Woman almost died from drinking too much water but it doesn't seem that much
A woman almost died after drinking too much water in an attempt to 'flush out' what she thought was a cold.
Australian woman Nina Munro was feeling unwell, and drank around four litres of water to try and help her clear the sickness. However, the combining of water and medications she was taking for the cold and flu resulted in a seizure.
The 41-year-old said doctors told her they weren't sure how she survived as she spent five days in intensive care while they tried to stabilise her.
Now, she understandably only drinks when she's thirsty, saying she 'was slowly drowning myself and didn't even know it'.
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Six weeks before she ended up in hospital, she'd started getting symptoms for coughs and colds, seeing five doctors in that time and being prescribed a variety of medicine.
She was prescribed 'three lots of steroids, three lots of antibiotics, nasal sprays and Nurofen', describing it as 'a perfect storm to lower my sodium'.
The mum was also given the advice to drink plenty of water, advice she kept, following to the point where she 'just kept thinking I needed to drink all this water to flush it out'.
In the days leading up to 15 June when she was admitted to hospital, she felt ill during a gym class and was told to drink water.
The following day, she had a 'haze' in front of her eyes, and was again told to drink more.
Doctors thought she might have been having withdrawal symptoms from taking steroids.
By the time she was admitted to hospital, she'd been vomiting for about three days.
On 15 June, she'd eaten nothing but had drunk four litres of water.
She said: "All the doctors didn't know how I survived it, I was slowly drowning myself and I didn't even know it!
"My husband said I wouldn't do anything without a glass of water by my side.
"I think someone was looking out for me. I thought I was a super-healthy person.
"They wouldn't let me leave [hospital] until my sodium level began to increase. I didn't see my daughter for five days which was so hard. I didn't want her to see me in the state I was in.
"The first few days in ICU I couldn't drink anything and when I left hospital I was on a restricted 1.5 litre diet and naturally now drink less.
"They told me to drink for thirst only. They were investigating whilst I was in ICU for five days."
When tested, her sodium levels were 100 milliequivalents per litre, which is well below the recommended minimum level of 135.
When this was discovered, doctors told her a mixture of drinking too much water, the medication she was on, and a mycoplasma infection had combined to put her in serious danger.
Nina says her time in ICU was a bit patchy in memory but knows she is lucky to be alive.
Thankfully, she's since made a full recovery.
Joe Harker