Blood Test Came Back

[justjane]

I had a blood test about a month ago from my regular physician. He checked me for all the standards: electrolytes, auto-immune disorders, kidneys and liver. The test came back and said that I had low sodium. My Dr. told me to wait two weeks and get another blood test and in the meantime I was supposed to eat more sodium.

This seems sooo weird to me! I never intentionally cut out sodium from my diet but it seems like my body isn't absorbing it like it should. After google-ing low sodium I found out that there are some serious side-effects to having low sodium including dehydration and fatigue.

Anyway, I was sick with a sinus infection when I was supposed to have the second blood test done. I wasn't well enough to get my blood taken at that time. Now it's time for me to get the blood test again and I am wondering if it is really necessary, or is this doctor just a little *too* concerned?

Tell me what you think -

Jane

[penguin]

My mom has low sodium, resulting mostly in low blood pressure. She was hospitalized once and was made to drink tons of tomato juice and eat saltine crackers, etc. etc. She thinks everything tastes salty, even if it's not.

I'd get tested again, low blood minerals are nothing to mess around with...

[mamaw]

I was with a no sodium reading about 6 months ago. I drink tons of water or was -- the doctor told me to cut back as it was washing everything out of me. I'm now at 127 sodium so its gettin better!!I was very tired and felt weird too when it was low.........

mamaw

[trents]

I was with a no sodium reading about 6 months ago. I drink tons of water or was -- the doctor told me to cut back as it was washing everything out of me. I'm now at 127 sodium so its gettin better!!I was very tired and felt weird too when it was low.........

mamaw

What was it at its low point? 127 is quite low as it is! As someone else pointed out, low sodium is not something to take lightly. It can cause cardiac arythmias, among other things.

I have a concern about the emphasis being placed on drinking so much water these days. We get lots of water just in our food and when you throw in the "8 8oz. glasses" of water recommended on top of that that may be too much fluid for a lot of people, esp. those who are light eaters or who don't sweat a lot or exercise vigorously and regularly. Most of us should just pay attention to our thirst to know when we need to drink. That's what God gave it to us for. Yea, sure, some people's thirst mechanism doesn't work like it should (esp. the elderly) but that is an exception. In our preoccupation with "washing away all those toxins" we may be washing away minerals that or bodies need, i.e., throwing the baby away with the bath water.

Steve

[eKatherine]

What was it at its low point? 127 is quite low as it is! As someone else pointed out, low sodium is not something to take lightly. It can cause cardiac arythmias, among other things.

I have a concern about the emphasis being placed on drinking so much water these days. We get lots of water just in our food and when you throw in the "8 8oz. glasses" of water recommended on top of that that may be too much fluid for a lot of people, esp. those who are light eaters or who don't sweat a lot or exercise vigorously and regularly. Most of us should just pay attention to our thirst to know when we need to drink. That's what God gave it to us for. Yea, sure, some people's thirst mechanism doesn't work like it should (esp. the elderly) but that is an exception. In our preoccupation with "washing away all those toxins" we may be washing away minerals that or bodies need, i.e., throwing the baby away with the bath water.

Steve

I think the problem is not that they are pushing us to drink 8 glasses of water a day, something they have done for generations. The problem is that nobody actually measures the water they drink. The fact that it is fashionable to have bottled water with you at all times can mean it is much more likely to drink more than that half-gallon a day. Then, we are bombarded with the message that all people should be on a salt-free diet at all times, as if somehow having non-susceptible people eat no salt will bring down the average and benefit those susceptible to excess salt but still eating it.

[trents]

I think the problem is not that they are pushing us to drink 8 glasses of water a day, something they have done for generations. The problem is that nobody actually measures the water they drink. The fact that it is fashionable to have bottled water with you at all times can mean it is much more likely to drink more than that half-gallon a day. Then, we are bombarded with the message that all people should be on a salt-free diet at all times, as if somehow having non-susceptible people eat no salt will bring down the average and benefit those susceptible to excess salt but still eating it.

Amen! You said it better.

Steve