Low Sodium Levels? Thyroid?

My boyfriend's mom was admitted to the hospital today and they're keeping her to run some tests. Based on an initial conversation with his sister, one of the first tests they ran on her showed really low sodium levels. They ruled out a stroke and I would think that they ruled out a heart attack early on, as well.

I don't know this for sure yet but it seems reasonable that they would rule these major things out first..?

She's close to 70 and has lived a fairly sedentary adult life (other than him, his family isn't much into exercise or conscious healthy living - more the meat-n-potatoes type of family). She takes various medications, including some for a thyroid condition.

Her main symptoms were that she was extremely tired and her limbs felt very heavy, and I think his sister mentioned that she was pretty out of it, as in not totally coherent, by the time they checked her into the hospital.

He's very concerned and is making the 4 1/2 hour drive to where his family lives.

Just wondering if any of you in the health/medical field have any insight on this very sparse description of her symptoms. I couldn't find anything online re: thyroid and low sodium levels...but I'm still looking.

Thanks to anyone who has any thoughts. I'm sure the hospital will have more info tomorrow but since I know nothing about thyroid conditions or blood sodium, I'm doing my own research for the basics (of course).

Hi, I hope that she does well... my thoughts are with you and yours........

The low sodium levels would have caused all of those symptoms. The weakness, the altered mental status, the "heaviness" Your sodium levels have to be within a certain range to keep the body functioning correctly. The sodium helps with muscles and brain activity. Sodium and potassium are two key electrolytes. If they ruled out a heart attack and a stroke, they may do an MRI of the brain to make sure that nothing neuro wise is going on. The IV fluids that they will (or are giving) her will help to improve the sodium level, and you may see an immediate improvement.

I hope that this helped. Do keep us informed!!!!

Hi, I hope that she does well... my thoughts are with you and yours........

The low sodium levels would have caused all of those symptoms. The weakness, the altered mental status, the "heaviness" Your sodium levels have to be within a certain range to keep the body functioning correctly. The sodium helps with muscles and brain activity. Sodium and potassium are two key electrolytes. If they ruled out a heart attack and a stroke, they may do an MRI of the brain to make sure that nothing neuro wise is going on. The IV fluids that they will (or are giving) her will help to improve the sodium level, and you may see an immediate improvement.

I hope that this helped. Do keep us informed!!!!


Thanks, RnKyh! I'm sure that she's on IV fluids in the hospital.

Could her thyroid condition and/or medication bring on the low sodium levels?

I think that she had a more mild episode (where she was mostly just really tired) a few weeks ago and they adjusted her thryroid medication and it seemed to help.