Dehydration ?

books4brooke

I don't know if anyone can answer this, but I thought I'd ask anyway. 

How do you know if you are dehydrated (particularly to the point of needing to get fluids)?

I cannot drink much water and have been trying to get fluids through Vitamin Water (or Gatorade) and juice.  I also can also handle hot better, so I've been drinking coffee (helps with headaches) and soup and sometimes hot water with honey.  I still don't feel like it's enough though, and it doesn't feel like I'm getting as much as I did pp.

My doc's office told me that the rule was peeing at least every 5 hours, which I do think I'm doing.  But I know I'm having some other symptoms, just don't know if it's to the point of going in.  My lips are chapped, I am really thirsty, dark urine, and I'm wondering if this headache today isn't from lack of fluids.  

Now that I type it out, it's probably worth a call to the on-call doc, but I hate being a PITA patient and feel like I've already called too much this pregnancy. 

Alliebooberz

What I'm reading from you is exactly what I was thinking in your last paragraph.  Call the doctor -  It's NOT going to hurt to go in and get some IV fluids!! Especially the dark urine part and how sick you've been.  My dr told me to always call if my m/s got that bad and that I could go get a bag or 2 of IV fluids just to help me stay hydrated and from the people who have had to do that so far, they say they feel so much better after.

Squishy622

I had the same problem a few weeks ago and I was really concerned about it. Even though I was peeing often, I also had all of the other things you described and I just felt so feeble and lethargic. I thought I needed IV fluids so I made an appointment with the on-call doc that day. She was a complete b!tch and shot me down, told me to take more zofran, and I left the office in tears. It just so happened that I started my ascent into feeling better the next day, but if I had continued to feel like that I would have either insisted on seeing my own doc or gone to the ER for fluids.

I say trust the signals your body is giving you and I'm glad you're considering at least putting a call in- I'd say it's definitely worth it. Good luck and I hope you start feeling better soon!

Texas77again

it sounds like you have some of the symptoms, dark urine, chapped lips.  why can't you drink water?  does it make you sick?  Gatorade, juices and other drinks like that are really not going to help you.  they contain a lot of sodium and sugar which will only make the problem worse. 

can you eat watermelon, it's like 90% water.  also celery and i'm sure some other veggies that i can't think of right now. 

if not, i would go in and get an IV.  i don't agree with the pee every 5 hours thing, i don't think that's a good way to measure dehydration. 

kmhunt11

Being hydrated will easy our nausea, too.  Do it.  Dark urine is b-a-d.  

(Are you taking your zofran?  Does that help? Sip, sip, sip all day.  Ginger ale helped me, and so did flavored seltzer water.  Drink what you can when you can.  I couldn't drink in the afternoon so loaded up in the morning.) 

GL 

GuppyAmy

Definitely call. I think the 5 hour thing would be more if your kidneys were shutting down or something. Keep us updated. 

Texas77again

oh, a rapid pulse is another indication of dehydration. 

books4brooke

Yeah, water makes me feel really sick - I normally drink about 80 ounces of water a day, so this is really tough for me.  Most fluids make me feel pretty sick actually.  And the zofran allows me to eat, but I still can't tolerate a lot of liquid.  

I called in, and I'm waiting for a call back.  I have a feeling they are just going to tell me to go in, so we need to figure out someone to watch my son, who is currently napping. 

SassyRedhead

Girlie Girl - Google is your friend:

 

 

Symptoms

By Mayo Clinic staff

Mild to moderate dehydration is likely to cause:

• Dry, sticky mouth
• Sleepiness or tiredness ? children are likely to be less active than usual
• Thirst
• Decreased urine output ? no wet diapers for three hours for infants and eight hours or more without urination for older children and teens
• Few or no tears when crying
• Dry skin
• Headache
• Constipation
• Dizziness or lightheadedness

Severe dehydration, a medical emergency, can cause:

• Extreme thirst
• Extreme fussiness or sleepiness in infants and children; irritability and confusion in adults
• Very dry mouth, skin and mucous membranes
• Lack of sweating
• Little or no urination ? any urine that is produced will be dark yellow or amber
• Sunken eyes
• Shriveled and dry skin that lacks elasticity and doesn't "bounce back" when pinched into a fold
• In infants, sunken fontanels ? the soft spots on the top of a baby's head
• Low blood pressure
• Rapid heartbeat
• Rapid breathing
• No tears when crying
• Fever
• In the most serious cases, delirium or unconsciousness

Unfortunately, thirst isn't always a reliable gauge of the body's need for water, especially in children and older adults. A better indicator is the color of your urine: Clear or light-colored urine means you're well hydrated, whereas a dark yellow or amber color usually signals dehydration.

When to see a doctor
If you're a healthy adult, you can usually treat mild to moderate dehydration by drinking more fluids, such as water or a sports drink (Gatorade, Powerade, others).

Get immediate medical care if you develop severe signs and symptoms such as extreme thirst, a lack of urination, shriveled skin, dizziness and confusion.

Treat children and older adults with greater caution. Call your family doctor right away if your loved one:

• Develops severe diarrhea, with or without vomiting or fever
• Has bloody stool
• Has had moderate diarrhea for three days or more
• Can't keep down fluids
• Is irritable or disoriented and much sleepier or less active than usual
• Has any of the signs or symptoms of mild or moderate dehydration

Go to the nearest hospital emergency room or call 911 or your emergency medical number if you think a child or older adult is severely dehydrated. You can help prevent dehydration from becoming severe by carefully monitoring someone who is sick and giving fluids, such as an oral rehydration solution (Pedialyte, others) at the first sign of diarrhea, vomiting or fever and by encouraging children to drink plenty of water before, during and after exercise.

books4brooke

Just talked to on-call nurse.  I have been pumping fluids for the last hour, trying to get down tea.  It has really helped the headache, so I'm pretty certain the headache is hydration related.  Because we're pumping fluids, we're going to just keep doing that tonight and call doc in the morning and go from there.  Thanks for your input... sometimes you just need to type it out to realize that you already know what you need to do!

Texas77again

books4brooke:

Just talked to on-call nurse.  I have been pumping fluids for the last hour, trying to get down tea.  It has really helped the headache, so I'm pretty certain the headache is hydration related.  Because we're pumping fluids, we're going to just keep doing that tonight and call doc in the morning and go from there.  Thanks for your input... sometimes you just need to type it out to realize that you already know what you need to do!

that is so true! 

yay, glad you are feeling better already!! 

manda1129

I swear coconut water will cure dehydration with in an hour. You can buy it at sunflower, trader joes, smiths, and even walmart

books4brooke

manda1129:

I swear coconut water will cure dehydration with in an hour. You can buy it at sunflower, trader joes, smiths, and even walmart

Or subscribe and save through Amazon ;-)  I have a ton of it. 

ericaanne0720

I have never had coconut water before. I have been drinking a lot of gatorade and powerade though. I might have to look into this cocomut water thing. I judge if I have been drinking enough by the color of my urine. If it is dark I try my best to amp up my liquid intake. G/L

katiej520

I've been getting MAJOR headaches the past week or so.  My OB said it was dehydration (we've had VERY hot weather this week).  She said the easiest way to tell if you're hydrated enough is the color of your urine.  She told me it should be almost clear.  She also told me water is really the only thing that can truly hydrate you the way you need.  Have you tried flavored water (like adding a squeeze of lemon or lime or cucumbers or something like that)?  It can make drinking so much water a bit more bearable!

Hope you are feeling better soon! 

SaintDorothyMantooth

manda1129:

I swear coconut water will cure dehydration with in an hour. You can buy it at sunflower, trader joes, smiths, and even walmart

DH loves it, but it makes me want to vomit. I can't stomach it at all

Luckily, like PP said, I try flavoring my water with lemon, limes, etc... anything to get it down.  Even though I'm doing that, my urine is still dark (and stinks!) and I'm sure I'm not getting enough... 

books4brooke

SaintDorothyMantooth:

manda1129:

I swear coconut water will cure dehydration with in an hour. You can buy it at sunflower, trader joes, smiths, and even walmart

DH loves it, but it makes me want to vomit. I can't stomach it at all

Luckily, like PP said, I try flavoring my water with lemon, limes, etc... anything to get it down.  Even though I'm doing that, my urine is still dark (and stinks!) and I'm sure I'm not getting enough... 

I can only drink it if it's really cold with ice.