So Thirsty!!!

Hello, I'm coming out of lurkdom with a question.  I started induction Monday and have not had any problems until yesterday when I developed an unquenchable thirst.  I keep a 32 oz. mug at work and filled it up twice through the day.  Last night I refilled my 20 oz glass of water 4 times, then had to get up in the night and guzzle some more (almost a full 20 oz glass again).

I reviewed my food log from yesterday and I didn't have anything especially salty.  I did salt my eggs at breakfast, but that was it (and I've eaten eggs every day before and not had this issue).

Is thirst just a side effect?  Is anyone else dealing with this?  Its not really a "problem", I guess - more of an annoyance because of all the restroom trips.

Any insight is appreciated!

Hi Kay,

I'm so glad you're joining us!  Are you diabetic?  I've read that diabetes can cause fierce thirst but I don't know from personal experience.

I reread the Atkins 1972 book last week.  One thing that he said was that the food plan is a natural diuretic and to be very careful if you're taking any medication that is a diuretic.

I personally take one Hydroclorothiazide daily for slightly elevated blood pressure.  I have not noticed any additional thirst. 

Why not join us over on the daily CAR (carb accountability report).  List what you've eaten with the breakdown of your calories/carbs/protein and let's see if can spot anything that may be your culprit.  Salting your eggs should not do that to you.    I use myfitnesspal . com to log my food.  They have everything that I eat and it's free. 

Again, welcome and I hope you stay out of lurkdom.  :)

I was just reading about this last night! Here is what I read:

When insulin levels drop, as they do when we restrict carbs, our kidneys will excrete the sodium they've been retaining and with i****er (why you're thirsty!). For most people this is beneficial because it lowers blood pressure. For some people, the body will think the water loss needs to be compensated and that can lead to water retention and an electrolyte imbalance where the kidney's dump potassium to save sodium. When that happens, one can suffer side effects such as fatigue, weakness, nausea, dehydration, postural hypotension, etc. Side effects can be countered by adding sodium back into the diet. A half to one teaspoon of salt or drinking a couple cups of broth are a few ways to accomplish that.

I had this happen shortly after surgery. My surgeon advised me to drink G2, Powerade Zero, Propel Zero or Smar****er. All have sodium and potassium and seemed to do the trick! So, since your body is getting rid of sodium and water - watch out for a rebound (ie: the side effects listed above) and be prepared to counter it by increasing your sodium intake!

As you begin low carbing you release excess fluid.  Many people routinely drink a gallon a day post op.  Your thirst should become more manageable as your system adjusts.   I love my thirsty days.  I envision the fat being flushed away as I go.   

 Here's what strikes me as unusual about your post -- the thirst, as opposed to merely a lot of urination.  

If this lasts more than a day or two, I might give my doctor/surgeon a ring and ask for some feedback.  A thirsty day or so might be appropriate.  But not more than that.  Ordinarily people seem to urinate away a lot of inflammation early on.  But you don't tend to see a great deal of longer-term thirst.

Will you post back and let us know how things are going?


Lisa

Thank you all for the great and thoughtful responses.  I appreciate every one of them!  True to what you all said, it was not a lasting event.  After my "super thirsty" day, it has kind of evened out.  I am drinking what I typically do (around 84 oz per day) and have been just fine since that day.