Why am I de-hydrated every morning ?

It doesn't matter how much I drink the night before or during the night, when I get up my mouth and lips are dry and my urine is very dark.

Perhaps you're sweating a lot during the night? Think how much water you're consuming during the day, and then there's a solid eight or so hours with none or at least not very much water drunk at all. If you're sweating as well, (I found something on tinternet about reasons why some people sweat more than others during the night, which I've pasted beloW), then it's understandable that you wake up de-hydrated.

Practical reasons for sweating during the night:
Over-heating during sleep
Spicy foods before bedtime
Hot drinks before bedtime
Hot weather
Hot bedroom
Too many blankets
Exercising before bedtime

Thanks Harriet

3 of those could apply, all 3 I can't do anything about

... and I trust you're not menopausal? Sorry, but a complete stranger accosted me in the office kitchen and told me all about her hot flushes today

If you feel like upping your fluid intake, you could join the Ab Fab Bath Challenge - the aim is to drink a bathful of water by the end of May - that's around 80- litres, which works out at 3litres a day as recommended by The Times!

Being hydrated is an on going and gradual thing - do you drink a lot all day every day? You can't just decided one afternoon to get hydrated, drink 3 pints before bed and think that's going to do it.

If you drink throughout the day generally, then your body should be better hydrated generally. Sometimes I don't (scuse me for being unladylike) pee much in the morning, because I do sweat loads in the night, but generally my hydration levels are good (because Fiona is making me drink a bathfull of water... - no, seriously, I tend to drink in excess of 2 litres a day anyway, and it can be nearer 4 on these hot days and if exercising)

I drink between 2 and 4 litres on an average day and up to 6 on heavy exercise days (that's 5 days a week). It's only first thing in the morning than my urine is very dark, the rest of the day it's clear.

I must just be a hot sleeper

It sounds like you are drinking enough. It's just that overnight we get rid of a lot through breathing and sweating, and (obviously) don't take any in, so first think it will be darker or less of it than the rest of the day.

hi simon, sounds like you are drinking plenty of water. i wonder if it might be worth seeing your GP just in case its a bit of blood in the urine and there's a little infection somewhere.