Longish response

I'm a mish-mash of symptoms and chronic problems, like everybody else. A recurrent theme for me is low body temperature and a mild mitral valve prolapse, with accompanying sympathetic nervous system dysfunction. It turns on, and isn't easily turned off. So, a lot of my work has been learning what it takes for me to feel calm and clear-headed.

Part of the mitral valve scenario involves low blood volume, for which copious amounts of water are suggested. I've always been obedient. A couple years ago I started having dizzy spells when my head felt like it was swimming in water. I backed off on how much water I was drinking, and sure enough I felt better, but then I started feeling really dry. As I read more on this forum about salt and water, I wondered if using some salt would help the water I drink go to the right places instead of sloshing about in my brain. It did. But I could only use 1/8 teaspoon a day before I felt bloated and retained water.

I got so excited about my head feeling better, I thought the salt would enable me to drink more water. And it did, for awhile. Then the sloshy feeling started again. I've been struggling with low body temps, feeling like the iodine wasn't getting everywhere I wanted it even after two years, and my energy was flagging badly, even for me. And a good night's sleep was so rare I'd celebrate it when it happened.

I'd never thought I had low adrenal function, but my sister is struggling with it so it's been on my mind as a possibility. I did the test of measuring my blood pressure after lying down for 5 minutes, then standing up and measuring it again. Definite 10-point drop. Okay, I got it. I tried Newport's Adrenal Miracle Mix, and just then High on Water was doing her iodine/water fast and testing out doses of potassium and salt, and this all got me thinking about the relationships and all that darned water I drink with a pitiful amount of salt. The potassium in the Adrenal Miracle Mix made me feel really, really bad, so naturally I took more to get better, and then I crashed. About then I got Dr. Wilson's Adrenal book, and he said if you're salt-deficient, potassium will make you feel bad. Well, okay. Salt it was.

I knew I'd feel bad increasing the salt at first because of initial water retention, but Newport said it'd take about 5 days. I felt much better in 3 days, starting with 1/4 teaspoon 3 times a day. Then I started messing with the amount and the timing, because it seemed to bother my sleep at night. Apparently I'm supposed to crave salt when I need it, but I just don't, just as I don't crave water because I rarely feel thirsty. I prefer food not salted very much. But turns out, I love salted water. I keep thinking I've topped out on my dose, but when I got to the next level, I feel even better.

I can't salt all the water I drink, because it really irritates my esophagus and stomach. What I can do is have a 12-oz glass salted as much as I want, followed by another 12-oz glass of clean water. I do this twice a day, first thing in the morning with SSKI drops, and before lunch (no SSKI). The rest of the water I drink is clean (3 quarts total). Today I tried 1 teaspoon in 12 ounces, and I finally noticed it tasted a little salty. So today the total will be 2 teaspoons. I'll let that stand for at least 3 days and see how I feel.

I feel more supported, and warmer, and more energetic, but not frantic. I can sense how this works with thyroid support, though I may need to increase the thyroid glandular I'm using. I understand that low overall temps mean low thyroid, while erratic temps mean low adrenals. I have both. Don't know exactly where this salt experiment is headed, but I'm excited to be on the way.

(Note - I take adrenal support nutrients already, such as iodine, vit C, pantethine and B complex, plenty of protein and good fat, CoQ10, magnesium. I get a lot of potassium in fruit and nuts. I'm hoping the salt is a missing link for me.)