Water makes me sick, what should I drink?

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Replies

  • Momepro
    Momepro Posts: 1,509 Member
    My ex sister in law has this issue too, but since she's an ex, I can't really ask her medical history on it, lol. She was fine with carbonated stuff,or things like Gatorade though.
  • lemurcat12
    lemurcat12 Posts: 30,886 Member
    Ask your doctor.

    This. Every thing I can think of to suggest -- diet soda, tea, flavored water, whatever -- is basically water with a little something in it (so is lemonade, though), so it doesn't make sense to me and I'm not sure those are good suggestions if water makes you sick. I would totally talk to your doctor.
  • BeauHg
    BeauHg Posts: 9 Member
    BeauHg wrote: »
    vingogly wrote: »
    You ABSOLUTELY need to talk to your doctor if drinking water is causing you to vomit and you're having stomach pains. It could be many things, some of them serious - and it's not normal. Looking for a "magic" solution here rather than seeing a professional is gambling with your health.

    If you like milk and soda, drink diet soda and low-calorie nut milk. I like Blue Diamond almond coconut blend, unsweetened vanilla, 40 calories per cup.

    I’m not looking for a “magic” solution I’m just looking for good substitutes for water
    And it’s not like I haven’t talked to my doctor about it, this has been going on since I was young so it’s nothing new


    Well what have the doctor's suggested... Do that.


    Noel_57 wrote: »
    If you have a genuine medical condition where you supposedly become sick when you drink water, I'm puzzled as to why you would ask for advice from strangers on the internet? Consult with your doctor or with a registered dietitian.

    Again I’m not asking for advice on how to fix my ability to drink water. I’m looking for substitutes that I can drink that are not as heavy in carbs as soda is
  • yirara
    yirara Posts: 9,985 Member
    BeauHg wrote: »
    JidGod wrote: »
    What about water makes you feel sick? Water is in everything that you drink. Maybe you should check your water source to see if it is unclean.

    As for something to drink as a substitute, I would recommend sparkling water with a lemon or some other fruit squeezed into it. That way you can fool yourself into thinking that you're drinking a soda but it's a much healthier alternative.

    It’s from any water source I drink from. Tap, bottled, purified... any kind makes me sick
    And thanks for the advice!

    What about cold water, similar to soda from the fridge, carbonated water, warm water?
  • layladrew26
    layladrew26 Posts: 111 Member
    I don't think you have to drink pure water. I only ever drink black tea with milk and have 8 mugs a day. I occasionally have a mug of black coffee with sugar if I need a pick me up (I work nights). The only time I drink pure water is if I have a hangover or after a workout but it has to be cold or it'll make me feel sick too. Its never done me any harm and I am not dehydrated (you can tell by the colour of your pee, right?)
    I say drink what you like the taste of and what quenches your thirst but easy on the sugary drinks (lots of empty calories).
  • RoxieDawn
    RoxieDawn Posts: 15,488 Member
    edited January 2018
    BeauHg wrote: »
    SteamPug wrote: »
    This whole thread is so weird. OP the only suggestions you’re gonna get are people listing everything liquid that isn’t water - which you can just do a quick google search for: tea, soup, squash, diet soda.. but like everyone else has said - you need to get an actual diagnosis from a doctor because not being able to drink any water is weird as heck, unless it’s a psychological thing in which case see a therapist?

    I wanted suggestions about what’s healthy to drink, not just any kind of liquids

    tl;dr

    Do not need to demonize beverages. I get not wanting to drink beverages that contain calories, is there any thing you were consuming you classify 'healthy' before starting weight loss?

    Anyways, your choices are in the form of diet, like diet sodas, unsweetened tea, coffee, milk, nut milks, Sugar free Gatorade, etc, etc. etc. The foods you eat contain water as well (fruits, veggies) etc. Broth/soups these all contain water.
  • CattOfTheGarage
    CattOfTheGarage Posts: 2,745 Member
    Cold water sometimes makes me queasy, especially first thing in the morning. I'm not sure why but I'm pretty sure it has more to do with temperature than anything. I have reflux so it may be related.

    I generally prefer hot drinks, eg herbal tea, I find that's more comfortable if my stomach is feeling delicate.
  • jgnatca
    jgnatca Posts: 14,464 Member
    Try mixing your water with a packet of gastrolyte. If this works I’d get your electrolyte balance checked. In the meantime drink tea, coffee, milk and diet colas.
  • FlyingMolly
    FlyingMolly Posts: 490 Member
    SolotoCEO wrote: »
    If it's water that makes you ill - coffee, tea, soda, flavored waters, etc. still are water based and thus would still make you sick. Absolutely seek medical advice on this. In the mean time - eat lots of veggies since they have a high water content.

    This is a good point: how watery can a liquid be before it makes you sick? What needs to be present in it to avoid that reaction?

    I know it’s woo-y, but lately I love maple water. Fewer calories and sugars than coconut water, a very light, refreshing taste, and although no one will tell me what exactly it’s supposed to have in it I find it very restorative. Herbal teas, hot and/or cold, would be a good option as well. I mean, buy a potted verbena plant, steep a few leaves each morning, and drink it all day if that’s something your system will go for. If carbonation solves the problem, you can get a SodaStream and carbonate to your heart’s content with no additives at all...but again, it all kind of hinges on what your body does or does not consider “water.”
  • ThaydraR
    ThaydraR Posts: 3 Member
    First off - as many others have urged- I would bring this up with your doctor.

    That said- have you tried altering the temperature of the water? I have found that cold water, and even cool water, can make my stomach hurt. However, I've started drinking warm water (think tea temperature) with a quarter of a lemon (or less, depending on my mood or how big the lemon is). I've noticed that it doesn't hurt my stomach, keeps me warm, and I drink SO much more water! You could also try putting a couple of mint leaves in there if you've no aversion to mint (with or without the lemon).

    Good luck!
  • Poisonedpawn78
    Poisonedpawn78 Posts: 1,145 Member
    This has to be more mental than physical. If you were actually physically sick from ingesting water, you would be sick until you dehydrated and died. There may be something IN the water that is making you sick if its not clean enough though. Perhaps try boiling some water, cooling it and then seeing if you can drink it.

    If its a taste thing then as others have suggested, diet pops, water additives ect should help with the taste.
  • pamfgil
    pamfgil Posts: 449 Member
    Peppermint tea, you can drink it hot or chilled
  • RandomName25
    RandomName25 Posts: 6 Member
    BeauHg wrote: »
    I want to lose weight and need to find a substitute to the milk/soda I normally drink. I can’t drink water though. It’s strange because I can drink lemonade (too sugary) but it still hurts my stomach a little.
    Drinking any kind of water makes me physically ill and has even caused me to throw up several times. What can I drink instead?

    Adding those sugar packets to the water helped me stop drinking anything but water.
  • BeauHg
    BeauHg Posts: 9 Member
    This has to be more mental than physical. If you were actually physically sick from ingesting water, you would be sick until you dehydrated and died. There may be something IN the water that is making you sick if its not clean enough though. Perhaps try boiling some water, cooling it and then seeing if you can drink it.

    If its a taste thing then as others have suggested, diet pops, water additives ect should help with the taste.
    It’s not mental, it’s been like this since I was little. And I’ve tried all variations of plain water under the sun, nothing works
  • BeauHg
    BeauHg Posts: 9 Member
    SolotoCEO wrote: »
    If it's water that makes you ill - coffee, tea, soda, flavored waters, etc. still are water based and thus would still make you sick. Absolutely seek medical advice on this. In the mean time - eat lots of veggies since they have a high water content.

    This is a good point: how watery can a liquid be before it makes you sick? What needs to be present in it to avoid that reaction?

    I know it’s woo-y, but lately I love maple water. Fewer calories and sugars than coconut water, a very light, refreshing taste, and although no one will tell me what exactly it’s supposed to have in it I find it very restorative. Herbal teas, hot and/or cold, would be a good option as well. I mean, buy a potted verbena plant, steep a few leaves each morning, and drink it all day if that’s something your system will go for. If carbonation solves the problem, you can get a SodaStream and carbonate to your heart’s content with no additives at all...but again, it all kind of hinges on what your body does or does not consider “water.”
    It seems to be if it’s over 50% I think (just guessing) but anything like lemonade or tea still makes my stomach hurt, I just don’t throw up
  • bagge72
    bagge72 Posts: 1,377 Member
    BeauHg wrote: »
    SolotoCEO wrote: »
    If it's water that makes you ill - coffee, tea, soda, flavored waters, etc. still are water based and thus would still make you sick. Absolutely seek medical advice on this. In the mean time - eat lots of veggies since they have a high water content.

    This is a good point: how watery can a liquid be before it makes you sick? What needs to be present in it to avoid that reaction?

    I know it’s woo-y, but lately I love maple water. Fewer calories and sugars than coconut water, a very light, refreshing taste, and although no one will tell me what exactly it’s supposed to have in it I find it very restorative. Herbal teas, hot and/or cold, would be a good option as well. I mean, buy a potted verbena plant, steep a few leaves each morning, and drink it all day if that’s something your system will go for. If carbonation solves the problem, you can get a SodaStream and carbonate to your heart’s content with no additives at all...but again, it all kind of hinges on what your body does or does not consider “water.”
    It seems to be if it’s over 50% I think (just guessing) but anything like lemonade or tea still makes my stomach hurt, I just don’t throw up

    But soda is anywhere from 95 to 99% water, so that's why none of this make sense, especially if your doctors don't have an answer for you. It has to be something besides the water...
  • jenna_nicolo
    jenna_nicolo Posts: 62 Member
    Crystal Light is my saving grace. Most people don't understand this because it's such an uncommon thing, but I also can't drink plain water on an empty stomach/first thing in the morning and there are a few other situations in which it makes me nauseated. The Crystal Light is 10 calories a packet and it's helped me SO much in drinking more water. I used to get headaches often from what I think now was mild dehydration.. it's mostly stopped at this point. Water is so crucial for a body's homeostasis. Try things out and see what works best for you.
  • greyparks206
    greyparks206 Posts: 165 Member
    mikeb4bjj wrote: »

    Are you sure it's not psychosomatic? I mean, we literally die WITHOUT water. Definitely talk to an MD.

    I’d like to second this question. Psychosomatic associations can be VERY powerful. I was unable to eat mashed potatoes (and foods with similar textures) until I reached my Kate 20s because the texture made me gag. It took A LOT of “mind over matter” willpower and tiny, tiny bites to get past it. I would talk to a doctor for sure, but this may be something you have to work yourself up to very, very slowly.

  • CattOfTheGarage
    CattOfTheGarage Posts: 2,745 Member
    The real point to take away from this is that there's no need to drink plain water and you can really drink anything you want as long as it fits your calories and other health goals.

    The message that plain water is necessary is really just to encourage people to avoid high calorie drinks - it's not an absolute rule.

    What do you like to drink?
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