Dehydration

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW:

• Dehydration (dee-heye-DRAY-shen) is a condition that happens when the amount of water in the body is lower than normal. Water and electrolytes (mineral salts) are usually in balance in the body and keep the body working properly. Dehydration may cause an increase or decrease in electrolytes, which may cause serious effects in your body. Dehydration may be caused by not drinking enough water, losing too much fluid, or both. Being in the sun or heat for too long, or sweating a lot may increase water loss. Certain medicines, such as diuretics (water pills), may make your body lose too much water and salt. Vomiting (throwing up), diarrhea, or having a fever that lasts a long time may also cause dehydration.
  
  
• Symptoms of dehydration include dry eyes or mouth, increased thirst, dizziness, weakness, and tiredness. Your heart may beat faster or have an irregular beat, and your blood pressure may be low. A physical exam and tests, such as a urinalysis and BUN and creatinine tests, may be needed to diagnose dehydration. Treatment is usually giving fluids or fluid replacements, and treating the cause of dehydration. The earlier dehydration is treated, the better your chance of recovery. With treatment, such as fluid replacement, you may fully recover from dehydration.

CARE AGREEMENT:

You have the right to help plan your care. Learn about your health condition and how it may be treated. Discuss treatment options with your caregivers to decide what care you want to receive. You always have the right to refuse treatment.

RISKS:

Treatment for dehydration should be given as soon as possible. If not treated early, you may lose more water and become severely dehydrated. If this happens, you may pass out, have seizures (convulsions), or your body organs may stop working. If your kidneys, lungs, liver, heart, and brain shut down, you may die. Sometimes, treatment for dehydration may cause unwanted side effects. Receiving too much fluid or if it is given too quickly may worsen your condition. Ask your caregiver if you have questions or concerns about your condition, medicines, or care.

WHILE YOU ARE HERE:

Informed consent:

A consent form is a legal document that explains the tests, treatments, or procedures that you may need. Informed consent means you understand what will be done and can make decisions about what you want. You give your permission when you sign the consent form. You can have someone sign this form for you if you are not able to sign it. You have the right to understand your medical care in words you know. Before you sign the consent form, understand the risks and benefits of what will be done. Make sure all your questions are answered.

IV:

An IV (intravenous) is a small tube placed in your vein that is used to give you medicine or liquids.

Monitoring:

• Body weight: You may be weighed each day. Your caregiver may compare your weight from day to day. This will help your careigver to see how much fluid is in your body. Your body does not work well when it has too much or too little fluid.
  
  
• Intake and output: Caregivers will keep track of the amount of liquid you are getting. They also may need to know how much you are urinating. Ask how much liquid you should drink each day. Ask caregivers if they need to measure or collect your urine.
  
  
• Vital signs: Caregivers will check your blood pressure, heart rate, breathing rate, and temperature. They will also ask about your pain. These vital signs give caregivers information about your current health.

PEG tube:

This is also called a feeding tube, G-tube, or gastrostomy tube. A small, flexible tube is put into a small cut in your abdomen. The end of the tube goes into your stomach which is stitched closed to seal the tube. It may also be placed using an endoscope (a long thin tube passed through the mouth and down into the stomach).The PEG tube is used to give you liquids, food, and medicine. The tube may also be used to let air or fluids out of your stomach. You may have a PEG tube for a short time, or long-term. If you need it long-term, your PEG tube will need to be replaced as directed by your caregiver. You may also need to learn how to regularly clean and care for your PEG tube.

Tests:

• Blood tests: You may need blood taken to give caregivers information about how your body is working. The blood may be taken from your hand, arm, or IV.
  
  
• BUN and creatinine: Caregivers will measure the levels of blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine in your body. This will tell caregivers if too much water is being lost or retained in your body.
  
  
• Tilt table test: This test checks to see what happens to your heartbeat and your blood pressure when you change positions.
  
  
• Urinalysis: This is a test that looks at your urine to find out how your kidneys are working. Caregivers look for white blood cells, protein, sugar, blood, and bacteria that are not normally in urine. They may also check the amount of water in your body by checking the concentration of your urine.

Treatment options:

You may have any of the following:

• Oral rehydration therapy: This therapy replaces lost body fluids by having you drink plenty of liquids to avoid dehydration. You may also drink an oral rehydration solution (ORS). An ORS has the right amounts of water, salts, and sugar you need to replace body fluids.
  
  
• Intravenous therapy: You may receive fluid through a tube placed in your vein. Lost electrolytes (mineral salts) may also be included in the fluid.
  
  
• Hypodermoclysis: This is also called clysis. This treatment quickly gives your body a large amount of water. The water is given into the deepest layer of your skin, which helps regulate body temperature.
  
  
• Other treatments: Treating other conditions, which may have caused your dehydration, is also important. If you are using medicines that put you at risk of dehydration, they may have to be stopped. An electrolyte imbalance may also be corrected.

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The above information is an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatments. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before following any medical regimen to see if it is safe and effective for you.

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