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FLUIDS Drinking enough fluids is very important when you are HIV positive. Fluids help prevent dehydration, especially when you are taking many medications. You need a great deal of fluids to flush out medications that have been used by you body. If you are having a difficult time maintaining your weight, drink high calorie fluids (juices, nectars fruit punch, ice tea, lemonade, ginger ale, soda, Gatorade and Kool-Aid) and high calorie, high protein fluids (e.g., milk, milkshakes, Lactaid milk, fortified soymilk, fortified nut milks, Ensure Plus, Resource Plus, Sustacal, Nutren 2.0 and Nutrament) instead of water. Drink at least eight glasses of fluid each day. Drink more if you are taking many medications. You will need to drink more if the inside of your mouth or tongue is dry. Avoid drinking beverages that contain caffeine, especially if you have diarrhea. These products cause further loss of fluid from your body. Caffeine-containing beverages include coffee, black tea and some types of soda. Avoid drinking alcohol b cause it is low in nutrients and can also dehydrate you. Certain germs can be spread through tap water and make you very sick when your CD4 count is below 200 cells/mm3. i>Cryptosporidiosis, Mycrosporidiosis and Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) can be passed to you through water and cause flu-like symptoms hat include cramping, diarrhea, fevers, nausea and weight loss. If you drink water, buy spring water filtered to 2 microns, distilled water or bottled carbonated water, such as seltzer. If you drink tap water, boil it for five minutes to kill germs, and cool it before using it to make ice tea, lemonade, Kool-Aid or to dilute fruit juice concentrate. Bottled juices are safe to drink if they are pasteurized. Dry Mouth can occur as a result of not drinking enough fluids or as a side-effect of medications. In addition to drinking enough fluids, the following suggestions can help you manage this problem: Use extra sauce, butter, gravy, yogurt or salad dressing to moisten food. Dunk or soak bread, crackers and cookies in soup, milk, juice or hot chocolate. Suck on sugar-free candy or sour balls, popsicles, ice cubes, or try chewing sugarless gum to stimulate salivation. Sleep with a humidifier in your room, and keep fluids by your bedside so you can drink throughout the night if you are thirsty. Constipation can occur as a result of not drinking enough, not eating enough food or fiber and remaining inactive. Constipation can also develop as a side-effect of certain medications, especially methadone or narcotic-based pain medications. In addition to drinking enough fluids, the following suggestions can help you manage this problem: Eat food high in insoluble fiber: whole grain breads and cereals, fresh fruits and vegetables, cooked beans and hickpeas, nuts and seeds. Add small amounts of bran to food or liquids to increase dietary fiber. Incorporate regular aerobic exercise into your daily schedule. Ask your doctor about medications to relieve constipation. |
