Low sodium occurs after treatment with diuretics. It can lead to syncope. Patients with fluid retention like those with congestive heart failure, kidney disease, liver disease swell up and diuretics are prescribed to expel the excess fluid, but they also flush the sodium out. These are serious medical life-threatening conditions.
While hyponatremia CAN occur from diuretics, if those diuretics are not the thiazides it is quite rare. Low potassium is the much much more frequent electrolyte going South with diuretic use. The OP says below that this hyponatremia is as a result of cancer treatments; much more common especially if there is nausea and vomitting in any appreciable amount. Point is it could at this point be any of the above, and certainly you are right; it is life threatening.
Ok, the low sodium is a result of the cancer. They stopped tagrisso 2 months ago due to severe skin rash. Low sodium was discovered after she fell and broke her shoulder. Shoulder is healed but she was admitted twice for low sodium over the last two months. She was home for 1 month, did PT and OT, taking sodium chloride 2mg 3X a day. She started getting confused 2 days ago, fell again (no injury) and we are back in the ER and they said it's low sodium again! My question is does she need supervised care? She lives alone, we have medical alert and I have caregivers come for dinners. She seems open to more help, MD seems to be leaving it up to us. My concern is how quickly her sodium levels change, being a fall risk and confusion over meds, etc
If she does not need it now you can be certain that she will need 24/7 care sooner or later. It is difficult in the acute stage to predict, and your Mom's doc is the best to give you prognosis where this is involved.
We really need you to elaborate on your question. Why is your Mom getting the low sodium? Is this a result of the cancer itself or from treatment. How is her health otherwise. What is her mentation, and her access to help. What is the recommendation of her MD and what are her wishes. Is she receiving any help from hospice? What makes you worry, specifically, about her safety. Hoping to hear more details from you.
disease, liver disease swell up and diuretics are prescribed to expel the excess fluid, but they also flush the sodium out. These are serious medical
life-threatening conditions.