Hello Doctor, I have two questions for you. First, what can a nephrologist do to help my 87 year old mother with an unexplained low sodium problem? Her GP wants her to see one and the appointment is set for next Tuesday. I understand that a nephrologist deals with acute kidney problems which has not been a problem for my mother. And second, is there any reason why I can t use salt tablets to help keep the sodium up until we see this doctor? Previously, my mother s GP and neurologist have looked at the medicines she s taking to no avail. Her neurologist has said that the low sodium led to a few of her seizures. My mother is a heart patient with an irregular heart beat. She had a pacemaker put in several years ago and had surgery to put in a stint in 2001. In addition to this, she s a Type II diabetic, has significant arthritis in her shoulders, knees, and hands, and - in the past 2 years- has had 4 seizures with 2 prior seizures that were misdiagnosed as TIAs by her former doctor. She has frequent headaches in the area where the seizures have a occurred. The medicine she takes is as follows: Omeprazole DR- 1 tab (40 mg) taken - AM Digoxin- 1/2 of a 250 mcg tab taken - AM Isosorbide DN- 10 mg 2x per day Metoprolol Tartrate- 1/2 of a 25 mg tab 2x per day Pradaxa - 150 mg tab 2x per day Levetiracetem (Keppra) - 750 mg 2x per day Loperamide (Immodium over-the-counter) - 250 mg as needed for diaahrea I ve been able to keep her blood sugar down but she has sudden bouts of diaahrea, which we know can cause sodium and dehydration problems. We had a renal panel done yesterday and the results came back today saying her sodium was down to 128. She has seizures at 126. I wanted to give her sodium tablets but her GP said not to do that until she sees the nephrologist. In the meantime her GP knows that I am concerned that she will have another seizure. Any information or advice you could give me would be very helpful. Thank you, in advance, for your time. K. Dennison