Question: Dear Doctor,

I wonder if you could help me,

In April this year so 5 months ago I went to my doctor due to low mood and stress. The doctor did a routine blood test due to me not eating a lot at the time (mainly due to the stress) but just to rule out any stomach problems. The results came back with an abnormally high ALT/GGT on my liver test and Low Sodium(Hyponatremia). I had two repeat blood tests the latest one showing the GGT had risen from 120 to 240 and the sodium was still low (not sure of the exact number). The doctor booked me in for an abdomen ultrasound (liver mainly but they also looked at my kidneys, pancreas, spleen, etc)

I am getting the results of the Scan next Tues (9th Oct) but they also want to test my urine for Urine Osmolality and Urine Sodium and they want me to do another blood test with a range of extra things on especially regarding the function of my liver and kidneys.

Symptoms wise I feel fine in myself although I have felt quite tired the last few months but have put that down to late nights/not working (although people have commented on why I should be so tired at 26!) I am slightly overweight for my height at 5"1, 14 stone.
For the last 2 years I have had intermittent pain in my calves mainly when walking (at a normal pace) Someone told me it was due to lack of salts so I tried drinking more water as I know I dont drink enough, it did get better for a while but I seem to have bouts intermittenly of a few weeks/months of it being really bad, and then it gets a bit better and then gets bad again. I do drink a lot of caffeine of 2-3 strong cups a day which I know doesn't help)

I have also noticed for the last two years that my ankles sometimes swell especially after doing a lot of walking/being on my feet for quite a while, I thought this maybe due to my job (I did a job where I was on my feet 12 hours a day) but my ankle swelling still happens even now.

I seem to also get bad headaches and dizziness and very dark urine, I have tried to increase my intake of fluid but I have read online that doesn't help the low sodium.

I know I am getting the results of the scan and urine analysis on Tues but Iam getting really worried about the cause of this all.

have you got any ideas what this could be? Also I read that Hyponatremia also causes excess water but how can that be if my fluid intake is so low?

Any help would be really appreciated

XXXXXX

Hi Dr,

Firstly thank you very much for your detailed reply,

Just one thing, my urine isn't always very dark but is particully dark in the mornings, it then maybe becomes a dark yellow/yellow colour and can sometimes remain that colour even when I have had litre of water, I also do have a particularly bad thirst . If the hyponatremia is caused by dehydration what would be the best way to resolve it?

Many Thanks

XXXXXX