Living with Electrolyte Imbalance

I am sharing my story because I had never heard of an electrolyte imbalance until it happened to me and this has been a traumatic experience.

Here’s my story:
Late in February (2008), I went to drive a friend of mine home. I dropped her off, waved goodbye, and drove hours lost (in a city that I grew up in) until I ran off the road an hour from my house and had a blow-out on a tire.

The police came as well as a wrecker and I was arrested for possible DWI/DUI. I was in jail for about a week and I cannot remember any of this as well as my husband and mother coming to visit me.

I was found unconscious in a cell lying in my own waste when the jailers finally called an ambulance. I was rushed to the Emergency Room where it was discovered that my kidneys had shut down and my respiratory system was barely working. My body temperature was 94! My family members were informed by the doctor that he did not know if I would make it. I was given dialysis and this was successful, however. Praise God! I have full control again.

My breathing is still labored and I am still weak because I was in ICU for 10-11 days. My doctor said that my electrolytes were out of whack and started giving me potassium and magnesium via IV. He informed me that if I ever got this bad off again, that I would die. I am concerned that it may happen again because I do not know what caused it in the first place and this pending case has me stressed out even though I am believing that the Lord will bring me through this. The not knowing is what is bothering me.
If anyone has had a similar experience of knows someone who has had the memory loss, confusion, and disorientation, please contact me.

I want to know what I can do to control this not happening again. Thanks so much!