I think I have a drinking problem, is this really unhealthy??
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Anonymous
| I'm not actually talking about alcohol, but regular liquids. I drink obsessively, but can't seem to stop. I drink so much that it makes my stomach feel really full, and I can actually feel/hear the water sloshing around in my stomach. I drink mostly water, and some iced tea and applejuice. I'd say I probably drink about 2 gallons of water a day. When I eat, I tend to drink so much that I get too full from it to eat much of the food. I don't think I actually feel "thirsty", I just love drinking. Could this be very harmful to my health? I don't think it's a medical problem, just mental or something. |
Anonymous
| Yes, drinking too much liquid can be bad for you. Have you talked to a doctor about it? |
Anonymous
Not yet, but I have an appointment next month and am planning on telling the doctor about it. I've always drank a LOT, but it just seems to have gotten worse over the past 6 months or so. |
Anonymous
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Diabetes is the first thing that comes to mind.
Drinking too much water can get your body seriously out of balance to the point of requiring hospitalization. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000394.htm |
Anonymous
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Why are you drinking so much liquid? Are you drinking it to feel full? Are you drinking it because you're constantly thirsty?
If you're drinking liquid in lieu of eating and to make you feel full, that's one thing people with eating disorders do. If you're constantly thirsty, that's a common symptom of diabetes. You can actually die from drinking too much water - it's called water intoxication. You can flood your body with so much water, that you create an imbalance of electrolytes. Water intoxication is rare, but it happens. I remember a few years ago, a radio station held a contest of who could drink the most without relieving themselves - one of the contestants actually died. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_intoxication |
Anonymous
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My wife drank too much water on a long bike ride and ended up in the ER with intravenous fluids for most of a day.
Definitely get checked, OP. |
Anonymous
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You could die from this. A friend of mine almost did.
Because of that and the possibility of diabetes, you should see your doctor much much sooner. See if you can get in this week. Like tomorrow or the next day. |
Anonymous
| Would drinking carbonated water rather than flat help moderate your intake? |
Anonymous
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Are you saying that this feels like a compulsion?
Like OCD? Or are you actually thirsty? Can you pinpoint why you are drinking so much? |
Anonymous
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I think diabetes (if generally thirsty as opposed to just a simple enjoyment of fluids) or anemia (if the fluids are really cold or you are into ice) or eating disorder (only you know if this is true).
I drink about 3/4 gallon of chocolate milk a day. I honest to god like it more than many foods. It's only harmful if you aren't getting other nutrients because you are filling up on junk. Also, there's that whole water poisoning thing. |
Anonymous
Are you serious? May I ask how much you weigh? |
Anonymous
| Unless you are an extremely active elite athlete like Michael Phelps, there's no way drinking 3/4 gallon of chocolate milk is good for you. That's a hell of a lot of calories and a hell of a lot of sugar. |
Anonymous
| I had a college roommate who was hospitalized for this obsession with drinking liquids. It was part of a general eating disorder for her. They even had to empty the toilet so she wouldnt drink that water. so yes there is a mental/physical disorder possible. |