<<Disclaimer: Verify this information before applying it to your situation.>> QUESTION: Has anyone with Celiac had any kind of experience with their sodium levels dropping? REPLIES: Whenever I feel fatigued or dizzy because of low sodium levels I take a teaspoon full of Sodium Bicarbonate mixed in with some water. The Bicarb works within about an hour and last for a day or so. Low sodium means low blood volume, which means weakness, poor oxygen to the brain, etc. I think that the body treat gluten as if it is a toxin/poison. It therefore starts to reduce blood volume as a way of restricting the poison's effect. Avoid sodium chloride(table salt) as this too is a poison. It is much better to use Sea-salt!!! * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Since I also have Sjogren's Syndrome, my rheumy has attributed it to my fluid intake, but honestly, when I look back at past blood test results, I've had low sodium counts long before I was diagnosed with Sjogren's. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * I have been fighting low sodium levels since diagnosed and have been on 600Mg declomycin since diagnosed in 96 and it has dropped down as far as 113 and right now it is 126. I have weekly blood tests and am restricted on my fluid intake to 3 glasses 8 oz. daily plus one in my food. My feet have been swelling and it has been a hard battle esp. in the summer. Would like to have you keep me posted as to how you are doing. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Yes, I get very weak and feel a strange sensation that is very unpleasant just under the center of my rib cage, that no doctor can explain. The only help for this is taking some salt. I understand it is adrenal insufficiency. My blood pressure doesn't drop when this happens. Most people's do. My blood pressure rises. I have been hospitalized 2 from cardiac symptoms from this. When they give me a routine saline solution intravenously, the blood pressure and heart rhythm returns to normal, and then they can't figure out what happened. Dr. Gerald Posenecker has a site on the web it is called - Chronic Fatigue Unmasked I believe. He is quick to answer emails. He is in Quakertown and has treated me for this condition for 4 or more years. I think it is an off shoot of immune problems caused by CD. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * First email: Before I was put on tpn Everything dropped and I'd been gf for 16 yrs I emailed back asking what tpn was and received the following email: Total parenteral nutrition = complete nutrition through a centeral line that is placed into a large vein that leads into the heart . I had too late a diagnosis for celiac disease so my villi was too damaged for to eat solid gf food, I did well on an elemental liq diet for yrs but because the different parts of the electroyletes can't be controlled , I had lots of trouble and in TPN every aspect can be controlled providing ones doctor is willing to not use a one size fits all. 3rd email: Many Drs let their patients die and not put them on TPN. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * I have trouble with keeping my sodium levels up. The doctor said to use the salt shaker more, which did not help. I am now taking Electrolyte Stamina Tablets from Trace Minerals. I suppose another brand would work. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * This is a question of great interest to me. Every time I go to see my doctor he fusses because my sodium level is low. I asked him what's the fuss? He's checking it again now this week. I told him it's always been low, but he's very unhappy. It's a big question with me. Please let me know if you get any answers. I discussed this yesterday with a nutritionist at our celiac support group and she indicated that a deficit of aldosterone secretion by the adrenal glands would result in an excess loss of sodium through an excess loss of water (voiding frequently maybe especially at night) resulting in a decrease in blood volume...Resulting in fainting etc. etc. Worse case scenario - seizures. Drink a little salt water before going to bed. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Yes, I had (have low sodium levels now and take potassium pills and eat 1/2 banana each day or get severe leg cramps/ I also went to hospital with a slight heart attack" turned out to be low sodium levels. It affected my adrenal glands at one time as well. Hope this helps.