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[Souris]

Since I stopped birth control pills in October and have started menopause, I am constantly thirsty. I wake up with a super-dry mouth. I keep a glass of water by my bed, and it's almost gone in the morning, so I think sometimes I wake up in the night and drink some without even remembering it every time. So it makes my sleep even worse than just waking up with hot flashes or anxiety. I always carry water around with me during the day, and I drink more than the average person, but I'm still thirsty. I hardly have caffeine or alcohol.

Who else experiences this? Any tips?

[CLKD]

Take a fresh urine sample to your Practice Nurse and get it checked, as well as blood tests, for diabetes.

How much to you actually drink?   Maybe do an input/output check for 2 days?  That is, measuring every drink in a pint jug B4 you drink it along with the time.  Wee into another jug and measure to see how much urine you pass?  Makes notes!

[Sparrow]

Ditto

You need a blood sugar test.

[Focus]

I drink 750mls during the night. If I don't, I feel very dehydrated the next day.

I then drink another 750mls throughout the morning...

[Mogster71]

My first thought was diabetes too 

Can you get in to see your GP or nurse? In the meantime I think you can buy home testing kits in the pharmacy - no substitute for a doctors diagnosis of course but if it gives you some more ammunition to get a faster appointment, may be worth trying.

Hope you're ok

[Souris]

I've had a TON of blood tests recently, and they were fine for diabetes-related levels, so pretty sure it's not diabetes. It only started when I went off birth control pills in October, and I see a lot about menopause being dehydrating, so I thought it might be connected. I do have slightly raised calcium levels, which we're in the process of trying to figure out the cause, so it may also have something to do with that (or a combination of the two). I've also been incredibly anxious and worrying about those levels.

[Penelope]

Souris if you have come off the pill you will find that your menopause symptoms will ramp up now because the pill is double the strength of HRT being on the pill can also help keep the thyroid in check and just now the symptoms are coming in.The load of blood tests you had were you on the pill?

Thirst
The symptoms of hyperthyroidism tend to come on slowly and also vary from person to person. It's not always obvious that symptoms such as excess thirst or increased appetite are an indication that something is wrong. Often, people don't see a doctor until they experience palpitations or shortness of breath.
Just be careful when the doctors say that your blood tests are all fine.You need to ask them to send you a copy and read the tests yourself.And research what tests you need to have done before you go.

[Taz2]

Hi souris.  Your thirst could be connected to the raised calcium. My mum had this and was permanently thirsty. The consultant explained that the kidneys have to work really hard to get rid of the calcium and this causes increased thirst. I hope you get an answer to your increased level soon. It's important that you do drink if thirsty.

Taz x

[CLKD]

 

[Souris]

Thank you for the replies! The blood tests were several months after stopping birth control. I saw an endocrinologist last week, had some more blood tests. Even though my thyroid and parathyroid levels were "normal," he's not ruling hyperparathyroid out yet. My ionized calcium was high normal, and the other calcium was just above normal (though he said when corrected for my high albumin, it put it back in the normal range.) I've got copies of all the test results, as they go into my "patient portal" online.

I just turned in a 24-hour urine test (no results on that yet), so that might clarify things some. We're still trying to figure out what exactly is going on! I was super-worried about cancer, as I know that can cause high calcium levels, but he said I didn't have any red flags on any of the blood levels there.

As if I didn't have enough to worry about with all the menopause symptoms like hot flashes, acne, brain fog, aches and pains, bladder leakage and huge anxiety!

[CLKD]

'bladder leakage' - maybe ask for a referral to an incontinence nurse?  or womens' physio.?