I would definitely get some electrolyte products to try. Drinking all that plain water is just diluting the remaining minerals in your system, which is probably why you don’t feel hydrated. You want to read the labels before buying anything, a lot of the sports drinks and powders out there don’t actually have very much in them aside from sugar. You’re looking for a ratio of salt, potassium, and magnesium, with maybe a little sugar. The ideal amount varies from person to person so you just have to try some things and see what works. I generally feel better when I take something every day instead of waiting until after I start feeling crappy.
The LMNT products are my absolute favorite, especially if you lose a lot of salt in your sweat (look for the white marks as it dries). This stuff keeps me going during the summer. I also use NUUN tablets on days I’m not sweating as much. I like the SOS packets as a back-up option since they’re easy to find at CVS. LiquidIV is popular but it’s too sweet for me, even mixed with double the recommended amount of water. I’ve tried making my own electrolyte drinks at home but typically find that I can’t add enough of the key ingredients to get the benefits without ruining the taste; the commercial products have an advantage on that front.
It’s worth bringing this up with your doctor just in case. The most likely scenario is that you’re just drinking too much plain water and not replacing the minerals you’re losing when you sweat, but in my case heat intolerance and electrolyte issues turned out to be initial symptoms of a more serious condition.
