i was wondering if any one could give me advice or any tips as to staying hydrated in the heat.latly i find myself very tired,headaches,light headed and i'm not sure what to do.I have recently gone for a ct scan of the small bowel and have a gastroscopy booked for july.21/2008,but to honest i don't understand why the doctor would go through all this trouble if i'm just dehydrated.

I drink Vitalyte www.vitalyte.com and eat salty snacks to retain water. This regime got me in and out of the Grand Canyon in 107 degree weather.

Sue

pouchguy,

I get dehydrated very quickly in hot weather. Anyone with a J Pouch is well advised to drink lots and lots of fluids in any climate and especially in heat, although it's much hotter here than it is in Ontario. I play in a local table tennis club and I drink lots of TigerAde when I am there. It's a kind of GatorAde that Tiger Woods endorses. It seems to do the job in keeping me hydrated but anything that is an electrolyte drink should do the job.

Sorry if this is a little off topic (don't mean to hijack a thread) but what is considered enough for a j-poucher?

I have had my j pouch 20 years. Dehydration has never been a problem. I live in FL, it's hot and humid, I don't sweat or get thirsty. I don't drink any water, I don't like it, I drink a cup of coffee in the morning and maybe 16 oz of gatorade through the day. That's it.
We are all different. The foods I eat must contain water, lettuce, whatever, my blood work is great, nutrition is good, I don't take any supplements or vitamins of any type.
I don't exercise either. I am naturally thin and have a very fast metabolism, energy that doesn't quit.
Alot of bottled drinks have alot of sugar which can cause loose and frequent stool in a j pouch.
They might be ok for people with colons.
My son has a k pouch and dehydrates quickly, he mixes Stamina packs(49 cents)with 4oz water, 1 a day and it works wonders. We get them at the health food store and they come in several flavors, we can even buy single packs but we buy boxes. Cheaper than anything else on the market. Complete electrolyte replacement, barely any sugar, trace minerals, etc.
www.vitacost.com
carries it also. type stamina electrolytes and you will see boxes, cranberry, grape and lemon/lime
The ingrediets can be found on the web site
www.traceminerals.com
For those individuals who lose high amounts of electrolytes, we recommend also using: Electrolyte Stamina Tablets, Ionic Tonic, 40,000 Volts, and ENDURE.

Supplement Facts
Serving Size 1 packet (6.5 g)
Servings per container 32
Amount per serving %DV*
Calories 10
Total Fat 0
Sodium 134 mg 6.2%
Total Carbohydrates 2.7 g 1%
Sugars 2.5 g
Proteins 0 0%
Vitamin C (as Ascorbic Acid) 1200 mg 2000%
Vitamin B1 (Thiamin HCL) 450 mcg 30%
Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin) 1 mg 59%
Niacin 5 mg 25%
Vitamin B6 (as Pyridoxine HCL) 10 mg 500%
Folic Acid 20 mcg 5%
Vitamin B12 30 mcg 430%
Panothenic Acid 3 mg 30%
Calcium (as Calcium Lactate) 60 mg 6%
Magnesium (as Magnesium Oxide and Concentrace) 106 mg 27%
Zinc (as Zinc Oxide) 3 mg 20%
Selenium (as Selenium Selenate) 35 mcg 50%
Manganese (as Manganese Citrate) 1 mcg 50 %
Chromium (as Chromium Chelavite) 10 mcg 8%
Chloride (from Concentrace) 18 mg 1%
Potassium (as Potassium Citrate and Concentrace) 201 mg 6%
Concentrace® (special electrolyte trace mineral blend) 100 mg **
Alpha Lipoic Acid 1 mg **
Boron (as Boron Amino Acid Chelate) 10 mcg **
* Percent Daily Values (DV) are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
** Daily Value not established.

Other Ingredients: Crystalline Fructose, Citric Acid, Sodium Bicarbonate, Lemon Lime Flavor, Stevia. Plus over 72 naturally occuring trace minerals and elements from ConcenTrace®.

Allergen Info: Contains no known allergens.
This is vitalyte:
Gookinaid Vitalyte contains no dairy, soy, yeast or animal products and no gluten or artificial flavors or preservatives.


Ingredients: Glucose, Fructose, Citric Acid, Sodium Cloride, Potassium Cloride, Natural Orange Flavor, Ascorbic Acid, Sodium Bicarbonate, Dipotassium Phosphate, Magnesium Citrate, Calcium Citrate, and Beta Carotene

Servings: 4
Serving Size: 15 g. or 8 fl oz.
Calories: 40
Sodium: 68 mg, 3%
Potassium: 92 mg, 3%
Vitamin C: 60 mg, 100%
Calcium: 2.1 mg, 0.2%
Magnesium : 1.6
Vitalyte is definitely more expensive if you add the 75 cents to the cost of a bottle of water. Stamina is 49 cents or less mixed with 4 oz water at home and not needed while out.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: "HW",

Holly, we must be exact opposites, I always carry a bottle of water where ever I go, and all you have to do is think "dehydration" and I shrivel up. I drink mostly water, but if we have a hot spell I know when to call it quits and go get a liter or two of IV fluids.
LoriP

My daughter drinks seltzer. The carbonation has never bothered her or her UC. It has no calories, no sugars, no salt, just carbonation. She drinks about 3 liters a day. She finds she can't drink as much if it is only water. Doesn't like the traditional energy drinks (like gatorade which everyone says is full of sugar anyway). Will she be able to drink seltzer after her surgery? Is hydration an issue with an ostomy or only when the j-pouch is hooked up?

Hydration is not an issue for all as you can see.
We all tolerate different diets as well.

I also live in Florida and need to keep myself hydrated. I use vitalyte also, I order the qt size to keep at home and work and have several of the 16 oz sizes that I keep in the car or my purse in case we are out longer than anticipated and then I can just by bottled water and add as we go. I have found that it works betterfor me than just plain water. I also increase my salt intake in the summer. So far I have avoided the ER for dehydration. As you can see we are all very different and you need to see what works for you. The important thing is to find what works for you before you get into trouble.

Good luck and let us know how you are doing.

Hey Benny... carbination didn't really bother me when I had UC either. I probably had a little more gas then I had to, but back then gas wasn't painful like it is now. I would do just about anything to drink an ice cold caffiene free diet coke or pepsi. One carbonated pop and I suffer for about 3 days. No fun anymore.

Hi Pouchguy,

At the begining of all this, I had a terrible time staying hydrated. For me being dehydrated turned into kidney stones. Dehydration is bad enough, dehydration with a kidney stone...no good. Drink lots. My doc recommended mixing water and citrus juice half and half. I didn't want the sugar, but he said I needed it.

Benny - I only drink carbonated water. I make my own from a system from Soda Club so I'm not [personally] flying bubbly water all the way from Italy.

Pouchguy - if I need extra hydration I mix some Vitalyte (as Suebear mentioned) into my bubbly water. I don't ever get dehydrated.

kathy

Staying hydrated is down to forming habits and knowing in yourself if you are dehydrated or not. Generally if you feel thirsty you are already dehydrated.

In the normal resting state, input of water through ingested fluids is approximately 1200 ml/day, from ingested foods 1000 ml/day and from metabolism 300 ml/day, totaling 2500 ml/day.

Avoid drinks and foods that draw water from your gut by osmosis, caffienated drinks (tea, coffee, cola), chocolate and other cans of pop as they all hinder hydration.

For all you J-pouch survival experts: Nasal breathing causes you to exhale less water than mouth breathing. And if you are stuck in the desert with no water you'll want to limit your talking, stay in the shade and only move distances when it gets dark cutting down on perspiration. But this is extreme advice!

I try to drink a glass of water every waking hour, if i'm out I carry a 750ml bottle with me and sip regularly refilling it a couple of times when it runs out.

No idea how a gastroscopy can discover if you are dehydrated. They could show thay with much less invasive tests like bloods, blood pressure, fluid balance.

Hope you feel better soon.

Dan

quote:

Nasal breathing causes you to exhale less water than mouth breathing.

So that's why I'm not thirsty after an hour of yoga!

Still natural mineral water helps.

I'm glad this subject came up, answered alot of my thoughts about hydration. Recently had takedown and feel hydrated instantly. With the ileostomy I could not do anything without a beverage in hand, for me, in retrospect, had I not had the j-pouch surgery, I think my organs would eventually develop issues with lack of adequate moisture. I never drank alot of beverage daily prior to - Holly's daily consumption description was how I normally lived prior to problems. And Holly, I am surprised living in Florida you get away with the amount you need! We are so different. This j-pouch has made me feel that I am once again getting adequate fluid and nutrition, with an ileostomy I think you might have to be more vigilant. Good thoughts to all, Vicky