We're at the hospital

Juliann,

Sorry to hear about mama, but it may be a blessing in disguise, perfect way to get the scans done, it just normal to want to see whats up, standard procedure for mama..you could fib alittle and tell her its just precautionary..Ginger

Hey guys. I can't write much now because my kids are kinda driving me nuts. Patricia, you are too smart for me! Could you say that again in easier terms? In short also, Mama has been having trouble swallowing. Doc says it is viral....Makes me wonder if he is justing saying that. Write more later.

Hi Julieann,
I'm sorry about your mother's problems, but glad you're getting the doctors involved. It sounds like a case for...chicken soup.

I know hospital food is pretty horrible (why is that?), so perhaps you can smuggle some in.

I hope it's something as simple as diet, that would be great.
All the best, hang in there.
Wendy

Julieann, I don't know anything about low sodium and I did not understand Patricia's explanation. But have them do the scans while she is in the hospital. I think your brother-in-law is right about needing information to figure out what to watch for.
I think if you miss the Doctors you can have the nurse phone them to let them know you want to talk with them. I got a good response this way the last time Dick was in the hospital. The Doctors schedule for visits was unpredictable. Take Care Julie

I don't know Julieann...this could be her diet ..it could be from the cancer.
Hyponatremia can be the result of a lot of different things.......
Severe malnutrition seen in weight conscious women (low protein, high water intake diet) is a special condition in which a markedly decreased intake of solutes occurs, which limits the ability of the kidney to handle the free water. Because a mandatory solute loss of 50-100 mOsm/kg of urine exists, free water intake in excess of solute needs can produce hyponatremia.
It is very important to try and get this condition reversed. Make sure the doctor knows exactly what her diet has been, and water intake, and drugs..over the counter included....that she may be taking.
I hope the best for you and mom.......Pat

Well, Mama was admitted to the hospital this afternoon. Her blood tests came back that her sodium was critically low. This could be a blessing in disguise really. It gives us a chance to discuss her new found diet. She is not intaking enough salt and then she drinks 6-8 glasses of water a day which I guess flushes what little she has out. She will be here for a couple of days probably. During that time, we will request that a nutritionist talk to her. I am spending the night and will discuss more with her about the scans. My brother in law who is a nurse thinks that scans would be helpful in what symptoms to watch for. By that I mean that if we knew exactly where it is, we might understand any new symptoms that arise.....make sense. I don't intend to pressure her to ask for scans. Just to encourage her to do what she feels is best. When the doc comes, I also plan to question him about the B12. Could this low sodium possibly explain her memory problems?