Low Mineral Blood Levels
Posted: 2025-10-16 13:56:13
Last week, I phoned 911, and went by ambulance to the ER for various symptoms of a possible heart attack. I was having chest pain, severe vertigo, shortness of breath, and nausea.
After repeated blood work for 6 hours at the ER, EKG's and a Cat Scan of my brain, it was determined I had extremely low Sodium, Magnesium, and Potassium blood levels. I was given a liquid cocktail of Potassium, an IV of D5W, Sodium and Magnesium to balance out those blood levels. When the doctor attempted to discharge me from the ER, my symptoms weren't any better. The chest pain was better, though the Vertigo was through the roof. I normally suffer with Vestibular Migraines and Vertigo though I had not ever had it so severe as that night. I was finally admitted at 12 am. The following morning, my Sodium had shot up sky high. Magnesium and Potassium levels were good. The pharmacy at the hospital created a measured amount of specialized dosage of medication in my IV to lower the Sodium in my blood since it was dangerously high. By the end of Tuesday, my Sodium Level got dangerously low and my Vertigo and Migraines were tremendously severe. That night the Doctor decided that in combination with the food I was eating at the hospital he was going to add a Sodium Chloride tablet, 500 mg x 2 per day. Wednesday was another really bad day, as the sodium level climbed very slowly upward, still at very low levels. By midnight, I was able to finally get some relief and I could get to the restroom with some help, and early that A.M. in the restroom alone, I managed to change my ileostomy bag with wash cloths, rubbing alcohol pads, and shampoo wipes from the hospital together my ostomy supplies which my brother brought from my home. I was so proud that I managed to get that done without them having to change my bag as I laid in bed, especially after the past 2 days of suffering that I had. I have been independent with my ileostomy since I had my surgery in 2007, and there was no way I would have wanted to have them help me with my bag change. Honestly, I would have had to instruct them throughout the procedure, since I have found that this particular hospital has no knowledge of those matters. And I never change my bag lying down, as my stoma and belly is much different to apply a bag to when standing than it is when lying.
On Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, several more tests were run, including a Chest Cat Scan, Heart Ultrasound, Limb and Groin Doppler to test for blood clots, Nuclear Isotopes Lung circulation scans, to test for circulation in my lungs since my D-dimer test was elevated, indicating blood clots somewhere in my body, and numerous more blood tests to check my mineral levels.
What the tests found Is that I have a 4 cm dilation of my Ascending Aorta, which is an Ascending Aortic Aneurysm, which can eventually progress to a deadly Ruptured Aortic Aneurysm. Frightening stuff. Another test determined I had Bilateral Pleural Effusion in my 2 lung bases, which means that there is fluid between my lungs and chest wall causing pressure on my alveolar air sacs, collapsing some of them. All has to be monitored frequently with testing by a Cardiologist and Pulmonologist. Thursday and Friday were excellent days with my mineral levels, and I finally got discharged on Friday at 3:30 pm.
The physician prescribed Sodium Chloride tablets to take home, to take in combination with the food I eat at home. What the nurses realized about my fluid intake , Is that I was drinking approximately 140 oz of water per day , like I do at home. My salt intake in the hospital was much lower than the high salt intake I have at home. When the doctor prescribed for me to take the 1,000 mg of sodium at home that I was taking in the hospital, he didn't realize my sodium intake in my processed foods was much higher than what I was eating in the hospital. The next day at home, on Saturday, I was great. On Sunday eating a high sodium content in my food plus the 1,000 mg of sodium tablets, raised my sodium level dangerously high, and I was suffering with severe vertigo and migraines, which are symptoms for both high and low sodium. I have never measured my portion sizes in my life, usually I adjust my portions to my very big appetite that has progressively increased over the past 2 years. (the reason for my weight gain the past two years). So when Monday rolled around, I thought I would work on an experiment and combine whole foods in combination with limited processed foods and limit all my foods I took in to portion sizes listed on Nutrition labels and continue to take the Sodium Chloride tablets along with those measured portion sizes all while drinking my normal 140 oz of water I drink every day... and wow, what a difference in my health!!
I no longer suffer with vertigo, my migraines are less intense, I have tons of energy, I am no longer weak and sluggish, I am awake longer in a 24 hour time frame, I am sleeping better, and I feel great! No more extreme vertigo!!! Before my hospital admission, I was having vertigo nearly every day. I can continue to drink what I normally drink, take the 1,000 mg sodium tablets, and eat better foods, all by eating measured portion sizes! It was an experiment I didn't realize would even work, and that the doctors never suggested to me! I'm blown away with my discovery!!
After repeated blood work for 6 hours at the ER, EKG's and a Cat Scan of my brain, it was determined I had extremely low Sodium, Magnesium, and Potassium blood levels. I was given a liquid cocktail of Potassium, an IV of D5W, Sodium and Magnesium to balance out those blood levels. When the doctor attempted to discharge me from the ER, my symptoms weren't any better. The chest pain was better, though the Vertigo was through the roof. I normally suffer with Vestibular Migraines and Vertigo though I had not ever had it so severe as that night. I was finally admitted at 12 am. The following morning, my Sodium had shot up sky high. Magnesium and Potassium levels were good. The pharmacy at the hospital created a measured amount of specialized dosage of medication in my IV to lower the Sodium in my blood since it was dangerously high. By the end of Tuesday, my Sodium Level got dangerously low and my Vertigo and Migraines were tremendously severe. That night the Doctor decided that in combination with the food I was eating at the hospital he was going to add a Sodium Chloride tablet, 500 mg x 2 per day. Wednesday was another really bad day, as the sodium level climbed very slowly upward, still at very low levels. By midnight, I was able to finally get some relief and I could get to the restroom with some help, and early that A.M. in the restroom alone, I managed to change my ileostomy bag with wash cloths, rubbing alcohol pads, and shampoo wipes from the hospital together my ostomy supplies which my brother brought from my home. I was so proud that I managed to get that done without them having to change my bag as I laid in bed, especially after the past 2 days of suffering that I had. I have been independent with my ileostomy since I had my surgery in 2007, and there was no way I would have wanted to have them help me with my bag change. Honestly, I would have had to instruct them throughout the procedure, since I have found that this particular hospital has no knowledge of those matters. And I never change my bag lying down, as my stoma and belly is much different to apply a bag to when standing than it is when lying.
On Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, several more tests were run, including a Chest Cat Scan, Heart Ultrasound, Limb and Groin Doppler to test for blood clots, Nuclear Isotopes Lung circulation scans, to test for circulation in my lungs since my D-dimer test was elevated, indicating blood clots somewhere in my body, and numerous more blood tests to check my mineral levels.
What the tests found Is that I have a 4 cm dilation of my Ascending Aorta, which is an Ascending Aortic Aneurysm, which can eventually progress to a deadly Ruptured Aortic Aneurysm. Frightening stuff. Another test determined I had Bilateral Pleural Effusion in my 2 lung bases, which means that there is fluid between my lungs and chest wall causing pressure on my alveolar air sacs, collapsing some of them. All has to be monitored frequently with testing by a Cardiologist and Pulmonologist. Thursday and Friday were excellent days with my mineral levels, and I finally got discharged on Friday at 3:30 pm.
The physician prescribed Sodium Chloride tablets to take home, to take in combination with the food I eat at home. What the nurses realized about my fluid intake , Is that I was drinking approximately 140 oz of water per day , like I do at home. My salt intake in the hospital was much lower than the high salt intake I have at home. When the doctor prescribed for me to take the 1,000 mg of sodium at home that I was taking in the hospital, he didn't realize my sodium intake in my processed foods was much higher than what I was eating in the hospital. The next day at home, on Saturday, I was great. On Sunday eating a high sodium content in my food plus the 1,000 mg of sodium tablets, raised my sodium level dangerously high, and I was suffering with severe vertigo and migraines, which are symptoms for both high and low sodium. I have never measured my portion sizes in my life, usually I adjust my portions to my very big appetite that has progressively increased over the past 2 years. (the reason for my weight gain the past two years). So when Monday rolled around, I thought I would work on an experiment and combine whole foods in combination with limited processed foods and limit all my foods I took in to portion sizes listed on Nutrition labels and continue to take the Sodium Chloride tablets along with those measured portion sizes all while drinking my normal 140 oz of water I drink every day... and wow, what a difference in my health!!
I no longer suffer with vertigo, my migraines are less intense, I have tons of energy, I am no longer weak and sluggish, I am awake longer in a 24 hour time frame, I am sleeping better, and I feel great! No more extreme vertigo!!! Before my hospital admission, I was having vertigo nearly every day. I can continue to drink what I normally drink, take the 1,000 mg sodium tablets, and eat better foods, all by eating measured portion sizes! It was an experiment I didn't realize would even work, and that the doctors never suggested to me! I'm blown away with my discovery!!
). 
I was 69 for one, 70 for the other. I actually had two OHS ... fixed the aneurysm in 2023 and fixed the aortic valve in hopes of sparing the existing valve. HA. I got a call from my surgeon that he didn't like the looks of my follow up echo. After I got through asking why he hadn't just slapped another valve in when he was in there, and a month to think, I decided to get the aortic valve replaced in 2024. Yay. At the same time they rebuilt the aortic hemi arch. So I'm all kinds of new!