Can abnormal electrolytes disrupt my decision-making?

Question

Hello doctor,

My report has creatinine 3.22 mg/dL, phosphorus 1.5 mg/dL, calcium 14.4 mg/dL, potassium 2.5 mEq/L, and parathyroid hormone 221.0 pg/mL.

Can you please explain how hypercalcemia, hypokalemia, and hypophosphatemia can affect my cognitive function and mental clarity?
Would I be able to make clear decisions with those levels?

I signed a binding document the day before I collapsed on the ER floor, and I do not remember much from the week before I was hospitalized.

Please help.

Thank you.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I have gone through your query and understand your concern.

Regarding your symptoms, I reviewed your lab results carefully (attachment removed to protect the patient’s identity), and I believe you may have developed secondary hyperparathyroidism (a disorder where the parathyroid glands enlarge and overproduce parathyroid hormone (PTH) in response to a chronic condition causing low blood calcium levels) from a possible adrenal gland tumor (growths on the adrenal glands).

This could be affecting your kidney function and leading to significant electrolyte imbalance in your blood. These changes may have raised your urea levels, which can accumulate in the brain and cause clouded thinking, confusion, altered awareness, or even coma.

I will need more tests to be done

A brain CT (computed tomography) scan.
A thyroid function test.
An abdominal ultrasound.

Please share the results with me so I can identify the source of the illness.

Are you taking any chronic medications?

Kindly send the remaining reports as well so I can make an appropriate therapeutic decision. I hope this information helps.

In the meantime, please drink plenty of water to support your kidney function.

I hope I have answered your question.

Let me know if I can assist you further.

Thank you.