Does drinking more water make you thirstier?

Nurses General Nursing

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Specializes in Med nurse in med-surg., float, HH, and PDN.

Sometimes I go through the suggestion to drink more water. Tried it plain, with lemon, with cucumber slices, etc. I LOVE ice water, but there are times when drinking just water makes me feel thirstier and thirstier, and quenching? Not particularly. Not at all! More like bloated and/or slightly nauseated and there are times when it gives me wicked heartburn!

Anyone else experienced this? Any suggestions?

1 Votes
Specializes in retired LTC.

May sound silly, but I suggest brushing your teeth. Water afterwards seems more thirst-quenching than before. Esp helpful after eating something with garlic, onions or very salty.

Also, I don't care for anything with ICE. Nice and cold is OK, but I don't like ice.

1 Votes
Specializes in Emergency/ICU.

I think it's the body's way of encouraging you to keep going. The cells are happy with the hydration level you have achieved and you are getting a signal to keep it up. As we get busy, it is easier to go through the day with suboptimal hydration. For me at work, it seems the more dry I become, the less I want to drink, and I crave caffiene. But if I have a nice drink of water, I will get thirsty later. I wondered if it was only me. Guess not. Drink on! (Bummer about the heartburn - I wonder if it's something you're adding?)

1 Votes
Specializes in adult psych, LTC/SNF, child psych.

I agree with you on this! The worst part for me is that when you drink, you pee it out at some point, right?. Almost immediately after going to the bathroom, I get thirsty and drink my way to the bathroom again in a few hours!

Plain icey cold water is my favorite though! I've started a new job this week and there are water coolers on every floor. I can't help but keep my water bottle full at all times! Heh - first world problems, right?!

1 Votes
Specializes in adult psych, LTC/SNF, child psych.
LakeEmerald said:
I think it's the body's way of encouraging you to keep going. The cells are happy with the hydration level you have achieved and you are getting a signal to keep it up. As we get busy, it is easier to go through the day with suboptimal hydration.

This makes perfect sense! It's a little annoying though. Like, gee body, thanks for being happy but can't you just be happy for a bit without pushing for more?

1 Votes
Specializes in Acute Care, Rehab, Palliative.

You need to careful though. You can drink too much water.

1 Votes

I know what you mean about getting heartburn! For the longest time I would drink water and it would give me really bad heartburn and just make me feel sick to my stomach. I then found out that I have acid reflux, and if I take medication for it like I am supposed to, then water doesn't bother me anymore.

And just like Lori Angel said, be careful to not be drinking TOO MUCH water.

1 Votes
Specializes in Peds Homecare.
Why Does Drinking Water Create Acidity? | eHow
1 Votes
Specializes in Med nurse in med-surg., float, HH, and PDN.
realnursealso/LPN said:

WOW! Thanks! This was really helpful!!!!

I am, while not HAPPY to hear others have experienced this, at least relieved to feel not so 'crazy'!

Y'all are great!

1 Votes
Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
loriangel14 said:
You need to careful though. You can drink too much water.

In addition, people have died from water intoxication, also known as dilutional hyponatremia. This results from consuming too much water.

Water Intoxication & Hyponatremia

1 Votes
Specializes in Med nurse in med-surg., float, HH, and PDN.
TheCommuter said:
In addition, people have died from water intoxication, also known as dilutional hyponatremia. This results from consuming too much water.

Water Intoxication & Hyponatremia

YIKES! Good info. Again, thanks!

1 Votes

It affects me the same way. The more I drink the more I want to drink. But goodness, when I drink water I have to pee every 30 minutes it seems. When I'm only drinking Diet Coke, I only have to go a couple times per day. But I know the water is better for me. :cheeky:

1 Votes
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