Excessive Thirst

stellar26 · Oct 31, 2006

I first noticed it only a few weeks ago and I can't pinpoint why it's been occuring. It's like I can't get enough to drink! After downing a glass of water I feel satisfied for half hour or so and then suddenly it hits me again. My mouth becomes dry and I know that I need more water. 
If left to my own devices I easily go drink a gallon water every day- and that's not even including the glass of tea that I drink in the morning, fruit juice (which I don't drink a ton of- maybe 6oz per day), or soymilk (generally 8-10oz per day). 
Of course, excessive drinking of fluids causes excessive urination. Since this has started happening I find myself waking, on average, twice every night to use the restroom. And here's the kicker- when I wake in the morning I experience charlie horses in my calves, ankles, and feet. Charlie horses are a result of dehydration. I just don't get it! How can I be dehydrated if I'm drinking a gallon+ of fluids every day? 
I know that this could possibly be the result of a pregnancy that I'm not yet aware of. I'm think that I can rule out pregnancy as I currently have my period right now. I am, however, on a hormonal birth control (the Nuvaring). Is it possible that I could have my period (because you don't get a real period while on hormonal birth control) but still be pregnant? Because I did insert this ring later than I supposed to this month and my boyfriend and I did have sex when we shouldn't have without condoms. 
Everything else that I've read points to diabetes, but that doesn't make sense to me because 1. I'm no where near overweight (which I believe rules our type 2 diabetes) and 2. I'm 21 years old and type 1 diabetes very rarely suddenly begins this late in life. 
Any ideas? I don't have insurance right now and can't go to the doctor. Has this happened to anybody else?

Dirty Martini · Nov 1, 2006

I went to high school with a guy who was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes - skinny as a rail. Can you find maybe a diabetes forum online and ask if people think your symptoms match up? When I read your title, diabetes was the first thing that came to mind. 
but that said, I'm by no means a physician.

Jessica Alana · Nov 1, 2006

You should put this into a regular forum instead of women-only. 
Diabetes does sound like something you should have checked, that and a pregnancy test. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/smiley.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="

"> Gotta narrow it down. Do the pregnancy test first, since you don't have insurance. Then go from there.

IamJen · Nov 1, 2006

Hm. Well, Charlie Horses have other causes too, so you're not necessarily dehydrated. Potassium deficiency often cause leg cramps, especially at night. 
But yeah, diabetes popped into my head as well, since that's one of the "warning signs" they always put on the flyers/posters, etc. I think, at most places in the States, there are ways to get free diabetes tests, if you want to find out. I remember hearing them advertised at local pharmacies, and maybe at the Co. Health Dept. Maybe if not free, something low cost. Also, is there a sliding-scale clinic anywhere near you? Not having health insurance sucks (been there). 
Have you been using the Nuvaring for awhile? (that is, it couldn't be a side effect). 
Also, do you want to move this into a gender-neutral forum? That way, guys who may have had this experience could comment too.

veggielove · Nov 1, 2006

I would get a blood sugar test. Sounds more like diabetes than pregnancy to me. 
If its pregnancy, other things you might feel: tingly sensitive nipples / breasts, fatigue, nausea, feeling very warm, etc. You don't need those symptoms to be pregnant though.

catswym · Nov 1, 2006

i agree with everyone else: diabetes seems the most likely cause. 
and i think charley horses are caused by (among other things) vitamin/mineral deficiencies, which can definitely be created by drinking TOO much water.

berrykat · Nov 1, 2006

My niece is thin and diabetic not all of it is being overweight...please get your blood sugar tested it is really easy and painless well relatively painless <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/smiley.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="

">

veggielove · Nov 1, 2006

Yes I meant to say that earlier. You don't have to be overweight at all to get it. It increases risk, but there are all sorts of things that can cause it. See a doctor please to make sure that's not it, because if it is, you want to start treating it before there is damage to your system.

laurie15 · Nov 2, 2006

stellar, 
although everyone has mentioned diabetes, see if they can run other tests, too. i had that for a long time - to the point where i would be in tears because it was literally impeding on my life. i couldn't talk (dried out my mouth), couldn't eat anything with salt or spice or anything, stopped drinking anything but water, was peeing all the time (so irritating!) and so on. 
in addition to diabetes, other ailments could include liver or kidney issues, as well as thyroid problems. i assume that you have normal diet, however, malnourishment of sorts can also affect it. 
hope you figure it out!

stellar26 · Nov 3, 2006

Thanks for all of the responses, everybody. 
Yes, Jen- I'd love to move this to the general health forum! I actually initially intended to post this thread in there, but accidentally ended up posting it in here and couldn't figure out how to delete it so that I could re-post it! 
Also, I've been on the Nuvaring for 7 or 8 months now. I noticed the thirst problem within the last month, so I can't imagine that the ring would be it's culprit. 
I really hope that it's not diabetes! That sounds so scary. I'm not going to let myself jump to conclusions with this one. I'm going to take it easy, moniter everything that I eat much more closely for potassium and sodium (I'm a nutrition major in college so I already unintentionally moniter my food extremely closely, but I figure it couldn't hurt), and try to notice if I have any other symptoms. If I notice other symptoms, then I'll figure out a way to get myself in to a hospital. 
I guess I'm kind of hoping that this symptom will go away on it's own as fastly as it appeared. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/undecided.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title=":-/">

IamJen · Nov 3, 2006

moved to Health Forum. 
I forgot to say earlier, but you're probably doing it anyway, to check the color of your pee, heh. If you are worried about dehydration, check to make sure that you're still light yellow. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/smiley.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="

">

catswym · Nov 4, 2006

i can't imagine that her urine would be anything but light yellow considering the gallons of fluids consumed. 
anyway, if you are still having such excessive thirst--and drinking so much to combat it, i would recommend going to the doctor right away. yes, diabetes may sound scary but the longer it goes untreated the worse for your body. and we're talking really really serious consequences for your body. similarly, drinking so much fluid that it could be the cause of a vitamin imbalance is also really really not good. 
testing for diabetes is a simple fasting blood sugar test. if you're in college you should have some sort of health services center that you can go to.

rachelb · Dec 2, 2006

<img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/yes.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title=":yes:"> 
There are two basic forms of diabetes: 
Type 1: people with this type of diabetes produce very little or no insulin. 
Type 2: people with this type of diabetes cannot use insulin effectively. 
Most people with diabetes have type 2. 
A third type of diabetes, gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), develops during 
some cases of pregnancy but usually disappears after pregnancy. 
People with type 1 diabetes require daily injections of insulin to survive. 
People with type 2 diabetes can sometimes manage their condition with 
lifestyle measures alone, but oral drugs are often required, and less frequently 
insulin, in order to achieve good metabolic control. 
Common symptoms of type 1 diabetes include: excessive thirst; constant hunger; 
excessive urination; weight loss for no reason; rapid, hard breathing; vision 
changes; drowsiness or exhaustion. These symptoms may occur suddenly. 
FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT DIABETES 
VISIT THE WEB medinas naturistas.com <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/smitten.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title=":smitten:">

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