Dehydration

[SpookyXXL]

As we all pretty much enter the hotter parts of the year dehydration becomes a big deal, this is most likely what had me so sick for a week thinking something was massively wrong and that I might need to go to the hospital and kept me from working out due to extreme weakness and light headedness as well as nausea. After forcing liquids for a few days I feel better. I know a lot of people know this stuff by heart but I thought I did and was surprised how little liquid you need to be down to feel the symptoms so here is some info I found....

http://www.symptomsofdehydration.com/

The Causes of Dehydration
There are many things that can cause dehydration, the most common are vomiting, diarrhea, blood loss, malnutrition, (read more causes at linked site)

The Signs and Symptoms of Dehydration
(read more symptoms at linked site)
•Extreme fatigue
•Muscle cramps
•Headaches
•Nausea
•Tingling of the limbs

(read more of article at linked site)

Only YOU can know how much water YOU need to be at your best. Thats right, WATER. Not soda, not juice, not sugar-drinks. Pay attention to your fluid loss and take special care to replenish it as it is being lost. By the time you feel thirsty you are already dehydrated - you want to avoid becoming thirsty in the first place. Pay attention to the color of your urine, dark urine is usually an indicator that you are dehydrated. Drink more water, especially infants, children and the elderly.
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((edited by admin to remove bulk of text due to copyright. Please read entire article linked above))

[jillybean720]

I became dehydrated a few weeks after my surgery. I knew I was too far in the hole to get out by just drinking more. I was to the point of rapid heartrate. I did start drinking some G2 in the hopes that would help, but I also got IV fluids to get me back to a good starting point (as luck would have it, I had to spend a day hooked up to an IV in a hospital lab anyway as part of a study I was participating in, so I didn't end up having to go to the ER for it, but I absolutely would have if needed).

If anyone is reading this and thinking you may be dehydrated, please do not be afraid or ashamed to go in for IV fluids. Loss of appetite and nausea can be symptoms of more severe dehydration, which only makes it more and more difficult to overcome the dehydration by drinking more. I know it sounds strange that the more dehydrated you are, the harder it is to drink, but it's true!

[Suzanne 3FC]

I had to edit the article due to copyright and suggest that anyone visit the link to read it in full. I left enough to make the OP's point and hope it's still within fair use guidelines.


HOWEVER I would like to point out an inaccuracy in the article. The author claims that only water counts, not juice etc, which is a common but also medically debunked myth. Juice actually contains water as do other fluids you drink. The body knows what to do with it Even whole foods contain water. Obviously if you restrict calories or sugar then you'll want to choose your fluid accordingly. But technically it all counts toward your daily quota of fluids.

[basketcase]

Totally agree with this!!! And, yes, anything you eat or drink contributes to your water intake. However, Orange Juice with pulp does not. Your body treats it as a solid and has a hard time absorbing the water.

My husband managed to get dehydrated a couple of years ago because he was not feeling well and so he pushed the oj to focus on vitamin C. Ended up in Urgent Care with an IV.

Water and fruit!

[jillybean720]

Originally Posted by basketcase

Totally agree with this!!! And, yes, anything you eat or drink contributes to your water intake. However, Orange Juice with pulp does not. Your body treats it as a solid and has a hard time absorbing the water.

My husband managed to get dehydrated a couple of years ago because he was not feeling well and so he pushed the oj to focus on vitamin C. Ended up in Urgent Care with an IV.

Water and fruit!

Your body can absorb water from foods, even orange juice with pulp. If you eat an orange, your body with absorb some hydration from it. I would venture to guess your husband either had something else going on or was not drinking enough oj for him to have ended up dehydrated (not that I would ever rely primarily on such a sugary drink for my hydration, surgery or not, but saying oj with pulp doesn't provide hydration doesn't make much sense - even if it was a doctor who fed you this line!).

[SpookyXXL]

Trying so hard to stay hydrated, maybe i need more salt...

[jiffypop]

no, honey. just keep drinking. something i noticed after my surgery - and no one else believes me - but i found that i used water 'differently' and i can't explain it other than this: i found that i sweated more. and therefore needed more water.

and it didn't matter if i was exercising or not - i simply sweated more!!! so drink up!!!!

[jillybean720]

I don't think salt is the answer. When you feel thirsty, do you want to reach for peanuts, potato chips, popcorn, etc.? If you fear some sort of electrolyte imbalance, I suggest some Gatorade G2 (watered down if the flavor is to strong).

[KO]

I can't do strait up water it makes me gag
Simply orange or lemon is a little packet of well orange or lemon its great in water

[QuilterInVA]

They give salt tablets to athletes who are doing their thing in hot weather and sweating a lot. The salt helps keep some of the water in the body. I don't know that it would be good for the average person, however.

[SpookyXXL]

It is STILL happening, I have so many damn symptoms when I get dehydrated, I get moody and sleepy and sore all over, I have another dr appointment to do some liver and kidney tests cause I told them I just can't seem to stay hydrated even drinking 64 oz min of water a day.

[jiffypop]

good - let's see what the doc says. And spooky - gotta tell you that i have the same problem [staying hydrated, i mean]. it's HARD. it requires ATTENTION, and i hate doing that.

when the heat first started, i had a lot of trouble, and it got so bad, that i would actually go to fast food places to get unsweetened iced tea!!! But those huge plastic cups gave me an idea. EVERY DAY i put two tea bags in the McD's large cup to make iced tea. when it's ready, i add some splenda and lemon, and PUT IT IN THE FREEZER.

in the HUGE Wendy's cup, i pour in some form of crystal light and freeze it. i take one out, and drink it as it un-freezes. my goal is to drink BOTH during the day. and on days i accomplish that, i'm GREAT. on other days - ummm - not so good.

[SpookyXXL]

Sorry I did not update this I forgot, the dehydration caused a UTI and I was on Levaquin for 3 days... Icky stuff but effective. the problem with the UTI is even without pain it caused me ot have to pee ALOT which just dehydrated me more, a real catch 22.
I am better now and talked to my doc, I drink one qt a day of mix of 1 part each light ocean spray cran, White cherry powerade and water, then try to drink as much as I can after that. it comes out to about 140 calories all day BUT I other than milk I really dont drink any other calories during the day and the electrolytes help

[Leenie]

Great thread !!

I've learned a lot here... and I think it may have answered a few questions that have been floating around in my pea brain.

thanks Chicks