An Australian woman, Nina Munro, nearly lost her life after consuming excessive amounts of water in an attempt to “flush out” what she thought was a cold. Feeling unwell, she drank about four liters of water to relieve her symptoms, which, combined with her cold and flu medications, triggered a seizure.
The 41-year-old spent five days in intensive care, where doctors worked to stabilize her, unsure how she survived. Now, she only drinks when thirsty, realizing she was “slowly drowning herself” without knowing it.
Six weeks before her hospitalization, Nina had cold and cough symptoms and consulted five doctors, receiving multiple medications. She was prescribed “three courses of steroids, three antibiotics, nasal sprays, and Nurofen,” which she said created a “perfect storm” that lowered her sodium levels.
Following advice to drink plenty of water, she did so diligently, believing it would help flush out the illness. In the days leading up to her hospitalization on June 15, she felt unwell during a gym class and was advised to drink more water. The next day, after experiencing blurred vision, she was again told to increase her water intake.
By the time she was hospitalized, she had been vomiting for three days. On June 15, having consumed nothing but four liters of water, she was admitted to the hospital.
Reflecting on her experience, Nina said, “Doctors didn’t know how I survived. I was slowly drowning myself without realizing it. My husband noted I wouldn’t go anywhere without a glass of water. I feel like someone was watching over me. I thought I was super healthy.”
She wasn’t discharged until her sodium levels normalized and expressed the difficulty of being separated from her daughter for five days. “In the ICU, I couldn’t drink anything at first, and later, I was restricted to 1.5 liters of water per day. Now, I naturally drink less and only when I’m thirsty.”
Her sodium level had dropped to 100 milliequivalents per liter, well below the normal range of 135. The crisis was attributed to a combination of overhydration, her medications, and a mycoplasma infection. Although her memory of the ICU stay is hazy, Nina recognizes how lucky she was to survive and has since made a full recovery.