Brain fog and Dehydration?

[SORRELHIPPO]

This is me, an elderly ex hippy, short (shrunk to 4ft 11") a little large in the stomach area and starting to go grey!!

I have joined the Crohn's Disease site as this is my main diagnosis, I also have to have B12 injections regularly as the area in my intestines that should absorb this is so badly damaged it can no longer do this, so I joined this site, to understand as much as I could about the B12 and what I could do to help the treatment. The site has been invaluable.

I have noticed "brain fog" very often as a complaint, and I do understand this as have had it both when the Crohn's is active and since low B12 levels. I wonder if dehydration is a factor alongside the B12 issue. When I am ill, arguing with doctors, fatigued, trying to keep a job maybe care for a family, and in my case being pissed off with the world to put it politely!! The energy required to just care for ones self at a basic level is often missing, I also know most people do not drink enough anyway.

It could not do any harm for people to check the amount and content of what they drink each day, and maybe add a banana!! Is there anyone out there who knows what the latest recommended fluid intake actually is? Also I recall there is a skin pinch test on the back of the hand, but cannot remmember how long the pinched skin had to go back to flat, if one is properly hydrated, any advice appreciated.

[Shirley7144]

Yes I would like to know about the skin test on the back of your hand

[spacey1]

I just googled the skin pinch test - it seems I am dehydrated!

Pinch some skin on the back of your hand and pull it about 1cm. Let go. If it springs back straight away, you're fine. if it takes a few seconds, you're dehydrated.

I'm off to make a cup of tea!

[SORRELHIPPO in reply to spacey1]

Thanks for info, I am also dehydrated!! will check regularly now.

[MoKayD]

You are so right about dehydration. I've just started to realize how little I was drinking during the day. I cut back because I was tired to running to the bathroom which is really far from my cubicle at work. Now I drink a large glass of water as soon as I get out of bed and sip on another one while getting ready for work. If I don't do this, I get to work and notice I have a slight headache and feel kind of crappy. Once I drink a glass of water I start to feel better. I had no idea water made such a difference in feeling good.

[SORRELHIPPO in reply to MoKayD]

Thanks for comments, also to you, beginner1, Shirley7144 and spacey1 What astounds me is that I was given no advice from GPs or Consultants about hydration, it was only because I worked in the Health Service, with a very good nurse in the Team, that she told me of the problems dehydration could cause, however I tend to only think about it when my Crohn's is bad, and forget the rest of the time. I will never forget, during my first bout of raging diarrhoea, about 2 weeks in, I'd lost over a stone, was at home sick from work, my husband came home from work and found me leaning against the kitchen sink (the only way I could stay upright) I had a potato in one hand the potato peeler in the other, with tears running down my cheeks as I could not work out what to do with them!! He informed me that if I did not agree to ring the GP the next day and shout about it (I'd already seen him twice) he would call 999 there and then. Within 3 days I was in hospital with a tentative diagnosis of Crohn's. I am now going to try a keep the fluid levels up regardless of the state of my bowls.