Real-life symptoms of dehydration?

Hi all, newbie here.  Surgery was 7/23, down 22 pounds so far.  Everything seems to be going...ok for the most part.  Still trying to get things figured out...

For example, since I brought it up ...  I have been having problems with light-headedness and a general icky feeling pretty much since my surgery.  My blood pressure was 90/55 this morning at the doctor.  I normally have high blood pressure and am still taking my medication for it (HCTZ and Micardis).

From what I've found, dehydration can cause low blood pressure? How do I know if I'm truly dehydrated?  I've read up on medical sites about the technical symptoms, but I'd like to know what the real-life, people-experienced symptoms are?  Seems like too little weight has been lost to truly affect my blood pressure?

Any info is greatly appreciated!

Loss of appetite might seem like it would be a good thing...but it is one of several symptoms of dehydration. 

Early out, I got dehydrated twice, and had to go in for a bag of fluids.  It happens sometimes.  Don't feel like a failure if you do.

Sip liquids at all times.  The most important thing immediately post op is to stay hydrated. Low BP can signal dehydration.  And that icky light headed feeling you describe is a hallmark symptom of electrolyte imbalance, which happens with dehydration.

I hate Gatorade, but that's a good at-home way to nip dehydration in the bud before it becomes more serious.  There are so many more flavors now besides that icky tasting green one, and I think it even comes in sugar free now, although if you're dealing with dehydration, don't bee too concerned about the sugar that's in it right now.  You need that to get yourself back in balance. If you need to, add some SF sweetener to get past the taste, which can be strange, do that.  Make sure you are taking an OTC potassium supplement.  If you need to, ask your doctor for a script.  I use Klor-Con EF.  It makes a little orange fizzy drink ( very low fizz, so not like soda pop), and the carbonation dissipates if you let is sit for a minute before drinking it. It reminds me of the Fizzies soft drinks we used to have when I was a kid.

You should also ask your doctor to stop the high blood pressure meds. They too can cause you to get light headed. 

hI - just checking posts in this forum and saw what you wrote...just wanted to chime in that..if you used to have High BP and are losing weight you are normalizing and taking meds is going to lower your numbers as well.  I was a diabetic with high sugars and when I had my sugery I continued to take it and I had dropped that I had to be temporarily hospitalized. I was told to stop taking the meds and have not taken it since then.  I would check with your dr and inquire if you can stop as you are not feeling good. Best of luck!

Thanks guys!  I'll be talking to my surgeon today, hopefully it'll be 2 less pills I have to take!

I got switched the day after you and was getting light headed too.  Even though I was drinking 64oz water I added dhydration salts with electrolites and that did the trick for me, ie no more dizziness.  The stuff I used is called Dioralyte, I don't know what the US equivalent would be though I am afraid.

I've got a couple of bottles of the low calorie Gatorade today, see if that helps...Still carbs but not nearly as bad as the original stuff.