posted 07-02-2002 10:58 PM            

With the low carb diet,I did one too. It can definately take out excess water, but you need to replace it, or you could end up with hard BMs. Cut down on caffine too. It screws up the balance of water in the system. Diana

posted 07-06-2002 04:21 AM            

I am keen to try Dandelion as a diuretic to see if it might help ease my symptoms from the calcification in my shoulders (worse when I'm holding fluid).

posted 07-14-2002 10:27 AM            

So what you are saying is that diuretics, the purpose of which is to get rid of excess fluid, can actually cause you to retain the same because the body automatically protects itself from getting dehydrated?
How can I maintain a balance? I have read that caffeine is the diuretic part of tea. So that I drink decaffeinated tea is doing me no good in terms of ridding excess fluid.

posted 07-19-2002 09:14 AM            

If you have trouble drinking more than 4 cups a day then increase it gradually, like a cup a week. And make sure you are getting rid of what you are taking in. (You may have to measure it, yuck I know!!) Eventually your body will use it correctly when you get the level up to 8 to 10 glasses a day.

You want your body to get rid of the bloat on it's own, this takes time because you don't give it enough water right now. Even just breathing gets rid of water. Do you do any excersising? Just walking alittle should help. Then get your feet above your heart for awhile.

With time you'll get the body to regulate water on it's own, but as soon as you take something to get rid of excess water, your back to square one, because your body needs it. That's why it's storing it.

This is what I've found. Diana

posted 07-20-2002 10:27 AM            

Our children are grown and out of the house and we have plenty of room. They are my dearest companions and couldn't imagine my life without them. Yes it is alot of work, much cleaning. And worth it. They give me so much in return. My husband is a big bear of a guy and believe me he brings home more than a few. He complains then how expensive it all is but he wouldn't give up a single one.

posted 07-21-2002 09:28 AM            

Also about the pill you are taking, that can really mess with the system, as you have probably noticed, what kind is it, just a reg. birth control pill? Maybe they could try you on something else.

Its not diuretics that I was talking about with the electrolytes. I was refering to drinking the correct amount of water daily, then you need to replace them because they are getting flushed out.

Foods made into juices are very good and have plenty of liquid, and bioflavanoids(sp?)in them. But be careful of too much celery, celery is toxic in large quantities.

If you want references about the low carb. diet, check on the Atkins diet. The 'Carbohydrates addict diet,' is less drying, they require more low carb. veggies than the Atkins one, so it's not as dehydrating.

I think the pill you are talking is messing things up pretty good for you Traveiler, you should check some of the posts about the birthcontrol pill and hormone imbalance, I'm thinking they might be in the womans health board, or the menopause board. I'm not sure right off the top of my head. Hope I've answered some of your questions, and didn't confuse you futher. Diana

posted 07-21-2002 09:33 AM            

Also that is great the way you help those animals out!!!!! I think they know how close to death they were. And love you for it.

Have you ever seen the new show on the animal channel about the pet phsycic? I love that show.

Keep up the water thing, and yes talking and breathing does take water out of the lungs, ever put your mouth up to a mirror and breath on it? You can see the moister!!!

Sounds like you have a kind hearted hubby too. Good thing he likes cats.Haha. Mine tolerates the cat and loves the dog. But at least the cat doesn't mind, she's such a cuttie, both my daughter and I love her and she knows that. Some people are cat people and some aren't.

Take care, Diana

posted 07-21-2002 09:44 AM            

I had though already fed the 'crew' and did my first major clean-up of the day. You should try and imagine 10 animals in the house who want to eat NOW and you want to sleep! The kitchen is a madhouse as I am hurrying to open cans and get them onto the paperplates. Then it means separating the cats as there are a few who don't like each other when eating.
While they are eating, I re-fill water dishes and clean the litters. When that is done, they are finished eating and cleaning themselves...I scrape off whatever leftovers from each plate and we take the food to a dumpster near my husband's office for the strays. I know, I know but the situation is serious...so many in such bad condition.

posted 07-21-2002 09:51 AM            

Keep up the water, I'm proud of you.

posted 07-21-2002 01:48 PM            

I have a sense that you were somehow put off by reading here that alcohol causes dehydration. I certainly did not mean for that to be any kind of judgment about you at all. I just offered it up as information the same as suggesting caffeine being a problem. I meant nothing in a personal negative way towards you and am sorry if you misunderstood my intentions.

posted 10-02-2003 05:08 PM            

You can buy the green tea extract in decaffeinated form. Just do a search on the web, and you should find it. That might help a little. Caffeine definitely might be making the bloating worse. Perhaps if diuretics (like caffeine) make it worse, an antidiuretic might make it better? Seems counter-intuitive, but who knows? Valerian is a natural antidiuretic. Perhaps you could buy some tea with that in it and see if it helps.