Avoid Dehydration! It sneaks up on you.

[tonekat]

I have Addison's Disease and Hypothyroidism. So I thought I was low on cortisone when I was driving home from a hotel in my hometown in NYS the day after xmas.

I was only about 20 minutes into the trip when my hands became numb. My arms followed. I pulled over and took a few low-dose dexamethasone tablets.

Later, on a parkway, my numbness expanded to my chest. Then my face. I knew I wouldn't be able to drive much longer, so I found someplace with a parking lot, and called 911. An ambulance responded, I sat in the vehicle why they took my BP and oxygen levels, we discussed my conditions.

I had gotten up that morning in a hot hotel room, and taken enough water to swallow my meds, and had a breakfast sandwich with coffee.

I declined a trip to a local hospital, wanting to get home to my cats who were alone for 24 hours. They suggested I walk over to the store and get a bottle of water. That did the trick. I was able to drive home with no problems after that.

People with a hypothyroid condition tend to be more susceptible than others to this. I'll be keeping a bottle of water in my car on future trips.

[mahina]

1. True. Also a cause of headaches

Be careful about that water bottle though because regular grocery store bottled water comes in bottles with chemicals in the plastic that leach into the water over time.

[yonder]

2. What mahina said. Be careful about storage.

It must've been scary - glad you're alright.

[littlemissmartypants]

3. I, too struggle with hydration issues because of autoimmune disease.

I'm glad you were able to resolve your predicament with few adverse effects. ❤

[bahboo]

4. it is amazing how shitty you can feel when dehydrated....

and just as amazing that a bottle of water makes you feel instantly better...

[LoisB]

5. Scary. Glad you're good.

[DownriverDem]

6. Have you had

your thyroid treated?

[Skittles]

7. yes

I drove a supervisor from out of town to the ER in the middle of the night when she became disoriented and confused....she had been taking new meds but ultimately the main cause was found to be dehydration - from traveling and staying up too long she just had not been getting enough hydration.

[I_UndergroundPanther]

8. Wow I have hypothyroidism

Didnt know that.

I find myself forgetting to drink because I dont feel thirsty.

I bought a really nice water bottle to try to overcome not drinking enough.

Had no clue hypothyroidism can lead to dehydration.

So thanks for posting this.