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Thread: Dehydration and the Stubborn

  1. #1
    BrunetteGoddess
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    Default Dehydration and the Stubborn

    So my husband is very dehydrated. He gets headaches, his pee is dark yellow, he's dizzy, etc. I tell him he is dehydrated and he drinks one big glass of water. Then he thinks that's enough and goes back to drinking big glasses of soda and coffee. He also takes two allergy pills a day, which are very drying and don't help dehydration, right?

    Well apparently he's also been constipated lately. He tells me this tonight as he pouring a BIG GLASS OF SODA. I tell him to drink water (he's ALREADY gone through one LITER of soda in 3 hours.) He tells me he drinks soda because it helps him with his constipation. I get pissed (because he'd asked me to help him get healthier) and tell him he's constipated because he's SO DEHYDRATED! He doesn't have enough water in his system to lubricate his bowels.

    Isn't the soda just a temporary remedy to his constipation? If it really is, it must take days to work because he doesn't have relief for DAYS lately.

    How do I convince him he needs to drink more than just one big glass of water? He's a big guy, I don't think he'd like me disclosing specific numbers, so I'll just say over 200lbs. He needs a LOT of water, right?

    Argh, what do I do/ He wants my help but doesn't take it! He's going to make himself very sick if he keeps this up!

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    God/dess sxybrat07's Avatar
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    Default Re: Dehydration and the Stubborn

    Yes, he needs more water. You should ideally drink half your body weight in ounces every day. So, 200lbs = 100 oz of water. If you want to be REALLY technical, I've also been told that for every caffeinated/alcoholic/non water beverage you drink, you should add that many ounces of water to your daily amount as well. So, if he drinks 16 ounces of soda, he should drink an extra 16 ounces of water.

    If he really needs motivation, tell him water is free, soda is not
    I believe you Dottie and you have my support

  3. #3
    BrunetteGoddess
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    Default Re: Dehydration and the Stubborn

    Quote Originally Posted by sxybrat07 View Post

    If he really needs motivation, tell him water is free, soda is not
    Ha, I wish that worked. After he drank that entire liter of soda tonight, he goes, "Eh, I just drank $0.80 worth of soda. That's nothing".

    According to your calculations, he is seriously not getting enough water. The way I watch him drink, he figures one glass of water equals 3-4 glasses of soda, coffee, or beer.


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    God/dess sxybrat07's Avatar
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    Default Re: Dehydration and the Stubborn

    Quote Originally Posted by BrunetteGoddess View Post
    Ha, I wish that worked. After he drank that entire liter of soda tonight, he goes, "Eh, I just drank $0.80 worth of soda. That's nothing".
    Yes, well, while that may be true, .80 a day = almost 25 bucks a month in soda alone, and with no income, that'll add up quick.

    Other than that, if he's gonna be that stubborn, nothing you can do about it (except hide the soda )
    I believe you Dottie and you have my support

  5. #5
    BrunetteGoddess
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    Default Re: Dehydration and the Stubborn

    Grr. I'm tired of him asking me for help and then blowing me off.

    I'm going to grab his glass and fill it with water.

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    God/dess sxybrat07's Avatar
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    Default Re: Dehydration and the Stubborn

    Ya know...if you just, ya know, accidentally knocked the liter of soda over, and it just happened to spill down the sink...that wouldn't be your fault...
    I believe you Dottie and you have my support

  7. #7
    BrunetteGoddess
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    Default Re: Dehydration and the Stubborn

    LOL.

    I just stole his glass and said "I don't care if I need to treat you like my child, you're getting water!"

    He just looked at me suprised and said "Ok, thank you honey."



  8. #8
    God/dess VenusGoddess's Avatar
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    Default Re: Dehydration and the Stubborn

    Sounds like your husband is mildly to moderately dehydrated. Tell him this...if he continues to not drink his daily requirement of water, he will end up in the hospital. When Makayla went to the hospital for dehydration (due to a sensitivity to antibiotics) it cost us $800. She did not have to be admitted. Ask him if he would rather drink water (which is free) or spend $800 to get a needle and IV stuck in his arm for 3-4 hours.

    He's addicted to the soda. That's all that is. Just stop buying it. Tell him if he buys it you will pour it out until he can drink, continually, his daily requirement of water. Also, doesn't he already have medical issues? This constant drinking of soda (sugar) and mild/moderate dehydration cannot be helping that at all.

    If he insists on continuing to drink soda, let him be. But, tell him that he'd better start saving up his money for his ER visit due to dehydration. Also, if you can get him to eat more fruits and veggies (if he's drinking soda, I'm sure he's not snacking on fruits/veggies) that will give him some extra water without him thinking about it. Not enough...but better than nothing.

    And, most soda has some form of caffeine in it...which flushes the water out of your system...which is why for every serving of caffeine you drink, you drink an EXTRA serving of water (on top of your daily req).

    Good luck.

    Symptoms of mild dehydration include:

    * Increased thirst.
    * Dry mouth and sticky saliva.
    * Reduced urine output with dark yellow urine.

    Symptoms of moderate dehydration include:

    * Extreme thirst.
    * Dry appearance inside the mouth, and the eyes don't tear.
    * Decreased urination, or half the number of urinations in 24 hours (usually 3 or fewer urinations). Urine is dark amber or brown.
    * Lightheadedness that is relieved by lying down.
    * Irritability or restlessness.
    * Arms or legs that feel cool to the touch.
    * Rapid heartbeat.

    Symptoms of severe dehydration (even if only one of them is present) include:

    * Altered behavior, such as severe anxiety, confusion, or not being able to stay awake.
    * Faintness that is not relieved by lying down, or lightheadedness that continues after standing for 2 minutes.
    * Inability to stand or walk.
    * Rapid breathing.
    * Weak, rapid pulse.
    * Cold, clammy skin or hot, dry skin.
    * Little or no urination.
    * Loss of consciousness.

    By the time a person becomes severely dehydrated, there is no longer enough fluid in the body to get blood to the vital organs. Severe dehydration is a medical emergency and requires emergency treatment. Call 911 or other emergency services immediately.

    Mild to moderate dehydration is treated at home by drinking more fluids. Treatment for moderate to severe dehydration may include IV fluids and a stay in the hospital.

  9. #9
    BrunetteGoddess
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    Default Re: Dehydration and the Stubborn

    He just got really angry at me and told me I was nagging (translation= you're telling me things I don't want to hear)

    I gave him a glass of water 30 minutes ago and he had not even drank half yet. I told him what you said VG, that he needs to drink more water because or else he will end up in the hospital. He going, "Yeah, ok" like I was nuts. I tell him it's true and he says "Yeah, it's true you're nagging". I told him fine, is that still the same glass of water I gave him a half hour ago and he said yes, so I stared at him and told him to drink. He protested, whined, but drank it.

    I told him fine, I will nag his ass EVERYDAY if I had to until he learned to drink the water continuously himself, and that he could be angry all he wanted, but I didn't care.

    Argh.

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    God/dess sxybrat07's Avatar
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    Default Re: Dehydration and the Stubborn

    Yup, he will get sick. I got really sick (eventually diagnosed with Candida) in high school, I was drinking about 100 ounces of soda a day, and NO water. NONE. Not a glass. When they showed me my blood tests, my blood cells were sticking together from the sugar. I had mono like symptoms, missed a month of school and almost didn't graduate. Also, I had to go on a super strict diet for quite awhile (which sucked). Unless he REALLY wants to go through all that, he should slow down on the soda.
    I believe you Dottie and you have my support

  11. #11
    Banned Katrine's Avatar
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    Default Re: Dehydration and the Stubborn

    I'm getting myself a glass of water right now!

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    God/dess Dottie Rebel's Avatar
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    Default Re: Dehydration and the Stubborn

    a) I am also getting myself a glass of water right now and
    b) You are a good wife!! That ain't naggin'. That is love, right there.

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    God/dess greenidlady1's Avatar
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    Default Re: Dehydration and the Stubborn

    I don't know if you both go to the grocery store or not but stop buying the soda if you go. I know this may sound extreme but pour it out if he buys it .

    Gatorade or Pedialyte are good for hydration if he doesn't like water. Flavored water isn't too bad either. Constipation can be a sign of dehydration. Sodas and coffee will dehydrate him more.

    If he's too stubborn to listen then tell him to quit complaining about it.

  14. #14
    God/dess VenusGoddess's Avatar
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    Default Re: Dehydration and the Stubborn

    If he's feeling that you are nagging him, then just let him be. But, tell him you don't want to hear about what ails him (headaches, constipation, etc). If he starts complaining, just tell him "You know how to remedy it. I don't want to hear it." and walk away. I think this may be his way of negative attention seeking. You are giving him all kinds of attention (even if he feels it is nagging) and he's enjoying that. Don't give it to him. Let him do what he wants, now that he knows the consequences. Don't listen to him complain about it. Don't nag him about drinking water...just let him deal with it.

    And then see how long it lasts.

  15. #15
    Pamela
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    Default Re: Dehydration and the Stubborn

    When a person is severly dehydrated they don't get just water. They need vital minerals to bring the levels of nutrients back up.

    Also thirst i a sign of being Diabetic. Just watch him.

    Give more than water. A nutrient drink will do it if he's not that bad off. If he is he will (may) collapse and end up in the ED on a drip.

    Good luck.

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    God/dess RoseWhite's Avatar
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    Default Re: Dehydration and the Stubborn

    Quote Originally Posted by VenusGoddess View Post
    If he's feeling that you are nagging him, then just let him be. But, tell him you don't want to hear about what ails him (headaches, constipation, etc). If he starts complaining, just tell him "You know how to remedy it. I don't want to hear it." and walk away. I think this may be his way of negative attention seeking. You are giving him all kinds of attention (even if he feels it is nagging) and he's enjoying that. Don't give it to him. Let him do what he wants, now that he knows the consequences. Don't listen to him complain about it. Don't nag him about drinking water...just let him deal with it.

    And then see how long it lasts.
    I TOTALLY agree with this. You've given him the information, and he's being a stubborn child about it. If you continue to push, no matter how right you are (and you are), it will just escalate into a power struggle.

    He just doesn't get to complain anymore. Period. When he tries, you either ignore it or shrug. If he pesters you, you can also say "You know what to do to fix it, and you're choosing to suffer. So suffer."

    Just one more thought on the soda & the caffeine: It's clear that he's addicted, and I agree that caffeine = drinking additional water, but one reason he may think this helps his constipation is that caffeine can stimulate the bowels. This is a totally unhealthy way to approach it of course, but there is an explanation.

    And one more tidbit about the necessary amount of water. Take HALF your body weight, convert it to ounces, and that's the MINIMUM you body needs. Specifically, this is what your heart needs to function best. Obviously, many people drink less water than that and their hearts continue to beat; what happens is that if you're not taking IN that amount of water, the body takes that water from other places in your body, hence the rest of the organs having difficulty functioning.


    http://ririanproject.com/2006/09/07/...nk-more-water/

    Finally, from the above - I thought this was particularly crucial:
    Researchers at Loma Linda University in California studied more than 20,000 healthy men and women and found that people who drink more than five glasses of water a day were less likely to die from a heart attack or heart disease than those who drank fewer than two glasses a day.
    "Before I conceived you, I wanted you. Before you were born, I loved you. Before you were here an hour, I would die for you. This is the miracle of life." -- Maureen Hawkins

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  17. #17
    Yekhefah
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    Default Re: Dehydration and the Stubborn

    Tell him about the time I was nearing the end of grad school and drinking a ton of coffee and soda instead of water (I had papers to write and needed to stay awake). I got pretty badly constipated too, and then the evening finally arrived when laxatives didn't work, an enema didn't work, and suddenly I realized my gut was so swollen that I couldn't button my pants. I went to the emergency room, and by the time I got there I couldn't pee (my urethra was blocked off). I was in some pretty intense pain. I was in the emergency room for 10 hours with two fluid IV's and a catheter so I could pee before finally things got moving. Passing all that was one of the most intensely painful experiences I've ever been through.

    If he wants a taste of it, tell him to go right ahead drinking caffeine (which dehydrates him further). Personally, I hope no one ever has to go through that. It sucked.

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    Default Re: Dehydration and the Stubborn

    I find it hard to get my water via glasses. They're too small and I always lose track of how many I'm drinking. It's annoying. Plus, glasses are sized differently.

    I have a 1L jug that I fill up twice a day, sometimes 3 times a day. I drink it all in one go and know exactly how much I've had.

  19. #19
    cameron_keys
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    Default Re: Dehydration and the Stubborn

    I went to the ER once for dehydration(it was secondary to pneumonia, but still....)

    I quite literally felt like I was dying. I could barely move I was so weak. The Dr said if I hadnt come in when I did I may very well have passed out and died.

    It's the ONLY time in my life I've volentarily gone to the emergency room.

    Maybe THAT will help motivate him.

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    Default Re: Dehydration and the Stubborn

    - I am also going to get a glass of water right now. Just reading this made me thirsty!!

    - You said you told him about VG's post, but did you make him read it with his own eyes?? If I were you, I'd print up her post (or a condensed version) and tape them up everywhere where he can't miss it. On the fridge, on his 2 liter, on the cabinet where the glasses are, on the mirror in the bathroom, across from the toilet, above the toilet for when he pees (maybe quote the symptoms talking about your pee in bold?), in his sock drawer, just everywhere so he CAN'T miss it. And keep doing it till he drinks more water consistently. Then you wouldn't have to "nag" him, lol. I think he would get the point pretty fast.

  21. #21
    Glamazon
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    Default Re: Dehydration and the Stubborn

    Quote Originally Posted by Circe View Post
    I have a 1L jug that I fill up twice a day, sometimes 3 times a day. I drink it all in one go and know exactly how much I've had.
    This is exactly what I do. I have a 32oz bottle that I fill 3-4 times a day and drink...near the end of my pregnancy, I was filling it 6 times a day!!

  22. #22
    Banned rozz's Avatar
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    Default Re: Dehydration and the Stubborn

    If he's so opposed to water, load him up with water-filled fruits and veggies. A cup of carrots contains more water than a cup of whole milk.

  23. #23
    BrunetteGoddess
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    Default Re: Dehydration and the Stubborn

    Quote Originally Posted by VenusGoddess View Post
    If he's feeling that you are nagging him, then just let him be. But, tell him you don't want to hear about what ails him (headaches, constipation, etc). If he starts complaining, just tell him "You know how to remedy it. I don't want to hear it." and walk away. I think this may be his way of negative attention seeking. You are giving him all kinds of attention (even if he feels it is nagging) and he's enjoying that. Don't give it to him. Let him do what he wants, now that he knows the consequences. Don't listen to him complain about it. Don't nag him about drinking water...just let him deal with it.

    And then see how long it lasts.
    Sounds about right. I've tried doing that and then he whines enough that I give in and ask him what I can do for him

  24. #24
    BrunetteGoddess
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    Default Re: Dehydration and the Stubborn

    Quote Originally Posted by RoseWhite View Post
    I TOTALLY agree with this. You've given him the information, and he's being a stubborn child about it. If you continue to push, no matter how right you are (and you are), it will just escalate into a power struggle.

    He just doesn't get to complain anymore. Period. When he tries, you either ignore it or shrug. If he pesters you, you can also say "You know what to do to fix it, and you're choosing to suffer. So suffer."

    Just one more thought on the soda & the caffeine: It's clear that he's addicted, and I agree that caffeine = drinking additional water, but one reason he may think this helps his constipation is that caffeine can stimulate the bowels. This is a totally unhealthy way to approach it of course, but there is an explanation.

    And one more tidbit about the necessary amount of water. Take HALF your body weight, convert it to ounces, and that's the MINIMUM you body needs. Specifically, this is what your heart needs to function best. Obviously, many people drink less water than that and their hearts continue to beat; what happens is that if you're not taking IN that amount of water, the body takes that water from other places in your body, hence the rest of the organs having difficulty functioning.




    Finally, from the above - I thought this was particularly crucial:
    Thanks Rose, I emailed him that link.

  25. #25
    God/dess VenusGoddess's Avatar
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    Default Re: Dehydration and the Stubborn

    Quote Originally Posted by BrunetteGoddess View Post
    Sounds about right. I've tried doing that and then he whines enough that I give in and ask him what I can do for him
    Here's what I suggest...the next time he does it hand him a glass of water and a roll of duct tape. Tell him that if he refuses to drink the water and actively work to alleviate the problems due to his self-induced dehydration, then take a piece of duct tape and put it over his mouth. Either way, you don't want to hear it.

    But, you know...that's me. Tough love and all.

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