My last labs over the past year have had a decrease in my blood sodium levels. Last test was 131. Nephrologist said I need to start eating more protein as that helps to keep sodium in your bloodstream instead of getting out in your body tissue. I don’t have any edema and take a diuretic. Not sure it really is doing anything. I can’t tell a difference in frequency of bathroom visits if I stop them on my own for a few days. I did read diuretics can cause low sodium.
Anyone else experience this?
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MGsolid
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I have low sodium as well. I'm not a doctor but I think if you drink too much water you can be flushing out your sodium. (Like 90-100 oz. h20) Also drinking dehydrating drinks like coffee, tea or alcohol. Not sure about why you are taking a diuretic if you're not experiencing swelling but they can cause it too. Also, 131 isn't too bad. It's when it goes under 123-125 that my doctor started paying attention. That's happened to me once. I got muscle pains from being depleted from that low . Never heard of adding protein for low sodium?? I'm 3a.
I have lost over 110lbs since February of 22 and now pretty close to where I want to be. When I was heavier my BP ran high and that is when a diuretic was added along with Lisinopril. My BP has been declining and my med dosages have been decreased along the way. Sometimes runs too low now. I go for follow up labs in 2 weeks and also see my primary doctor then. I don’t see my Nephrologist until November again at my 6 month visit. He does still get my labs. Depending on labs I will address sooner with him.
He explained that protein helps to keep sodium in the blood stream and not out in the body tissue so should help push blood levels up. I questioned the protein myself because I thought that was contrary to ckd.
I don’t drink coffee but do drink a decent amount of iced green tea. Probably average 1 or 2 beers in a week at most.
I’m 3b my GFR bounces between high 30’s to mid 40’s.
Are you still dealing with low sodium and how did you correct it when it was that low?
I haven't eaten meat in over a year and my gfr went up a lot. I just eat different whole grain rice and beans and veggies and oatmeal. Not sure why your doctor told you that. Ask your neph dr. next time. Like I said I'm not a doctor and don't know your situation, but there are other ways to get protein besides meat. It is hard on the kidneys. I was drinking way too much water for my size and it seems to have helped my sodium numbers as I'm closer to normal now. There are some good facebook groups for kidney diets. Particularly "Plant Powered Kidneys" has a very informative group. Some members on there still eat meat but they explain things pretty well and unless you get the course there is a lot of free info from dietitians.
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