Low sodium levels anyone?

[Doraflora]

I started to feel headaches and a bit woozy when I reduced from 3mg to 2 of Pred, so my GP has increased me back up to thr original 15mg, reducing soon to 10 and so on.

However, as my kidney function had been low for thr last few months (57) I made a conscious effort to avoid salty foods. Yesterday’s blood tests show everything fine; kidney function back to 87 - yay! But: my sodium level is now low (125). Think the avoidance of anything salty and too much water has maybe done it.

He said to go back to ‘normal’ eating and will retest the bloods next week. It’s all about juggling the right balls, isn’t it?

[PMRpro Ambassador]

It is.

But why on earth has he sent you back to 15mg? Your wooziness was almost certainly due to adrenal function lagging behind. And by sending you back to such a relatively high dose he may have added to the problem. Just longer at 3 or 4mg would have made more sense.

[123-go in reply to PMRpro]

I thought that, too.

[Doraflora in reply to PMRpro]

I’m totally confused, PMRpro. But as I’m ignorant to all this I guess I’m going with what he says. He said to stay on 15mg for just 3 days & then drop to 10, but my reckons would be to go to 12.5 first.

My sodium level has been fine up until this recent blood test

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Doraflora]

No - that is fine. If it is only a few days you could drop straight back to 5mg really. Just unnecessary IMHO.

[Doraflora in reply to PMRpro]

Thanks

[Maggie1313 in reply to PMRpro]

May I please ask I to have reduced from 17.5mg to 16.25mg for last 5days and since reduction I’m feeling all jettery and have on and of headaches is this due to the reduction or could it be low sodium 🤔

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Maggie1313]

Probably the change in dose - there is little likelihood of it being adrenal problems at doses above 10mg. But if it doesn't improve after a week or so you should speak to your GP. Not everything can be blamed on pred and PMR/GCA.

[Maggie1313 in reply to PMRpro]

Thank you so much for quick reply will wait a few days more and if don’t improve will speak to GP 🤞

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Yes it is all about juggling! But have to say the increase from 2mg to 15 mg was a tad excessive - 7.5mg would probably have been enough - 10mg at the most!

But it is what it is - and if you’re okay, fair enough!

[Doraflora in reply to DorsetLady]

Will see how things go, Dorset lady.

[SnazzyD]

I don’t know about the toss up between kidney function and adrenal function, but poor adrenal function leads to loss of sodium so I had to up my salt at that point. Perhaps you need to ask the renal doc about how you balance the low sodium of low adrenal function with the potential sodium rentention with poor renal function. If you have poor renal function and can’t have more salt, then perhaps not dropping by a whole 1mg might help. I found a drop of 0.5mg was quite enough without any kidney problems. Perhaps you need more salt but have your sodium levels monitored more closely than most.

[Doraflora in reply to SnazzyD]

I’ve never seen a renal doc, a rheumy person or anyone. I was diagnosed with PMR over the-phone last March and so it’s gone on.

I’m going to start eating the foods I’d knocked off, i.e. canned sardines/tuna, etc.

[SheffieldJane]

Golly! Yes it is.

[Kalacik]

Check regularly as I also have Hyponatraemia and have to have saline drips every three weeks. Only had it since I had PMR and on Pred. My body is unable to regulate my electrolytes

[Doraflora in reply to Kalacik]

Thanks. kalacik. Blooming Pred, eh! They’re great at dealing with thr PMR but cause us so much havoc in our bodies.

I’ve never had any probs with sodium levels until this last blood test

[Constance13]

I used "Lo Salt" for years but when I was hospitalised once they put me on salt tablets because sodium was so low. I had the same "woozy" feeling as you.

I went back onto ordinary salt and everything is OK now.

[Doraflora in reply to Constance13]

Well, since my kidney function was low last October, I’ve made a concerted effort to avoid salty things. But obviously I’ve gone too far. My GP said to return to normal eating and I’ll get my sodium checked again next week.