What a day.Took hubby for blood tests this morning.
Get a call at 4.30 from 111.
Sodium too low at 125 to go straight to A&E.
In A&E 6 hours. More bloods then sodium IV then sent home.
His liver and kidneys apparently are struggling be I referred back to our gp.
No explanation why his sodium was so low.
I know they are extremely busy but they told me they were admitting him over night. Because a possible infection.
The NH S is in a terrible state.
my partner was hospitalised for a week with sodium at 125. He was newly diagnosed so bloods still not great and on high dose water tablets which he then stopped for a while. One year later he is still on water tablets and sodium is normal range so it can go up and down.
Do you know what causes low sodium?I was surprised they didn't keep him in. He is so confused and very tired on top of his back pain
is he on diuretics ? They can cause low sodium but also cirrhosis itself can cause low sodium
Thank you.I have left his bag packed because I suspect it will happen again.
He has been up all night drinking.
Now talking rubbish.
We will be seeing our gp this week soon will ask to try and bring his appointment forward to see the liver specialists, as his appointment is not for 6 weeks.
Low sodium can be caused by diuretics, excessive sweating, diarrhea and vomiting which many with liver disease experience. If he is still drinking as you stated, things can really go bad for him, good luck, and take care of yourself.
Thank you.
He has no intention at the moments to stop drinking.
Maybe when we see the gp this week, he may consider it.
I am expecting bad news regarding his blood results because the doctor at the hospital told me that his liver and kidneys are struggling and there is some inflammation somewhere.
I am hoping the gp can tell us what stage he is at with his liver.
I suspect he will just tell him about his spinal fractures and wait until his appointment with the liver consultant before we know more.
6 weeks seems an eternity away right now.
It feels like life is on hold with everything going on with him.
Do not get upset when your gp doesn't give you the answers you are looking for, they know very little about the liver, his consult will be the person to give you some answers. He is only making things bad by continuing with the alcohol. Do you have anyone to speak with about getting him in a detox program, if not, you can talk to your gp about giving him something to take away the sensation for alcohol. I am in the US therefore, i don't know if docs in the UK give something to stop the sensation for alcohol, but its worth the try to ask for something.
The gp has offered him help several times but he says he doesn't have a problem, just likes a drink.Crazy!!
Can the gp not work out his MELD score from his blood results?
yes, and you can do it yourself, do you have a copy of his labs, if so, i can show you how?
No I don't have a copy.I will email them and ask for one.
Thank you
Ok, but make sure you also get a copy, to get meld score, you will need his creatinine,sodium, INR, Bilirubin
His last ones in July 22 were creatine 60, sodium 136 bilirubin 6 but can't see INR. Does that appear differant on the test?
INR could be prothrombin on his labs
Doesn't look like they tested that.How frustrating.
Thank you
I am sure they did but you are in the UK, i wouldn't know what to look for on your labs, maybe look on google, this test is done to see how his blood is clotting, could be labeled PT, in US it goes up to 1.2 to be within normal range.
It's Pro Time / INR here. This was my last one.
Prothrombin Time 13.2 second(s) 10.0 to 13.0 second(s)10.0 - 13.0 second(s) H
The presence of Direct Thrombin Inhibitors (Argatroban) may falsely increase results.
International Normalization Ratio 1.15 0.87 to 1.13 0.87 - 1.13 H
The following therapeutic ranges are recommended by the American College of Physicians for oral anticoagulant therapy:
I can't see anything that relates to this on his last bloods.I will hopefully be able to check his next ones that he had yesterday.
They don't always do the INR/ProTime in the beginning. But a Hepatologist usually does. You should ask to have it done.
They can do a PETH test too.. That will show if you have consumed any alcohol in the last 2 or 3 months. Not approved by the FDA yet but if you take that test they will know if you had a glass of wine 2 months ago. It measures the ethanol in your system.
my sodium was low a few months ago they said i was drinking to much squash they kept me in on iv 's drips for a few days
They let him home after a few hours.It feels like they have given up on him.
Is he still drinking if he is they tend not to bother with you as if your not that was my experience with them
Yes He is still drinking.Gp asked him yesterday. He admitted he drinks too much , but then said, but I just like a drink!
He still doesn't relate all his health problems to his drinking, even after being told by many medical professionals.
Sodium n fluid restrictions 
Signs of compensating? 
Can I give a little hope?
