Low Sodium Levels

[FeetheBookworm]

Anyone else have low levels? And what do you do to try to improve it.

My problem is I hate the taste of salt but have been adding it (more than I like as to me it makes my food taste just of salt). We use salt in cooking as my husband has been a very heavy smoker for 50 years but has (touch wood) just managed to give by using vaping. So basically transferred one habit to another!

Hopefully as his taste buds return he will

Need less salt but this doesn’t help me trying to increase mine.

It appears that lack of salt is another thing that makes you suffer fatigue- it’s a win win situation here - or perhaps more accurately lose lose.

[Fortepiano]

Has your cardiologist or heart failure nurse told you to increase your salt?

I only ask because my husband had low salt levels ( hyponatremia) as a consequence of his heart failure and he was always told to adhere to a low salt diet to avoid fluid overload. His hyponatremia was improved by higher drug doses and fluid restriction.

All the best and well done to your husband for giving up smoking.

[FeetheBookworm in reply to Fortepiano]

Initially I was told to remove salt from my diet but levels went so low (and were already low anyway) I got told to add it back.

[Fortepiano in reply to FeetheBookworm]

That's fine as long as it was your cardiologist and not just the GP. Maybe phone the BHF nurse helpline?

[FeetheBookworm in reply to Fortepiano]

Told by my HF nurse.

[Fortepiano in reply to FeetheBookworm]

Sounds good!

[Zena166]

Hi I should discuss with your doctor. I don’t add any salt to any of my cooking or add it afterwards. Your doctor will be able to advise. May I suggest that rather than add salt to improve his taste try adding a variety of different herbs and spices. The obvious ones like chilli. But coriander even in a salad is delicious others like cumin and turmeric also are tasty as well as beneficial. But do talk to your doc about the salt. Take care. Zena x

[Zena166]

That’s a pain. Maybe chat to the pharmacist. They may suggest something. I am always talking to them about my meds and related issues. Take care. Zena

[FeetheBookworm]

That’s a good idea as he is so much more helpful! He suggested some really good ointment for the sores and told me when they were infected to insist on seeing someone that day.

I still have to put special E45 cream on my face before I can put anything else on or else it burns and makes my face scarlet and then peel.

Since my teens I’ve been able to put anything on my face with no problems and about 3 months after my HF diagnosis this all started along with the minor infractions I mentioned before.

Didn't even have this during 6 months of chemo treatment apart from mouth ulcers and was violently ill after first round of chemo but the consultant oncologist tweaked it after that so I just felt awful!

[Smikra]

When I was in hospital rehab, they had me on a low salt diet. I am taking spironolactone and I had very low sodium levels. My doctor put me on salt tablets. He said too low sodium levels is dangerous. He told me not to go on low salt diets. Are you taking a med that could cause low sodium?

[gal4God]

I’ve been told to lower my salt intake. I’m feeling more awake and better in other ways cos of it.

[FeetheBookworm]

Should say infractions was supposed to read infections!! Just love the way predictive text changes what you write.

I feel if my HF nurse isn’t worried I shouldn’t be but if I can improve things with diet then all the better.

I’m seeing my Heart Failure Consultant next month so will ask her if anything can be tweaked.

[Inamoment]

You can get salt tablets. I was fed them in hospital in case the operation needed doing again as my blood pressure is low. It went from 105 to 140. I was having quite a lot, i think 8 a day. I don't know if it is the sodium or sodium chloride that boosts blood pressure, i imagine this is zn effect you don't want

[FeetheBookworm]

Thanks will ask at the pharmacy