Does drinking a lot of water make you more thirsty?

[naughtoj]

Ok, I have always been a BIG water drinker, but I think I have a problem. My name is Janice and I am a water addict.

Seriously, my teacher actually pulled me aside today to ask me if I had been checked for Diabetes. I told her drinking lots of water was just habit, but she kept on (she is a nurse). She actually wants me to get a blood test!! It got me thinking more about what I already know....I constantly get comments on how I go to the bathroom so much or "how can you drink so much water" or "why do you drink so much water". I explain that I have done it forever and now when I go without for too long I feel like crap and my mouth gets dry.

But it is even worse than that. I mean, if I don't have a sip (or gulp!!) of water every ten minutes or so my mouth actually gets DRY. I wonder if my salivation glands in my mouth are being understimulated or something, because of the constant moisture?? If I have to go an hour...for whatever reason...without drinking water, I am absolutely beside myself. I carry a water bottle EVERYWHERE. It is like my lifeline. If I lose it I am in a total frenzy!! I case out bathrooms like smokers case out smoking sections!! It is absolutely crazy! I even think about nursing...my future career...and wonder if I'll be able to drink water or pee (the rumor is you never have time for that again!}(

Anyhoo....please tell me I am not the only one!! It is not uncommon for me to fill a 32oz Aquafina bottle 10+ times per day. I don't have any negative symptoms or anything, but I just feel like if I drop from that amount a couple of bottles or so I am thirsty, dry, and uncomfortable. I feel like a freak in society. Just wanted to know if anyone can relate since this is an exercise forum......

ETA...I can't imagine there are people out there, like my friend, who struggle to get two of those tiny Aquafina's down A DAY!!! One of my friends says some says she only pees ONCE!!!Can you imagine??

 

[Miss Lee]

Janice

I don't think drinking a lot of water makes you thirsty, but I do think drinking 10+ 32oz bottles of water per day is excessive. I agree with your nursing instructor that you should see your doctor. Do you have any other risk factors/symptoms of diabetes?

 

[ivorygorgon]

I actually experience something close to the same thing. I have had recent blood tests and I am just fine. I, too, am always drinking something. I find it very refreshing. I also think that my mouth gets dry if I don't drink constantly. I also go to the bathroom a lot. It amazes me when I hear people struggling to "drink my water." (like on WW). It just boggles my mind.

 

[alsrnbsn]

Hi, my name is Amy and I am a water addict!

I am with you, there! I really don't understand those who say that they just "can't" drink their water. I find, though, that I don't have a problem with dry mouth or anything, but I do like to have water available and it's pretty much all I drink.

Now, I do, however, think that 10+ 32oz bottles a day is excessive. I carry a 3 gallon bottle with me to work (as a nurse) to refill my 52 oz cup I have there (hate the way work water tastes), but I don't always finish it. There's usually about 20 oz left when I head home, and I don't like to drink it because then I will be up all day in the bathroom (I work nights).

Something that may also be an issue is your sodium intake. If you don't have enough intake, then your body can not utilize the water you drink properly and you will just excrete it and it's done you no good. I would definitely get some blood work, especially chemistries and electrolytes. Just to be on the safe side.

 

[diane57]

I actually do think water can be sort of addicting. I drink a lot of water and run to the bathroom a lot, because I also think it's healthy to drink a lot of water. I feel thirsty without my water. But I was on vacation for a week last year, and I got off my usual schedule - I drank maybe 3 or 4 glasses of water a day instead of my usual 8-10 glasses, and I was doing a lot of walking also. For the first day or 2 I felt thirsty, and then I guess my body adjusted or something and I felt normal (not thirsty) with a lesser intake.

I'm also very curious if drinking a lot of water really is that healthy - I know that's been the prevailing wisdom, but I've read a couple of articles recently by doctors who say that there's no good reason to stay so super-hydrated, we should all just drink when we're thirsty. A puzzlement...

 

[kathryn]

10, 32-oz. bottles does sound excessive. Too much water can dilute digestive juices, and flush minerals out of the body.

There is a toothpaste, mouthwash, gel and gum made just for dry mouth (which is obviously a problem for some people, since they make these things for it!). I can't remember what it's called, bút I've seen it in Walgreen's. That might help.

 

[robyn6002]

Agree with Kathryn yes that does sound excessive and not healthy and washing out the good things - not good!

I always find it difficult to get the right amount of water but I think I'm finally at a good point now! This is one of my focus areas!

 

[naughtoj]

Drinking water is sortof like weight lifting....after a certain point you really don't have much to gain, more lifting does no good and may actually hurt you. I get that.

But it is not like I am trying to drink that much for health reasons. I did in the very begining, years ago. That water intake is just normal for me. I like it; it is everyone else that has the problem with it! Oh, and I eat WAAAAYYYY more salt than I should so that takes care of that. Last time I had my blood drawn (back in Jan) the only weird thing was my BUN at 6. Which is just reflective of a lot of water intake. Everything else was very much in normal parameters...including blood glucose.

I will never believe that drinking lots of water is not healthy for a person who pretty much is ALREADY HEALTHY. If you have other health problems, especially chronic ones, I do think that it can hurt you (edema, hyponatremia..etc). And digestive system?? I have one of the healthiest digestive systems. Never, ever have problems. So it works for me.

I am getting my labs done next week tho, so we will see. Thanks for the feedback, all!

I am

 

[melrose]

Get to the doctor now! Hope I'm wrong, but I had the same exact symptoms as you describe 7 years ago, right before I was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes.

 

[Amber Mitchell]

I also drink tons of water and have something to drink with me always. I am just constantly thirsty and feel parched down to my stomach. My dr. was concerned when I told her how much I drank several years ago and did every test there was but everything came back fine. Each year I have a total blood work up done and everything has always been normal and I still drink what some would call an excessive amount of water.