On average, I drink about 30-35 cups of water a Day- Is there something wrong with me?

Question

At first I didn't pay attention when it was about 14-18 cups of water a day. I also have a past hystory of getting bladder infections whenever I over pushed myself- I do this quiet a lot. Recently, when I've had to push myself beyond normal duty- I'm in the middle of a move- lifting tons of weight, worry, stress, ect. But all of a sudden, about 6 weeks ago, my water intake went from 30-35 cups a day and I'm cold all the time. I weigh 167, and am 5 '6 inches, 20 years old- I just lost 50 lbs, and kinda fast (I wonder if this is also part of it, because in the past it was always really hard for me to loose weight.) This past week, I've gotten a little bit of brown stuff in my urin whenever I go the bathroom. If I don't drink enough water, I get sluggish, my kidneys really hurt, and I get really really thirsty, and my bowl movements are as if I drank nothing (and I NEVER have had problems in the past with this.) I'm not on insurance, but I need to know- is something really wrong?

Answer 1

Health experts advised to drink 8-12 glassfuls of water a day. Drinking about 14-18 is already bad. What more with 30-35 cups. I guess you're trying to replace the fluid loss from perspiration and sweating during weight-lifting. exercise.
Drinking lots of water from excessive thrist( polydipsia) is a sign of DM either type 1 or 2. Another probable cause to be a malfunctioning of the posterior lobe of the pituitary gland( master gland) which regulate the production of the ADH hormone from the hypothalamus. ADH prevents the body from putting out too much urine. this condition is called panhypituitarism. Another cause would be some kidney disorder which cause the excessive thirst.

Drinking lots of water is usually healthy. However, the urge to drink too much beyond a certain limit may be the result of an underlying disease, either physical or emotional. Excessive thirst may be a symptom of high blood sugar (hyperglycemia), and can be an important clue in detecting diabetes.Mellitus(DM)

Excessive thirst is a fairly common symptom. It is often the reaction to fluid loss during exercise, or to eating salty foods.

Common Causes:
A recent salty or spicy meal
Bleeding enough to cause a significant decrease in blood volume
Diabetes
Diabetes insipidus
Drugs such as anticholinergics, demeclocycline, diuretics, phenothiazines
Excessive loss of water and salt (possibly due to not drinking enough water, profuse sweating, diarrhea, or vomiting)
Loss of body fluids from the bloodstream into the tissues due to:
Conditions such as severe infections (sepsis) or burns
Heart, liver, or kidney failure
Psychogenic polydipsia, the result of a mental disorder, is a condition causes a person to drink too much

Home Care:
Because thirst is usually the body's signal to replace water loss, it is usually appropriate to drink plenty of liquids.

A very strong, constant urge to drink may be a sign of a psychological problem, which may mean psychological help is needed.

For thirst caused by diabetes, follow the prescribed treatment to properly control blood sugar levels.

Call your health care provider if:
Excessive thirst is persistent and unexplained
Thirst is accompanied by other unexplained symptoms, such as blurry vision and fatigue
You are passing more than 5 quarts of urine per day



If you persist on this dangerous habit , drinking too much water will cause water intoxication.

Q. Can You Drink Too Much Water?
From Anne Marie Helmenstine, Ph.D.,
Your Guide to Chemistry.
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A. You've probably heard that it's important to 'drink plenty of fluids' or simply 'drink lots of water'. There are excellent reasons for drinking water, but have you ever wondered if it's possible to drink too much water. Here's what you need to know:
Can You Really Drink Too Much Water?

In a word, yes. Drinking too much water can lead to a condition known as water intoxication and to a related problem resulting from the dilution of sodium in the body, hyponatremia. Water intoxication is most commonly seen in infants under six months of age and sometimes in athletes. A baby can get water intoxication as a result of drinking several bottles of water a day or from drinking infant formula that has been diluted too much. Athletes can also suffer from water intoxication. Athletes sweat heavily, losing both water and electrolytes.


Water intoxication and hyponatremia result when a dehydrated person drinks too much water without the accompanying electrolytes.
What Happens During Water Intoxication?

When too much water enters the body's cells, the tissues swell with the excess fluid. Your cells maintain a specific concentration gradient, so excess water outside the cells (the serum) draws sodium from within the cells out into the serum in an attempt to re-establish the necessary concentration. As more water accumulates, the serum sodium concentration drops -- a condition known as hyponatremia. The other way cells try to regain the electrolyte balance is for water outside the cells to rush into the cells via osmosis. The movement of water across a semipermeable membrane from higher to lower concentration is called osmosis. Although electrolytes are more concentrated inside the cells than outside, the water outside the cells is 'more concentrated' or 'less dilute' since it contains fewer electrolytes. Both electrolytes and water move across the cell membrane in an effort to balance concentration. Theoretically, cells could swell to the point of bursting.

From the cell's point of view, water intoxication produces the same effects as would result from drowning in fresh water. Electrolyte imbalance and tissue swelling can cause an irregular heartbeat, allow fluid to enter the lungs, and may cause fluttering eyelids. Swelling puts pressure on the brain and nerves, which can cause behaviors resembling alcohol intoxication. Swelling of brain tissues can cause seizures, coma and ultimately death unless water intake is restricted and a hypertonic saline (salt) solution is administered. If treatment is given before tissue swelling causes too much cellular damage, then a complete recovery can be expected within a few days.

It's Not How Much You Drink, It's How Fast You Drink It!

The kidneys of a healthy adult can process fifteen liters of water a day! You are unlikely to suffer from water intoxication, even if you drink a lot of water, as long as you drink over time as opposed to intaking an enormous volume at one time. As a general guideline, most adults need about three quarts of fluid each day. Much of that water comes from food, so 8-12 eight ounce glasses a day is a common recommended intake. You may need more water if the weather is very warm or very dry, if you are exercising, or if you are taking certain medications. The bottom line is this: it's possible to drink too much water, but unless you are running a marathon or an infant, water intoxication is a very uncommon condition.

If you do not have health insurance, you should be able to get medical care from a public health clinic. And being an emancipated student, you should qualify. another route to take is going to a hospital with a school of medicine. They encourage subjects for research. And they do give excellent care as there are professors and lots of interns.

Answer 2

It sounds to me like you have a great start. Ten pounds is a terrific. You may be right about the muscles they do weigh more than fat. How do your pants fit? I plateaued more than once on my way down. I would enjoy the spot and maintain for a bit. Then I would recalculate my calories to lose more. The amount to lose is a lot less than to maintain. Make sure you count every calorie. (Funny story - my husband carefully counted Wasa crackers so he would have a 400 calorie "snack", then he opened a new jar of peanut butter and used 1/2 a cup on the crackers! When I told him he just ate 800 calories in peanut butter he was shocked.) To calculate a good daily calorie count - take your current weight and multiply by 10, subtract 500 and that is the least amount you can eat without really getting sick. Also look at your current weight. A healthy range for a 5'6" woman with a large frame is 140-159, medium frame 130-144, small frame 120-133. Add or subract 3 pounds from these ranges for every inch difference in height. My neighbor is at the bottom of her range for small frame, but can't accept that as a reason she can't lose more weight, her body just won't do it. You are on the right track with everything else, including cross training, vary the diet the exercise and the brain activity too. The brain works on sugar alone, so if you eat some burn it with physical and mental activity! Go to MyPyramid.gov for healthy food choices and sample menus.

Answer 3

Perhaps you need some Medical Tests. Your water consumption... could be the onset of diabetes or some other endocrine system problem.

That much water could ALSO... flush out the basic salts and minerals need to maintain... Good Health!

See a Doctor... but continue to drink the water!

Cranberry Juice is used for Bladder Infections as the acidity has a tendency to Flush out the Bacteria without the use of antibiotics.

Thanks RR

Answer 4

Sounds like it. We don't have insurance either, but I still go to a doctor. My health is very important to me. You can go to emergency and they will help you out.
When you lose a lot of weight too fast your body has a hard time adjusting. You need to slow down and fast. High blood pressure, low in iron, low in potassium, if you are not taking vitamins to replace what you are burning up this will cause you a lot of pain all over.
You sound like your system is trying to shut down if that happens, one day you will just drop and be in the hospital for a very long time...

Answer 5

Like everyone is saying, you want to see a doctor. Extreme hunger, thirst, rashes, uncontrollable sweating, frequent bathroom trips, and extreme irritation can be symptoms of diabetes. Beleive it; I am one myself, drinking 20+ cups a day. Try limiting it to only during meal time and 2-3 in between meals. This is a safe bet, though a doctor visit comes first.

Answer 6

That does not sound to good, but I am not a doctor. I know you did state you are not on any insurance, but this seems important enough that you should still try to see a doctor. Maybe there is a discount clinic close to where you live. Good luck :)

Answer 7

Being dehydrated often and losing a lot of weight are 2 syptoms of diabetes. Go and get a check. Also, try not to drink too much water. Although water is good for you, it's not in massive doses. Water intoxication can kill.

Answer 8

You should see a doctor immediately. PLEASE. sometimes chronic bladder infections harm the kidney. When you get propper treatment NOW, you will be ok again. There is so much doctors can do to help you. Don´t be afraid, it won´t hurt, but go immediately. Good luck

Answer 9

You might have diabetes if you are thirsty all of the time. If you are hungry a lot too, then I would get a doctor checkup!

Answer 10

I wonder if you have ever considered seeing a Dr.
Perhaps that is a good idea.
If you don't have Ins. it is better to take
care of a problem before it becomes
a full blown crisis.