Need fluid suggestions for hydration

reckte
reckte Member Posts: 13
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
Currently my husband is struggling with hydration. He has a ileostomy bag and is on chemo treatment (oxiplatin & Xeloda). He is drinking Gatorade and water. But, of course, it just runs real quick through his body to his bag. He is also eating quite a bit of soup.

Are there some fluids better than others to help with this? We know to stay away from carbonation, caffiene and sugary drinks.

Thank you,
Diane

Comments

  • Sigma34
    Sigma34 Member Posts: 203
    #2
    If you have a juicer, try
    If you have a juicer, try cucumber. Coconut water is wonderful or the milk from a fresh baby coconut. (which is really water) these can be found in asian markets or even a health shop and will be white in color not the hard brown. You can also eat the meat of the coconut inside.

    Christine
  • Lilmiss82
    Lilmiss82 Member Posts: 257 Member
    #3
    Sigma34 said:

    If you have a juicer, try
    If you have a juicer, try cucumber. Coconut water is wonderful or the milk from a fresh baby coconut. (which is really water) these can be found in asian markets or even a health shop and will be white in color not the hard brown. You can also eat the meat of the coconut inside.

    Christine

    I agree with the coconut
    it does hydrate well. A brand that you can find at many stores is vita coco. Also, you may want to try Smartwater (you can find this at many supermarkets and even wholesale stores like Costco) it has electrolytes in it, which personally I think its better than gatorade since it's water hence no sugar. I also liked vitamin water, good flavors and many vitamins in it :) Melissa
  • John23
    John23 Member Posts: 2,122 Member
    #4
    Drink plain water.


    To slow the output, try drinking a cup of High Pulp orange juice.
    It will thicken and slow output without reducing the absorption
    rate of the ileum.

    V8 Juice contains a lot of potassium, and dehydration will deplete
    potassium. You want to keep potassium levels up. One small can
    of V8 has about 500+g of potassium.

    Do -not- drink "more" water, drink water "more frequently".
    If you drink a lot of water at one time, it will just go out the stoma;
    The ileum can only absorb a specific percentage at any one time.
    Drink water more frequently; 4-6oz per hour will get more into
    the system than a quart all at once.

    Caffeine is a diuretic and diuretics will send liquid through the
    system more quickly. Carbonated drinks cause gas. It won't
    hurt the hydration, but it'll blow up that pouch quick.


    John
  • reckte
    reckte Member Posts: 13
    #5
    John23 said:

    Drink plain water.


    To slow the output, try drinking a cup of High Pulp orange juice.
    It will thicken and slow output without reducing the absorption
    rate of the ileum.

    V8 Juice contains a lot of potassium, and dehydration will deplete
    potassium. You want to keep potassium levels up. One small can
    of V8 has about 500+g of potassium.

    Do -not- drink "more" water, drink water "more frequently".
    If you drink a lot of water at one time, it will just go out the stoma;
    The ileum can only absorb a specific percentage at any one time.
    Drink water more frequently; 4-6oz per hour will get more into
    the system than a quart all at once.

    Caffeine is a diuretic and diuretics will send liquid through the
    system more quickly. Carbonated drinks cause gas. It won't
    hurt the hydration, but it'll blow up that pouch quick.


    John

    Very good suggestions! He
    Very good suggestions! He is having the V8 Fusion (can't handle the regular V8). It has 250mg of potassium in it and he does eat at least one banana a day. I'll get some high plup OJ tomorrow. He likes the no-pulp kind but is willing to try. He is beginning the water "regement" as just heard of that one today. Already avoiding carbonation as it sure does blow up the pouch! That really bothers him the most....the puffing of the pouch.

    Thank you,
    Diane
  • LOUSWIFT
    LOUSWIFT Member Posts: 371 Member
    #6
    fluids
    Gatoraid and pedicare are a good source of elecrolytes and fluids too. Never thought about it for Chemo induced dehydration but worked well to re-hydrate in the hot Florida sun.
  • Lilmiss82
    Lilmiss82 Member Posts: 257 Member
    #7
    LOUSWIFT said:

    fluids
    Gatoraid and pedicare are a good source of elecrolytes and fluids too. Never thought about it for Chemo induced dehydration but worked well to re-hydrate in the hot Florida sun.

    Just noticed
    that my post was censored! Haha let me try again. I recommend smart water it has electrolytes in it:)
  • pluckey
    pluckey Member Posts: 484 Member
    #8
    I had the same problem - my
    I had the same problem - my ileo/dehydration issues...I lost 50 lbs and was alwasy dehydrated going to the ER. As onc to automatically order a bag of IV fluids with your husbands chemo treatments. When I started doing that, it made a world of difference.

    I had to take tincture of opium and lomotil to finally firm up my output- it went from liquid to pudding.....then i got reversed.

    good luck

    peggy
  • taraHK
    taraHK Member Posts: 1,952 Member
    #9
    oral rehydration salts? (mix with water). Some taste better than others. Good for electrolyte balance.

    Good luck!

    Tara
  • reckte
    reckte Member Posts: 13
    #10
    Lilmiss82 said:

    Just noticed
    that my post was censored! Haha let me try again. I recommend smart water it has electrolytes in it:)

    Thanks for clearing that up.
    Thanks for clearing that up. Could not figure out what the word was!! Going to the market this morning, am going to pick some up.

    Diane
  • Kathryn_in_MN
    Kathryn_in_MN Member Posts: 1,252 Member
    #11
    reckte said:

    Very good suggestions! He
    Very good suggestions! He is having the V8 Fusion (can't handle the regular V8). It has 250mg of potassium in it and he does eat at least one banana a day. I'll get some high plup OJ tomorrow. He likes the no-pulp kind but is willing to try. He is beginning the water "regement" as just heard of that one today. Already avoiding carbonation as it sure does blow up the pouch! That really bothers him the most....the puffing of the pouch.

    Thank you,
    Diane

    Be careful with V8 FUSION
    There are additives in V8 Fusion - that stuff gives me diarrhea. Regular V8, no troubles.

    Stick to anything in as close to NATURAL phase as possible. Spread it out slowly through the day, not in big amounts at once.

    Water
    Coconut
    Watermelon
    Gatorade or Powerade
    Herbal Tea (be careful of what types)
    Fruit juices (like apple or orange, but stay away from prune,etc)

    Don't forget things that you visualize as food, but are considered liquid:
    Cream of Wheat
    Oatmeal
    Soup
    Pudding
    Popsicles
    Fruit Ice
    Jello

    When it is hard to get more liquid down, sometimes something like Cream of Wheat is easier.
    Watch out for artificial sweeteners - many cause diarrhea for some people (I am one of them). Stay away from caffeine and carbonation.

    Good luck - I hope he gets this under control and can feel better before the next cycle.

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