We all know that drinking plenty (of water!) is good for your health and that we should try, as a guide, to drink 2 litres a day (two and a half litres for men) for maintaining a decent level of hydration, but what if drinking for you is a more difficult task?
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According to Crohn’s and Colitis UK, those of us with IBD can increase the risk of becoming dehydrated, and with the body being made of two-thirds of water when this level drops even slightly, dehydration can be a real concern.
An IBD flare-up can cause many to suffer from diarrhoea and this can be a large factor in fluid loss leading to potential dehydration; which is even more likely for those with a stoma.
Whilst getting enough fluids in itself can be difficult, others suffer from fatigue, general weakness and extremely painful joints; which can mean that drinking from a regular glass or cup can be a problem and stops them getting enough fluids throughout the day.
This can cause real problems-especially in hot weather, where we’re also at risk of losing too many electrolytes through our sweat too-and can cause things like headaches, nausea, a dry mouth and bad breath are all indicators that your body is too low on water.
Other signs can include your urine being darker and having more odour than usual as well as constipation, which can be a problem for people with proctitis (rectum inflammation).
The good news is that there are things you do to stay hydrated and also many drinking aids available at very reasonable prices to make taking on water easier and less of a hassle for those who have any mobility issues.
1. Track your intake
Before we talk about specific cups that can help those with drinking issues, a reminder to actually track how much water you’re having. Pour out two litres of water into a jug at the start of a day if you can and then use this to pour into your regular, or adapted cup, to keep track. Hopefully, by the end of the day, your jug will be empty! Failing that, set an alarm on your phone or watch every so often in your day, just as a gentle nudge to remind you to take a drink!
2. Be mindful of replacing electrolytes
If you’ve had a flare-up or it’s an exceptionally hot day, considering using rehydration solution to help with dehydration. When we lose water through sweat and diarrhea; we also lose electrolytes like sodium, potassium and magnesium too. A rehydration solution like diarylte can help replace these.
3. Use adapted cups
For those who struggle with hand to eye coordination, there are now a wide range of cups, mugs and bottles come with additional ergonomic easy-grip handles that makes staying hydrated easier and safer.
Although, these can appear to be quite simple innovations, it can make a big difference to a person who struggles with the physical act of taking on water and, in turn, lead them to feel like taking more regular hydration, simply as its easier with a little help.
The Duo Cup Holder is a great example of this, making it easier to grip onto mugs, glasses or bottles, with the addition of another handle to make lifting a warm or cold drink easier and safer with much less risk of spills.
An alternative to two-handled mugs or cups, the Duo allows the user to use the same mugs as family and friends and is also ideal for use when out too.
For outdoors or for more sporty types, The Hydrant Drinking System is a sports bottle which allows those with limited mobility to take a drink whenever they want, without assistance.
The ergonomic handle ensures easy positioning of the drink and avoids spillage of liquid and easier drinking when on the move during leisure activities.
4.Be mindful of the signs of dehydration
Particularly if you have had a bout of diarrhoea and try to increase your water intake accordingly or use rehydration sachets. Look out for the colour of your urine-remember the paler the better!
5.Try to drink less tea and coffee
These are a diuretic which makes you lose even more water! So switch to herbal teas instead if you can! The same goes for alcohol so switch to soft drinks if possible!
Diarrhea is often one of the symptoms in many of the chronic autoimmune diseases and dehydration is an obvious situation arising out of it, Your tips to keep body dehydrated along with various comfortable options of the bottles can make a lot of difference to the comfort and monitoring the liquid intake.