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Original poster

Anyone else not feel thirsty?

48 replies

PastelPompoms · 03/11/2020 06:06

Anyone else rarely feel thirsty and often forget to drink in this cooler weather? It usually gets to lunchtime before I remember I need a drink! Blush

Half term was really busy last week with the family at home and my lack of drinking seemed to get worse, despite making drinks for family members.

Are headaches a common sign of being dehydrated? Had one on and off for the past 4 days which i think is due to lack of drink. (Probably averaged 2/3 drinks a day).

I actively tried to drink lots yesterday and think I managed 1/2 a litre while at work. I know I should be drinking more than double this.

If you drink the recommended about, how do you do it without needing to go to the toilet all the time?

Also, if you don’t feel thirsty, what helps you remember to drink?

OP posts:
Marmite27 · 03/11/2020 06:11

I’m so bad at drinking. I can often get to the end of the day and realise I’ve only had half a cup of tea.

I get headaches and constipation too Sad I’ll be watching for tips!

FortunesFave · 03/11/2020 06:14

Yes! Headaches are a common sign of dehydration. Don't you make a coffee or tea when you wake up?

I am always thirsty. I eat too much sometimes if I don't drink enough. I forget and think it's hunger.

I make sure I have bottles of water in the fridge as I live in Australia and not only is it hot but you can't really trust tap water in my area.

Caeruleanblue · 03/11/2020 06:14

I drink water several times a day , DH drinks tea, coffee and gin with tonic. That's it . But he seems constipated often. But won't change his ways .

Quarantiming · 03/11/2020 06:21

Yes, headaches are a common sign. I find it easier to drink if I fill a water bottle in the morning and only drink from that. Then I can see how much of my litre is left. I assume with one bottle plus tea/coffee/meal time drinks it's enough.

ParadiseLaundry · 03/11/2020 06:22

God yes me. DH thinks it's really weird. It's worse too because I'm also breastfeeding. Sometimes when I wake up my mouth is so dry it's stuck together and when it's really bad even my eyes feel dry. This sounds awfu but even then I don't feel thirsty.

I think it might be because when I was little my parents never gave me drinks, they would have tea and coffee but they wouldn't get me drinks with meals or anything. I was dehydrated and constipated a lot as a child. Even when I was a kid at school, you couldn't take water bottles in like nowadays. You got water with lunch but sometimes the water glasses were used for jelly and no one got a drink at all!

NoSquirrels · 03/11/2020 06:31

Yes - I’m rarely thirsty, but I drink plenty of tea and always have a drink with a meal. So I’m not dehydrated. I know we “should” all drink more water blah blah, but meh.

My DH on the other hand acts like he’s a dying man in the desert and gets anxious if he’s got to go anywhere without extremely easy access to liquid. He’ll quite frequently order or buy a soft drink and a water at the same time. Car journeys cannot be started without full bottles (usually multiple) of drinks. I mean, it’s good to be prepared but he does know we’re actually not going to break down in the desert unexpectedly on the way to Ikea...

One DC is like me and has to be reminded to drink. The other seems normal!

BefuddledPerson · 03/11/2020 06:32

In terms of how to address it - drink a certain amount at each meal/certain times and make a habit of it.

I have 2/3 hot drinks in the morning. Water with lunch. 2/3 hot drinks in afternoon. Water with tea. 2/3 hot drinks in evening. Water by my bed. I only have one caffeinated drink (first cup of tea).

You have to just do it, after a few months it'll be habit.

I take water out with me and if I didn't drink it when out, I drink it when I walk in the house before putting the bottle to wash.

Camomila · 03/11/2020 06:34

I'm always thirsty (nose/throat issues) so drink lots of water/juice/hot drinks throughout the day.

I've got lovely skin but yes I do go to the loo every few hours.

Ginfordinner · 03/11/2020 06:44

I'm a tea drinker which is just as well because I never feel thirsty in cooler weather. I get horrific headaches if I don't drink enough.

PeanutButterFalcon · 03/11/2020 06:47

This used to be me so I bought a huge 2l bottle and made sure every hour or so I took a few mouthfuls from it. To begin with I couldn't drink the whole bottle and was constantly needing the toilet.

Now, I'm back to needing the toilet the same as before, feel thirsty and the headaches if I drink less than 1.5l are awful. Also I'm drinking the 2l plus more.

I'm off work at the moment and find it harder to maintain so I drink from a straw as I always seen to drink more that way and have bought larger cups. I always have a 500ml glass on the side and can sip away. I aim to refill at lunch and tea and drink hot drinks in between. I've had to take a glass to bed as I can wake up thirsty now and I no longer get UTIs.

Find what works for you and push yourself to drink. After 2 weeks you'll feel the benefits and thirst.

WitchesBritchesPumpkinPants · 03/11/2020 06:50

@NoSquirrels

Yes - I’m rarely thirsty, but I drink plenty of tea and always have a drink with a meal. So I’m not dehydrated. I know we “should” all drink more water blah blah, but meh.

My DH on the other hand acts like he’s a dying man in the desert and gets anxious if he’s got to go anywhere without extremely easy access to liquid. He’ll quite frequently order or buy a soft drink and a water at the same time. Car journeys cannot be started without full bottles (usually multiple) of drinks. I mean, it’s good to be prepared but he does know we’re actually not going to break down in the desert unexpectedly on the way to Ikea...

One DC is like me and has to be reminded to drink. The other seems normal!

Has he been tested for diabetes?

It was the thing that made me get tested. I know when my bloods are bad now as I need to drink loads. When they're good it's an effort to remember to drink.

Ohwhatbliss · 03/11/2020 06:52

I very rarely ever feel thirsty. When I discussed with the GP he said that when you are so chronically dehydrated your body basically stops giving off the thirst signals as it should Shock I definitely find the more I try to drink the more my thirst increases. I have to drink a set amount at set times to be properly hydrated. Otherwise I can literally go all day without a drink

RosieLemonade · 03/11/2020 06:53

I’m never thirsty. I could go all day without a drink and hardly notice. But I am prone to headaches so I make myself drink even though I never feel I need a drink.

Chicchicchicchiclana · 03/11/2020 07:09

I drink 2 or 3 mugs of tea or coffee during the day, occasionally a glass of juice or squash and half a glass of water before bed. And that's it. No health issues that I'm aware of.

BogRollBOGOF · 03/11/2020 07:14

I find it much harder in the winter. I don't drink tea or coffee, and the coldness of the water from the tap is unpleasant. I have to conciously think about doing half hot, half cold water.

NoSquirrels · 03/11/2020 07:31

Thanks Witches - yes, it’s not diabetes. It’s basically anxiety over migraines and established habit. (It doesn’t help his weight, if he chooses soft drinks not water, but he won’t be told!) I think he’s overly hydrated, he thinks my tea-drinking can’t possible be sufficient. We agree to disagree!

onemorecupofcoffeefortheroad · 03/11/2020 07:44

I have one of those drinking bottles on my desk that has sections with the times of the day written on. So you know to drink section 1 between 9 and 11 and so on. I fill it up in the morning and then refill at lunchtime - I find that helps.

icecream2965 · 03/11/2020 07:49

Set an alarm on your phone where you have to take a photo of the tap or water filter to turn it off.

icecream2965 · 03/11/2020 07:50

Buy a giant tea mug on Amazon (for herbal tea).

ThatBitch · 03/11/2020 07:54

I used to drink 2 x 24oz water bottles over the 4 hours a day I work. Now I have to wear a mask the whole time I find it much harder to. I make sure to sit and drink my full water bottle when I get home and have a large tea in the morning. I then make sure to have herbal tea/water in the evening. If I don't drink enough it feels like I need to claw my eyeballs out of my head and my veins are turning to dust 🤣

Derelictwreck · 03/11/2020 08:13

You just have to make it a habit - start with what's enjoyable to drink.

Your bladder gets used to it to. I drink 2.5-3litres a day and pee 4 times, never in the night

gingerbreadfox · 03/11/2020 08:23

I always get headaches if I don't drink enough water, also lack of concentration! I honestly find if I get a headache and then I neck a pint of water my headache disappears and I can concentrate better.

Ginfordinner · 03/11/2020 08:25

It's a fallacy that what you drink has to be plain water. Tea and coffee are fine. They are mildly diuretic, but not enough to dehydrate you.

BefuddledPerson · 03/11/2020 08:35

Too much caffeine is also not a good idea though.

Herbal teas or plain boiled water are better, I find them dull to drink but dehydration is a real stressor so worth taking seriously.

www.wellness.com/blog/13299202/dehydration-s-effects-on-the-brain/wellness-editor

AriettyHomily · 03/11/2020 08:45

I drink loads, 3-4l of water a day. It's a habit and if I don't I feel awful. In the winter I sometimes add squash and don't drink it fridge cold. In the summer ice cold with lemon or lime.