My mother was brought to ER because she was dehydrated, they kept her over night and put on a IV of liquids.

I had to have my colon removed due to ulcerative colitis. Diet and meds control how often I have a bowel movement but I always have diarrhea. Dehydration is a real problem for me and I've been hospitalized several times for it. My symptoms were lightheadedness, shortness of breath, rapid heart rate, muscle cramps, extreme tiredness, loss of appetite and weight loss. In the hospital IV fluids, magnesium and salt tablets got me back in order.

Besides being administered an IV, lying in a bathtub of water and sipping a cool glass of water is the fastest way to hydrate yourself. When you experience dehydration, your body temperature rises and your skin becomes dry. From personal experience of spending 39 months in Iraq, I never had a bathtub for my convenience so I'd soak myself with water and I'd sit in a shaded area and sip on cool water. It never failed me.

I have had dehydration several times. My physician has told me to drink large amounts of sports drinks, which have magnesium, when I have symptoms. Also, he has prescribed 250mg of magnesium each day for me.