Skip to main content

5 replies

Stomach Bug Advice!!!

RL Rev LennyMember
Hi folks! Their is a stomach bug doing the rounds here in the UK, and today it has blessed me with its presence The symptoms include feeling sick, vomiting, headaches, high temperature(temperature OK at time of posting) and diarrhea((taking Loperimide - can I double up as my output is not loose but very watery) I am currently feeling sick and am taking Cyclizine(anti-sickness). So far I have not vomited but its early days, I am more concerned about my watery output as the last time this happened I became really ill and required a few days in hospital and I want to avoid a similar experience. I am drinking fluids - water and peppermint tea, and have just had a light snack as I was almost passing out. Thanking you in advance for any suggestions.

PS My output is very watery. Off to lie down soon as feeling really unwell, will return later after a rest.
Original Post

Replies sorted oldest to newest

rachelravenrachelravenMember
It isn't really adviseable to "stop" diarrhea during a gut bug, because your body is trying getting stuff out.

That being said, I'm not a needer of Immodium/Lomotil type meds at all, so others might chime in differently on that from their experiences.

But as a nurse, if we suspect a bowel infection, we don't give things to "slow it down and keep it in," at least not in the first 24ish hours.

I just know I'm going to get hit with being dehydrated, in that sort of situation, and if in 24 hours I feel like it's going to be a long haul, I get to an urgent care for IV fluids pronto to avoid anything worse. They generally have been very receptive to my needs and hook me up with 1-2 L of fluids and some IV Zofran, and I'm usually pretty good.

Keeping up on electrolytes is indeed better than plain water, if you can tolerate it.

Feel better soon!
Jan DollarJan DollarModerator, RN, retired
Yep, especially if this is bacterial rather than viral, bowel slowers prolong the illness and intensify the gut damage. But, if you are pretty sure this is the common norovirus, then bowel slowers are OK, since there isn't the toxin release you get with C. diff.

Salty broths are better than plain water, if you can tolerate them, or non-sugary hydration drinks, like Pedialyte. But, realistically, if you are so weak you are nearly passing out, you need IV fluids.

Jan Smiler
CTBarristerCTBarristerMember
quote:
It isn't really adviseable to "stop" diarrhea during a gut bug, because your body is trying getting stuff out.


I totally agree, if it is a stomach bug the last thing you want to use is loperamide as all it will do is prolong the agony instead of allowing your body to rid itself of the toxins through the natural processes of diarrhea and vomiting. This is how your body naturally expels things it does not want inside, so why counteract those processes?

As I mentioned in another thread I recently got sickened from eating steak tartare and felt intense nausea for a period of time, dry heaves and then finally felt better but did not touch anything that would slow my bowels down. I wanted all that crap out of my body!!!!!!!! The sooner the better!!!!
CTBarristerCTBarristerMember
quote:
Salty broths are better than plain water


Speaking of which, I am sick right now (common cold I think as I got the flu shot) and made chicken soup in the crockpot, and salted it up pretty good. I cooked it for 18 hours - chicken breasts, onions, carrots, celery, parsnips, turnips and zucchini. At the end of the 18 hour cooking process I was left with a very rich and intensely flavorful broth. The beauty of cooking chicken soup in a crockpot or slow cooker is that the soup is not "boiled down", and therefore broth is not wasted. Cooking it longer just results in a richer broth, not in losing precious broth as you would by cooking hell out of it in a normal pot. Food for thought!
Last edited by CTBarrister

Add Reply

Views: 2,319
Post
Copyright © 2019 The J-Pouch Group. All rights reserved.

Membership Required

We're sorry. You must be signed in to continue. Sign In or Register
×
Are you sure you want to remove from your Block List?
×
Loading...
×
When you block a person, they can no longer invite you to a private message or post to your profile wall. Replies and comments they make will be collapsed/hidden by default. Finally, you'll never receive email notifications about content they create or likes they designate for your content.
Note: if you proceed, you will no longer be following .
×
Link copied to your clipboard.
×