HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

has anyone had a Craving salt?

Support Forums
>
Ostomies
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
12
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 10/23/2013 12:51 PM (GMT 0)
Hi,  for the last few months I have been really craving for salty foods/ drinks. I drink at least 3 cups of hot bovril a day and seem to put loads on my food. Its scaring me a bit as it surely  it can't be healthy to be having this much  salt a dayI contacted the IBD nurses and they looked back on my bloods and said the sodium levels were fine . There must be something that iam lacking or an underlying problems somewhere. Has anyone ever experienced this? And no I'm definately not pregnant lol!!!  Although the cravings are just like thatxx  
Posted 10/23/2013 7:39 PM (GMT 0)
Hi,
Since i got my ileostomy last year, i have been craving salt as well. I add a lot of salt to my meals now, i just assumed since i don't take in as much salt anymore, my body craves more of it.
Posted 10/23/2013 9:59 PM (GMT 0)
Saltine crackers have been my best friend since surgery...I crave those things all the time
Posted 10/23/2013 11:11 PM (GMT 0)
The colon absorbs a lot of salt..... waste sits in there for over a day.... so with no colon, a lot of salt just flows out into the bag.

One of the perks.... we don't have to worry about sodium in the same way that people w/regular plumbing do.
Posted 10/24/2013 12:42 AM (GMT 0)
I did notice this before surgery, so perhaps it has something to do with dehydration in general, but yes, I have a much saltier tooth than I used to. For a while I was mildly addicted to instant noodles: not the weaksauce Batchelors noodles, but the proper spicy (and salty) stuff from Asia.

I've calmed down a bit and am not eating a packet of noodles every day for lunch anymore, but I still eat them regularly. I like bovril on toast too!
Posted 10/24/2013 8:41 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks so much for your replies I made an appointment with my GP and saw him today He suggested I had a blood test to check Thyroid & Calcium as a deficiency in them could be a cause for wanting salt. Will get the results back tomorrow will let you know x
Posted 10/24/2013 9:37 PM (GMT 0)
Yeah, I would be interested to know the results actually! I was diagnosed with Hashimoto's thyroiditis by my GP, but he seems to diagnose you with whatever is the first idea that passes through his mind <_<.

That said I have had some strange thryoid results. I did try taking levothyroxine for a month, but it made me even more fatigued.

I seem to be constantly thirsty as well. I'd better get up and have some water :-/
Posted 10/24/2013 10:06 PM (GMT 0)
Please update us Cronhnielass. I had no idea that a Thyroid issue and Calcium deficiency could cause thirst. The things you learn on this board!
Posted 10/24/2013 10:42 PM (GMT 0)
Ever seen when they bake a whole fish in a salt crust? I don't think I'd need to remove the crust before eating..............I AM A SALT FREAK!
Posted 10/25/2013 12:08 PM (GMT 0)
The large intestine mainly absorbs salt and water. Without it, we lack both which explains the salt cravings and why it's easy to dehydrate.

I'm always asked if I'd like some chips with my salt :)
Posted 10/25/2013 4:24 PM (GMT 0)
So I called up for the results of the blood test and was told by receptionist that I need a telephone cosultation with a doc so have to ring back  Monday. Looks like its one of the tests is the offender hoping its only Calcium and not Thyroid issues shocked will keep you updated thanks for the other replies wink x

 

Posted 10/25/2013 4:28 PM (GMT 0)
NCOT, where do you get those noodles from are they where the Bachelors super noodles are in supermarket would love to try them love spicy and Salt! Thanks hun xx
Posted 10/26/2013 12:07 AM (GMT 0)
I get them from Tesco in Dunstable, crohnielass, but not every Tesco sells them unfortunately. However, if you do online shopping, then you can get them from Tesco online. Let me just check that, though... >.>

Yep, I was right! Link's a bit unwieldy, so I won't post it, but doing a search for mama noodles on their website brings them up. Also try a search for mie sedaap. They're another brand of noodle (Indonesian, I think) and also really nice.

Otherwise, your best bet would be an Asian supermarket, as no normal supermarket will stock such exotic brands. Apart from Tesco in Dunstable <_<. Anyway, I hope you enjoy them! :p

Edit: Oh, and I'm hoping calcium is the one which is the 'off' result as well. So much easier to take a calcium supplement than fix a wonky thyroid!
Posted 10/26/2013 12:24 AM (GMT 0)
I noticed this immediately after surgery.  In fact, I used to have a major sweet tooth, and post surgery, the thought of anything sweet was not at all appealing.  All I wanted were salty foods!  Actually, I had my surgery around the holidays, and the only sweet food I could stomach was homemade chocolate chip cookies because they do have good salt content.  It all evened out after a while though, but I never really did get back the sweet tooth I once had. 
Posted 10/26/2013 8:24 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks again for your replies It seems most of us tend to want salty things. I do always feel thirsty to, even before i had surgery but I had fistula's then and they didn't help but the salt thing has become a real issue these last few months. It was bad on thursday forgot to take my Bovril to work with me and felt panicky so went to the kitchen and asked for a oxo cube which I dissolved in hot water and drank it. Really is like an addiction ;0(

Thanks NCOT, going food shopping today so will have a look for the noodles I brought some Asian cackers yesterday haven't tried them yet x
Posted 10/27/2013 3:42 AM (GMT 0)
Did they just let you hang all weekend with no info?
Posted 10/27/2013 9:12 AM (GMT 0)
Active UCcer, Yep have to ring doc monday for telephone chat. Tomorrow can't come quick enough x
Posted 10/28/2013 6:27 PM (GMT 0)
 I got a phone call this afternoon from the GP  both blood test have come back normal but, my Creatininelevels have come back really high they should be about 60 mine was 174 he was quite concerned and asked me to speak to the IBD nurse. I explained about the salt craving and he said it could be that making me dehydrated or the Imuran. Its not the Imuran as I have been on it since end of march and  had regular bloods done and it has always come back normal he said I had to ban salt from my diet for 48 hrs and have another blood test done wed Im struggling already without having something salty let alone going 48 hrs.

Feeling really frustrated and aggitated right now Im still no further forward If i do manage to not eat/ drink anything the bloods will come back fine i think ( the doc said it only takes 3 days for the problem to fix its self) but then what, when Im still crave salt. I now know how a smoker must feel when they want a cigarrete and don't have any! Ill have to get hold of IBD nurse tomorrow and see what she suggests if anything Arrrggghhhhh!!!! sad sad

Post Edited (crohnielass) : 10/28/2013 12:30:52 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 10/28/2013 6:31 PM (GMT 0)
So they found an affect of too much salt (the high Creatinine levels) but they didn't find the cause of your thirst? Or would the Creatinine levels actually cause the thirst too?
Posted 10/28/2013 6:51 PM (GMT 0)
Hi, yeah the doc said it could be to much salt causing it I tried to explain that I had been serverly dehydrated at the beginning of the year so I know the symptoms but I have no symptoms like that at all. I get up in the morning not wanting a drink just something salty whether it be a cup of bovril or toast with marmite but then within an hour I drink a pint of juice because I feel thirsty then I'm fine for a few hours and then I want someting salty again and thats what its like all day till I go to bed. so even though I'm drinking fluids aswell as salty things the levels are still high Its driving me mad there must be a reason for my body to be wanting feels like im going round & round in circles xx
Posted 10/29/2013 12:32 AM (GMT 0)
Sorry there was no solution provided.
Posted 10/30/2013 5:08 PM (GMT 0)
IBD nurse called me today she has spoken to my GI and has said not to worry to much nothing is going to happen today or next week he doesn't think the med i'm on is causing crave as the drug affects the liver function more the kidney. He said he will get to the root of the problem for me ( bless him) he has arranged for me to see a dietian and nutrition nurse tomorrow afternoon at the hospital. Wish I had just called the IBD nurse sooner rather going through GP hopefully the salt issue will be resolved soon fingers crossed x
Posted 10/31/2013 2:37 PM (GMT 0)
ever since my ileo op i crave salt big time! i add A LOT to my food, eat a whole can of pickles in brine all at once and i like to leak plain salt on my finger. i feel thirsty to salt. i'd be glad to know your dr's answer.
Posted 10/31/2013 2:38 PM (GMT 0)
oh and my sodium levels are also always good.
Posted 11/1/2013 11:18 AM (GMT 0)
Any news? This does seem very unsettling.... sounds like something beyond "people with ileostomies tend to crave salt" is going on. I hope it's not too hard to figure out what it is and that the solution is relatively simple.... hope you get relief soon.

Were you able to do the no salt for three days?

Glad the nurse was helpful.
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
12