Member-only story
Staying hydrated after brain surgery
How much water is enough?
When I was in the hospital recovering from brain surgery, they gave me a mug with the ounces and milliliters marked on the side. The mug holds 28 ounces, or 3 1/2 cups. I made sure to ask for the attendants to refill my mug with ice and water whenever it was empty and I drank about 3 mugs a day while in hospital, along with coffee with breakfast and hot tea or ginger ale with lunch. So I was getting about 12 cups of liquid a day.
I recovered very quickly from my surgery. The nurses were surprised at how quickly I became ambulatory. Part of this was attitude. I believed I could recover and I acted on that belief. I also leaned on my faith — I listened to praise and worship music whenever I felt myself getting down, or I’d call friends to pray with me.
But the water also played a huge role. Staying hydrated kept me from feeling dizzy.
I know because, when I was sent home, I stopped using my hospital mug, even though they’d sent it home with me. I thought I could substitute my normal glasses.
Well, that didn’t work so well. I’d get distracted by the book I was reading or be tired and not want to get up to go to get more water, and I didn’t want to keep bugging my elderly mom to refill my glass.
