How Much Do You Drink?

And no, I'm not asking about booze (per se). I wonder how much fluid you drink in a day, including water, coffee, tea, milk, juice, sodas, and also any booze.

I am still having problems with low blood sodium. After my first chemo, my sodium dropped to medical emergency levels and I wound up in ICU. My levels still haven't recovered back to the normal range. I don't have any symptoms or problems from it, and there may be no clinical significance (this may be my "new normal") but I don't have much of a bumper before I get in an emergency situation. My daughter-in-law, an Oncology RN, told me that in her 10 years experience, she has only seen this 2 times. 

Meanwhile, I have been put on fluid restrictions in an attempt to get my sodium level to rise. I was also given a prescription protein supplement. What protein has to do with sodium is a mystery to me.

I miss my beverages--my cups of tea in the morning and afternoon. A glass of water always in reach, or a bottle of water in the car. My evening Coke. I'm supposed to suck on candies or chew gum instead of drink. I feel so thirsty and a little obsessed about getting a drink. 

So I am curious about how much other people drink?  

Cheers,

Rocquie

 

 

 

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Comments

  • Max Former Hodgkins Stage 3
    Max Former Hodgkins Stage 3 Member Posts: 3,803 Member
    Sort of

    Rocquie,

    In the summer, after a morning start of three or four cups of coffee, I will drink a gallon of iced tea by myself. I might add two or three beers late in the afternoon.  I might have 3 or 4 cups of water also, mostly when downing meds.  Occasionally I substitute green tea for iced.  I have not drank a carbonated drink in years, due to my reflux. I seldom drink milk at all, and never liquior, just beer for alcohol.  I guess I intake a lot of fluids daily.  I weigh about 165, and have never had my electrolytes out of wack.

    Relevant to the discussion of fluid intake.  A friend at work a few years ago announced that his sister had died. Since he was only about 30, I asked how old she was, and he replied "27."  It seems she died of "water intoxication," a condition in which too much water intake reduces electrolytes to the point that death results.  In recent years it has mostly occured in relationship to certain fad diets.  He said that when she went into ICU, the docs said her condition was "untreatable."

    max

     

  • Rocquie
    Rocquie Member Posts: 868 Member

    Sort of

    Rocquie,

    In the summer, after a morning start of three or four cups of coffee, I will drink a gallon of iced tea by myself. I might add two or three beers late in the afternoon.  I might have 3 or 4 cups of water also, mostly when downing meds.  Occasionally I substitute green tea for iced.  I have not drank a carbonated drink in years, due to my reflux. I seldom drink milk at all, and never liquior, just beer for alcohol.  I guess I intake a lot of fluids daily.  I weigh about 165, and have never had my electrolytes out of wack.

    Relevant to the discussion of fluid intake.  A friend at work a few years ago announced that his sister had died. Since he was only about 30, I asked how old she was, and he replied "27."  It seems she died of "water intoxication," a condition in which too much water intake reduces electrolytes to the point that death results.  In recent years it has mostly occured in relationship to certain fad diets.  He said that when she went into ICU, the docs said her condition was "untreatable."

    max

     

    Thanks, Max

    I have always drunk a lot of liquids too and before lymphoma never had any problems. It is a lingering side-effect.  I switched my morning "cup", which was actually a 12 ounce mug, not a cup, to a 7 ounce old fashioned cup and saucer. I also like an occasional beer or glass of wine, and haven't had either. Rather than have a glass of water on my desk, I go to the kitchen and measure out anything I drink so I can write it down. I will have my sodium checked again on the 31st. It will be interesting to see if it changes. 

    Water intoxication is exactly what I had in the hospital. The electrolyte drop was caused by the cytoxan and compounded by the continuous IV fluids I was being given.  

    Tomorrow, will you drink a cold one for me?

    Rocquie

     

  • allmost60
    allmost60 Member Posts: 3,178 Member
    Rocquie said:

    Thanks, Max

    I have always drunk a lot of liquids too and before lymphoma never had any problems. It is a lingering side-effect.  I switched my morning "cup", which was actually a 12 ounce mug, not a cup, to a 7 ounce old fashioned cup and saucer. I also like an occasional beer or glass of wine, and haven't had either. Rather than have a glass of water on my desk, I go to the kitchen and measure out anything I drink so I can write it down. I will have my sodium checked again on the 31st. It will be interesting to see if it changes. 

    Water intoxication is exactly what I had in the hospital. The electrolyte drop was caused by the cytoxan and compounded by the continuous IV fluids I was being given.  

    Tomorrow, will you drink a cold one for me?

    Rocquie

     

    Fluids...

    Hi Rocquie,

      I drink 3 to 4 cups of coffee in the morning,medium size cup, and then the rest of the day I drink water. Probably 40 ounces or better over a 12 hour period. I don't drink any soda pop...chemo ruined that for me. I enjoy a red beer now and then, but thats it when it comes to alchohol consumption. I do like V8 juice, but it doesn't like me...terrible heart burn when I drink it, same with orange juice and lemonaide. Water is my main fluid. I put milk on cereal, but never drink it by the glassful. I always have a glass of water close by,and take a bottle of water in the car when we go out. I hope I'm not drinking too much of it...always thought drinking plenty of water was good for a person. I'll have to research about water intoxication, thanks for mentioning it, as I've never heard of it before. Take care...Sue

  • Rocquie
    Rocquie Member Posts: 868 Member
    allmost60 said:

    Fluids...

    Hi Rocquie,

      I drink 3 to 4 cups of coffee in the morning,medium size cup, and then the rest of the day I drink water. Probably 40 ounces or better over a 12 hour period. I don't drink any soda pop...chemo ruined that for me. I enjoy a red beer now and then, but thats it when it comes to alchohol consumption. I do like V8 juice, but it doesn't like me...terrible heart burn when I drink it, same with orange juice and lemonaide. Water is my main fluid. I put milk on cereal, but never drink it by the glassful. I always have a glass of water close by,and take a bottle of water in the car when we go out. I hope I'm not drinking too much of it...always thought drinking plenty of water was good for a person. I'll have to research about water intoxication, thanks for mentioning it, as I've never heard of it before. Take care...Sue

    Sue

    I think if the amount of fluids you drink each day has not caused you any problems, you are just fine. I was not trying to sound any alarms, I just didn't quite believe the Doc (a Kidney specialist) when he told me how much people average drinking in a day. 

    As far as water intoxication, I mentioned how I got it, which was under extreme conditions. I think one would only have to worry about that if they suddenly INCREASED their amount of water consumed by a very large amount in a short time. 

    I hope more people will "measure in" on their liquid intake. I am very curious (and confused!!) about this subject.

    Hugs,

    Rocquie

     

  • Max Former Hodgkins Stage 3
    Max Former Hodgkins Stage 3 Member Posts: 3,803 Member
    Rocquie said:

    Thanks, Max

    I have always drunk a lot of liquids too and before lymphoma never had any problems. It is a lingering side-effect.  I switched my morning "cup", which was actually a 12 ounce mug, not a cup, to a 7 ounce old fashioned cup and saucer. I also like an occasional beer or glass of wine, and haven't had either. Rather than have a glass of water on my desk, I go to the kitchen and measure out anything I drink so I can write it down. I will have my sodium checked again on the 31st. It will be interesting to see if it changes. 

    Water intoxication is exactly what I had in the hospital. The electrolyte drop was caused by the cytoxan and compounded by the continuous IV fluids I was being given.  

    Tomorrow, will you drink a cold one for me?

    Rocquie

     

    Certainly !

    Rocquie,

    I most certainly will drink a cold one for you tomorrow.  My internal med doc now lists all upcoming doctor visits that I have, even outside his office. My oncologist scheduled me for a consult with a lung specialist recently.  The printout from my internal med guy lists the reasons as "COPD, Chronic Wheezing/Rales."  I have been staggering at times lately (without any alcohol !) .

    I'll drink for you, you take a breath for me; together we will get through all of this .

    max

    .

  • Rocquie
    Rocquie Member Posts: 868 Member

    Certainly !

    Rocquie,

    I most certainly will drink a cold one for you tomorrow.  My internal med doc now lists all upcoming doctor visits that I have, even outside his office. My oncologist scheduled me for a consult with a lung specialist recently.  The printout from my internal med guy lists the reasons as "COPD, Chronic Wheezing/Rales."  I have been staggering at times lately (without any alcohol !) .

    I'll drink for you, you take a breath for me; together we will get through all of this .

    max

    .

    Rales

    Max, I'm really sorry to hear about your breathing problems. In the beginning of my Lymphoma journey, I had to use an albuterol inhaler; it didn't get rid of the problem, but it helped. (I had a pleural effusion and once that was drained, I could breath again). Have you tried using one? That staggering must be really disconcerting!

    So, yeah, sounds like a plan--you drink for me, I'll breath for you, and we will get through this. . .

    Hugs,

    Rocquie

     

     

  • anliperez915
    anliperez915 Member Posts: 770
    Rocquie said:

    Rales

    Max, I'm really sorry to hear about your breathing problems. In the beginning of my Lymphoma journey, I had to use an albuterol inhaler; it didn't get rid of the problem, but it helped. (I had a pleural effusion and once that was drained, I could breath again). Have you tried using one? That staggering must be really disconcerting!

    So, yeah, sounds like a plan--you drink for me, I'll breath for you, and we will get through this. . .

    Hugs,

    Rocquie

     

     

    Hi Rocquie

    Hi Rocquie,

    I drink a lot of water during the day because I was told by my Onc and Nurses to do that...in the mornings I only drink a cup of coffee and I don't drink soda either. Sometimes I will have a beer or some Tequila :D

    I did know about water intoxication but not sure of the actual amount of water to get that...I drink about 3 or 4 16oz of water bottles...I don't know if that's a lot but I've being doing this for years. And I also live in a desert which just makes it really hard not to ")

    I hope your levels go back up, I remember that my mom suffered from this but it was because her protein levels would go really low. Take care sweetie (((Hugs)))

    Sincerely,

    Liz

  • Max Former Hodgkins Stage 3
    Max Former Hodgkins Stage 3 Member Posts: 3,803 Member
    Rocquie said:

    Rales

    Max, I'm really sorry to hear about your breathing problems. In the beginning of my Lymphoma journey, I had to use an albuterol inhaler; it didn't get rid of the problem, but it helped. (I had a pleural effusion and once that was drained, I could breath again). Have you tried using one? That staggering must be really disconcerting!

    So, yeah, sounds like a plan--you drink for me, I'll breath for you, and we will get through this. . .

    Hugs,

    Rocquie

     

     

    Not yet...

    I have to-date never used an inhaler. I guess that is my next Christmas stocking item to request:  "Inhaler for Max." I can envision it in a pretty green and red box... 

    I have discussed Bleomycin at some length here in the past. I figured it was one of those odd, rare things that only geezers who have had their chest sat on by an Oldsmobile get, but when I went for my blood draw at the cancer center this winter we somehow got on the subject of it and the RN doing my blood draw said, "Oh ! My husband took Bleomycin and hasn't been able to breath since.  He is applying for disability now."  I guess he is about her age, or between 27-30. 

    I guess it is about time to look into it...I have only been unable to breath for almost 5 years. I went for my 3-month check about three years ago and my onc and his regular NP were out, so I saw another NP from the office.  We spoke our "hellos", and she said how are you and I told her "great," and the first thing out of her mouth was "Why can't you breath ? What is that ?"  I told her I was breathing better than I had in two years, and that the doc had told me that the lung toxicity would eventually clear, but othertwise it is untreatable.

    It did leave me thinking, however, and told me that my condition was immediately apparant to anyone I meet.  My boss, who I might see 3 times a year (I work independently and remotely in an area), told me over the phone last fall, "At least you are not hacking like you are about to fall over dead."  It actually did make me feel great, knowing I had not coughed in several days.    My wife makes me avoid social gatherings; says people assume I have something contageous (I do not not), and that it is annoying, so I stay home alone, with all of my friends.  I just pretend she is the web administrator....   

    I am going for that drink ! Sealed  It is 6:00 PM somewhere, maybe where that Mayalasian jetliner is circling the earth for the 25th time since vanishing.  It is probably parked at JFK, loading fuel.  NSA can find what the last thing your nephew Howard texted to his girfriend was, but not a Dreamliner 777 with 280 souls on board.   I was on a boat once that had to emergency flash traffic to the Fleet that we were in extremis -- a Latin medical term used in navigation, meaning "at the point of death," so I feel some empathy with them.  I have only been told that I was about to die four times in my life, so I guess I have a good 5 incidents remaining, or so says my cat.

    .

  • jimwins
    jimwins Member Posts: 2,107

    Hi Rocquie

    Hi Rocquie,

    I drink a lot of water during the day because I was told by my Onc and Nurses to do that...in the mornings I only drink a cup of coffee and I don't drink soda either. Sometimes I will have a beer or some Tequila :D

    I did know about water intoxication but not sure of the actual amount of water to get that...I drink about 3 or 4 16oz of water bottles...I don't know if that's a lot but I've being doing this for years. And I also live in a desert which just makes it really hard not to ")

    I hope your levels go back up, I remember that my mom suffered from this but it was because her protein levels would go really low. Take care sweetie (((Hugs)))

    Sincerely,

    Liz

    Hola Chica

    Hola Liz. Usted, bebe tequila - ¿en serio?

    Hi Liz.  You, drink tequila - really?  Wink

    Nice to see you on.  Hope you're doing well my friend.

    Hugs

  • jimwins
    jimwins Member Posts: 2,107
    Rocquie said:

    Rales

    Max, I'm really sorry to hear about your breathing problems. In the beginning of my Lymphoma journey, I had to use an albuterol inhaler; it didn't get rid of the problem, but it helped. (I had a pleural effusion and once that was drained, I could breath again). Have you tried using one? That staggering must be really disconcerting!

    So, yeah, sounds like a plan--you drink for me, I'll breath for you, and we will get through this. . .

    Hugs,

    Rocquie

     

     

    Hey Rocquie and Max

    Well, Rocquie will breathe for Max and Max will drink for Rocquie.  I occasionally have problems with constipation so who will do "that" for me ?  Embarassed Surprised  I'm thinking there's a guy in NC whose name is like a snake?

    Hugs and smiles...

  • COBRA666
    COBRA666 Member Posts: 2,401 Member
    jimwins said:

    Hey Rocquie and Max

    Well, Rocquie will breathe for Max and Max will drink for Rocquie.  I occasionally have problems with constipation so who will do "that" for me ?  Embarassed Surprised  I'm thinking there's a guy in NC whose name is like a snake?

    Hugs and smiles...

    That's Me !!!!

    Yep,  that's me. Gotta go take a "Jim" so I have to cut this short. Yell  John

  • Max Former Hodgkins Stage 3
    Max Former Hodgkins Stage 3 Member Posts: 3,803 Member
    jimwins said:

    Hey Rocquie and Max

    Well, Rocquie will breathe for Max and Max will drink for Rocquie.  I occasionally have problems with constipation so who will do "that" for me ?  Embarassed Surprised  I'm thinking there's a guy in NC whose name is like a snake?

    Hugs and smiles...

    May be ...

    Jim,

    We may be taking the notion of "surrogate" to its final limits here !

  • Rocquie
    Rocquie Member Posts: 868 Member

    Hi Rocquie

    Hi Rocquie,

    I drink a lot of water during the day because I was told by my Onc and Nurses to do that...in the mornings I only drink a cup of coffee and I don't drink soda either. Sometimes I will have a beer or some Tequila :D

    I did know about water intoxication but not sure of the actual amount of water to get that...I drink about 3 or 4 16oz of water bottles...I don't know if that's a lot but I've being doing this for years. And I also live in a desert which just makes it really hard not to ")

    I hope your levels go back up, I remember that my mom suffered from this but it was because her protein levels would go really low. Take care sweetie (((Hugs)))

    Sincerely,

    Liz

    Hi Liz

    Thanks for your response and I hope you are well. The amount you drink sounds like what my doctor would call a normal amount, though I can't have that much right now. I used to drink much more than you. 

    Interesting that you mention your Mom's protein levels. The doc does have me on a protein supplement but I don't understand the connection between sodium and protein. Plus, my blood protein level is in the normal range. I think it has to do with the BUN/Creatinine (whatever that is).

    Hugs to you too. . .

    Rocquie

     

  • jimwins
    jimwins Member Posts: 2,107
    COBRA666 said:

    That's Me !!!!

    Yep,  that's me. Gotta go take a "Jim" so I have to cut this short. Yell  John

    Knew I would get you to post!

    LOL - yes and think about you name, "John" ;).

  • Rocquie
    Rocquie Member Posts: 868 Member
    jimwins said:

    Hey Rocquie and Max

    Well, Rocquie will breathe for Max and Max will drink for Rocquie.  I occasionally have problems with constipation so who will do "that" for me ?  Embarassed Surprised  I'm thinking there's a guy in NC whose name is like a snake?

    Hugs and smiles...

    Jim

    Jim, I was going to tell you he probably couldn't do it for you because he may already be full of it. 

    Maybe you don't drink enough fluids??

    Cheers,

    Rocquie

     

     

     

  • jimwins
    jimwins Member Posts: 2,107

    May be ...

    Jim,

    We may be taking the notion of "surrogate" to its final limits here !

    Probably, Max

    Hopefully I wasn't too off color - I just couldn't resist and I brought John out of hiding and got some grins too I hope :).

  • Rocquie
    Rocquie Member Posts: 868 Member
    COBRA666 said:

    That's Me !!!!

    Yep,  that's me. Gotta go take a "Jim" so I have to cut this short. Yell  John

    Hi John

    I'm glad you came out to play today. . .

    Rocquie

     

     

  • jimwins
    jimwins Member Posts: 2,107
    Rocquie said:

    Jim

    Jim, I was going to tell you he probably couldn't do it for you because he may already be full of it. 

    Maybe you don't drink enough fluids??

    Cheers,

    Rocquie

     

     

     

    LOL

    It's a good day to pick on John I guess ;).  I probably don't drink enough at times and I need to eat more fiber and do some more exercise.  I also probably have too much coffee in the mornings (2-3 cups usually).  I just couldn't resist finding some humor - you know me ;).

     

     

  • COBRA666
    COBRA666 Member Posts: 2,401 Member
    jimwins said:

    LOL

    It's a good day to pick on John I guess ;).  I probably don't drink enough at times and I need to eat more fiber and do some more exercise.  I also probably have too much coffee in the mornings (2-3 cups usually).  I just couldn't resist finding some humor - you know me ;).

     

     

    Ha Ha !!!!

    Well I guess you know that's how John Wayne got his nickname , "THE DUKE"...It just wouldn't work for him being called "THE JOHN"

     BTW: Is this Lymphoma related?Tongue Out

     Also Jim, I read where eating fat crayons with all that wax can really plug you up. LOL !!!!!!!!!!!Yell

  • illead
    illead Member Posts: 884 Member
    COBRA666 said:

    Ha Ha !!!!

    Well I guess you know that's how John Wayne got his nickname , "THE DUKE"...It just wouldn't work for him being called "THE JOHN"

     BTW: Is this Lymphoma related?Tongue Out

     Also Jim, I read where eating fat crayons with all that wax can really plug you up. LOL !!!!!!!!!!!Yell

    Just wanted to say hi to y'all

    Yes, it's good to hear from you John, I knew you were lurking out there somewhere.

    Becky