lack of thirst

[vetiver2]

Am asking myself if my lack of need to drink - can be quite happy with one coffee, and 1 tea, 1 small milk per day - could be an autonomic dysfunction.  I know fluids are important but just cannot remember to drink more.  At 80 I am pronounced as remarkably fit (apart from usual arthritic degenerations) but have had one recent episode of arrythmia on returning to bed after night-time bathroom visit.  (Stress test was fine)  Was a fainter in adolescence and young adulthood, have had various periods of dizzyness, exhaustion, toppling forward, stumbling about.  Have been told not to get out of bed before drinking o.j., not to sit up suddenly, etc . because I once passed out for 15 minutes ( immediately after a sharp pain ran up the back of my head - I had been awoken suddenly and asked to look out the window).  My blood pressure, temperature have always been low and I have PLMS (111 day and 122 night) and slow, shallow breathing.

I have been researching the dysautonomia site for a while, since it was suggested to me by sleep researcher that I had medical events in the past not diagnosed.  I am very impressed by the caring and well informed contributors.  I realize too, of course, how minimal my concerns are in comparison to many others who are trying to cope with severe symptoms.

The lack of knowledge around sleep disorders seems to be lessening and hopefully other complexities of the brain will soon be better understood by the entire medical profession and taught in medical school!     idm

[supineallthetime]

I would force a bit more water just to see if other symptoms improved as a result... nothing drastic, just a couple extra glasses of water throughout the day perhaps.  There are cases where a person can lose their thirst "sensor".  I happen to rarely feel *real* thirst but I drink consciously.  I end up feeling better indirectly.

I can imagine that so long as they are functioning well, the kidneys can manage to hold on to enough water and still do their job but you are describing a pretty low intake amount (and let's hope you're not sweating away too much).

[AireScottie]

Some of your symptoms certainly do sound similar to dysautonomia.  Do you like soup?  Soup is a great way to get salt and fluids.  It is odd that you only want that much to drink; can't imagine why that would be.

[LivingInHope]

A lot of us with dysautonomia tend to have extreme thirst symptoms.  But a lot of your symptoms sound like you may have it.  Perhaps if you got a couple of nice glass water pitchers w/ lids, you could have them out on kitchen and or end tables to remind you to drink?