Fluid intake

I have been sick the past couple of days--nausea and lots of acid reflux, especially at night while I am sleeping. I take Nexium every day and am eating a very reserved diet, but still it comes on. I am worried about the amount of fluids that I am getting in. It is hard to get more than 30-40 ounces in. I am trying to exercise a half an hour each day, and that uses up more fluids. I want to get in more liquids, but even with a water bottle in my hand all day, it is just not enough. How much fluid do most of you get in daily, on average. I am worried about dehydration. Thanks, Naomi

Hey Naomi- First on your acid reflux, it is possible that your body is not absorbing all of the Nexium that you are taking. You may want to ask your doc about increasing the dosage of it. On the fluid intake, are you drinking anything else or eating any SF popsicles? Those count toward your fluid intake as well. I didn't, and it took me a good 2 1/2 weeks to get 60 ozs in. I had to work my way up to it. Just keep working on it. Now, I try to get in my 64 oz-70 oz in. There are still days I am under 64 by a little bit. You'll get there. Keep trying. Maybe your taking too little of sips, my surgeon told me about the size of a small shot glass is what the sips should be. Pam

My goal is 64 oz (including protein shakes) and I average about 56-60, but I really have to be diigent. I try to get half of it while working and at the gym, then have to do the rest at home in the evening, which is actually easier for me. Pam, good hint about the size of the sip, I hadn't heard the shot glass volume. My sips have probably been much smaller. Once I sip and put the bottle down, I sometimes forget to pick it back up for at least 10 minutes. Thanks!

Hi Naomi, I found, right after surgery, that everything worked a lot better if I put ice in it. It just seemed to taste better, and that encouraged me to drink it more consistently. Of course, I've always been an ice girl, but it really helped me increase my fluid intake. I still put ice in my protein/milk drink, because it still helps me get it all down in the right amount of time. The most difficult thing for me is not to guzzle the water, because I've been a guzzler of water most my life. But that's enough about me. Pamela has good ideas. The popsicles helped me get my liquid up to the right amount, too. I don't eat them so much now that I'm back on a pretty normal diet and have things to chew, but they really helped me that first couple of weeks. I agree with the others about your reflux. Talk to your doctor about that. My friend Eileen has really bad reflux and drinks water all day long, without fail. I think it helps her a lot. Take care of yourself. It sounds like you're having a tough time of it right now. Oh, and if you're getting worse reflux and nausea at night, do you sleep on your back? If so, try to prop yourself with a small pillow a little below your shoulder blades. If you sleep on your side, put lots of cushioning under your top arm so you open your chest wall as much as possible. I started doing that for my back a few years ago, and it really helped me feel more rested in the morning, because I breathed better and fuller at night. Hope some of this is helpful. Hugs, Cindy