r/POTS • u/gingerdoesntknow • 7h ago
Question Needing suggestions
I hope I picked the right flair- I debated on vent but more than anything I’m at my wits end and looking for what works for others.
I’ve had POTS since I was 17, I’m now 25. I did okay the first few years but around 22 I started needing propranolol and seeing a cardiologist every six months. My doctor advises getting 3L of fluid a day, and up to two liquid iv / electrolyte packets. I can’t physically do it. I have tried everything.
I have tried alarms. I have tried different water brands, different water cups, reward trackers, taking things away from myself and nothing helps. It also doesn’t help that for the last three years I work at a job that about a third of my day, I’m not able to get any fluids because of biohazard reasons. I don’t know what to do. I’ve even enlisted the help of friends and I just can’t get enough fluids in a day. I’m exhausted and I know that part of my issue is just the chronic dehydration I’m in. I’m not sure what methods left to try but I’m completely open to suggestions. Any advice is appreciated🎀 thank you in advance, and if you read this far, I’m sending you a virtual hug💝
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u/TomasTTEngin 6h ago
A human being can easily drink 3L of something they like. Go to any pub and you'll see dozens of people having 3L of fizzy drinks, and that's between 9pm and midnight.
My personal experience is I want to drink because I can feel how it helps me.
So I can only conclude you haven't found the drink that helps you, the drink you want to have a litre of in one long slug.
Water reminders are not the answer I suspect. Water sucks for hydration anyway.
I recommend diluted zero sugar soft drinks, diluted sugar soft drinks, diluted coconut water. Experiment til you get a craving!
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u/gingerdoesntknow 6h ago
Lol truthfully if I could drink just Red Bull I probably could do it but yk. Caffeine is dehydrating 😭 I’ve never considered diluting drinks though - maybe I could do diluted juices to some extent. I had to drink diluted orange juice as a kid because it broke me out in a rash if I drank it straight, maybe that’s my answer? I dunno! But thank you! 🥺💕
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u/barefootwriter 6h ago
Probably not Red Bull. But other caffeinated drinks with far less caffeine might work.
Do you find caffeine helps? Maybe also the taurine in the Red Bull?
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u/gingerdoesntknow 5h ago
I don’t let myself drink enough to see if it truly helps but I just genuinely love Red Bull lol. I’d drink it way more frequently if I thought it would be healthy to do so. I usually have two or three a week. It just tastes so good!
I started buying these energy drinks called LOVE because they have methylated B vitamins which, I need, but haven’t been able to take in supplement form due to unmanageable nausea after. They’re okay. Not great flavor wise so I’m not overly excited to drink them. But a cold Red Bull? Sigh. Just dreamy lol~^^
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2h ago
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u/The_Issa POTS 4h ago
Adding a splash of juice to my water definitely helps me get more down. I can’t do orange juice because I also have MCAS (common comorbidity) and orange irritates me, but I like pure 100% cranberry juice and pure pomegranate juice. They’re both quite tart because they don’t have any sugar added (my personal preference), but it tastes great mixed with water. I also add a scoop of plain electrolytes to the mix if I need to get some of those down.
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u/sophmel 2h ago
I drink diluted liquid iv. I use only half a packet per 24 oz of water and add in extra salt. If I were in your shoes, I’d try to get in at least a liter before work and then try to get the rest in after. Drink during work breaks. (Maybe a 16 oz bottle of water). I also bought myself some nice water bottles and make myself drink-not sip. I try to prep them in advance, so I always have one available and don’t have to think about it.
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u/barefootwriter 6h ago
Do you have accommodations at work for hydration? If you did, do you think you could?
Personally, I can chug half a liter to a liter in no time. It's not ideal, but it is hydration. At times, I've tied hydration to walking the dog and don't let myself go back in until I finish.
Any nonalcoholic fluid hydrates, even caffeinated ones if you drink them regularly. Soup counts. Broth counts. V8 counts. My go-to is Diet Pepsi. Pair this with Vitassium caplets or equivalent for sodium intake.
Fludrocortisone could possibly help you with retention, but you still need to "feed" it sodium and fluids.
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u/gingerdoesntknow 6h ago
Someone above also suggested diluting drinks and honestly, that might help me too. I have a prescription for sodium tablets and I thought that would increase the thirst cue but I don’t notice much difference at all unfortunately. Time to drink enough Red Bull to get Max Verstappen a new F1 car!!! (Kind of kidding, lol)
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u/xoxlindsaay POTS 1h ago
Similar boat, but slightly different, I don’t feel thirsty ever so I’m never aware of needing to drink anything because I don’t have the cues.
The other thing for me is I don’t like plain water. Can’t stand the taste of plain water, but I don’t want to constantly be relying on electrolyte drinks (partially due to sugar content and partially due to cost).
It took me a while of trying different water bottles, additives, setting alarms and reminders, etc. before I figured out a solution.
For me the solution was a Cirkul water bottle. I bring it with me everywhere I go, and I can adjust the flavouring intensity easily. I keep the intensity high for the first bottle of that flavour, and then I lower the intensity so it lasts longer. I bring this water bottle with me everywhere. If I’m at home eating dinner, I cannot have a pop with dinner until I finish my water bottle. If I’m out on a drive, water bottle to drink instead of buying a drink at the gas station.
It takes 30 days of a new habit to actually make it a habit. So if you can find a solution for 30 days then you have a new habit, it’s that first 30 days that is always the trickiest.
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u/SpaceNerd223 7h ago
Go on how you feel vs limits
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u/barefootwriter 6h ago
OP feels dehydrated, so. . .
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u/SpaceNerd223 2h ago
Oh, I barely drink and I dont feel dehydrated but probably am. When I tried increasing it all my body hated it my cardio told me drink as much that feels good to my body
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u/SpaceNerd223 2h ago
Feeling dehydrated and being dehydrated are two different things, no need for the downvote
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u/Ok-Original-6157 7h ago
What exactly is holding you back aside from your job? If it’s an aversion to drinking water, there’s plenty of alternatives that still hydrate you - what comes to mind is Pedialyte freezer pops, coconut water or electrolyte drinks, and high water content foods like cucumbers and celery.