Hyponatremia - my experience when I exercise

When I go into a workout, my sodium is low but not too low ~124-130. That is low for a normal person but for me that is "my normal." Normal is at minimum 136. By the end of a 40 minute cardio or 20 minute HIIT session I will have been through 40-60 oz of water while working out. In the last part of my workout if I continue I'll consume another 20 oz. If I don't have the water with me I feel as though I can't breath correctly and have a hard time keeping my heart rate up while feeling comfortable. I can't even run outside without chugging tons of water before I go. then there is always the potty problem. I go to the bathroom at least once per hour if not more.

About 10 minutes after my cardio my body catches up with me, especially if I was sweating during the workout. I become very weak and start feeling "out of it." I get confused and quiet. I usually gather my stuff and wait for it to pass. I'll even carry salt packets and just eat it when I feel like this. I feel better after eating with tons of salt poured on my food. Other times I don't feel better until a few hours later or even at all.

While lifting I don't drink as much but I DO yawn excessively. I always notice I have extreme yawning. As soon as I exhale a deep breath and do my first set of squats my heart rate goes up and that is what triggers me to drink a ton of water. If my heart rate stays up I continue to drink. If it drops, such as when I am doing an arm day, I'll continue to yawn.

Kind of strange but that is what happens. I don't chug water any other time of the day unless I consume a large quantity of salt in one of my meals. The doctors say I drink too much water. If I don't exercise I usually get edema in my feet. I've attached some pictures from last year. I've never tried any sports drink before this last year because of the high fructose corn syrup and large carb amount. Powerade came out with a sugar free type which I have tried and it has helped. the only problem for me is the price.

I do get cramps occasionally but not as often as I use to. I was taking potassium to help but my doctors told me to stop because after a blood test it showed my potassium was high.

Both sodium and chloride are always low. When I feel normal my sodium level is 124-130 as I mentioned above. I've had it tested as low as 120 before and have never had it tested when I actually feel the side effects after a workout.

I've been tested for a pituitary tumor since I haven't had a period in 6 years and have extreme raynauds syndrome. That was negative. I had my heart tested because my CK enzyme has been high for a few years and the edema. Exercise is suspected to the cause of my CK enzyme which makes sense. My heart is in great shape and nothing showed in the stress test.

Did a 24 hr urine test to test my output of sodium. I urinate over 9 quarts of urine a day and in that urine my sodium concentration is higher than normal. Most people output <2 quarts of urine a day. The doctors say this may mean my kidneys are not functioning correct. I may have diabettis insipidus and am going to a kidney specialist next month so we'll see.
A lot of other strange problems but trying to heal naturally with diet, exercise, and spirituality.



I've attached pictures of my "normal" foot and my edema filled ugly foot.

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