"Pass the Salt" Hyponatremia

ratface
ratface Member Posts: 1,337 Member
in Head and Neck Cancer #1
Just an FYI about a possible condition we may be prone to because of our eating issues.

CURE-Cancer Updates, Research, Education, Vol. 10 No.2/2011 summer issue page 22.
Author- Teresa Mcusic


"Hyponatremia is a condition that results in an imbalance of the ratio of water to salt in body fluids...In my patients going through cancer treatment, hyponatremia is somewhat prevalent...several cancers can be associated with hyponatremia...among them are cancers of the head and neck, thyroid...side effects of surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy may also cause hypoatremia...symtoms include minor headache, muscle cramps, fatigue, confusion, dizziness and seizures... and can normally be corrected with simple dietary measures such as limiting the intake of free water and replacing it with broth."

Comments

  • palmyrafan
    palmyrafan Member Posts: 396
    #2
    Hyponatremia
    This actually turned out to be my diagnosis this past February after 2 hospital stays. I have since been put on Synthroid and low-dose Prednisone to kick-start my hypothalmus. Apparently I was severely dehydrated from the stomach flu in January and didn't realize it. My sodium levels were dangerously low as well.

    Thank you for posting this article. I don't think enough people are aware of the dangers or pitfalls that lurk out there for us.....as if we don't have enough to worry about.
  • sweetblood22
    sweetblood22 Member Posts: 3,228
    #3
    palmyrafan said:

    Hyponatremia
    This actually turned out to be my diagnosis this past February after 2 hospital stays. I have since been put on Synthroid and low-dose Prednisone to kick-start my hypothalmus. Apparently I was severely dehydrated from the stomach flu in January and didn't realize it. My sodium levels were dangerously low as well.

    Thank you for posting this article. I don't think enough people are aware of the dangers or pitfalls that lurk out there for us.....as if we don't have enough to worry about.

    Hmmm, this totally has me
    Hmmm, this totally has me thinking, about dizziness and other stuff. I cannot really tolerate salt, because it burns my tongue so bad. what do you do if you cannot really up your salt intake. I can do a little low sodium chicken broth, but even that, when I cook with it, I use it 1/2 strength.
  • Kent Cass
    Kent Cass Member Posts: 1,898 Member
    #4
    sweetblood22 said:

    Hmmm, this totally has me
    Hmmm, this totally has me thinking, about dizziness and other stuff. I cannot really tolerate salt, because it burns my tongue so bad. what do you do if you cannot really up your salt intake. I can do a little low sodium chicken broth, but even that, when I cook with it, I use it 1/2 strength.

    thanks
    Good info, Ratface. Might be significant to a number of us, including me.

    kcass
  • Hondo
    Hondo Member Posts: 6,636 Member
    #5
    Hi Ratface
    I keep telling my
    Hi Ratface
    I keep telling my wife I need more salt and she keeps saying no because you make it snow on your food. I don’t think it will work but I am going to make her read your post. Yes I know too much is just as bad as not enought...

    Take care my Friend
    Hondo
  • Pam M
    Pam M Member Posts: 2,196
    #6
    sweetblood22 said:

    Hmmm, this totally has me
    Hmmm, this totally has me thinking, about dizziness and other stuff. I cannot really tolerate salt, because it burns my tongue so bad. what do you do if you cannot really up your salt intake. I can do a little low sodium chicken broth, but even that, when I cook with it, I use it 1/2 strength.

    Salty Drinks
    Can you try Gatorade or another sports drink, or SmartWater?

    OK - edit time - the word above is as follows:
    the first half is Smart the second half is water
  • Pam M
    Pam M Member Posts: 2,196
    #7
    Hondo said:

    Hi Ratface
    I keep telling my
    Hi Ratface
    I keep telling my wife I need more salt and she keeps saying no because you make it snow on your food. I don’t think it will work but I am going to make her read your post. Yes I know too much is just as bad as not enought...

    Take care my Friend
    Hondo

    Lesser of Two Evils?
    But if wifey lets you have the salt Hondo, your heart doc (if you have one - have a doc for hearts, that is, not have a heart, cause we know you have a heart) will be ticked.
  • sweetblood22
    sweetblood22 Member Posts: 3,228
    #8
    Pam M said:

    Salty Drinks
    Can you try Gatorade or another sports drink, or SmartWater?

    OK - edit time - the word above is as follows:
    the first half is Smart the second half is water

    Smart water.
    Ha that was funny. Gatorade used to burn, I could try it again. I never had smart water. Can it be something with natural electrolytes like coconut water? I am really bad at drinking water. I hate it. I mostly drink milk, almond milk, smoothies, and hot tea brewed with mostly milk.
  • luv4lacrosse
    luv4lacrosse Member Posts: 1,410 Member
    #9
    INTERESTING READ
    I feel pretty good and do not have any of the symptoms you referred to. I do have a hard time being able to taste salt in my food, and therefore am leary of using it in fear of too much sodium intake.

    Is this condition you are referring to have to do solely with too little sodium intake?

    Mike
  • ratface
    ratface Member Posts: 1,337 Member
    #10
    Pam M said:

    Lesser of Two Evils?
    But if wifey lets you have the salt Hondo, your heart doc (if you have one - have a doc for hearts, that is, not have a heart, cause we know you have a heart) will be ticked.

    Please read the full article
    What I posted is just a short blip. Yes, Hondo, I thought of you immediately and all your side effects. Sweet, it can be treated medically. Here is a tidbit more:

    "However . extra salt may not be the right approach if there is co-existent heart, liver, or kidney disease.......hyponatremia can be treated medically.........antibiotics, such as declomycin or the mood altering drug lithium, which affects the flow of sodium through the body, can be used for chronic hyponatremia. "

    Did you notice it can be a chronic condition and that anti-depressents are involved with regulating the flow of salt????? Interesting stuff. As a side note, CURE mag is free to cancer patients and is full of great articles as well as cutting edge trials and treatments.




    salt article
  • ratface
    ratface Member Posts: 1,337 Member
    #11
    luv4lacrosse said:

    INTERESTING READ
    I feel pretty good and do not have any of the symptoms you referred to. I do have a hard time being able to taste salt in my food, and therefore am leary of using it in fear of too much sodium intake.

    Is this condition you are referring to have to do solely with too little sodium intake?

    Mike

    Mike, yes and no
    low sodium is key but also low fluid intake or high amounts of exercise can cause the condition. I don't think your inability to taste salt is at all related. You have five taste sensing capabilities, salt, bitter, sweet, sour, and umami. Your salt buds are at the front of your tongue. Try holding your food over the tip and front part of your tongue a little bit longer. FYI I had the opposite problem where everything I ate tasted like pure salt. I could eat a spoonful of honey and it was pure salt tasting. That lasted several months and thank goodness it went away. Our taste buds regenerate but not always at the same time. It's possible your salt buds have not fully come back yet and may be the last to arrive. It will work itself out.
  • sweetblood22
    sweetblood22 Member Posts: 3,228
    #12
    ratface said:

    Mike, yes and no
    low sodium is key but also low fluid intake or high amounts of exercise can cause the condition. I don't think your inability to taste salt is at all related. You have five taste sensing capabilities, salt, bitter, sweet, sour, and umami. Your salt buds are at the front of your tongue. Try holding your food over the tip and front part of your tongue a little bit longer. FYI I had the opposite problem where everything I ate tasted like pure salt. I could eat a spoonful of honey and it was pure salt tasting. That lasted several months and thank goodness it went away. Our taste buds regenerate but not always at the same time. It's possible your salt buds have not fully come back yet and may be the last to arrive. It will work itself out.

    Thanks for posting the link
    Thanks for posting the link to the full article. It was interesting.
  • D Lewis
    D Lewis Member Posts: 1,581 Member
    #13
    Interesting.
    I will definately follow up. My most recent blookwork showed low sodium, low potassium and low chloride. I wonder how that all relates.

    Deb
  • bpell0402
    bpell0402 Member Posts: 61
    #14
    D Lewis said:

    Interesting.
    I will definately follow up. My most recent blookwork showed low sodium, low potassium and low chloride. I wonder how that all relates.

    Deb

    Very good read
    Thank you for sharing. The website curetoday.com ( where u can get free magazine) has some good articles/resources!
  • Noellesmom
    Noellesmom Member Posts: 1,859 Member
    #15
    bpell0402 said:

    Very good read
    Thank you for sharing. The website curetoday.com ( where u can get free magazine) has some good articles/resources!

    almost lost Jim to this

    Last year Jim developed serious anemia as a side effect of an antibiotic.  Although he lost his appetite due to the anemia, he kept hydrating.

    Turns out that hydration without salt intake diluted the sodium level in his blood to the level he was non-responsive for seven hours and a "do not resuscitate" bracelet was put on his wrist to comply with his wishes.

    His sodium levels had dropped low enough to be incompatible with life according to the three specialists who examined Jim.  I was told that if he ever regained consciousness he would never be himself again.

    Jim did regain consciousness, is now a five year survivor but developed dysautonomia two months after the incident with hyponatremia.  No way to control his heart rate and blood pressure.

    Recommend you watch your sodium levels when you are unwell.

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