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Posted 12/12/2012 2:04 AM (GMT 0)
Every once in a while someone says that they got dehydrated and had to go into the hospital.

How do you know when you are dehydrated? When do you know you need a hospital?

If you think you are dehydrated, can't you just drink as much water as you can hold and wait?

Dan
Posted 12/12/2012 2:48 AM (GMT 0)
It depends on how bad you are, and how you got that way. If you have a stomach flu and can't keep stuff down, you should go on, cause you will never catch up.
When I get up with a hangover (which is dehydration) or when I work too much in the heat or such and start to feel a headache and a bit dizzy or some of those signs, I can just eat some chips and drink some water and then I'm ok. I usually try to stay away from anything that is sugary or goes through quickly for a while and just eat thicker salty foods.
So far (knock on wood) I have only had to go three times. Once when I first got out of the hospital and didn't really understand how much water to drink, and didnt' feel like it anyway. Then another time I got a stomach virus and went after two days of sickness, because i realized i was just getting worse. Then the 3rd time I got a stomach virus and went on right away and got some phenogren, lomoitl and an iv (i know i spelled those meds wrong, lol) and i had the dr send me home with some more phenogren, which is a good thing to keep around.
Posted 12/12/2012 3:22 AM (GMT 0)
Summer
How about salt pills for summer heat. I have them for when I work hard outside and sweat in summer heat.

Dan
Posted 12/12/2012 4:05 AM (GMT 0)
I've never heard of those. I just put lots of salt on my food. I was so happy when I found out people with no colon need lots of salt! I even eat it on cheeseburgers!
Posted 12/12/2012 4:22 AM (GMT 0)
Isn't too much salt intake bad on your kidneys and heart....?
Posted 12/12/2012 5:28 AM (GMT 0)
I've only been dehydrated once - pre ileostomy- I thought I was going to die from back pain around my kidneys. Once the hospital started an iv, it stopped in about 45 minutes. I'm not sure it is the same with an ileo tho
Posted 12/12/2012 7:47 AM (GMT 0)
i have the perfect recipe for not getting dehydrated! i live in hot humid part of australia and the nutritionists with the stoma teams here have given me a fool proof recipe that i have been drinking for 9+ months and have never been dehydrated.
(except for when i had gastro, that's different, more came out than i could put in)

get some gatorade or powerade (or any sports electrolyte drink) POWDER
then mix it with 2x the amount of water required
then add almost a teaspoon of table salt.

takes a few of these to get used to the taste, but now i can't imagine drinking plain water. ever.

you need salt to help absorb the water.
salt is bad for your heart and kidneys only if you have a colon to absorb it all. we don't so it's a different story.

even if i am in the humid heat all day i don't get dehydrated.
if i go on a drinking binge i don't get hungover or dehydrated then either.
if you work out and play hard sports this works a charm.

it is the only thing i drink besides alcohol, coffee and tea.

try it.
trust me.
very minimal amount of cases of ileostomy dehydration here due to this awesome recipe.

water will never be enough i was told by all my dr's here.
Posted 12/12/2012 7:48 AM (GMT 0)
crap. forgot to answer your original question.

you feel dehydrated when you are lethargic, sickly feeling or just generally feel unwell for no reason. your skin is dry and doesn't bounce back when pinched.
if you feel off and yucky, that is most likely the cause.
Posted 12/12/2012 4:02 PM (GMT 0)
     I was hospitalized three times for dehydration.  First time was about a month post op (if that).  I remember drinking Gatorade and it just did not agree with me.  I was at the computer and noticed my bag was filling up rapidly.  My fingers and toes started feeling tingly and I got woozy.  I called to my  husband and he called the EMT's.  They tried to get me to drink water but I started vomiting. My heartrate was also very fast. That is when they decided they better get me to a hospital.  They set me up with IV's ASAP and kept me in the hospital a few days.

     Second and third times occured this past summer.  I did a no no by sunbathing in 100 degree heat at the Jersey shore and then going into the casino and drinking a mudslide.  I thought I drank enough water, but apparently not.  During the night, same thing as above, diarrhea and nausea.  However, this time hubby got scared because I became confused.  Still don't remember him taking me to the hospital (this was down the shore).  They kept me a few days down there too.  Then, the following week I contracted an intestinal virus...back to the ER. rolleyes At least it was one of our local hospitals.  The doctor there told me when things like that occur, it is virtually impossible to hydrate oneself sufficiently with an ostomy.  I guess it comes with the territory.

     I learned a few lessons.....stay out of hot sun, do NOT drink alcohol...even one drink..without drinking a LOT of water afterwards.

Posted 12/12/2012 4:08 PM (GMT 0)
For my husband, he didn't have the normal dehydration signs... his skin was still normal, he was still peeing and it was not dark in color. The only real symptom he had was dizziness when he stood up too fast, muscle pains/cramps, and low energy. However, we thought these were just because 1. he just had surgery and 2. that he was a big guy who now had low blood pressure instead of high blood pressure.

He had some blood work done and the nurse called us and said do not pass go, do not collect 200 dollars and go immediately to the ER. He was severely dehydrated and they told me he would not have recovered with just drinking more fluids.

We have switched to using all natural electrolyte powder and cutting sugar from his diet. We were pumping him full of fluid with sports drinks, soda, vitamin water...and they just ran through him. Now, he only drinks elecrolyte water or water that we put the powder in. Has helped a lot... also working to keep his output thicker has also helped him absorb more. Now, he has more energy and does not get dizzy at all.
Posted 12/12/2012 4:51 PM (GMT 0)
Summer
Sounds like we use salt the same. I cannot use a knife while eating. My salt shaker is using up my left hand. Drives my wife nuts. Always has, but now I'm good.

Did you read kazygirl's recipe? No hangover!? Sounds like it's for you!!

Learned about salt tablets on the wrestling team in high school.

Dan
Posted 12/12/2012 6:43 PM (GMT 0)
I get headaches if it's from running or a hangover (go figure!) but when it's from not getting enough fluids it's a little different. I feel 'off', thirsty and have no appetite. Sometimes I can do the 'skin test' but it doesn't always work for me.

I usually try to drink water, salt my food and get fluids from other sources like fruits. When it's bad I use electrolyte pills that I found at my local running store. They're a little better than salt for me and work within a short period of time so I feel better. Summerstorm, they also work for hangovers turn

Good topic, Dan!
Posted 12/12/2012 9:15 PM (GMT 0)
I start the morning with one liter of some kind of tea. Maybe another liter later on, and glasses of water here and there. I don't think about it too much and assume it just adds up well enough. But where I am is freezing and icy, so I'm not moving around outside very much.
Posted 12/13/2012 3:44 AM (GMT 0)
Since I no longer have a bladder fluids leave my body pretty quickly, therefore making me much more prone to dehydration. I have to really force myself to drinks lots of fluids throughout the day and night. I've also started eating those Edy's sugar free popsicles (they have some great flavors now) to add more fluids to my system.

I do know that it is much more dangerous (and easier), for us ostomates, to become dehydrated and I've always been told that if I'm not able to rehydrate myself in a few hours then I need to head to the ER.
Posted 12/14/2012 2:50 AM (GMT 0)
Summer
If you use Kazygirl's recipe for hangovers please post what brands you use. Better yet, I will give you my personal e-mail and you can send just to me. I'm buying stock in your brands and want to keep it secret!!!!

Dan
Posted 12/14/2012 11:36 PM (GMT 0)
I get dehydrated quite frequently. I feel tired, but my mouth is very dry, my eyes are dry, skin is rough, and urine is a little dark with a slight smell.. I have a hard time with water 9or any liquids for htat matter), if I drink more than 1-2 cups in an hour I am nauseous and vomiting.
So, I try to sip slowly and have phenergan or zofran on hand! Can't do most electrolyte drinks either (other allergies there), so sipping water... but sometimes I do feel as though a quick trip to e.r. for fluids is a necessity. Fortunatly (or unfortunately) most of our e.r. docs know me now, and when I go in to say I need fluids they hook me up right away and don't make me wait forever..
Salt doesn't always work for me..it seems to bloat me more than anything :(
Posted 12/15/2012 6:01 AM (GMT 0)
Dude, they have electrolyte pills???  OMG I gotta find those... I thought the powder was doing well with my hubby but he just pours the water out and makes me think he's drinking it!!  He says its gross and he doesn't want to drink it!!!!  Ugggg....

If they have pills, I can probably get him to take those lol.

Posted 12/16/2012 2:39 PM (GMT 0)
     My question is...how do you know your electrolytes are low without blood tests?  The drinks which supply electrolytes make me sick to my stomach.
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