I've recently been told I have low salt levels after a blood test. I've never cut back on salt in my diet but don't eat any ultra processed foods. Initially my reading was 128 by adding a great deal of salt to my diet as advised by one gp also to cut down on my liquid intake my level was up to 134 ..the low end of normal I went to see another gp at my practice who advised me to have no more than 2grams of salt a day and have no more than 1.5 litres of fluid and told me to google SIADH . Hypothyroidism is mentioned as a contributing factor . Advice please.
Low salt levels: I've recently been told I have... - Thyroid UK
Low salt levels
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GREENcard13
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Hi, so low sodium when presumably linked to SIADH should be managed carefully and in a totally different context than when we have high/low salt caused by diet.
SIADH is causes by many things - being hypo is one of those things - so I would ask you to share your thyroid diagnosis and blood tests, and what your Levo dosing regiment has been accordingly.
Other potential causes of SIADH exist, but given that you’ve had low sodium for five months without acute symptoms, it’s reasonable to assume the more serious causes have likely been ruled out. A CBC and basic metabolic panel may help monitor general health and rule out infections or other contributing factors.
That being said - whatever the cause is, the treatment is taking sodium tablets - as counterintuitive as it is when regular people talk about “healthy diets.” (Edit: meaning, the treatment is sodium tablets WHILE the root cause is also addressed. I’m not sure if low sodium/SAIDH when caused by hypo is chronic… but I do know that low sodium when caused by infection, for example, resolves when the root cause infection is treated.*)
In the 130s you’re not likely to have symptoms, but for reference, you’d be symptomatic in the 120s and below 120-125 is a medical emergency.
it’s reasonable to treat with daily sodium intake, under the guidance of your doctor.
* I’d also be curious to nail down the cause. If it’s more than just hypo, then that should be treated directed too.
Thank you so much for your advice I will make a further appointment with my gp to hopefully get to the root of the problem. My last tsh reading was 1.55 and I'm on 75mcg a day. They are now refusing to test t3 and t4 at our practice!!
Is potassium level OK? I came across this when checking stuff for my Mum recently.
Blood tests may show low sodium and high potassium levels and usually indicate that the kidneys are not working well. Doctors who suspect adrenal insufficiency measure cortisol levels, which may be low, and ACTH levels.
My last tsh reading was 1.55 and I'm on 75mcg a day. They are now refusing to test t3 and t4 at our practice!!
Sadly that’s increasingly common
You need to get FULL thyroid and vitamin testing
Will GP test vitamin D, folate, B12 and ferritin
What vitamin supplements are you taking
That’s a low dose levothyroxine, unless you’re very petite
Has GP tested kidney function and cholesterol
High cholesterol suggests you need dose increase in Levo
Low GFR (kidney function) suggests you need dose increase in levothyroxine
Recommended that all thyroid blood tests early morning, ideally just before 9am, only drink water between waking and test and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test
This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip)
Private tests are available as NHS currently rarely tests Ft3 or all relevant vitamins
Post all about what time of day to test
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Thankyou all for your replies .I had a CBC in June . I am 5'1" and 7st13lbs. Most of the results were in the normal range the following were not
Serum foliate 16.5 normal range 2.8to15
B12 760 .. 180 to 650
Alkaline Phosphatase 131 ..30 to130
Nucleated red cell 0.00 .. 0 to 0.2
My potassium was within range 4.8 3.5 to 5.3
My cholesterol levels are high but the ratio is low 10yrs ago my gp said they were the best in the practice now they want me to go on statins
Total 6.6
HDL 2.6
LDL 3.6
NON HDL 4.00
RATIO 2.5
TRIGLYCERIDES 0.9
The readings have been pretty consistent for years
Looking forward to any comments please
GREENcard13,
It’s not just pituitary hormone ADH that controls sodium regulation but aldosterone that is secreted by the adrenals and controlled within another feed-back system called the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system.
Many of us have suffered low sodium levels caused by insufficient cortisol and aldosterone due to poor adrenal function. Adding salt to my water has normalised function as if I don’t the liquid flows straight through me even though free cortisol has been normalised for several years.
Apart from hormone dysfunction I think there are some meds that induce SIADH such as NSAIDS and AD’s. I hope you are having further investigations into why your kidneys are leaching salt.
Thankyou radd I do intend to take it further
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