<<Disclaimer: Verify this information before applying it to your situation.>> Dear Listmates, Since this is flu season and I recently had a nearly fatal problem with dehydration, I wanted to call some attention to this side-effect of CD. I thought that since it had happened to me before (after an attack of pancreatitis), I knew the symptoms well enough so I could cope. I was wrong again. On the day after Christmas I began having intestinal flu symptoms. I used Imodium and Lomotil and Pepto-Bismol with only slight relief. I went to the Urgent Care Center two days later and the Dr. told me that I wasn't dehydrated (I knew I was) and put me on a mixture of Donnatal and Paragoric. The dose he prescribed (1 Tablespoon) made me very nauseous and I began to vomit. On New Year's Eve, I began having a real problem making a decision about what I should do. I had previously explained to my husband the danger signs, but he hadn't put them together either. To shorten the story- I went to the ER with collapsed veins. They called a surgeon who came in at 10 p.m. and started the iv in my jugular (not a nice thing). After 4 days of iv therapy (at one time they had 8 bags of fluid going); a heart monitor and a bed in Acute/ICU, I was released and saved once again. I cannot stress how important it is to try to stop the diarrhea and vomiting before your fluids are totally depleted. I thought I knew how--water and Gator Aide,, but they only served as placebos. No amount of ingested fluid could keep up with my losses. I am happy to still be here and able to issue this warning. I forgot to say I had a 103 temp., but my mind was so sluggish, I couldn't even think to take gf aspirin to try to ease it. Please bear in mind the advice the ER doctor gave me: Even though other people in your house or office have a "little flu" that lasts a day or two, their problems are not the same as yours are. Compound the danger by up to 100 times and you will get an idea of how severe the infection can be. (This piece of advice should also be shared with relatives and friends of the celiac-particularly the insensitive, macho ones who say it will get better after 24 hours). Children are at an even greater risk. The medics now are saying that you can tell if patients are seriously dehydrated by checking their tongue. A shiny tongue means you are getting enough fluids, while a cracked, bumpy tongue means dehydration. Another sign is dark urine or a decrease in the amount of urine. Dry eyes and skin can also be tip-offs. Heart palpitations are not uncommon. A decrease in blood pressure when standing and a very rapid pulse can also signal the severity of the dehydration. I pray that the rest of the flu season will be mild and spare all of us. Rose Mary