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Original poster

Excessive Thirst

37 replies

WigWamBam · 29/10/2004 11:35

My daughter is almost 3.5 and has always drunk a reasonable amount, but the last week or so she has been constantly thirsty. In the last 4 hours she has drunk 6 glasses and is still complaining that she's thirsty. She's perfectly well in herself. Does anyone know if there's anything other than diabetes which can cause an excessive thirst?

OP posts:
zebra · 29/10/2004 12:12

Sore throat? Sounds like a faddy thing, 2 me, though. Wish I could get my DD 2 drink like that!

Original poster
WigWamBam · 29/10/2004 12:36

No, her throat's OK. I don't think it's a faddy thing (but then again, with 3 year olds you never can tell!), she's telling me she's really thirsty. I don't want to get too worried about it, but the diabetes thing sticks in my mind as I was told by the paediatricians when she was born that she could develop diabetes as I had the gestational variety.

I'm probably just being a neurotic mummy though ...

OP posts:
DillyDally · 29/10/2004 12:37

My niece has diabetes (diagnosed at 4) and this was picked up when she woke in the night to start drinking water direct from the tap. have you tired the NHS website?

JoolsToo · 29/10/2004 12:40

WWB - I'd get it checked with doctor to be on the safe side. 6 glasses in the last 4 hours sounds like a LOT to me.

Original poster
WigWamBam · 29/10/2004 12:41

Thanks dillydally, I'll do that.

OP posts:
Original poster
WigWamBam · 29/10/2004 12:41

That's what I thought Jools, but I don't want to be worrying about nothing.

OP posts:
JoolsToo · 29/10/2004 12:56

well you will worry of course - considering your history - thats why you should go to the doc's - then you won't have to worry anymore

Original poster
WigWamBam · 29/10/2004 12:59

Yeah, I know - I was hoping against hope that there might be something less nasty that could be causing this ... better get her to the doctor's I think.

OP posts:
JoolsToo · 29/10/2004 13:06

let us know how you get on! - I'm sure it'll be fine

Original poster
WigWamBam · 29/10/2004 13:06

Will do

OP posts:
jane313 · 29/10/2004 13:12

I had gestational diabetes too and no-one said my son was more likely to get it. (apart I assumed from a general tendency to type2 diabetes in my family).

Good luck with it all

froot · 29/10/2004 15:10

message withdrawn

Original poster
WigWamBam · 29/10/2004 15:12

Can't get an appointment until next week - it's always Friday when you notice these things, isn't it. We do have an out of hours service and if I get any more concerned about this I shall take her over the weekend.

OP posts:
PuffTheMagicDragon · 29/10/2004 15:13

yes, hope you can get her to the docs today.

PuffTheMagicDragon · 29/10/2004 15:15

Sorry, crossed posts.

We have diabetes in our family.

Obiously you're keeping an eye on her - if things don't improve and she continues to drink more and more, you can always go to A&E. At least when its a child they get seen promptly.

MummyToSteven · 29/10/2004 15:18

if you don't want to wait until next week, how about taking her to a big pharmacy today or over the weekend, somewhere like superdrug - superdrug does tests for diabetes

MummyToSteven · 29/10/2004 15:19

or do you have any walk-in centres anywhere near you?

Jimjams · 29/10/2004 15:31

You can buy urine test sticks from places like boots- you could check her wee a few times and if it is coming up positive for sugar then ring the out of hours.

MrsBigD · 29/10/2004 15:34

Hi WWB, if it's been going on for the week that dd has been so thirsty and you are concerned that it IS diabetis I wouldn't wait till next week, just to be on the safe side. If I'm really worried about dd and can't get an appointment I just show up and do a bit of 'lunatic mum with overflowing tearducts' and usually get seen. They probably think I'm neurotic... , but who cares, it gets dd seen! If tears don't work I just get very annoyed and annoying.

On the other hand, what I noticed with my dd is that since I've put the heating on she's drinking more... maybe that's it?

all the best! and hope it's nothing

Original poster
WigWamBam · 29/10/2004 15:49

I can do lunatic mum, MrsBigD! I've asked my dh to pop into Boots on his way home and pick me up a box of clinistix, so I can test her wee and see what we get. Hopefully you're right, MBD, and it's just the central heating - watch this space.

OP posts:
Original poster
WigWamBam · 29/10/2004 18:38

Well, the first try with the clinistix has shown up negative which is a relief. She's up to 14 glasses of fluid though, and still muttering about being thirsty, so heaven knows what's going on.

Thank you all for your help and concern xx

OP posts:
pinkroses · 29/10/2004 18:42

WWB if you have testedher water now, she will have diluted it with everything she is drinking. Try it first thing in the morning....not sure if this test works the same as a pregnancy test, but it is best to test water first thing in the morning for a pg test.

Hope she is better soon

mykidsmum · 29/10/2004 18:46

Hi just a thought`has your daughter eaten anything salty today ,I have similar problems when my little girl has sausages for breakfast!!Not trying to trivialise but just a suggestion
xxxxx

Original poster
WigWamBam · 29/10/2004 18:50

Oh - hadn't thought about that, pinkroses. Perhaps I spoke too soon! I'll try again in the morning.

mkm - no, she hasn't had anything salty for a couple of days.

OP posts:
mykidsmum · 29/10/2004 18:50

Sorry didn't realise that this had been going on for a couple of weeks. Just another thing to consider, is she eating okay??often if small children drink too much it can affect appetite, would she settle for a food offering when she asks for a drink or does it HAVE to be a drink ??