I have been trying to drink at least 8 glasses of water a day and find myself having to go to the bathroom at least every 20 minutes as well as getting up 6 times a night to use the bathroom. Is this normal? Will my body adjust to it gradually or is this just perhaps too much water for my body to handle? Do some people need a glass or two less? I'd like to stay hydrated as I have some liver issues that recommend lots of water as well as drinking it for general health purposes. Any insight would be helpful because this is just too much pottytime!!
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Some times it takes a while for your bladder to get used to the extra water, particularly if you weren't drinking that much to begin with. I generally drink about a gallon or so a day and I rarely get up in the middle of the night any more.
However, frequent urination is often a sign of other under-lying health problems so you may wish to consider a call to the doctor, as well.
you may be getting water from your food if you eat soups and stews. I'd give your body some time to adjust then see if you need to cut back. Most doctors say that drinking when you are thirsty is sufficient. I just find that I feel full for longer if I drink water. (But yes, I pee lots too...try to stop drinking 1 hour before bed)
If this is relatively new, it's probably your body dumping water retention. The more water you drink, the less water you have in your body. It's an odd concept but true since drinking a lot of water flushes the system. Also, since you are getting a steady supply of water, the body knows it doesn't need to store it for emergencies. If this goes on for more than a few days, I'm not sure. Are your urine movements large or small? Also, 8 glasses of water or 8 cups? 8 glasses is more than double the suggested amount. Although that is fine, you'd expect to have to urinate often drinking that much water.
Thanks for all the replies! Danny: I was refering to 8oz. of water. Your answer makes sense. It is a new development so Im sure its not another medical issue. Just a little piddle at a time, lol. I will keep trying to make at least 7 for a couple weeks and see where that ends up. Hopefully it will all balance out as my body gets used to being hydrated. I was restricting calories too much for the past few months at least and drinking large amounts of coffee (a diaretic). I am trying to get healthy, mind and body now and my body may just be in recovery mode. I stopped the coffee except A.M. coffee so that I will not get rid of all the water since I run alot and need it. Anyway, thanks for the answers.
Sometimes I feel like 8 glasses are too much too (but I drink it anyway even feeling dizzy). It depends on a day. Normally I drink 8-10 glasses of water + 3 glasses of green tea + 1 glass of kefir and it's feels fine.
Maybe you can make it not one by one during the day, but two glasses at the same time, 2-3 hours waterless, then again couple of glasses. It can make your bathroom situation more regulated. And at the same time you can drink a glass before a meal. It will make you eat less and go to the toilet in a normal 'after a meal' regime. My advice would be not to drink too much close to nighttime... Water before going to sleep can even cause edema (in bigger quantities of course)!
