Water warning, don't drink much?

steven_ber · Jun 28th, 2008, 00:38

Just a quick thread with a word of warning.

I don't drink much of anything, and even less water, don't really know why, I've always been this way, I've probably drank about a litre of fluid per day for as long as I can remember, this litre would be made up of just a couple of cups of coffee a day, and maybe some milk, but not a lot of water.

I try to drink bottled water when I go to India, but within a week to 10 days I've had enough of that horrible stuff and just stick to Chai and lassi.

About a month into my last trip I was in Hyderabad and I started getting horrendous pains in my left kidney......

Sod's law time....

The night before, I struggled to find a place to change a travellers cheque, but I already had pains in my groin and my hotel was paid for, so I decided that the Rs20 I had left would be enough till the morning.

So, about 2 in the morning I woke up with very frightening pains in my left kidney, I could barely move, any movement had me fearing that something was about to tear, I'd already had my appendix removed, so I knew that wasn't the problem.

2 in the morning, Rs20 in my pocket, and going way off the beaten track the next day, I had to do something, but what?

The previous day I'd met a long term friend from indiamike, we'd chatted most of the day, and he said he gets up at 04:00 every morning, I felt I was in trouble and needed to get to a hospital ASAP, so I managed to walk to Nampali train station and waited till 04:00, then called and said "Help", he was there in less than 10 minutes, an absolute star, we were in a hospital about 10 minutes later, then the fun began.

Within about 10 minutes I was being scanned, (that's about 3 weeks quicker than the NHS in England.

), I was then given the scan photo and we went to see a doctor, the doctor said those words that we dread to hear - "No Problem", I started to get worried, he said I had a 3 or 4cm growth on my kidney, and then he said "But don't worry" - if you don't mind, I'm worried.

He said "the growth isn't causing the pain"

I said "I've got awful pain in my kidney, you tell me I've got a growth on my kidney, so you'll understand why I'm a little confused"

He said "the pain is in your left kidney, the growth is on your right kidney" ......I felt foolish.

Anyway, we decided that I'd probably pulled/torn a muscle when climbing down from an upper berth on the train to Hyderabad.

Back in England, only a few weeks ago, I got the exact same pain again and went to the hospital, it turns out that my lack of water was the problem, too much protein in my urine, I had to drink endless amounts of water and it took a week for the pain to go away.

Back in India, at the same time as the pain in my kidney, I thought I had food poisoning, so started drinking loads of water again, this is what got rid of the pain eventually.

So the lesson here is, even if you don't like water, even if your fluid consumption is naturally low, drink that horrible stuff, our bodies need it.

ananda2193 · Jun 28th, 2008, 00:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by steven_ber

So the lesson here is, even if you don't like water, even if your fluid consumption is naturally low, drink that horrible stuff, our bodies need it.

I think it's common knowledge to most people, as our bodies are made up of 90% water.
And they say every cup of coffee you drink, you need 2 cups of water to replentish your body as coffee dehydrates you.

But glad to hear it was nothing serious.

And deeply colored urine is also a good sign of dehydration. But it could also mean something more nastier like Cholera or...

PeakXV · Jun 28th, 2008, 01:11

A Doctor was on TV the other night talking about this water issue. She said that previously it was thought that you should have 6-8 cups or 10-12 glasses of pure water a day. But she said that's a bit unrealistic for most of us and that this daily 'water quota' can be easily obtained through a balanced combination of fruits, fruit juices, milk, leafy greens, yes - some coffee & tea, & water as well.

So basically nowadays they are saying you don't really have to be 'Aqua Man' to stay properly hydrated.

It goes without saying though that over indulgence in too much coffee, tea &/or alcohol(re:diruetics) especially in hot weather and/or dry cold winters might well 'sap the sap' out of anyone - and certainly would not be recommended as a longterm daily source of hydration ..... too bad really!

Nick-H · Jun 28th, 2008, 01:25

The food that we eat is 90% water too.

Everybody should drink n litres of plain water a day was featured in a Medical Journal (might have been BMJ or the Lancet, I forget, but I did read it; google will provide) article of medical myths that even many doctors believe.

In normal circumstances, one just has to listen to one's body. Thirsty = drink fluid!

But shifting your body to a temperature ten or even twenty C degrees higher than it is used to is not normal circumstances, and I do believe that it is necessary to consciously increase fluid intake and to keep an eye out for symptoms of dehydration such as not urinating (but expect to go less; your body is loosing water as sweat), dry mouth or smelly breath. Even now, after thirty-something having been my normal temperature for most of the past three years, if Mrs N tells me that my breath smells bad, it is usually a reminder that I haven't drunk much that day.

Whilst I don't subscribe to the "it has to be plain water" school, i'd still say that it is daft to use a known diuretic to avoid dehydration. Top of the list? That chilled beer!

I have a pint tankard. A few times in the day, I fill it with a dash of rose sharbat and water --- and it is so tasty I usually drink it straight down. When we have to go out on the hottest days, our water bottle contains also the juice of a lime, a little salt and a little sugar. Whilst I'm not overly fond of the flavour, the water out of one of those tender (green) coconuts that street traders like to overcharge tourists for is certainly a refreshing and very safe drink.

Of course, most days I get through three or four mugs of chai, which is probably about a litre as well.

Of course, the bottled-water manufacturers, especially in the West and other countries where the tap water is safe, just love us to think that we need their product!

Another thing I read in the pat few months (no reference, sorry) said that tea is, in fact, a good rehydrant, and also worth it for its anti-oxidant properties.

capt_mahajan · Jun 28th, 2008, 01:32

If I can add the obvious, and specially in a climate in which you sweat a lot (ok, some of you may perspire instead

)

- vitamin C, fruit juice or Nick's lime in water
-Electrolytes, specially enough Sodium, but others too.

Not just for tourists.

Mickey S · Jun 28th, 2008, 01:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by capt_mahajan

If I can add the obvious, and specially in a climate in which you sweat a lot (ok, some of you may perspire instead

)

Some of us merely glow.

Nick-H · Jun 28th, 2008, 01:48

Sweat tend to be something people acknowledge when they feel it. Some might find 50 in Rajesthan more comfortable than 40 in Chennai.

They may think they are sweating less, but they are probably sweating more: just it is evaporating into dry air so much faster than into already-humid air,

capt_mahajan · Jun 28th, 2008, 01:49

=crossposted-

Quote:

Some of us merely glow.

I can't tolerate Indian summer. So, when I see a 'white' person probably used to livng in a colder climate in summer, I want to tell her/him to go home, but I fear it will be misconstrued.

2 litres of water a day, is what my doc tells me we must drink, specially in summer.

dzibead · Jun 28th, 2008, 02:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by capt_mahajan

=crossposted-
I can't tolerate Indian summer. So, when I see a 'white' person probably used to livng in a colder climate in summer, I want to tell her/him to go home, but I fear it will be misconstrued.

When I'm in Indian heat I rapidly turn from a 'white' person to a 'red' person, and not from sunburn. (Yeah, Mickey, I "glow" - like a radioactive lobster!) And I sweat so much I start looking like a used Kleenex about five seconds after I get dressed in the morning. To deal with this problem, a steady supply of fresh lime sodas is required. Mmmmm! As I am also very lazy, my idea of a good time is sitting on a veranda or balcony somewhere, looking at the scenery or the passing parade of humanity, fresh lime soda the ready. Aaah!

But actually, one should not assume that all white people are used to living in a colder climate in the summer. Ever been to, say, Red Bluff, California, or New Orleans in the summer? Yuck.

Nick-H · Jun 28th, 2008, 02:34

Mrs N was grumbling about the heat today. I complained that she had grown up with it, how could it affect her so?

She pointed out that I hated the cold I grew up with.

Game to Mrs. N.

Mickey S · Jun 28th, 2008, 02:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nick-H

Mrs N was grumbling about the heat today. I complained that she had grown up with it, how could it affect her so?

She pointed out that I hated the cold I grew up with.

Game to Mrs. N.

Cold... hah! Wimp! When is Great Britain ever cold?

Ever been to Estonia in January?

Nick-H · Jun 28th, 2008, 02:53

Wimp...

No denials here

hfot2 · Jun 28th, 2008, 08:58

OK so we all agree we should drink a lot of liquids.

We each drink 2 litres of water a day throughout the year here at home in Vermont; not to mention the bottles of the stuff we guzzle when traveling in India.

BUT, have I missed something, steven? I too am worried. What happened about this, which can't be part of your lack of water story - I don't want to get too personal, but are you OK? "... I started to get worried, he said I had a 3 or 4cm growth on my kidney, and then he said "But don't worry" - if you don't mind, I'm worried. "

distaff half of hfot2

edwardseco · Jun 28th, 2008, 13:00

Now that is a cliff hanger..

mira4bai4 · Jun 28th, 2008, 13:42

In Australia the Liver foundation declared that the 6 to 8 glasses of water per day were fine for the kidneys but the liver required double that during the summer periods for good liver functioning.

As the weather (temps) in Delhi is no different to where I lived on the Sunshine Coast Noosa/Cooroy then pumping the fluids seem a good idea. We were informed that if you drink a lot and you perspire a lot but don't pee as much as you drink then be prepared for problems. Rule of thumb, drink 5 glasses, pee 3 glasses. Our bodies a 80% liquid, so it seems that it is not just our liver and kidneys that need this liquid, the blood needs a good share of it to.

Jun 28th, 2008, 00:38	#1
steven_ber Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: London, England. Posts: 9,202	Water warning, don't drink much? Just a quick thread with a word of warning. I don't drink much of anything, and even less water, don't really know why, I've always been this way, I've probably drank about a litre of fluid per day for as long as I can remember, this litre would be made up of just a couple of cups of coffee a day, and maybe some milk, but not a lot of water. I try to drink bottled water when I go to India, but within a week to 10 days I've had enough of that horrible stuff and just stick to Chai and lassi. About a month into my last trip I was in Hyderabad and I started getting horrendous pains in my left kidney...... Sod's law time.... The night before, I struggled to find a place to change a travellers cheque, but I already had pains in my groin and my hotel was paid for, so I decided that the Rs20 I had left would be enough till the morning. So, about 2 in the morning I woke up with very frightening pains in my left kidney, I could barely move, any movement had me fearing that something was about to tear, I'd already had my appendix removed, so I knew that wasn't the problem. 2 in the morning, Rs20 in my pocket, and going way off the beaten track the next day, I had to do something, but what? The previous day I'd met a long term friend from indiamike, we'd chatted most of the day, and he said he gets up at 04:00 every morning, I felt I was in trouble and needed to get to a hospital ASAP, so I managed to walk to Nampali train station and waited till 04:00, then called and said "Help", he was there in less than 10 minutes, an absolute star, we were in a hospital about 10 minutes later, then the fun began. Within about 10 minutes I was being scanned, (that's about 3 weeks quicker than the NHS in England. ), I was then given the scan photo and we went to see a doctor, the doctor said those words that we dread to hear - "No Problem", I started to get worried, he said I had a 3 or 4cm growth on my kidney, and then he said "But don't worry" - if you don't mind, I'm worried. He said "the growth isn't causing the pain" I said "I've got awful pain in my kidney, you tell me I've got a growth on my kidney, so you'll understand why I'm a little confused" He said "the pain is in your left kidney, the growth is on your right kidney" ......I felt foolish. Anyway, we decided that I'd probably pulled/torn a muscle when climbing down from an upper berth on the train to Hyderabad. Back in England, only a few weeks ago, I got the exact same pain again and went to the hospital, it turns out that my lack of water was the problem, too much protein in my urine, I had to drink endless amounts of water and it took a week for the pain to go away. Back in India, at the same time as the pain in my kidney, I thought I had food poisoning, so started drinking loads of water again, this is what got rid of the pain eventually. So the lesson here is, even if you don't like water, even if your fluid consumption is naturally low, drink that horrible stuff, our bodies need it. __________________ . How to get helpful replies to your transport/Itinerary questions. Train information.

Jun 28th, 2008, 01:11	#3
PeakXV Naan.tering Nabob Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Abode of Glooscap Posts: 4,195	A Doctor was on TV the other night talking about this water issue. She said that previously it was thought that you should have 6-8 cups or 10-12 glasses of pure water a day. But she said that's a bit unrealistic for most of us and that this daily 'water quota' can be easily obtained through a balanced combination of fruits, fruit juices, milk, leafy greens, yes - some coffee & tea, & water as well. So basically nowadays they are saying you don't really have to be 'Aqua Man' to stay properly hydrated. It goes without saying though that over indulgence in too much coffee, tea &/or alcohol(re:diruetics) especially in hot weather and/or dry cold winters might well 'sap the sap' out of anyone - and certainly would not be recommended as a longterm daily source of hydration ..... too bad really! __________________ We shall not cease from exploration and at the end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we started ...and know the place for the first time. T.S. Eliot Don't go to India ~ Pre-trip Warnings & Misconceptions?

Jun 28th, 2008, 01:25	#4
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 26,866	The food that we eat is 90% water too. Everybody should drink n litres of plain water a day was featured in a Medical Journal (might have been BMJ or the Lancet, I forget, but I did read it; google will provide) article of medical myths that even many doctors believe. In normal circumstances, one just has to listen to one's body. Thirsty = drink fluid! But shifting your body to a temperature ten or even twenty C degrees higher than it is used to is not normal circumstances, and I do believe that it is necessary to consciously increase fluid intake and to keep an eye out for symptoms of dehydration such as not urinating (but expect to go less; your body is loosing water as sweat), dry mouth or smelly breath. Even now, after thirty-something having been my normal temperature for most of the past three years, if Mrs N tells me that my breath smells bad, it is usually a reminder that I haven't drunk much that day. Whilst I don't subscribe to the "it has to be plain water" school, i'd still say that it is daft to use a known diuretic to avoid dehydration. Top of the list? That chilled beer! I have a pint tankard. A few times in the day, I fill it with a dash of rose sharbat and water --- and it is so tasty I usually drink it straight down. When we have to go out on the hottest days, our water bottle contains also the juice of a lime, a little salt and a little sugar. Whilst I'm not overly fond of the flavour, the water out of one of those tender (green) coconuts that street traders like to overcharge tourists for is certainly a refreshing and very safe drink. Of course, most days I get through three or four mugs of chai, which is probably about a litre as well. Of course, the bottled-water manufacturers, especially in the West and other countries where the tap water is safe, just love us to think that we need their product! Another thing I read in the pat few months (no reference, sorry) said that tea is, in fact, a good rehydrant, and also worth it for its anti-oxidant properties. __________________ . Just one member of the IndiaMike Mod Team

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Jun 28th, 2008, 01:32	#5
capt_mahajan (in charge of navel affairs) Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: India Posts: 10,105	If I can add the obvious, and specially in a climate in which you sweat a lot (ok, some of you may perspire instead ) - vitamin C, fruit juice or Nick's lime in water -Electrolytes, specially enough Sodium, but others too. Not just for tourists.

Jun 28th, 2008, 01:48	#7
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 26,866	Sweat tend to be something people acknowledge when they feel it. Some might find 50 in Rajesthan more comfortable than 40 in Chennai. They may think they are sweating less, but they are probably sweating more: just it is evaporating into dry air so much faster than into already-humid air,

Jun 28th, 2008, 02:34	#10
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 26,866	Mrs N was grumbling about the heat today. I complained that she had grown up with it, how could it affect her so? She pointed out that I hated the cold I grew up with. Game to Mrs. N.

Jun 28th, 2008, 02:53	#12
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 26,866	Wimp... No denials here

Jun 28th, 2008, 08:58	#13
hfot2 MemberS Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Vermont Posts: 515	OK so we all agree we should drink a lot of liquids. We each drink 2 litres of water a day throughout the year here at home in Vermont; not to mention the bottles of the stuff we guzzle when traveling in India. BUT, have I missed something, steven? I too am worried. What happened about this, which can't be part of your lack of water story - I don't want to get too personal, but are you OK? "... I started to get worried, he said I had a 3 or 4cm growth on my kidney, and then he said "But don't worry" - if you don't mind, I'm worried. " distaff half of hfot2

Jun 28th, 2008, 13:00	#14
edwardseco Maha Guru Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Land that shakes and bakes. Posts: 3,931	Now that is a cliff hanger..

Jun 28th, 2008, 13:42	#15
mira4bai4 Lost in Space Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: ND PaharGanj Permanently/Temporarily Posts: 1,188	In Australia the Liver foundation declared that the 6 to 8 glasses of water per day were fine for the kidneys but the liver required double that during the summer periods for good liver functioning. As the weather (temps) in Delhi is no different to where I lived on the Sunshine Coast Noosa/Cooroy then pumping the fluids seem a good idea. We were informed that if you drink a lot and you perspire a lot but don't pee as much as you drink then be prepared for problems. Rule of thumb, drink 5 glasses, pee 3 glasses. Our bodies a 80% liquid, so it seems that it is not just our liver and kidneys that need this liquid, the blood needs a good share of it to.

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