Re: [at-l] Nausea, first sign of dehydration?

[Snodrog5@aol.com]

In a message dated 9/17/00 8:59:30 AM Pacific Daylight Time, jively@yahoo.com 
writes:

<< I was on the AT over Labor Day weekend. After a day or so, I started
 feeling a little nauseous. I felt hungry at the same time. 
 
 Could that have been the first stage of dehydration? >>
Hi Tom
here's what the book says:

In the early stages of dehydration, there are no signs or symptoms. 

Early features are difficult to detect but include dryness of mouth and thirst



· As dehydration increases, signs and symptoms develop. These include: 
thirst, restless or irritable behaviour, decreased skin turgor, dry mucous 
membranes, sunken eyes, sunken fontanelle (in infants), and absence of tears 
when crying vigorously. 

Symptoms of early or mild dehydration include:

flushed face 
extreme thirst, more than normal or unable to drink 
dry, warm skin 
cannot pass urine or reduced amounts, dark, yellow 
dizziness made worse when you are standing 
weakness 
cramping in the arms and legs 
crying with few or no tears 
sleepy or irritable 
unwell 
headaches 
dry mouth, dry tongue; with thick saliva. 
· In severe dehydration, these effects become more pronounced and the patient 
may develop evidence of hypovolaemic shock, including: diminished 
consciousness, lack of urine output, cool moist extremities, a rapid and 
feeble pulse (the radial pulse may be undetectable), low or undetectable 
blood pressure, and peripheral cyanosis. Death follows soon if rehydration is 
not started quickly. 

Symptoms of moderate to severe dehydration include: 

low blood pressure 
fainting 
severe muscle contractions in the arms, legs, stomach, and back 
convulsions 
a bloated stomach 
heart failure 
sunken fontanelle - soft spot on a infants head 
sunken dry eyes, with few or no tears 
skin loses its firmness and looks wrinkled 
lack of elasticity of the skin (when a bit of skin lifted up stays folded and 
takes a long time to go back to its normal position) 
rapid and deep breathing - faster than normal 
fast, weak pulse 
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