NeedHelpWithMom Asked May 2019
My mother drinks a ton of water daily! Probably close to a gallon. Is this too much?
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She has to urinate constantly! She wears Poise pads and sometimes diapers. I tell her not to drink as much in the evening because she has to pee all night long. I feel badly for her. The doctor offered her a script but she doesn't want it. I tried putting a lot of ice so it isn't as much water but she doesn't want the ice. She has never had a UTI though. She is well hydrated. Any suggestions?
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https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/in-depth/water/art-20044256
Could some of her medications be causing dry mouth? If that is the problem there are remedies for that.
Drinking too much water can cause water intoxication.
That's interesting. Have always heard how good water is for you. She doesn't have diabetes. Thank God, she has enough to deal with, Parkinson's Disease, arthritis, edema, old age stuff...
Died? That's awful! Wow! She doesn't weigh much, 125 lbs. She wears a size small. Never thought about weight with the amount of water you drink in a day. Her labs are good. The doctor once said to her that she has the labs of a 30 year old. No diabetes, no thyroid issues, nothing bad. Just her Parkinson's. That's enough to deal with but it could be so much worse. I'm grateful for that.
You know, she doesn't eat a lot. Never has really. She said I was the same way, too busy to eat a lot but we both love to cook! I end up freezing half. You know, I am remembering the doctor telling her to eat more and does not want her to lose weight because if she were to get sick she doesn't have anything to lose. Does water cut your appetite?
I myself drink over a gallon of water a day. I think the problem would be if she drinks that much and doesn't pee so much, IMO
I don’t drink enough water. I’m a coffee lover. I need to drink more water. Coffee doesn’t quench your thirst like water. I have often feel dehydrated. Please tell me if you feel better drinking a lot of water. My mother loves her water. She only drinks one or two cups of coffee. Mom sips her water all day. She doesn’t guzzle it.
Call me crazy but when a study said that lots of coffee could help in preventing Parkinson’s disease I was glad to be a coffee lover. I don’t want to get Parkinson’s disease like my mom. Her neurologist said it can run in families. My uncle had it too. He lived to be 96. Mom is 93. It’s a tough disease but thankfully hers has progressed slowly. I hope it doesn’t get severe like my uncle had before he died.
Thanks for your reply. I appreciate it.
If medical or med reasons are ruled out, I'd wonder if this is some kind of hyper focus or obsession. Some seniors may get focused on one thing and it seems they can't let go of it. For example, the weather, neighbors, their pets, mail order items, bowel movements, etc.
I go to her doctor appointments with her. If you think I should mention it to check her sugar again, I can do that. Just seems like she always sips on her water. She loves her water!
She likes having her containers full. I refill all day. Even joked with her about putting a water dispenser in her room!
Type I or Type II could be a culprit. Perhaps, diabetes symptoms get my attention so much, because, I was hit with Type I with the classic symptoms. EXTREME thirst and constant urination. It's the kind of thirst that is painful. Hard to describe, but, it can't be quenched, no matter how much you drink. It's painful. Also, other symptoms, blurred vision, dry skin, increased hunger, unexplained weight loss, etc. I had to insist my doctor check my BG. They were SHOCKED.
If you have a blood meter, you can check it yourself, but, that's no substitute for the doctor's test. And, it could be that she's just fixated on it. Some people love having a toothpick all the time or sucking on mints. Maybe, it's just a quirk and she's fine. lol I hope so.
I'm Type 2. Prior to diagnosis (in an ER) my major symptoms were *voracious* thirst and brain fog. At that time, I pretty much lived on ice-water and fruit juice(!).
At least, pure fruit juice has electrolytes. But otherwise, for me, it's poison.
While your mother's diabetes is being ruled out (or in), potential dry-mouth causes can, and should, also be addressed.
I am not sure about the dry mouth. She hasn’t mentioned it but she does drink an awful lot of water.
I am not making light of your situation but I have to say I have never heard of a water consumption addict. I just wonder what is driving this apparent desire in her. Personally it sounds exhausting with so many needed trips to the bathroom all day long not to mention the added strain of during the night. I hope you might be able to reduce this behavior of hers mainly slowly tapering to a more manageable amount of consumption.
When I told her she constantly drank water she said that she doesn’t drink too much. I fill her water containers so I know what she drinks. When I tried to get her to cut back by putting plenty of ice she told me not to put ice. If I don’t fill her water containers up she goes to the kitchen and fills it herself. I have ice and water on fridge door. I don’t know what else I should do. Any ideas?
Most the time people will go through periods of drinking lots of water due to being dehydrated or the body will want to flush the system out.
My concern is your mom's kidneys. She should have a blood work up done just to be safe. If her Creation levels are high then she will have the desire to drink as much water as possible. I am not trying to scare you, but just on the safe side she should have a "Basic Comp Panel" test done. This test is just a blood test.
Check mom's legs for edma!
Not really, most Drs do order it on the lab sheet. So, if mom had blood work up you can just ask if he/she did a "Basic Comp Panel," and ask him/her what was your mom's Creation levels were. But if they were high I am sure the Dr would have told you.
I just was putting it out there for you to be aware of it.
I don't mean to worry you. How long ago did mom have blood work done and when did she start drinking so much water and what is her output? Is she peeing a lot not just throughout the day and night, but when she pees is it a lot at one hit or is it just small amount at a time?
Cells in the body will tell the brain that they are thirsty and the brain then tells us to go and get a drink. We drink enough water to wear the brain gets the signal that the cells are happy! At least in that moment then it starts up all over again! Cells need water to take to other organs in the body.
Always remember that cells have to eat and drink this is why we eat and drink! I like to think of our cells as little living creators. It has always helped me to remember that all we are at the core of our physical self our cells making up our bodies. Does that make sense?
Not that I know of but again I need to address all possibilities with her doctor. She sips on her water all day long!
No, but someone said to have it checked again. Will ask the doctor about it.
Not sure if her meds cause that. I’m going to check. Thanks.
She has horrible edema. I buy those compression stockings. They are a pain in the butt to put on her!
Ok than the liquid that she is taking in is not going out. In other words she is drinking all this water and her body is storing it. This is a problem. Has your mother been taking new medications? Has her Kidneys been check, again this is by blood test? Her glucose and sodium should also be check. If they were check have they should be check again. How is her blood presure? I am not trying to scare you, but your mom should see her Dr. All I can do is help you know what to ask her Dr and give you ideas.
This is just information I am in no way dx nor am I suggesting any treatment (tx). As always consult a physician.
No new meds. Yeah, going to have a discussion with her doctor.
Thanks again for your input. Appreciate it very much.