Constant Thirst

It's best to distinguish between thirst when well-hydrated vs. thirst when a bit dehydrated. Are you peeing light-colored urine a few times per day?

Here's a few things that helped me stay hydrated

Alkaline water, lime water, cucumber and celery juice, red raspberry leaf tea. 

Powerade or Gatorade help me stay hydrated. Sometimes I also drink flavored water or use water flavoring because I can't stand the flavor of water. 

Hello, Jordysimo.

Next time you see your family doctor (or surgeon!) for a check up, see if you can be tested on blood sugar. A few months after my big surgery my doctor ran very thorough bloodwork and urine tests just to make sure my functions were normal, especially after major surgery and loss of colon. 

This doesn't apply to everyone, but a blood test a few years ago revealed I was diabetic and I didn't even know it. I was drinking soft drinks once a day, eating pastas and carbs in huge amounts until I found out.

The thirst hasn't been as bad as it was the other day. I'm not sure whether it's because I wasn't feeling well... Do j-pouchers tend to take more time to recover from any sort of illness and does feeling unwell make us feel more dehydrated? Just curious.

My surgeon did my bloods not long ago and they were okay thankfully.

Jordy, think we are having similar journeys, our operations were about the same time.  .  Don't know if you have seen SKN69 post about 'buzzing and electrical currant',  I put this post there too, but I mentioned to my doc that I was tired all the time, despite drinking ample or  'enough to turn my pee clear' he said it was probably dehydration as you need to balance the salts too... he recommended re-hydrating drinks (like diarolyte etc).   or you can make your own.... Seems to be helping

1 litre of water

6 flat tea spoons of sugar

0.5 teaspoon of salt ((a posh salt like rock salt or himilayan salt is probally best as contains more nutrients)

200 ml of orange juice (potassium and flavour).   There are other recopies too if you google.

also I tended to bottleneck my fluids before work (ie drink loads in the morning), which although was ok before the op, not so good after the op...

I'm in the exact same boat as you, Bob. Always feeling lethargic and just generally can't be bothered. Get tired too easily. So yeah I think it is a case of not balancing out the salts correctly, etc... I'd have always thought 6 teaspoons would be too much but probably not in a litre. I'll definitely give that drink a go, cheers mate.

(Is the orange juice a cordial or fresh orange?)

fresh orange mate... its to improve the flavour but also give some potassium... you would also mash some banana in it if you prefer....

I won't do Gatorade as the sugar is too high and can lead to diarrhea and start a vicious cycle.

I was told to add salt to all my meals.

I also carry a water bottle with me and keep track of how much water I drink everyday so I am reaching targets.  I also make sure I drink more when it's hot out.

I avoid juice and especially citrus.  Again high in sugar and citrus gives me fire butt.

I have been using a packet of Ener-C a day which has Vitamin C and electrolytes.   http://www.tryenerc.com/

Yeah, the salt/potassium intake is just as important as glucose.

Brain function, concentration and muscle function can all be seriously affected by a low potassium level.

During one of my episodes of dehydration, which resulted in emergency admission to hospital by Ambulance, although my pee was relatively clear, I wasn't peeing enough and my potassium level was very low.

Before receiving IV fluids, I had severe muscle cramps, especially all down my back, my neck and legs; apparently, because of low potassium.

@Former Member That must've been a horrid experience! I don't think I drink anywhere near as much as I should be to be honest. I tend to just drink when I'm thirsty instead of keeping on top of it. Silly of me to be honest. Reading your experience of dehydration will probably encourage me to drink more!

Yeah, it was a horrible, I had to stay in Hospital on each occasion until I had re-hydrated. My dehydration and low potassium occurred before takedown and no matter what I was drinking, I was unable to absorb a sufficient fluids; due to the temp ileostomy.  

Also, drinking when feeling thirsty, although obviously, is actually too late, as thirst is a sign that we're already dehydrated.

Eat food high in water too if you can tolerate them like watermelon, cucumbers.  Have a broth based soup.

I drink mass amounts of tea but do note that tea with caffeine can be a diuretic. 

Hello, Jordysimo.

You can try to make your own simple broth by simmering different vegetables in a pot of water (carrots, onions, celery, potatoes, mushrooms, green beans, whatever you like and will eat), throw in some leftover chicken and spinach near the end of cooking, add plenty of salt and seasonings.

Or buy cartons of chicken or vegetable broth (organic, if you like) and drink those. For flavour and to make it a meal you could add leftovers, chicken or beef, or tofu and spinach just before serving, for the protein. Any kind of canned soup or broth will help your hydration and salt levels. Avoid the ones that say "no added salt" because it's the salt in those canned or carton soups that you need. Plain water goes right through you.

@jordy I went to the doctors today and was told I was drinking enough I don't know if I'm supposed to be drinking fluids fast to keep up or sipping throughout the day I'm told I should drink like 3 liters a day as far as the salts thing I put salt on everything I eat still struggling with what I should eat I'm a little over two weeks post take down but I was told btween my 3 meals I should do snacks to me that seems like awful lot of food idk I'm confused

I sip throughout the day,eat 3 small meals and usually 2 snacks.  Sometimes more.  Depends on the day.

as far as snacks any suggestions on something for someone so new to the jpouch

I usually have a banana mid morning and peanut butter and crackers, cheese and crackers, pretzels etc.  during the afternoon.  It varies.  When I first started out I kept it simple.  Now I might have guacamole with chips or whatever I happen to have around.  Did you get a low residue diet to go by.  If not you can google it and it should come up.  

no I got nothing just a soft foods diet while I was at the hospital

I'm not sure if your familiar with fap it's famila atemitosis polyposis or not it's where numerous polyps are formed in the colon and you can't scrape them out so the only cure is removing the whole colon

Hi, Michaelc78,

The hospital where you had your surgery should have a dietician. Every major hospital has an on staff dietician who oversees patient nutrition. Call the dietician's office and ask them to send you the food list, specifically, for their patients with a j pouch or ostomy. It doesn't matter that you no longer have your ostomy. The diet is generally the same. Make sure they know you have a j pouch, are having problems, and tell them you need that special food list. It will be different to what is recommended for patients with a colon. Or google "diet for j pouch" and choose foods you can manage, whether it is shopping for it, cooking it, storing it.  

It will take you a while longer to have things under control, just know that and don't be discouraged. imstill can't eat spicy foods, but in a few weeks I'll try a bit again. Give yourself time. After my takedown my surgeon stressed chewing every mouthful slowly and chew very thoroughly so that your food is mashed by the time it gets to your pouch. After two weeks your pouch is still trying to work itself into a new job. You're doing a good job learning to eat high protein foods such as your eggs, turkey, cheese. Fit in a snack or two. Salted pretzels. Peeled cucumber slices with peanut butter on top. Half a toasted bagel with cheddar cheese. Or a cup of cottage cheese. Try to get the peanut butter that says 100% roasted peanuts. That's all, nothing else on the ingredients' list. Avoid the peanut butters that list added sugars and salt. You can get your salt elsewhere. Always go for the cleanest food with the least ingredients in the label. 

I will do that