With the heat wave that most at not all of the country is having right now it’s no wonder that the news channels have been encouraging folks to drink as much water as possible. Being dehydrated can lead to serious problems. I know personally that I don’t always drink as much water as I should because I also think it affects the Meniere’s disease also. I got a comment last week from someone who was advised to drink lots of water from the ER.
Anonymous said...
I was diagnosed with MD 4 years ago. At my last ER visit I was advised to drink LOTS of fluids. It makes no sense based on what I have learnt so far, but I find a couple of gallons of water, and a few pints of regular Gatorade each day really does help.
I can understand the confusion because most ENTs if not all make a connection between excess fluid in the ear and meniere’s. That’s why most of us are taking some kind of diuretic. I am not exactly sure how drinking water helps the meniere’s but I think that is still a good idea anyway just to prevent dehydration. And you know that you want to try everything you can to prevent having a meniere’s attack.
So keep drinking that water!
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16 comments:
Drinking water is always good, but I'm not sure Gatorade is a good idea since it contains a lot of sodium.
I'm baffled. I don't know how to find a good balance between staying hydrated at healthy levels and preventing the fluid from building up in my ear(s).
If we are drawing fluids out in general with diuretics to prevent the Meniere's effect, doesn't that mean we are also depriving our bodies of water they need? and similarly, if we drink lots of water to hydrate, how does that effect the ears?
I don't get it. I'll have to ask my ENT where she stands on this the next time I talk to her. But I'm not planning to change the amount of water I drink just yet, because I wouldn't know which way to go.
Agree about Gatorade for Meniere's patients... probably not wise. I wonder if the person who went to the ER, where they recommended fluids, might have gone too far the other way and ended up badly dehydrated?
I totally agree about the gatorade, there seems to be some sodium in it!
David
David, you always seem to post about the very topic I'm thinking about. I don't know why diuretics and hydration don't cancel each other out. I'm not even sure doctors know why, for sure. What I am sure of for myself is that if I don't drink enough water I get dizzy. And if I take too high a dose of diuretics I get dizzy. I've commented here a few times about getting these wild sudden-onset attacks where I'm just spinning for about 45 seconds. We may have found the cause; too many diuretics. I'm now at half a dose and for 6 weeks I've had only run-of-the-mill problems, not the scary stuff that was happening frequently. I won't say for sure that the sudden onset stuff was the diuretics for another few months, but it's looking good. And I've been drinking lots of fluids all the while.
I like red Gatorade but a 12 oz serving has 300 mg of sodium. If I'm feeling dehydrated (I live in Phoenix, AZ, and sometimes you get dry no matter what) I work that sodium count into my diet. I've also found that Vita Coco coconut water is as hydrating as Gatorade but has about 30mg sodium per serving.
That's a lot of sodium in Gatorade! I'll have to give the Vita Coco a try.
thanks
David
Hey, I heard diuretics need water to flush the extra sodium out. They flush sodium, not water.
My experience is a couple of glasses in before lunch, a couple in the afternoon/evening, more if I've had a cocktail :)
A schedule that the body gets used to is best, it maintains balance.
According to Dr. Timothy Hain's website, diuretics are taken to get rid of excess fluid, not sodium. In fact, unless I'm wrong, sodium makes the body retain fluid, which makes it a bit unlikely that water could flush sodium out of the system. At least, that's what I think.
This is why they tell you not to ingest too much salt... it will make you retain fluids more, which is what causes the imbalance.
I think you have to have the right balance in drinking fluids, if you aren't drinking enough your body will retain fluid trying to keep itself from dehydrating. If your are taking a diuretic and don't drink enough you will dehydrate. You need to drink fluids to maintain a good balance in your body, also drinking fluids will keep medication from building up in your body. I have had this advice from several physicians over the years.
Hi Sherry,
I think that is good solid advice
thanks
David
Hi All,
I was just recently pointed to this article by a Dr. in Italy who claims to have a treatment plan for Meniere's. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16885753
Pretty interesting stuff. In any case, I've been drinking lots of water and it seems to have helped a bit.
That study was actually conducted in Japan, but in any case, it's kind of interesting. I wonder why it was done on such a small patient base? It's worth increasing my water intake to see what happens, however. The worst that will happen is I'll have to cut back on my intake, if things get worse.
Drinking enough water to stay hydrated is what keeps the body from retaining water. When we are dehydrated our body will often hold onto water for later use. Getting above 64 oz. a day will help your body to "flush" out excess water and dilute sodium, and using a diuretic will flush whatever the body holds on to despite your intake.
hey guys,
the primary reason behind OUR diuretic is that sodium follows water, so when you urinate, you should be taking extra sodium with it as a side effect.
The primary reason OTHER people take a diuretic is to reduce the fluid load/volume in on their heart and vascular system so the heart doesn't have to work as hard.
I'm on lasix, which isn't a "potassium sparing" diuretic, so i have to take a potassium pill every day. Now, the concern with the water is that its actually very important for all of us to drink water because the same reason applies. We drink more water which should dilute/deplete the sodium and will help to flush our systems of the sodium. We don't take the diuretic to decrease the water in our ears, we take the diuretic to decrease the sodium. because then our ears won't retain the water to swell. does that clear some of it up?
This is of course individual, as i'm sure there are people out there who need the diuretic not only for their hearts but also their ears, which you should talk to your doctor about that balance.
Hi Nikki w,
I too was on a diuretic that potassium sparing when I was first diagnosed with meniere's and it didn't help much. I currently use Triamterene hctz (which is potassium sparing) and it seems to work well
thanks
David
David, I'm on the Triamterene hctz, too. I don't find it makes much difference. But then again, with all the rain lately, it's probably very difficult to tell whether it's helping.
I know what you mean Peggy. we didn't have rain for about a month and a half then the last three days we've had quite a bit
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