Living with Electrolyte Imbalance

We had been experiencing a heat wave. I was going through menopause and having night sweats and major hot flashes and sweating during the daytime. And I was worrying about my aging parents. The cost of living was going through the roof and I was a sole provider with not enough income. My spouse had medical problems that did not allow him to work. I didn’t realize I was losing weight, mostly from water loss, I guess.

One morning I started having diarrhea which continued all day. By the evening I was feeling pretty drained. I was feeling nauseous so had not eaten anything since early morning. Around 7pm that night, I started feeling a tingling sensation all over my body. I knew something was wrong so my spouse called 911. By the time the ambulance arrived, my muscles in my entire body had started contracting and I could not straighten out my fingers. I’m told this is called posturing. They hooked me up to intervenous and oxygen. I was raced to the nearest emergency room.

I realize now that had I not received emergency treatment, I would have died. When your body is depleted of sodium, your electrolyes don’t work properly and your body starts to shut down. I have made a full recovery but will be following up with my family doctor when she returns from vacation.