# Hyponatremia--Low Sodium Levels Advice/Experiences? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 21, 2022, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hyponatremia-low-sodium-levels-advice-experiences/971956 "2022-09-21T03:36:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![D\_Anconia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@D\_Anconia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Anconia)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2022, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hyponatremia-low-sodium-levels-advice-experiences/971956/1 "2022-09-21T03:36:51Z")
My last bloodwork (CMP) showed a sodium level of 128. A repeat test a week later was 129. I don’t have any symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, weakness, etc. Looking at past results over the last four years, it has ranged from 121-135. The normal range is listed as 133-146. My PCP wants me to see a kidney specialist. I’m leery of seeing yet another specialist, due to costs and other reasons, such as even more (possibly unnecessary) tests. Any experiences or advice from others would be appreciated. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2022, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hyponatremia-low-sodium-levels-advice-experiences/971956/2 "2022-09-21T03:46:28Z")
I don’t know, but if searching look for _chronic_ hyponatremia, otherwise your search results will be dominated by irrelevant results for acute hyponatremia. ---
**Author:** ![D\_Anconia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@D\_Anconia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Anconia)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2022, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hyponatremia-low-sodium-levels-advice-experiences/971956/3 "2022-09-21T03:55:56Z")
Yes, it’s not acute, more like chronic. However, I don’t have any of the likely causes such as certain drugs like diuretics, antidepressants, pain medications, or Ecstasy. I don’t run marathons or the like. As for age, mid 50’s. ---
**Author:** ![MonkeysBrother](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3ab097/32.png) [@MonkeysBrother](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MonkeysBrother)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2022, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hyponatremia-low-sodium-levels-advice-experiences/971956/4 "2022-09-21T04:31:43Z")
Have you read through squeegee’s last year hyponatremia thread in IMHO? It was titled “Sodium deficiency?” A lot of info in there… ---
**Author:** ![D\_Anconia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@D\_Anconia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Anconia)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2022, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hyponatremia-low-sodium-levels-advice-experiences/971956/5 "2022-09-21T04:36:34Z")
Thanks for pointing me to that thread. I feel like the OP of that thread. I’m worried that all kinds of additional tests/procedures might be largely unnecessary at the end of the day. ---
**Author:** ![MonkeysBrother](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3ab097/32.png) [@MonkeysBrother](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MonkeysBrother)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2022, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hyponatremia-low-sodium-levels-advice-experiences/971956/6 "2022-09-21T04:51:42Z")
Yeah, I absolutely understand the concern. It’s what I’d be worried about too. ---
**Author:** ![tofor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tofor/32/13727_2.png) [@tofor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tofor)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2022, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hyponatremia-low-sodium-levels-advice-experiences/971956/7 "2022-09-21T13:31:14Z")
As unusual as it is, especially in America, have you considered that you might simply not eat enough salt? ---
**Author:** ![mordecaiB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mordecaib/32/7725_2.png) [@mordecaiB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mordecaiB)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2022, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hyponatremia-low-sodium-levels-advice-experiences/971956/8 "2022-09-21T14:38:05Z")
I had a low level two years running and my MD suggested just increasing salt intake. It was actually harder for me than it sounds. I don’t eat salty snacks and I don’t add salt to anything after it’s cooked except pizza. I ended up just eating an occasional pinch of salt while drinking water. No problems since then. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2022, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hyponatremia-low-sodium-levels-advice-experiences/971956/9 "2022-09-21T14:41:09Z")
> [@Riemann](#): > > I don’t know, but if searching look for _chronic_ hyponatremia, otherwise your search results will be dominated by irrelevant results for acute hyponatremia. Yeah, I was about to chime in with my acute-hyponatremia experiences (I’ve had 2) but the OP is asking about something quite else. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2022, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hyponatremia-low-sodium-levels-advice-experiences/971956/10 "2022-09-21T14:42:05Z")
My last chem panel showed a sodium that was low normal. I pointed out to my doctor that I drank a ton of water in order to manage my gout without giving up beer, mussels, beef, anchovies, etc. He suggested I lightly salt my food. I asked no further questions. ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2022, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hyponatremia-low-sodium-levels-advice-experiences/971956/11 "2022-09-21T17:29:04Z")
This has a lot of possible causes, so seeing a doctor is the best way to get it sorted out. Many causes are not very serious, and others are. It is not particularly uncommon, and may or may not be significant. Your doctor should check your urine and review your medications, several of which cause this - especially certain medications for blood pressure.