I just went through a bout with kidney stones/infection. The good thing? It totally re-set my eating patterns and reinforced my need to drink more water. The problem? I feel like I'm going to get fired if I have to keep using the bathroom at least every hour. And I'm not talking - "Let's empty out my bladder because I'm at a bathroom" kind of using. I'm talking - If there's a line and I have to wait for even a few minutes, it could get embarrassing.
My "magic number" for water intake is about 160 oz., based on my weight, my activity level, and my new-found propensity for kidney stones. I actually enjoy drinking the water. I have also found that I get fewer headaches. But I literally cannot continue the constant use of the bathroom. I have heard that my bladder will expand, but I am almost done with week 2 and finally back at work, and no such luck so far.
Thoughts? Tips? Information for a self-maintained catheter?
160oz is an intense amount of water! The most I can do is 2 gallons and that's if I'm pushing it! Good on you hon for being so dedicated. I know you'll succeed!
I don't any tips, but can only imagine!! I feel like I'm always going to the bathroom, and even joke that no wonder drinking a lot of water is good for weightloss... since it ups your exercise walking to and from the bathroom all day.
I'm in the same boat! I drink about 125 ounces a day, and today I think if I would have weighed before and after I could have lost five pounds.
Word on the streets is that it gets better, you adjust.
My urologist is the one who gave me the formula for the "magic number." It's based largely on weight, so hopefully, it should gradually go down. And I shouldn't have said "water," because it's really fluids. I need to mix in some electrolytes and some cranberry juice. The number was higher when I was trying to flush stones, and so I read up a little on water intoxication. It's pretty serious, I guess.
Thanks, everyone, for their thoughts and advice. Jennie - I Googled some conversions, and I think that 160 ounces is only like 1 1/3 gallons. 2 gallons is a huge amount! (And now that I'm re-reading your post, you probably knew that, and I just misread.) Here's hoping for some bladder adjustment! For us all!
I dont know how fast you are consuming the liquid but would it help to have it more slowly? I know you can't go that gradually because you have so much volume to fit in but really sipping instead of gulping (if that is what you do) may make it more usuable to your body for longer so you wouldnt need to evacuate so often. The only time I hold on to water a long time when I gulp is when I'm replacing fluid when I spin otherwise I'm in the ladies 30 minutes afterward like clockwork.
Wow, I can't imagine doing 160 oz! I feel good if I can make it through 96oz (I aim for 64 oz-96 oz per day)! I'm not sure what kind of advice to give. I work in a really relaxed environment for, at most, six hours/day and not every day (I'm a grad student). Besides, since I'm consuming like half of what you are, I usually only have to use the restroom once or twice while I am at work.
Anyway, honesty is always the best policy in my book - if anyone complains just say that your doctor told you to drink 160oz and leave it at that. Besides, I agree with everyone else that it will get better. You yourself said that your liquid intake will lessen as you lose weight and, anyway, your bladder will probably also get used to the amount of water you drink, at least to a certain extent. Good luck!
I drink a gallon of water a day (128 OZ) and sometimes more and I know what you mean about going constantly. I will tell you that after about a month it got a lot easier. At first I was in the bathroom every 30 min and two or 3 times a night. Now it seems that I am in the bathroom every couple hours and once at night. Good luck and I promise it gets better.
Wow! 160 ozs of water is an incredible amount and I'm lucky if I can get it 80 myself. My ears perked up when you mentioned the headaches though. Did you used to get them often? I get a headache nearly everyday of my life! I wonder if the answer could be that simple...that I'm just dehydrated?
I found a link that helps you calculate how much water you should drink based on weight, exericise, climate and many other factors. It also gives you some idea of how much of that water should come from food, if you're eating a health diet and what other "fluids" count. It was pretty interesting if anyone is interested.
Yep, JamiSue. I used to get daily headaches as well, and I had gotten into the horrible habit of taking Excedrin for them. (I don't drink coffee or caffeinated sodas, so I was really enjoying the caffeine high!) Of course, that complicated what I am now starting to acknowledge was probably a dehydration issue. I am no longer getting them with any frequency, and when I do get them, they are far less severe. I've put the Excedrin in the toybox.
I also went through the hydration calculator quiz. It puts me at 144 ounces.
I will try less gulping. I do have a tendency to drink large amounts in a short amount of time, and it makes sense that this would contribute. Thanks for the tip. The amount of water is challenging to just sip, but I could do better about distributing.
Again, thanks everyone for your input. It's appreciated.
...and I had gotten into the horrible habit of taking Excedrin for them.
OMG! Excedrin is my go to headache drug!! Ack! I am NEVER without it because my headaches are so frequent! And to think that all this time, I may have just been sabotaging myself! Sheesh. Okay, I am seriously going to work up to the 110 oz (factoring in what I "should" be getting from my food) of fluids per day. I HATE headaches and drugs - hopefully, I'll kill two birds with...some water?
This might sound odd, but I find if I "power chug" most of my water, I get the same good effect of the water and use the BR less. About 4 times a day I drink about 24 ounces very quickly - in less than 5 minutes. Just water. I do this about every 3 - 4 hours - I have to pee in about an hour. I try for 7am, 11am, 3pm, 7pm. I started doing this on the advice of a women's fitness trainer. In between, you sip your drinks and drink just enough to quench your thirst. Of course, if you are exercising, you have to drink more to replace and replenish, etc. My understanding is that your body holds what it needs and dumps the rest because it "learns" there is more coming shortly. I don't retain water like I used to, and I find I'm almost never thirsty in between (except when exercising - drink lots when exercising). In between is when I have the occasional glass of juice, ice tea, etc.
I also agree that it gets easier with time. Good luck!
About 4 times a day I drink about 24 ounces very quickly - in less than 5 minutes.
Wow! You are amazing, Lin!
Many of you set the bar high for water intake and I find it so inspiring! I have a girlfriend that does the "power chug" thing too and it really seems to work for her as well.
Lots of great ideas to experiment with in this thread. Thanks ladies!
Increased water intake = increased water output
when you mentioned the headaches though. Did you used to get them often? I get a headache nearly everyday of my life! I wonder if the answer could be that simple...that I'm just dehydrated?
