hydration and drinking question again

Don't worry. You can still trust your body to tell you when it is thirsty. I think most of the hydration threads have to do with two to four hours of athletic activity at the 70% level of your maximum heart rate. I drank extra liquids for the first two months but now I drink the same amount as my husband except for the heavy athletic activities.
Drinking extra liquids has not meant extra bathroom trips for me other than to urinate. I am a big fan of anal muscle exercises before and after surgery.

I agree with Subzeromambo - I drink exactly the same amount now as when I was coloned. I have a cappuccino in the morning and maybe a couple of glasses of water with Vitalyte. Not that I need the Vitalyte but the water here tastes horrid even after filtering it.

kathy

I think the main concern about hydration is in the early months while you are getting used to your pouch, and there can be a tendency to think that too much fluids can lead to too many bowel movements. It can be a difficult balancing act, because you need to drink enough to keep your urine dilute, regardless of how many bowel movements you have.

As time goes on, your body learns to absorb water better, so you don't need to be drinking more all the time. The main times you'd need to be wary is when you are sick and when you are exposed excess heat and/or exercise. In those instances you need more fluid than people with a colon.

You'll find that you will be able to figure it out. In the 17 years I've had my j-pouch, I've been dehydrated a few times, but I have been able to manage it at home. Some people do need to go to the ER for IV fluids, and I cannot predict if that will occur in your case or not. Sometimes things spin out of control and it is important to be able to recognize it.

Jan