I'm doing really great. I drink about 100 oz/day. However when I found out I had chronic kidney disease about 20+ yrs prior to my transplant, I started drinking water...lots of it. My drs feel this is probably one of the reasons I stayed off dialysis & transplant list for many years.
I try to drink all I can but some days I need a more flavored drink. I’ve tried adding lemons and limes but still not what I was looking for. I love tea but being a southern gal I like it sweet!! Thank you for reminding me to drink more water.
Have you tried Jordan's Skinny Mixes? They have a sugar free simple syrup that makes a decent sweet tea. I grew up in Texas (many years ago), and its not the same as the sweet sun tea that my neighbor used to make but its a close alternative. I also like several of their other flavors like the Meyer Raspberry Lemon. Just a little splash in my big water bottle sometimes makes a difference if I am finding myself bored of plain water.
I’ve always struggled with drinking enough water. I find if I drink it hot and sip it like tea throughout the day, I actually drink a lot more. I find warm beverages comforting and soothing, and during the winter here its a lot easier to drink something hot over something cold
@AliEm14 I definitely agree. My water is always room temperature unless it is hotter weather. In the Summer. I put in the fridge to give it a little chill
With warm weather approaching I wanted to bring this to the top of the forum. When I first got my kidney transplant 8 years ago, my goal was about 4 - 4.5 liters which was sooo hard to get used to. Now I drink about 3-3.5L and usually in the summer I will increase a bit especially if I am sweating.
I did notice that in adult medicine they don't stress the water intake or monitor it as much as they did for me in pediatrics. I am wondering if other kidney patients get asked about their water intake at their appointments? Is anyone using the TransplantLyfe365 water tracking feature?
I see my nephrologistevery 4 to 6 weeks and she always ask me about hydration. In March and April I was on 120 mg of Lasix so it was so important for me to make sure I stay on target with my water. I only drink about 2 L a day which she said that’s good for me. I definitely am putting my water intake in Transplant Lyfe 365 because on some days, I’m like oh wait I didn’t drink enough water today. I also place four bottles of water on my counter so that I know that I have to complete it by the end of the day, but I now know I can show my data to my doctor to show her how much water I have been drinking to my next appointment. this is so helpful because there have been many of times I didn’t purposely not finish my water, but I get so busy and forget.
I am the same way! I get so busy throughout the day that I forget. I know chugging water isn't really helpful with hydration. It needs to be spaced out. I set up reminders on my iphone but they became like white noise in the background with all my other notifications. I already track meds on the app, I started using the water tracker too so let's see if it will keep me on track!
water has become my best friend i don't think i have drank caffeine tea or coffee since my surgery . i have always been a avid tea drinker my whole life but i thought after my transplant that in the long run that water is best for me plus i keep my kidney wet and happy and i dont have caffeine withdrawals and the water gives me more clearness and energy and makes me feel like i'm doing some positive for my kidney and my body
I don't know the answer to the crystal light question but I wanted to add I do flavoured electrolytes in my water so if you're looking for a flavoured option that could be considered (I'm a liver transplant recipient, so make sure it fits with your individual guidelines and all that)
I'll make a giant pitcher in the morning, put one package of liquid IV in it so it's pretty diluted and just sip on it all day. I also love the buoy hydration drops, and will put those in anything I'm drinking.
@TheMac Oh man :( I am sorry to hear that! Having a fluid restriction especially when you have hyperatremia must be so hard especially that sodium makes you thirsty. Fluid restrictions and sodium restrictions are really though.
@AliEm14 Love me some liquid IV! I don't have it regularly but couple times a month I do the same thing with diluting it in a liter of water!
@mrmdip I agree with you! I don't drink caffine anymore at all. Occasionally I will have a decafe coffee because I miss the tatse of coffee. About 90% of my hydration for the day comes from water. I also noticed the same energy shift and I always feel off at the end of the day and the next day if I didn't meet my fluid goal.
As for the crystal light dehydration question, I'm not sure either? I agree with Alisha that everyone should always check with their individual team recommendations because elecrtolytes are important to major functions in the body. For example, Sodium/potassium pumps in the heart, kidney, muscles and other organs. Too much magensium is not good either, and if you have impaired kidney function, the body has a hard time regulating the acid/base balance which is essentially the electrolyte balance.
I wonder if @Karin would have better input/ explanation to the question of whether crystal light could cause more dehydration? Maybe perhaps too high of the crystal light concentration will pull the fluid out of the cells and into the digestive tract without enough time for re-absorption?
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I'm doing really great. I drink about 100 oz/day. However when I found out I had chronic kidney disease about 20+ yrs prior to my transplant, I started drinking water...lots of it. My drs feel this is probably one of the reasons I stayed off dialysis & transplant list for many years.
@MaryR that is awesome…. Prior to transplant I was not a fan of water but now we are buddies
Keep up the good work.
@MaryR thank you and the same to you
I try to drink all I can but some days I need a more flavored drink. I’ve tried adding lemons and limes but still not what I was looking for. I love tea but being a southern gal I like it sweet!! Thank you for reminding me to drink more water.
Hi, try crystal light. I like the wild strawberry 🍓 flavor.
@ Deb You got this. I love sweet tea also …. I spread my water throughout the day to get it all in
@Melsamm Tgat is a great idea
Have you tried Jordan's Skinny Mixes? They have a sugar free simple syrup that makes a decent sweet tea. I grew up in Texas (many years ago), and its not the same as the sweet sun tea that my neighbor used to make but its a close alternative. I also like several of their other flavors like the Meyer Raspberry Lemon. Just a little splash in my big water bottle sometimes makes a difference if I am finding myself bored of plain water.
https://www.skinnymixes.com/products/sugar-free-simple-syrup
Transplant Patient
What a great question @Ldybug97
I’ve always struggled with drinking enough water. I find if I drink it hot and sip it like tea throughout the day, I actually drink a lot more. I find warm beverages comforting and soothing, and during the winter here its a lot easier to drink something hot over something cold
@AliEm14 I definitely agree. My water is always room temperature unless it is hotter weather. In the Summer. I put in the fridge to give it a little chill
This is great to get some ideas to keep us hydrated. I like Tservold am SICK of plain water.
With warm weather approaching I wanted to bring this to the top of the forum. When I first got my kidney transplant 8 years ago, my goal was about 4 - 4.5 liters which was sooo hard to get used to. Now I drink about 3-3.5L and usually in the summer I will increase a bit especially if I am sweating.
I did notice that in adult medicine they don't stress the water intake or monitor it as much as they did for me in pediatrics. I am wondering if other kidney patients get asked about their water intake at their appointments? Is anyone using the TransplantLyfe365 water tracking feature?
I see my nephrologistevery 4 to 6 weeks and she always ask me about hydration. In March and April I was on 120 mg of Lasix so it was so important for me to make sure I stay on target with my water. I only drink about 2 L a day which she said that’s good for me. I definitely am putting my water intake in Transplant Lyfe 365 because on some days, I’m like oh wait I didn’t drink enough water today. I also place four bottles of water on my counter so that I know that I have to complete it by the end of the day, but I now know I can show my data to my doctor to show her how much water I have been drinking to my next appointment. this is so helpful because there have been many of times I didn’t purposely not finish my water, but I get so busy and forget.
I am the same way! I get so busy throughout the day that I forget. I know chugging water isn't really helpful with hydration. It needs to be spaced out. I set up reminders on my iphone but they became like white noise in the background with all my other notifications. I already track meds on the app, I started using the water tracker too so let's see if it will keep me on track!
I am on a fluid restriction due to hyperatremia. (Low sodium). I would love to hydrate! Good luck everyone.!
water has become my best friend i don't think i have drank caffeine tea or coffee since my surgery . i have always been a avid tea drinker my whole life but i thought after my transplant that in the long run that water is best for me plus i keep my kidney wet and happy and i dont have caffeine withdrawals and the water gives me more clearness and energy and makes me feel like i'm doing some positive for my kidney and my body
is crystal light ok or will it make u dehydrated ?
Transplant Patient
I don't know the answer to the crystal light question but I wanted to add I do flavoured electrolytes in my water so if you're looking for a flavoured option that could be considered (I'm a liver transplant recipient, so make sure it fits with your individual guidelines and all that)
I'll make a giant pitcher in the morning, put one package of liquid IV in it so it's pretty diluted and just sip on it all day. I also love the buoy hydration drops, and will put those in anything I'm drinking.
@TheMac Oh man :( I am sorry to hear that! Having a fluid restriction especially when you have hyperatremia must be so hard especially that sodium makes you thirsty. Fluid restrictions and sodium restrictions are really though.
@AliEm14 Love me some liquid IV! I don't have it regularly but couple times a month I do the same thing with diluting it in a liter of water!
@mrmdip I agree with you! I don't drink caffine anymore at all. Occasionally I will have a decafe coffee because I miss the tatse of coffee. About 90% of my hydration for the day comes from water. I also noticed the same energy shift and I always feel off at the end of the day and the next day if I didn't meet my fluid goal.
As for the crystal light dehydration question, I'm not sure either? I agree with Alisha that everyone should always check with their individual team recommendations because elecrtolytes are important to major functions in the body. For example, Sodium/potassium pumps in the heart, kidney, muscles and other organs. Too much magensium is not good either, and if you have impaired kidney function, the body has a hard time regulating the acid/base balance which is essentially the electrolyte balance.
I wonder if @Karin would have better input/ explanation to the question of whether crystal light could cause more dehydration? Maybe perhaps too high of the crystal light concentration will pull the fluid out of the cells and into the digestive tract without enough time for re-absorption?