,722 Member
    Scary OP!

    I have chronic low-level hyponatremia as a side effect of a medication I'm on.

    I handle it by liberally salting my food and adding Propel packets to my water. Unfortunately, I do drink a lot of water because another side effect of the same medication is chronic dry throat/mouth. I try to keep it reasonable so I don't make my sodium levels too low.

    Thanks for the reminder, I hope more people see it.

  • marymickaela
    marymickaela Posts: 190 Member
    GottaBurnEmAll wrote: »
    Scary OP!

    I have chronic low-level hyponatremia as a side effect of a medication I'm on.

    I handle it by liberally salting my food and adding Propel packets to my water. Unfortunately, I do drink a lot of water because another side effect of the same medication is chronic dry throat/mouth. I try to keep it reasonable so I don't make my sodium levels too low.

    Thanks for the reminder, I hope more people see it.

    Can I ask what med you're on. Trileptal was part of my problem. My eyesight has significantly cleared up after months of being unable to see the TV Menu and looking at possibly 2 eye surgeries. Very scary! Do you have memory problems, trouble walking and/or other issues with the low sodium problem? How low did yours get if you don't mind my asking? Mine was 124. Now at 134, but I'm being told that's ok. However, see the kidney specialist in 3 days so will see what he has to say.
  • marymickaela
    marymickaela Posts: 190 Member
    So said I've give you an update if anything changed. Had my kidney specialist appt yesterday and psych appt today. After discussing the med issue he said he felt ok keeping my Trileptal at 900mg as long as I watched my water intake. Must keep it at 50oz and if labs came back normal could increase it to 70oz daily max. Although most people could drink large amounts of water, I COULDN'T! My moods have been much more stable this week so discussed it with psych doc today. Problem is. the Trileptal has been the best med/with the least side effects I've been on (have been on so many) so we have to weigh the risks versus the benefits. Agreed to keep it at 900mg and monitor sodium and side effects.

    Well I checked my portal when I got back home today and found my sodium came back at 123 which according to my ICU nurse is Critical. I got no call from the nephrologist and the office was closed for the day. So looks like I'm at 50oz for now, no driving and my daughter said she felt I could hold my 3mo old granddaughter as long as I am sitting.

    Very frustrating to say the least. I just don't get why I'm having this problem as I haven't gone super crazy with the water this week. More then 50oz, but not crazy. H measured my YETI cup and it is only 30oz, which is all I've had today. Although my d said I need to also count the 8oz of milk and frozen blueberries I used to make my protein drink this morning as a liquid. Getting too close to seizures and it's scary. Guess this is why I've been having raging headaches the last few days.
  • orangegato
    orangegato Posts: 6,572 Member
    Many people with chronic hyponatremia find it difficult to restrict fluids (often instructed to only take 32 oz). So they get prescribed salt tablets that they take daily. Might want to ask about that.
  • marymickaela
    marymickaela Posts: 190 Member
    Not sure about salt tablets, but kidney specialist said if I increased salt intake it would make me thirsty so not to do that.

    This is a little off that, but I was supposed to see a kidney spec anyway due to hematuria in my urine. I told him after restricting water hematuria wasn't showing up on his tests, but when I increased fluids it did. Sure enough labs came back moderate hematuria. He was baffled yesterday why drinking more would cause this and his only thought was I might have microscopic kidney stones which wouldn't even show up on CAT-Scans. However, this has been going on almost 2 yrs with no resolution and it's shown up in the past without increasing fluids. Just not with this dr so I was glad it did so he could see it wasn't all my imagination. Of course he had all my urologist's reports to prove it also. LOL!!
  • orangegato
    orangegato Posts: 6,572 Member
    Yes salt tabs will make you thirsty. But, if sodium is still low despite fluid restrictions and the Trileptal dose isn't being lowered, the docs may have to turn to salt tabs to raise the sodium. Have you called the on call doctor for the psych - sounds like they are the ones monitoring the sodium - to ask if you need to do anything about the Na = 123?
  • marymickaela
    marymickaela Posts: 190 Member
    The kidney doc is supposed to be monitoring the sodium I guess. I did call the office, but the dr and nurse were gone for the day. Can't call psych doc unless Emergency and he has no on call dr. I'm so pissed at my H right now. He just made a comment "you just like going to doctors." I went off on him "Oh, that's right, I went for my annual physical and my sodium came back low where they're freaking out, now I'm see a kidney spec who's lecturing me, plus a psych dr concerned about my meds and you were very concerned a week ago, and it's all because I love going to dr's." Stormed out of the room, then got my purse and took off for store. Screw you!!! WTF??? At this moment, I'm NOT speaking to him.

    Sorry, off topic, but still pissed!!!
  • orangegato
    orangegato Posts: 6,572 Member
    Sorry that H isn't more understanding.
    I thought that all docs had on call coverage after hours? Not good that no one got back to you about the sodium level on a Friday....
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