Drinking Too Much?

[nailedit]

Since getting sober I seem to be constantly thirsty. Drinking in excess of 3 litres of water a day.

Is it possible to drink too much (non-alcoholic) liquids?

[barry1010]

What are you drinking?  Some drinks make me thirsty, daft as it sounds 

[newmodarmy]

  Most adults need about 2 - 2.5 litres of fluid a day. 

I aim to drink at least a litre of water when at work plus some at night and in the morning.

I don't see a problem with 3 litres unless you're needing too many toilet breaks.

[nicebloke1]

No, providing you don't have problems letting it out.

[nailedit]

Barry, just water and the occasional cup of tea.

[jno]

well, yes, you remember Leah Betts. Took an E but also drank seven litres of water to avert dehydration while dancing. It wasn't the E that killed her, though it may have stopped her peeing; she pretty much drowned.

[Ken4155]

You on any medication, Nailedit? If i don't chew gum all day, my mouth gets as dry as the Sahara. Before i was prescribed this cocktail of tablets and pills, i don't recall ever having this problem.

I actually spend about a tenner a week on gum🙃

[Buenchico]

>>> Is it possible to drink too much (non-alcoholic) liquids?

Yes.  Drinking too much water (or other fluids) can actually lead to death through the elimination of essential sodium within your body.  (It does happen occasionally but it's very rare).  However, at '3-litres-plus' per day, you're most definitely absolutely nowhere close to that situation!

The usual advice from the NHS is that 1.5 to 2.5 litres per day is around 'normal' for most people but those who sweat a lot (e.g. athletes or foundry workers) will need more.  However when I had a catheter in for a year, a doctor recommended that I should aim for 3 to 4 litres of water intake per day.  So he clearly saw nothing worrying about such a level of consumption.

I doubt that you've got anything to worry about, Nailedit, but it's worth remembering that excessive thirst can be a symptom of certain medical conditions (including diabetes and anaemia).  So get yourself checked out by a GP if you think that you might have aproblem.

[Arksided]

Good on you fella keep going my friend. Yes all liquids are good to flush out your system.

[nailedit]

Thanks all for replies.

Meds Im on are ...

Tramadol

Lercanidipine

Citalopram

Propranolol

Nothing about constant thirst in the listed side effects though.

 

[calmck]

Congratulations with your continued sobriety. I read somewhere that increased thirst after stopping drinking is common after about 4 weeks. A diabetes check would not go amiss

[Henry1865]

I've never added salt to anything for the past 30 years and enjoy pretty good health for a 90 year old. In moderaton I eat baked beans, lasagne, sausages and pies and lots of fresh veg and salad. If your diet was like mine you may not need to drink so much water but if you're living on processed food, it's overloaded with salt. 

[tobytronic]

If you have polyuria, needing to wee very frequently, then diabetes is definitely something you need to be checked for.

Yes it's certainly possible to drink too much water. A radio station KDND held a water drinking contest/hold your urges, where a contestant died.

Jennifer Strange took part in the 'Hold your Wee & Win a Wii' and after drinking 7 litres of water, unfortunately died. Unbelievable that a contest like this was given the okay...

Congratulations on getting sober. Dependence or addiction are terrible diseases. Good luck!

[tobytronic]

BTW, apparently excessive fluid intake causes one's cells to become enlarged. Their ability to bond to each other is severely affected and this is one reason it can be fatal. I was seriously ill in hospital with kidney stones: I've passed about fifty in the last thirty years. Whilst in hospital, I was told off for not drinking enough water. Nobody had told me to do so. Angry, I drank thirty litres over the weekend whilst on the ward. Obviously I didn't die...

[tobytronic]

The electrolyte reply is spot-on too.

[retrocop]

A young lad I know was a member of the Blues and Royals ( armoured Recce Division). On his first posting to Afghan the M.O. lectured them on the importance of keeping hydrated especially as their little scimitar armoured vehicles had no air con ( unlike the yanks equivalent) and they would perspire buckets in their mobile ovens. He made sure he was continually guzzling water, so much so,he was admitted to the sick bay with a nasty illnes concerning his kidneys. He made a full recovery and was promptly placed on a fizzer for failing to look after his health. Lucky man I suppose. General Haig would of had him shot.

[nailedit]

Thanks for all answers guys.

Might have to get a diabetes check just in case.

[juliecarlstan]

yes its possible to drink too much water, can make a person very sick, even cause death. too much water throws the bodys balance of electrolites way out of wack. But, you would feel very sick, and probably stop drinking water, before any serious health problems occurred from the binge. Other drinks that aren't plain water have sugar, sweets need some salt, makes electrolites. Your probably doing fine!