Question about dehydration

I'm wondering, once you get dehydrated can you hydrate yourself or do you have to go to the hospital?  I've been measuring wrong and realized this morning that I'm only getting in about 33-35 ozs.  I'm really nauseated and light headed.  I'm trying to push fluids today to see if it helps.  Can I do this on my own?

Thanks,

Jacqui

Yes, once a person is dehydrated you can rehydrate yourself IF you are not TOO dehydrated.  You should check with your doctor to see if you need to go in for fluids--expecially since you are having symptoms.

Have you put anything new in your eating?  You mentioned Goldfish the other message.  Try to stay on the yellow sheet as much as possible.  Crunch foods will come when it is time.  I have been blessed with not too many problems.  Water is a favorite and it is easy on my job to sip sip sip. God Bless. E

I have laid off the goldfish and am sticking to the yellow sheets.  I'm sure this is due to my straying from the diet.  I'm really hoping to get it under control again.  I was feeling really good until this morning. Thanks so much for the info! Jacqui

From Mayo Clinic site

Unfortunately, thirst isn't always a reliable gauge of the body's need for water, especially in children and older adults. A better barometer 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

To help confirm the diagnosis and pinpoint the degree of dehydration, you may have other tests, such as:

• Blood tests. These may be used to check your electrolytes, especially sodium and potassium; to look for signs of concentrated blood; and to evaluate how well your kidneys are working.
• Urinalysis. The color and clarity of your urine, the presence of carbon compounds (ketones) and your urine's specific gravity — that is, the mass of the urine as compared with equal amounts of distilled water — all help show whether you're dehydrated and to what degree. A high specific gravity, for example, indicates significant dehydration.

I hope you feel better soon. If your having light headedness you may be better off to go get fluids and then just try to keep up on them from there. You can try to double or triple your fluid in take and see if you can rehydrate yourself though.

hi there i struggle with dehydration alot-i only seem to get 20-25 ounces in a day and the best way to tell if your dehydrated is a blood test also, i always know because i only pee about 2-3 times a day and very little at a time ---im usually in the hosp every 3 weeks for fluid they put me on a 4 hour iv --if i were u i would go see your family dr just to make sure but im thinking my family dr said if i could get 35 ounces in a day id be doing ok but i cant seem to do it---please keep us posted

I know the lightheadedness and I got a severe headache when I got severely dehydrated... Just knowing you are, is your best defense.. SIP sip sip.. just keep pushing the fluids... dr said she didnt even care if I didnt eat for a few days just m ake sure all I did was drink.. she didnt put me on IV's and she knew I was dehydrated because of all the vomiting I did the night before.. Take care... it is nothing to mess with.. funny but I do my main peeing in the morning before 10 then taper off thru the day then more again after I get home from work.. The color does seem to tell the story... light means you are getting the fluids the darker it is the more liquid you need.  Weird I know but I look and keep track now... Linda kay

Jacqui,

I hope you're feeling better today. I was very fortunate when I was a newbie in that I never had problems getting my liquid in. I'm not so fortunate right now though with the nausea & diarhea. So like Linda suggested to you, I check out the bowl after I urinate each time to see what color it is. It's been at a dehydrated color for the past few days. When I'm nauseated, it can be hard to get liquids down. I munch on sf popcycles (remember that sf popcycles count as liquids****il my tummy feels like it can handle other liquids. I also like the Swanson chicken broth (there's one that is 5 g of protein per serving). That sometime's helps to settle my stomach...and it's 'liquid'.  You can definately re-hydrate yourself but if you still aren't getting in liquids, you aren't accomplishing that, and need to go to the doc & let them do it for you. Good luck!!! Sherri

Thanks so much everyone for your help.  I do feel a bit better today.  I keep telling myself that I'm only 2 weeks out and things shouldn't be smooth sailing just yet.  I got in a lot more fluids yesterday and my head isn't so swimmy.  I also started opening my antidepressant and taking it with applesauce.  My FP thinks my symptoms may be from not getting enough of my drug!  I've been on antidepressants for years!  Makes sense to me. Sherry, I know you say you're on the other side of this thing but I continue to pray for you.  I can't believe all you're going through.  Please take it easy and get back to 100%. Smooches, Jacqui