Dehydration - side-effect of pills or just me?

[Hildalew]

Hello again. Thank you to everybody who ever posts on here - I've learned so much from this forum. I thank my lucky stars that I found you all quite soon after I was diagnosed.

I've now been on pred for around 5 months - with calcium and Vits K and D3 - and, recently, I have been waking up with a very dry mouth - (I haven't had the dizziness that, I believe, can come with serious dehydration) - and am wondering if this is a known side-effect of any of the pills I've mentioned - or is it just that I sometimes drink very little during a day - and almost never drink plain water?

[HeronNS]

Try the pinch test. See if the skin on the back of your hand or forearm springs back reasonably quickly when you gently pinch it, or if it stays deformed for a bit.

[Hildalew in reply to HeronNS]

Thank you for the tip.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Try upping your water intake (and tea is as good as plain water, honestly...) and see how you get on.

However - have you any other signs of dryness? Eyes for example? Anywhere - vaginal for example? (I assume you are a lady!) There is a dryness syndrome, it can be just a set of symptoms but can also be due to another autoimmune disorder called Sjoegrens, the difference being then there is an autoantibody in the blood.

[Hildalew in reply to PMRpro]

Thank you. Not aware of any other dry sites! but I'll check.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

As PMRpro says doesn’t have to be plain water - I’ve upped my intake post op. Herbal teas and cordial all make it a bt more interesting!

Could be central heating as well having an impact, and do you sleep with window closed during winter, I must have it open just a little or I’m the same -dry mouth!

[Hildalew in reply to DorsetLady]

I think you may have hit upon the answer with your mention of central heating. In a recent cold spell I left the heating on overnight - my bedroom is at the top of the house and of course heat from the rest of the house gathers there - and I haven't had the window open. Put alongside my erratic liquid consumption, that sounds like a sure-fire recipe for an extremely dry mouth in the morning! I'll try more liquid and less heat for a while and see wat happens. Thank you.

[SnazzyD]

Try adding up your total fluids silt for a week or so, not just water, even soup. This may show you have more than you think or not and it will be useful for a doc if you go to them about any problems like a continued dry mouth. Another thing you can do is check your salt intake. Pred makes you hold on to sodium which in turn makes you hold on to fluid rather than peeing it away, but you still feel thirsty. If this is the case I feel generally wobblier around the middle and my lower legs feel more tense until I get back on track.

[Christophene47 in reply to SnazzyD]

I recently fell down a whole flight of stairs (hardwood). Very terrifying ; horribly bruised, but nothing broken. I managed to somehow get up the stairs and back to bed. That was 3 WEEKS ago, and my knees and hips hurt even more than I think dehydration is what caused the fall. Dehydration can kill. Do be careful. I learned my lesson and was very lucky.

If your mouth is irritated, from dryness, try products put out by Biotine; mouthwash; toothpaste...they can be comforting if you have not tried them. Years ago, I had a bout of dry mouth for several months, and one day it disappeared and never came back. Go figure! Good luck.

[Hildalew in reply to Christophene47]

Thank you. I will watch - my stairs are frighteningly steep.

[Daisychain12 in reply to Christophene47]

Oh no you poor thing x

[SheffieldJane]

I am definitely thirstier and always have water to hand. I tend to get a dry mouth as well. We have Pred in common. Make yourself drink more water, it helps everything.

[Hildalew in reply to SheffieldJane]

Thank you.

[Christophene47 in reply to SheffieldJane]

Amen.

[PMRCanada]

I’m not a water drinker, rather no sugar flavoured sparkling water (former Coca Cola lover). My OH also insists on an overhead fan running, and sometimes fan on our dresser that faces our bed. The result....dry mouth.

[Hellyowl]

At the moment I feel like a dried up autumn leaf. Mouth, nasal lining (sneezing a lot) my nose blocks at night so I breathe through my mouth and that makes it dryer. I haven't had a cold or sinus trouble. My skin is itchy and dry like paper and so are my lips. I think it is the winter and the central heating and maybe for us lot the pills compound the problem.

But following everyone's feedback I also think that in winter maybe I am not drinking enough water, I don't drink coffee and not that fond of tea. Apart from ladling on the lotion like I am going to swim the channel I will up my water and see if that helps. A few months ago someone suggested double base gel and that has been great for the driest bits of skin, like my back.

[Christophene47 in reply to Hellyowl]

I agree, winter (frigid temperatures here in NE US ) is a terrible time for dryness. I am always slathering something moisturizing all over. Hyperollergenic..the heating systems as good as they are dry the air in the house; there are humidifiers, but they do require refilling , cleaning etc.

Also, my gyn recommends moisturizers for "down there" whether sexually active or not to avoid atrophy.We moisturize all over, why not there.?? Makes good sense.

[MamaBeagle]

I too have dry mouth, dry nasal passages - and I drink LOADS of water?!?!

[Christophene47 in reply to MamaBeagle]

I think this is a problem many people have or there would be no reason for all these moisturizers to be on the market.

[bunnymom]

I have dry mouth nose and eyes. Dr was unconcerned. A humidifier didn't help and was a hassle. I use gel eye drops, they last longer. Drink green tea all day long. Also a thin layer of Vaseline around my mouth, at outside edges of eyes and inside nose has saved me. I have this year round so put it down to pred. Did have dehydration once when I had company. Drank lots of water immediately felt better. This is a manageable side effect.

[Hildalew in reply to bunnymom]

Thank you. I've had so many helpful tips - if I follow all this good advice I should never again wake up with that horrible parched mouth and dry lips.

[Hildalew in reply to bunnymom]

Thank you

[bunnymom]

Hope so!

[Christophene47]

Hi Hilda,

Dehydration is the first consideration. Try drinking a minimum of 32 oz a day consistently for 2 weeks, and if it doesn't resolve, go up to 64oz. I know it's a lot. Get one of those athlete drink bottles, fill it up and work at it all day. I think you will feel much better. Good luck!

FYI- Alcohol is very dehydrating; stay away from any hard stuff. Joking, but it's good to know that.

[Hildalew in reply to Christophene47]

Thank you.