AIBU to slightly mother my colleague?

[TheShapeOfEwe]

I have a colleague who is constantly complaining of mild but persistent headaches. She's had her eyes tested, had the overhead strip lighting turned off and us all issued with desk lamps, had the office air con lowered to a couple of degrees colder. Nothing has worked.

I've suggested that she see her GP to rule out anything sinister and she keeps saying she will. But I swear part of the issue is that she NEVER drinks any bloody water. She will have 2 or 3 teas or coffees before lunch, a Diet Coke or two in the early afternoon, and then often an energy drink late afternoon. I've never even once seen her drink anything that wasn't caffeinated.

So I've started a hydration campaign in my office. I've started filling a massive jug with water in the morning and bringing it over to our pod. I've made comments about drinking plenty in the hot weather. I've asked her a couple of times a day if she wants a top up.

Not one drop has passed her lips. She's still headachey all the time. She hates the taste of water, apparently.

Do I just need to get over myself and leave her be? Do I bring in orange squash to tempt her? She's a lovely woman and I feel terribly sorry for her but every suggestion that she should be drinking more is like water off a duck's back! (Sorry )

Am I being an overbearing pain, or should I keep trying to help?

Instead of trying to get her to drink water by peer pressure, I would just tell her if she complains of headaches to you, that she should try 2 weeks completely caffeine free. Then it is up to her if she does.

Other common causes are (neck pain, stress, poor sleep) and overuse painkillers (particularly codeine)

You can get the dydration you need from any kind of liquid, it doesn't have to be water.

Oh and FYI - the woman who nags me at work almost certainly thinks she's subtle, providing occasional information, 'facilitating'...

Nope! She will have noticed, and it will feel passive aggressive as hell to her. And many people, myself included, absolutely loathe this sort of maternalistic approach.

Don't get me wrong, some people love it and will really appreciate your gestures. But it's not 'lovely' to do it to someone who doesn't want it and who it makes uncomfortable.

You sound very nice OP but non-water-drinkers are like alcoholics. You can't change them, they have to want to change themselves.

A gastroenterologist told me this was wrong; all liquid counts (just espresso coffee isn't the best).

There are two schools of thoughts on this. Many believe that tea and coffee don't count as they're diuretics.

Apparently your gut alone needs 2L per day to function properly.

vinobell - if you really are a GP, please update your knowledge. Do you honestly believe that drinking tea/coffee causes you to lose more water than you consume in that drink?! NHS advice on dehydration, below, includes the suggestion of having tea

www.nhs.uk/conditions/dehydration/

Leave her alone.

Although since the darkness and coldness haven’t helped they might as well go back to normal as they’re negatively impacting the rest of you.

I would be very annoyed if a colleague would constantly gutter about what I eat or drink.

I drink tea and juice at work, hardly ever water. I hate still water so the two water dispenser hold no interest for me. I may add the odd can of lemonade to my lunch if I need something fresh or get a strong taste away.

I may get the odd sparkling water bottle out but that’s it.

You have no idea what she drinks at home. I drink lots of diluted Juice with sparkling water at home, more than over the hours in the office together,

I would have quite strong words at one point if somebody would start a campaign like you did. I actually think your colleague is far too nice that she hasn’t said anything yet.