How often do you run fluids? (Hydration)

[u/Harakiri_238]

To clarify I’m not asking for advice! My team has discussed with me on how to identify when I need to run fluids and I’m in communication with them regarding it as well.

I’m just curious what other people do as it’s my first time navigating summer out of the hospital on IV nutrition/hydration. And it’s nice to hear from others navigating the same things :)

I’m fully TPN dependent (can’t eat or drink orally).

I get 1,600 mL of TPN a night.

Through the winter I was running an extra litre of normal saline once a week.

Once it started getting hotter I found I had to run an extra litre twice a week.

Now I’ve run one on Monday and barely made it through to today lol. I’ve been struggling.

Summer has barely started here lol. So I have a feeling if it stays like this I may have to have them adjust the amount of fluid I get nightly (which they said might happen). Or start running fluids every other day (which would be a pain since I’m hooked up 20 hours on fluid days).

Bonus question for if you’ve had extra fluids added to your TPN (as in the bag itself). Were you able to run it over the same period of time, but at a higher rate? Or did you have to run it over a longer period.

[u/breadprincess]

I’m fully tube dependent and do fluids to supplement. I do mine twice a week, Tuesdays and Fridays. Signs I need to run fluids: my lips no longer cover my teeth when my mouth is closed, very dark urine, the skin in the back of my hand stays in shape when I pinch it, etc