Hello. I wanted to share an experience with my dad, 84, who was diagnosed almost a decade ago. I live in the US in a desert and after he flew to see me last Spring, I gave him hydration packs in his water (and also gave him fresh organic juice). Flying and the desert are both very dehydrating. It gave him such a lift that he continued having it after he left. After a couple of weeks or so on it his platelet number significantly dropped for the first time since starting medication! The doctor said to do it every other day, so he is. He is a very active man so this has improved his quality of life. Hope this helps someone!
Cure hydration packs are the ones we use. (That has Himalayan salt and I’d like to see if sometimes having Celtic sea salt might also be worth a try).
Hi @KatMP thanks for your dads experience.
However I would advise that everyone takes medical advice before changing any habits.
The reason I say that is that a friend and I have both by our medical consultants not to drink so much liquid or salt
Look after yourself and please do keep posting
Yes, good advice Erica! You want to check with a professional on your individual needs. And, if asking about & researching salt, be sure to differentiate between table salt, himalayan and celtic.
It could be that Dad had been lacking minerals as he is very active for his age. It is harder, as we age, to get hydrated. So add his mountain hiking and all of his other outdoor adventures & he could have been depleted some. I do think a good mineral balance is essential for health, but Erica is right - check on amounts, kinds, and whether or not it is right for you.
Thanks for sharing your experience with your dad. I’m so glad to hear that it helped him and that he consulted his doctor about it. It is wonderful to know it improved his quality of life.
As @Erica has highlighted, we have to be really careful when advising people on liquid intake and diet because everyone’s situation is different. For some with blood cancer, more liquid can help and others it may harm.
Our advice to anyone thinking of changing their diet or liquid intake is always to check in with their medical team first as you say. Thanks for also highlighting that in your second post.
Thank you, Ali. I looked over your link and I’m happy to say that overall Dad has a pretty healthy, balanced diet. He still gardens, too, so for part of the year his food is fresh from unspoiled land. Good food, exercise, plenty of time in nature, and a strong spiritual life are likely the reasons why he is maintaining well through it all at nearly 85. (He is on a med for the Essential thrombocythemia (ET) as well).
Wow, @KatMP it really does sound as if your dad has a rather good lifestyle.
How are you doing?
Really look after yourselves and I look forward to hearing more about you.
This is so good to hear @KatMP He sounds like a very inspirational person, and gardening can be such a good form of exercise - I bet the fresh food is delicious! Take good care of yourself, Ali.
Good food, exercise, plenty of time in nature, and a strong spiritual life are likely the reasons why he is maintaining well through it all at nearly 85. (He is on a med for the Essential thrombocythemia (ET) as well).