dehydration? - General Health Message Board

fball15 · 05-29-2006, 09:57 AM

I am a 20 year old college student and I party a lot. The other night I went out and got pretty drunk with my friends. I woke up the next morning and was fine, so I decided to sit around my friend's pool all day. I had a couple bottles of water but it was hot and I was sweating pretty heavily outside. After the pool I took about a three hour nap and when I woke up I was very disorientated and confused. I thought a shower would help but it didn't, my limbs started to feel detached from my body and when I touched my hair or face it felt like someone else was touching me. I couldn't concentrate at all and my vision seemed very narrowed. I still had all of my motor skills but I felt as if I had been drugged or something. This feeling lasted for about two hours in which I drank some water. Today is the day after the incident and my left side is a little sore. It was quite scary and I almost decided to go into the emergency room. Could this have been because of the alcohol I had the night before and the amount of time I spent in the sun the next day? Thanks for your time.

kehorner · 05-29-2006, 09:28 PM

It's quite probable that you were dehydrated. Alcohol is a diuretic (draws the water out of your system and dehydrates you). Also, sitting around in the heat can be dehydrating. Especially if you sleep and don't notice yourself getting dehydrated until it has already set in. You may also have been overheated from being dehydrated and sleeping in the sun. You should keep drinking lots of water (and perhaps a sports drink) to catch up. Whenever you drink alcohol, you should make sure to get plenty of water along with it so that you don't end up dehydrated. Also, be sure to drink a lot when you are out in the sun. If you are thinking about taking a nap outside, the shade is probably safer, so that you don't end up getting overheated or sunburned or something if you sleep too long.

If it happens again or if you continue to feel strange, you should see your doctor.