Very parched and water doesn't help - why could this be?

[Rigamarole]

A few hours ago I started experiencing a very dry feeling in my mouth, and have been drinking bottle after bottle of water without the feeling diminishing any. (don't worry, I know drinking too much water can kill you)

I'm not asking for medical advice, and if it persists I will see a doctor, but I'm just rather curious as to what could be causing this. To describe the feeling, it is reminiscent of the "cotton-mouth" feeling I would experience when I used to smoke marijuana (I am not smoking marijuana, and haven't in a long time, but that's what it feels like).

[CairoCarol]

Did you consume an excess of salt a few hours previously?

[Quiddity Glomfuster]

Did you consume an excess of salt a few hours previously?
Or maybe something with lots of onions and/or garlic?

[Rigamarole]

Did you consume an excess of salt a few hours previously?

Nope, nothing out of the usual. I had a few flour tortillas with melted cheese on them, and cereal in the morning. I ate marsala fettucine pasta with shrimp for dinner more recently, but I was already feeling parched by that time.

Edit: Oh, and also one glass of red wine with dinner. I know alcohol has a dehydrating effect, but it was one glass for cripe's sake. And like I said I was already experiencing this before dinner.

[Quiddity Glomfuster]

How's the humidity where you are? The only other times I've felt that way were when I was someplace with very low humidity.

[Gentle Robot]

Might have a cold or a sore throat coming on.

[Rigamarole]

How's the humidity where you are? The only other times I've felt that way were when I was someplace with very low humidity.

According to weather.com via Yahoo! (http://weather.yahoo.com/forecast/USCA1190_f.html) it's 55%.

[Quiddity Glomfuster]

Have you tried drinking something like grapefruit juice? Sometimes I find that water doesn't seem to do the job but something with bite like grapefruit juice will do it. Or maybe squeeze a bit of lemon or lime into your water.

Have you had a lot of coffee or tea or any allergy drugs?

[Rigamarole]

No coffee or tea or drugs of any kind. Weird.

Unfortunately, I don't have grapefruit juice just sitting around and it's 11:30PM. Hopefully this will be gone by tomorrow anyway but I'm still pretty curious as to why this is happening to me. Apparently Jesus does not love me anymore.

[Fastidiots]

Look out Rig, constant thirst is one of the symptoms of type 1 diabetes, that's what drove my little brother to get checked out, and the subsequent diagnosis. Mind you there were other factors, i.e. constant fatigue, sticky urine. But still, if you've got a diabetic buddy handy, quickly check your blood sugar level, anything above 10 is bad news (lil' bro was 44).

[FRDE]

Also be careful of how much water you drink
- Ecstasy deaths can be down to water
http://www.urban75.com/Drugs/drugxtc1.html

[DrDeth]

What color and smell is your urine?

Oh hell- just call your doc in the AM.

[Rigamarole]

Look out Rig, constant thirst is one of the symptoms of type 1 diabetes, that's what drove my little brother to get checked out, and the subsequent diagnosis. Mind you there were other factors, i.e. constant fatigue, sticky urine. But still, if you've got a diabetic buddy handy, quickly check your blood sugar level, anything above 10 is bad news (lil' bro was 44).

Thank you for letting me know about this. I actually probably would have brushed it off as I am pretty doctor-adverse, but reading up a little on type-1 diabetes I recognize several of the other symptoms. That's pretty scary. I'll definitley go to a doctor ASAP.

[Chief Pedant]

A few hours ago I started experiencing a very dry feeling in my mouth, and have been drinking bottle after bottle of water without the feeling diminishing any. (don't worry, I know drinking too much water can kill you)

I'm not asking for medical advice, and if it persists I will see a doctor, but I'm just rather curious as to what could be causing this. To describe the feeling, it is reminiscent of the "cotton-mouth" feeling I would experience when I used to smoke marijuana (I am not smoking marijuana, and haven't in a long time, but that's what it feels like).

"Bottles and bottles" over a short period of time (hours)?

The first question to ask is whether or not you are peeing a lot. If you are peeing a lot and drinking a lot you have a problem with your water regulation. This is often either high blood sugar (diabetes mellitus) or trouble retaining free water (diabetes insipidus). Go to the emergency department if you are peeing a lot and drinking a lot at the same time. Do not wait for a doctor's appointment.

If you are not peeing a lot and are just way behind on your water balance, a couple of bottles of water should slake your thirst. If they don't, something else is wrong.

If your mouth is parched but you are not particularly thirsty then a number of other causes come into play. Not so much hurry. That sensation should be soothed by local swishing of water in the mouth and not drinking bottles and bottles.

[Rube E. Tewesday]

Just to chime in -- this is no joke. I had a co-worker who lost a lot of weight, really quickly. She thought her new diet was working great. She was also constantly drinking from a huge glass of water. Turned out she had diabetes, and got help just in the nick of time. See a doctor, fast.

[Sapo]

Let me just ask here, instead of starting a new thread, since this is very related.

I have the habit of drinking a lot of water (about 2 or 3 gallons a day). I do this, just because. I don't feel thirsty and, if I am on the street, I just don't drink that much. This means, of course, that I pee a lot (about every two hours, always full loads). I have found that all the drinking and peeing keeps me alert through boring mental tasks (trainings, proof readings, etc)

Even at might, I will have a large glass of water just before going to bed, which means I will wake up to pee a full load. Unless I am terribly tired, I normally go for another glass of water. This can happen up to 3 or 4 times a night. Again, if I am not at home, or I am feeling too tired, I just don't drink that much and don't pee that much.

Could this be in any way harmful? Useful? Indifferent? (I am in my 30's if that matters and have had physicals about every other year for the last decade for all kinds of different reasons and always come more or less ok)

[panache45]

Look out Rig, constant thirst is one of the symptoms of type 1 diabetes, that's what drove my little brother to get checked out, and the subsequent diagnosis. Mind you there were other factors, i.e. constant fatigue, sticky urine. But still, if you've got a diabetic buddy handy, quickly check your blood sugar level, anything above 10 is bad news (lil' bro was 44).above 10??? Normal is about 100-110. If you're only above 10, check to see if you're dead.

[Cheesesteak]

Could this be in any way harmful? It is possible to drink too much water. Water Intoxication (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_intoxication) seems to be more related to drinking large amounts in a short time (contest), or large amounts of pure water when you're dehydrated (marathon) than just drinking smaller amounts often throughout the day. At least, the noted deaths are not associated with drinking many small amounts over longer periods.

I'd be more worried that you're interrupting your sleep multiple times a night for absolutely no reason, and drinking more during the night ensuring another interruption.

[Quiddity Glomfuster]

Even at might, I will have a large glass of water just before going to bed, which means I will wake up to pee a full load. Unless I am terribly tired, I normally go for another glass of water. This can happen up to 3 or 4 times a night.
Why would you do that? You need sleep. Sure, having enough water is good but I think you're going overboard (heh).

[Sapo]

argh, typed response lost in cyberlimbo.

Don't worry about me lacking sleep. Really :D

Also, my drinking is also by the glass, not the gallon.

My worry was more about putting undue strain on my kidneys or messing blood pressure or something like that.

[vetbridge]

above 10??? Normal is about 100-110. If you're only above 10, check to see if you're dead.
Different units. 100 mg/dl 10 mmol/L
1 mmol/L = 18 mg/dL