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Posted 6/8/2012 8:03 PM (GMT 0)
I went to an urgent care last night because I was dizzy, and the PA said I was extremly dehydrated.  She said if I got any worse to go to the ER for some fluids.  I've been drinking a ton today, but still don't feel 100%. 


How would you need to feel to go to the ER for dehydration?  I don't want to clog up the ER for something minor. 

Also, for those of us with no colon at all, how much does everyone drink daily?  Thanks!

Posted 6/8/2012 8:06 PM (GMT 0)
Just like you felt. It's very important so don't shy from getting help.

A few things you can do to stay out of the ER are:

1. Eat salty snacks. Salt will help your body to retain fluids.
2. Don't just drink plain water. Drink Vitalyte, bouillon, or tomato juice. Coconut water works well as well as the electrolyte waters.
3. Drink more on hot days or if exercising.

Sue
Posted 6/8/2012 9:03 PM (GMT 0)
Does coconut water cause diarhea?
Posted 6/9/2012 3:22 AM (GMT 0)
Get some Powerade Zero or Gatorade G2. These have good sodium/electrolytes without too much sugar which can cause increased output for some people. I made sure I drank a big one of these (32 oz I guess?) every single day when I had my ileo. I don't seem to need it as much with my j-pouch, but I still use it on days when I run, etc. Water is good, but you need the electrolytes too. Sue is right, eating salty stuff will help. Water follows salt, so if you have lots of salt in your system, more water will be absorbed to balance it out. I like pretzels for this, canned soups, and also put salt on all of my food that it tastes good with.

If you have dark urine, scant urine, dizziness, etc. then please go get help! Dehydration is dangerous and nothing to play around with. Once you get too far gone with it, you need the IV to get things back on track. At a certain point you just can't take in and absorb enough to even things out. Please don't hesitate to go in if you are in trouble.
Posted 6/9/2012 8:35 AM (GMT 0)
You need sports drink, not just water. I'm drinking around 1.5-2 litres of sports drink (gatorade) every day.. plus lots of water as well and other drinks (poss 3 litres in total - but then I also do a lot of sport). You need sodium and electrolytes and some glucose to help absorb. It's the glucose that makes a difference as it helps the gut wall absorb the electrolytes. I've found coconut water to cause very high watery output.. shame as I really like it. If you don't feel better, go to the ER.
Posted 6/9/2012 1:14 PM (GMT 0)
Pinch the skin on the back of your hand. If the skin relaxes back to its normal state then you are ok. If the skin stays in a pinched position you need iv fluids. I have had dehydration many times. This is the test doctors kept telling me to do when dehydration was an issue. The other indicator is if urine output is low.
Posted 6/10/2012 1:53 AM (GMT 0)
Great hint about pinching the skin on the back of your hand...thanks. I knew about the low urine output.
Posted 6/10/2012 7:07 AM (GMT 0)
It was suggested to me to drink enough to urinate every two hours. (that's what the Ostomy nurse said)

Then I was told that on top of drinks with my meals, make sure I drink a cup (doesn't HAVE to me more than the true cup/8 ounces) of something every time I empty my bag. That is supposed to become a new habit.

My Ostomy nurse said to also keep one of those large plastic containers of water on my desk like the people on Weight watchers do and make sure I drink it all before I leave work.

These are the helpful hints I was given.

Jen S
Posted 6/10/2012 11:41 AM (GMT 0)
All good suggestions Mystique... I have a problem with dehydrating also, but my problem is that if I drink that much, I get sick to my stomach...so definately have to drink slowly..don't CHUG when you drink. enough to keep your mouth good and wet, but not make you feel like you just ate a meal. I find that helps. and yes, I carry a bottle with me everywhere. I have never liked the gatorades, and such, so I put fresh crushed fruits in my water. I know they don't have the electrolytes, but it seems to be ok so far. Good luck :)
Posted 6/11/2012 4:56 PM (GMT 0)
I was instructed to drink 64 oz. of Gatoraide/day and at least 108 oz if I had a cold or flu. Sometimes it doesn't matter what you do you're going to get dehydrated. A pounding headache, light headedness and nausea have always been the signs that send me to the emergency room. Then begins the discussion with the ER docs (who a lot of times know nothing about ileostomies) trying to convince them that all I need is 2 bags of IV fluids - no, I'm not obstructing; no I don't need a scan; aaarrgghh.
Posted 6/12/2012 2:40 AM (GMT 0)
Do not drink sports drinks that are full of sugar, like gatorade and G2. They will only increase your output. You need to dry to drink true electrolyte drink. I drink oral rehydration solutions from JIANAS brothers its a true WHO (world health organization) mix. Pedialyte and Ceralyte are also good options.

Do not drink plain water. Avoid hot beverages also. Avoid foods with sugar. As all of these thhings just increase output.

Also drink sips throughout the day. Never chug. Try not to drink with meals. Keep an electroylyte drink by your bedside. When you wake up in the night to empty your bag, take some sips of your drink.

Also try to eat foods that slow down your system - oatmeal, bananas, peanut butter, potatoes, pretzels, sourdough bread, etc. Slowing down your system will help keep you hydrated.

As an ileostomate, if you get behind and get dehydrated, it is near impossible to get caught up without IV fluids. So don't hesitate to go to the ER. But as someone else said.. you will most likely have to educate the ER docs that nothing is majorily wrong and just convince them to hook you up for a few bags of IV fluids. I am truly shocked that a PA at the  urgent care told you with an ileostomy that you were severly dehydrated and she did not send you to the hospital for fluids. Absolutely unacceptable.

Also in addition to low urine output, pay attention to the color of your urine. Dark urine is a strong indicator that you are dehydrated. Dehydration can cause major problems with organs. It is not something to take lightly. Pay attention and go to the ER if you feel you are dehydrated. Simple as  that.

Post Edited (ddd45) : 6/11/2012 8:43:05 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 6/12/2012 10:13 PM (GMT 0)
Everyone has given great advice - salty snacks and really drinking what seems like all the time. Too many sugary drinks can also be counterproductive as they can increase output - mix it up. Even then, anyone with an ileostomy will sometimes get dehydrated. I was twice in the hospital with an IV last year. One really can't get up any other way after falling behind.

One other point that hasn't been mentioned is B12 deficiency. We can't absorb B12 and need shots. When my B12 was low, my mouth was always dry; even while drinking, my mouth felt dry! There is some relation there, and I now give myself B12 shots and have managed to hydrate better and have more energy.

All of that said, you will sometimes have to go the ER and get hydrated.
Posted 6/13/2012 4:17 AM (GMT 0)
Salt is a must which made me super happy, cause I love salt,lol.
However, I don't agree with needing anything but water. I don't drink sports drinks or any of those things, the sugar in those and juice make the output more watery. The caffeine in coke acts like a diuretic. I look at it this way, we are mostly water, not mostly gatorade, or coke, or fruit juice. If your car runs out of gas, you can't replace it with oil and have that work.
The only times I've had problems with dehydration were days I drink things other than water. When I start to feel that way, I chug water and have some chips or something. My hangover cure (which is caused by dehydration) is a handful of chips and a bottle of water.
That's just what works for me though, and my opinion on the subject.
Posted 6/14/2012 9:15 AM (GMT 0)
Have literally just come across this document. Not sure if you've all seen it before? it's the most comprehensive and extensive information I've seen on nutrition and hydration for ostomates on the web.

The section on fluids and electrolytes is superb and highlights the differences between dehydration but also sodium and potassium depletion.. which are different and require different approaches both for treatment and prevention.

The inclusion of glucose molecules in a drink help with absorption of electrolytes and is really important. It doesn't have to be too strong, you can make it more dilute if you mix your own at home. Plain water can 'wash away' the electrolytes causing hyponatremia and without the glucose, you're unlikely to absorb the electrolytes as well.

http://www.ostomy.org/ostomy_info/pubs/OstomyNutritionGuide.pdf
Posted 6/14/2012 11:41 AM (GMT 0)
Thank you everyone for the advice.  I've been drinking 16 ounces of Powerade Zero every morning, and that seems to be helping.  I've also gotten some Coconut Water and tried to get more Potassium.  I've been feeling a lot better :-)
Posted 6/14/2012 1:39 PM (GMT 0)
Good link, Sarah, thanks! Glad you're feeling better, beachgirl.
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