dehydration question

I slept too long yesterday and got slightly dehydrated which in turn triggered some mild contractions- translate 3 hours at the hospital to be sent home with orders to push fluids and no medication needed to stop the contractions. I am so tired from the bronchitis that I am sleeping more and though I am pushing fluids including gatorade when awake it does no good if I sleep 4-5 hours with no fluid intake. We have a cool mist humidifier going in the bedroom. I have always required unusually large amounts of fluids to stay hydrated but it is really hard to drink enough fluids now- I can take in more than 1 gallon in a day and still not have gotten enough in lately.

Does anyone have any ideas on how to deal with this or how to get more fluid in when I feel like my eyeballs will float and I might vomit if I take one more sip of anything? I am having problems eating much because of all the fluids I am having to take in.

Redrose, I know just how you feel! With my kidney stone problems I am told to never be dehydrated and it is really difficult! I always have a bottle of water with me and sip on it constantly. I measure out my filtered water for the day (about two gallons) and make sure I drink that amount each day. You will eventually become accustomed to the high levels of fluids and it does make you feel better. As for feeling too full to eat - that is OK when you are not pregnant but you have that issue to contend with right now. Eating foods with a high fluid content might be a good solution for you, too. This might include watermelon, or almost any fruit, real juice slushies, most pasta dishes, soups, etc. I would just make sure to take your pre-natal vitamins and eat what you feel like eating. As for becoming dehydrated while sleeping, my kidney specialist tells me to get up throughout the night and take drinks of water. This does really help. I am sure this is not the advice you wanted but it does work. I am sure the pregnancy and the bronchitis is contributing to your dehydration. Hopefully it will not last long.

Sorry Redrose . . . always something eh??? I'm sure you've already cut it from your diet, but caffiene (coffee, black tea, cola, chocolate) will act like a diuretic and do the opposite of what you are trying to accomplish. Runners use a very calculated combination of water and gatorade because too much of the sugar and salt in gatorade isn't good either. Soups will act like the gatorade and add some sodium and electrolites to your system (which is good) but the sodium issue needs to be calculated with your doctor's help . . . I would think that would be key since it helps your body retain the fluid. Watermelon and beets will actually make you pee LOTS and I use them as a natural diuretic . . . although they are both a healthy food. If you take blood pressure meds, they may be causing some of the problem too. Some blood pressure meds don't have that side affect so it might be worth asking the doc about the side affects of yours (if you are taking them) and switch temporarily if you have the diuretic type. Not sure any of this will help . . . but hopefully some of the others will have some better ideas. I do like my hydration pack!! It holds a couple liters and it sits on my back (bedside) and yo sip from a super long hose!!! The grands use one too . . . makes carrying water easier. Blessings!

Good luck, Redrose! Rosie is right about all the sodium stuff - I forgt about that major detail. Sorry about that!

Yup, and I hate the snow, too! They said we had 16 inches in 6 hours last night. I was the DD for all of us at the New Years Party. It was AWFUL! I slept almost all day today because I stayed up too late and it was a one and a half hour drive home (we were only 37 miles from home) and it REALLY stressed me out. I also have this stupid thought that my house needs to be all cleaned and my laundry almost all done before the new year arrives. Stupid me, I cleaned and did laundry before going out, too.

Good call, Bill! Redrose, I'm with Bill on this one. Your skin issues from the dehydration should have been a clue that it might not be so simple. Please check with a kidney specialist.

Hi Redrose,

I agree, a nephrologist is in order. If you need a referral, call your PCP or obstetrician ASAP.

Also, a tip that might help since you are sleeping so much. Keep the water bedside--lots of it--and set your alarm for every couple of hours so you can get a good 8 ounces or more down. Sorry, I know this will make more trips to the bathroom necessary, but.....

Please let us know how this situation goes.

xoxo emmie