Wednesday August 11th 2010 - Not sure what this means!

1 minute read time.

Some of you may remember that mums potassium was low and her GP asked her to eat a banana a day for a month.  Well she did this religiously even when we were in Spain and on Monday the district nurse came to do her bloods.

This morning mum received a phonecall from the GPs receptionist asking if she was doing ok and informing her that Dr Clayton was going to put a treatment plan in place?  Later on in the afternoon Joan, the receptionist, phoned again to tell mum that she was to have another blood test in 4 weeks time.  Mum asked if her potassium was still not ok and was told her potassium was fine but her sodium and urea were out of range hence the need for another blood tests in 4 weeks to see if they come back to normal.

This has concerned me for the following reasons:

  • no idea what this means
  • no idea if high or low
  • how would they come back to normal without some sort of intervention? (like the banana eating Lol!)
  • is this a sign of something?

Think I'll have to phone Christine, mums clinical nurse specialist, and see if she has any answers.  It's very annoying when the receptionist is the point of contact and you only get minimal information.  Mum seems fine but I know the blood test was renal.  Are her kidneys not working properly?  What might have caused this?  I'm very annoyed but don't want to worry mum and I assume if there was a real problem with this they wouldn't leave her for 4 weeks?  Problem is I have no trust in our GP who has only visited mum once since diagnosis in early November 2009.  Anyone any experience of sodium or urea issues?

Anonymous
  • FormerMember
    FormerMember

    I don't have answers to this Caroline, but just wanted to say I hope your mum gets sorted soon.

    It's such a shame that she is making progress then something else crops up. I guess that's the nature of this disease.

    Hope you get the answers you are looking for.

    Christine xx

  • FormerMember
    FormerMember

    Hi hun  

    Dad has had huge problems with his sodium levels infact he was admitted for low sodium on various occasions . If she isnt seeing anyone for 4 weeks then i would keep an eye out for odd behavoiur (forgetfulness confusion etc) and if you see it happening than take mum back to the docs for another blood test

    Dad has lots of sodium tablets to take and is fine now

  • FormerMember
    FormerMember

    Hi Caroline,

    They might get your Mums treatment right one of these days.

    Take care Sarsfield.x

  • FormerMember
    FormerMember

    Hi Caroline

    Try not to worry too much - my elderly mother-in-law (not a cancer patient) has low sodium. I hope they can reassure you soon. Val X

  • FormerMember
    FormerMember

    Mums nurse think it might just be that mum has not been drinking enough especially when we were in Spain and it was very hot.  She's told me not to worry and for mum just to drink a bit more.  There is always a problem getting mum to drink a lot, she only really drinks tea, coffee and, of course being a true scot, the occasional whisky!  Just to keep an eye open for any confusion but Christine thinks that the hot weather may have done it and it'll return to normal.  If we are concerned she'll bring mums clinic appointment forward.