Low Sodium levels

[Christina64]

I'm very grateful for this site and the experiences you all share, as it helps me make sense of what my mum is going through. Mum is currently on Avastin and has had 7 cycles. Her chemo has finished and she's on this for maintenance as there was some residual disease. This week she was behaving strangely and becoming confused and the hospital think it is did to low sodium levels. Has anyone experienced this? Mum is in hospital now and I want to make sure this is the cause and that she hasn't had a TIA instead.

Many thanks Chris

[Katmal-UK]

Hi Christina. Not heard of it, hopefully one of the other ladies will respond with some ingo. Wishing your mum all the very best. Kathy xx

[Christina64 in reply to Katmal-UK]

Thanks for your reply. I'm worried as I thought and hoped that her health would improve after treatment.

[Katmal-UK in reply to Christina64]

I can totally understand your concern and hopefully this episode is just a minor setback. Do let us know how she gets on. Thinking of you both xx

[Tesla_7US]

Christina, your mom could have low magnesium (hypomagnesemia) which is a predictable side effect of chemo which would cause all the symptoms you described including TIA. She may be dehydrated which results in a shortage of all electrolytes-sodium, potassium, magnesium and a couple others.

[Christina64]

Thank you. The hospital have reduced her fluid intake to increase her sodium levels. Mum finished chemo 12 weeks ago. Would the effects still be apparent now? Just when I think everything is going to plan something else happens.

[Tesla_7US in reply to Christina64]

The effects of chemo last long after the infusion. Absolutely--your mom can be suffering the effects for months, sadly even years, to come.

[Christina64 in reply to Tesla_7US]

Thank you. X

[Neona57 in reply to Christina64]

I have still been taking magnesium 10 weeks after chemo finishes and had iv magnesium after my last chemo-so yes!

[Yoshbosh]

Hi Christina,

I do hope your mum is OK and improves quickly.

My grandmother-in-law had a spell in hospital (not cancer related) due to low sodium. She was very confused and kept speaking to the sink in her room thinking it was my eldest daughter. We all worried it was something neurological, but once her levels improved, she was back to normal.

Vicki x

[Christina64 in reply to Yoshbosh]

Thanks Vicky. That's reassuring x

[Purple-iris in reply to Yoshbosh]

Yes we had a similar episode with my mother in law but that was due to being dehydrated and she had to drink more fluids . Kimx

[Caleda4]

Hi there, I believe that problems with electrolytes cause a similar problem which probably includes sodium. My own mother suffered with confusion some years ago & I know that this was to do with the balance of electrolytes. Having said this the hospital should be able to correct this.

I hope that things improve for your mum soon.

Take care.xxx

[Christina64 in reply to Caleda4]

Thank you

[Barlow1951]

Hi Christina, my mother was admitted to hospital with this condition which had nothing to do with cancer and treatment restored her sodium levels to normal within days, so please don't worry. Your mum should soon be feeling much better, but I know how frightening it is when someone suddenly becomes confused. Hope you can report improvement to us soon.

All the best,

Barbara

[Neona57]

I was taken to A&E last Sunday as have a recurrent breathing problem and had a lot of pain around my rib cage-there was worry that I had another pulmonary embolism. The scan were clear however but the D dimer test was high, blood pressure low and was diagnosed with an acute kidney injury and put on a drip of sodium bicarbonate which resolved dehydration. The breathing problem is still unresolved. Sending best wirhes for your mum.

[Christina64 in reply to Neona57]

Thank you. I'm sorry you have had a visit to A and E too. Dehydration is awful and I hope they sort out your breathing problem now that your other symptoms are under control x

[Christina64]

Hi. Mum came out of hospital today and everything seems to be ok. Thanks for your advice and support xx