Complying with Fluid Restrictions: What to Do When You Feel Thirsty?

Fluid restrictions are placed on patients for a variety of reasons. The patient may suffer from a condition that affects kidney function like renal failure or congestive heart failure. Or perhaps the patient is recovering from an operation that interferes with digestion and excretion. One of the most difficult things to deal with when complying with fluid restrictions is feeling thirsty. Here are some tips for patients on how to comply with fluid restrictions when they begin to feel thirsty.

Complying With Fluid Restrictions: Limit salt intake

Excess sodium in the body triggers the thirst mechanism. By cutting down on the salt, you cut down the potential for excess fluid intake.

Complying With Fluid Restrictions: Chew Gum

Chewing gum helps activate your salivary glands and keep them moist with saliva, preventing dry mouth and feeling thirsty. A patient can also suck on hard candy or mints for the same effect.

Complying With Fluid Restrictions: Sucking on ice cubes and ice chips

The cold wet ice cubes help satisfy your thirst, keep your mouth cool, and stay in the mouth longer than a sip of water.

Complying With Fluid Restrictions: Lemons, lemon juice, lemonade

The tartness of lemons also activates your salivary glands. If you feel thirsty, you can slice up a lemon and suck on a wedge. You can also utilize lemon juice by adding it to ice cubes. If you have lemonade, pour this into ice cube trays and make a popsicles.

Complying With Fluid Restrictions:Avoid medications that cause dry mouth

If you are placed on fluid restrictions, make sure you tell your doctor what medications you are on and she will determine if any list dry mouth as a side effect. If necessary, an alternate medication without such side effects may be prescribed.

Complying With Fluid Restrictions: Eat ice cold fresh fruit

Not only is this nutritious, but it prevents dry mouth and, like ice cubes, keeps that cool wet feeling in your mouth for a longer period of time.

Complying With Fluid Restrictions: Avoid dehydrating drinks

You are already limiting your fluid intake, so avoid ingesting any fluids that could further dehydrate you like alcohol, tea, coffee, and soft drinks.

Sources:

Melissa D Pryer, The Importance of Fluid Control, American Association of Kidney Patients, 2005

Michele Grodner, Sara Long, Bonnie Walkingshaw, Foundations and Clinical Applications of Nutrition: A Nursing Approach Chapter 18 ' Nutrition For Disorders of the Liver, Gallbladder, and Pancreas: Suggestions for coping with fluid restriction', p 411 Mosby/Elsevier, CA 2007

Congestive Heart Failure Home Care: Fluid Restriction, FreeMd.com