Low Sodium Levels? What it Means?

[ugadog99]

My mom is being admitted to the hospital for low sodium levels. Some background: She has multiple health issues including high blood pressure. In the last two weeks, the doctor has been very concerned about high her pressure was. Yesterday it was better, but they wanted blood work done. She went in this morning for the blood work, they called her back this afternoon, and want her to go to the hospital. Apparently, they wanted to make sure someone took her because they didn't want her driving. After 2 freaking hours, she is finally "ready" to go to the hospital. My dad (bless his heart he really did divorce her) is taking her. I live about 40 minutes away, so I'm getting all this info second hand. I know when she told me about the high blood pressure she became totally obsessed with her sodium intake. Could the very low sodium intake for a week have caused her levels to drop? Also, what are the long term effects of this? Dangers? I can't rely on her to give me any information because she gets everything so confused.

On a different note, my dad and I have both noticed how she doesn't seem "quite right" and hasn't for the last 6 months. My dad calls it a "brain thing", but I'm not sure what it is. She forgets things, has trouble following what we are telling her, and her OCD type behavior has gotten MUCH worse. Now, I'm wondering if all the chemical imbalance stuff could be a part of this. Any ideas?

Thanks so much!

 

[Disney Doll]

Nurse here...

Limiting sodium intake along with medications often given for high blood pressure can cause a drop in sodium levels and that can cause behavioral changes. The behaviors you describe can be, in part, caused by low sodium levels.

While she is hospitalized, I would make someone knows about the change in mentation so that perhaps they could do a CT Scan of the head to rule out any other issues such as tumor, aneuryms etc., which could also cause mental status changes.

 

[lsyorke]

One of the most common causes of low sodium is fluid retention(things get to diluted) Low sodium can cause confusion and even psychosis....which is rapidly cleared when the sodium comes back to normal range

 

[ugadog99]

Thanks so much. I'll make sure they check on these mental changes we have noticed. There is definitely something going on.

 

[PADISFAM]

long term wise- after she is discharged from the hosp she will probably need routine blood work. If the sodium fails to come up & various urine studies are abnormal - her doc may diagnosis her w/ SIADH - Syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone--this is an interference with renal excretion of water and results in production of concentrated urine and hyponatremia. If that is the case she will need to watch her fluid intake & may be put on a medication- and again would need routine blood tests. I hope she feels better, I hope the behavioral concerns end with her sodium returning to normal.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Hyponatremia

Could the very low sodium intake for a week have caused her levels to drop?

It would be very difficult on a typical American diet to go too low on sodium.

It sounds like she may need a complete "geriatric" work up to determine the cause of her behavioral changes.

Best wishes.

 

[CrazedDisFan]

I know nothing about low sodium, but I wanted to wish you the best with your mom. I know how hard ahaving a sick mom can be. Best of luck.

 

[Michelle67]

I just wanted to say best wishes too.

 

[ugadog99]

Thanks for all the advice and encouragement. The biggest problem we have is getting her to listen to anyone. She is convinced she knows it all. My poor dad finally left her about 9 last night because he just couldn't take it anymore. I talked to her several times, but again, she just isn't listening to any of our concerns. My brother in his infinite wisdom is just dismissing the mental changes. She has never been the most "normal" person mentally, so he is just not listening to me. Only my dad and I seem to have noticed those changes.