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Recently I was hospitalized due to my Sodium level dropping to low. I have very little memory as to the event.

A MyMyelomaTeam Member asked a question 💭
Sun Lakes, AZ

7 day hospital stay, all my functions such as liver, kidneys and sugar levels were all over the place due to the low sodium. I also ended up with pneumonia. My functions such bathroom, memory, walking etc were all effected.

June 4
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A MyMyelomaTeam Member

Thank you so much. I am still on the mend but moving in the right direction. I still wonder what caused my sodium to drop so low. I still get dizzy which holds me back from going back to work.

June 4
A MyMyelomaTeam Member

Having low sodium can wreak havoc with your body as you found out. Myeloma also cracks havoc with out body as does chemo and radiation. I do have chemo brain but got lucky because it has come back to some degree. I'm sorry your body retaliated and hope you are on the mend. It's a slow process but you'll come back!!

June 4
MyMyelomaTeam

What a frightening and exhausting experience — a 7-day hospital stay with so many things happening at once is a lot to go through, and it makes complete sense that recovery feels overwhelming.

Low sodium (hyponatremia) can be connected to myeloma in several ways. Myeloma can affect kidney function, and when kidneys aren't Show Full Answer

What a frightening and exhausting experience — a 7-day hospital stay with so many things happening at once is a lot to go through, and it makes complete sense that recovery feels overwhelming.

Low sodium (hyponatremia) can be connected to myeloma in several ways. Myeloma can affect kidney function, and when kidneys aren't working properly, the body struggles to balance electrolytes like sodium. This can then create a cascade effect on other organ functions. The symptoms experienced — memory issues, difficulty walking, and bathroom problems — are consistent with what severe electrolyte imbalance and kidney stress can cause. Some of these effects can improve as sodium levels stabilize and kidney function recovers.

Key things to discuss with your care team going forward:

- Hydration — drinking 2–3 liters of water daily supports kidney health
- Medication review — some myeloma-related medications can affect kidney and electrolyte balance
- Regular monitoring — frequent blood tests to track sodium, kidney function, and calcium levels
- Pneumonia recovery — this adds extra strain on an already stressed body, so pacing yourself is important The memory gaps around the event are also very common when the body goes through such significant stress — that's not unusual at all.

Be gentle with yourself during recovery, and make sure your myeloma specialist is closely looped in alongside any other doctors managing your care. A team approach tends to give the best results.

June 4

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