Dan Abel wrote:

> Also, salt is an essential nutrient. I was sick a few weeks ago, and my
> consumption of everything dropped to zero, including salt. I got very
> sick. I spent 8 hours in the ER. The primary cure was IV salt, 4
> liters worth. I am currently on a high salt, high calorie diet, trying
> to recover. It feels weird, since I've spent the last several decades
> trying to reduce salt and calories.
>
It sounds like you had a case of dehydration and needed fluids, not
saline. Normal Saline IV fluid is isotonic to the body. It does have
sodium but no more than you normally carry around on board. We also give
"half normal" saline frequently, depending on where we want fluids to
travel, such as into or out of cells and interstitial space. We *rarely*
give IV fluids with more sodium in it than your body.