Anyone had low sodium on a blood test ?

[Lowsodiumscare]

I'm freaking out as I've just had results of a health check through work. Blood sugars and cholesterol have just tipped over into risk zone so will adjust my diet. I'm not falling apart and generally feel ok, I eat a good baseline diet but drink too much and eat too much chocolate and cake on top. The test came back as low sodium, think it was 128. From googling this seems to apply to old or really ill people and be quite serious and it's Saturday and I'm freaking out about it. I had had alot to drink on the Sunday night, been to a sauna Saturday night, and then did the test on the weds morning. Is it possible that these things caused it 3 days later? Do I need to contact 111? I feel ok and I'm working later. How possible is this to be a temporary thing rather than a horrible health problem? Wondering if anyone has experienced this ? Tia

Bump

I had low sodium on a blood test, it isn't uncommon. I had another test and it was back to normal a couple of days later. I'm not old and I'm not ill. The nurse who took the tests wasn't particularly concerned. I'm sure you'd have been advised at the medical check if it was worrying.

Buy or make up some rehydration salts - if you prefer a brand there's dioralyte - and it should take things back to normal. When you become dehydrated, like after drinking alcohol, you lose body salts as well as water. Whilst drinking water will bring the water levels back up it won't bring the salts back up. This is why salty food is good for a hangover. Maybe if you do have a heavy night, keep some rehydration salts handy.

If you are concerned, make an appointment with your doctor for a second blood test.

Thankyou it's good to know it doesn't mean something awful! I also exercise alot and sweat alot and never thought to replace electrolytes and salts. And I suppose my diet isn't that salty really. Hopefully it will be back to normal if I follow up with my GP.

I’m a nurse. Sodium of 128 is moderate hyponatremia. Honestly, it could be something or nothing, especially if you have no real symptoms and the best thing you could do is have a second set of bloods done-which they’ll likely want doing anyway. The only thing worth bearing in mind is that low sodium can creep up over time and is associated with brain fog and tiredness, which you might not have noticed. Can I ask, did your blood test include kidney function? This is sometimes called eGFR.

Thankyou for your response. I don't think so, it included creatine and urea readings which were normal.

I have had periods of feelings funny, tiredness and brain fog but assumed it was caused by my last bout of COVID so wondering if it's this.

If your creatine and urea levels are normal then your kidneys are likely fine. Low sodium levels can be caused by some hormones being slightly out of whack. If you have had some symptoms then it’s probably worth exploring further as this can be treated and you’ll hopefully feel much better. Certainly nothing to panic over this weekend though.

Thanks that's made me feel less panicky about it! I have been having a few odd symptoms that seem to coincide with my cycle so wonder if it cld be hormonal or thyroid or something like that.

I've had a phone consultation with a GP this morning (the blood check was through Aviva and so they offer Sunday appointments) and their view was that the sodium was likely a lab anomaly. They said they're told to tell everyone that the blood tests are accurate but they're not 100%?! So hopefully if I have it re checked with my GP it will come up as normal. Dr said that with 128 I'd likely be feeling pretty poorly. I've been feeling low level run down as I said but certainly not 'ill'. For instance I'm just off to the gym this morning, so can't be feeling that bad 🤞. This is partly why I've resisted using the health check service all year as I knew something would make me absolutely panic. That said I'll keep it ino d and make sure I'm taking electrolytes when exercising etc.