I’m really ill - when do I start to worry?

[Spuck]

I’m sorry for the TMI but it’s 3:30am and entering day 5 of illness, so safe to say I’m completely and utter drained.

On Monday morning I had diarrhea (very bad) and it has yet to ease off. I am nauseous all day (and night) and for the first 2 days would be covered in goosebumps the minute I got up off the sofa.

I haven’t eaten since Sunday (apart from the odd slice of toast) but I have been drinking lots of water.

I lost count how many times I went to the toilet yesterday and I’ve just been again and it’s all the water that I’ve been drinking is just coming straight out.

I’m on the verge of throwing up and despite drinking I’m becoming increasingly dehydrated. I really do feel awful.

Tummy is all over the place and won’t stop growling at me. I did have intense tummy cramping at one point earlier in the week but luckily that hasn’t returned.

I came back from the toilet quite literally 3-4 minutes ago but need to go again now.

Just not sure whether it will pass (looking bloody unlikely to be any time soon though) or if I need to get something, I don’t actually know what though, from the Doctor.

Feeling very weak and starting to get some mild chest pains from it all now.

Please call 111 now and let them advise you.

The main concern with a healthy adult having a bug that causes D&V is probably around dehydration and electrolyte imbalance. There are medications that can reduce vomiting, they're anti emetics and need a script. There are medications that may reduce diarrhea, I think you can get these over the counter. If you're severely dehydrated or electrolytes like potassium are very low you might need to go in to ED so they can put you on a drip and rebalance those. You need to call 111 and get medical advice.

Do you have someone who can go and speak to a pharmacist for you?

I also second calling 111

Yes call 111. Don't take anything over the counter to stop diarrhoea without medical advice. Depending on what's causing it, it might be better out than in!

After 5 days and with no improvement, please get medical advice. In the meantime, you can make a rehydration drink yourself if you have sugar, salt and bicarb.

I will call 111, it just seems to be getting worse not better. Now i’m laying here shaking like a leaf and trying not to be sick. It must be an awful bug/virus. My main concern and as @EliflurtleAndTheInfiniteMadness mentioned, is that I’m starting to feel a bit ‘too’ ill now and I’m probably getting more and more dehydrated.

Ring 111. I had something similar and ended up incredibly dehydrated, then got a UTI and it was completely miserable. Took about 4 weeks before I felt completely better.

After 5 days with no improvement you should get medical advice imo. Call 111. In the meantime (presuming you have to wait a while to speak with a clinician), do you have someone with you who can get you some Dioralite (sp?) or similar to help rebalance your electrolytes? Or make your own, couple of teaspoons of sugar and pinch of salt in a pint of water, squeeze of lemon if you have it.
Do you have a fever or low temperature at all? Or is it 'just' the diarrhoea/nausea?

I've just had the same type of symptoms and a trip to A&E. I had a Viral infection. Diarrhea lasted 12 days in the end - exactly as you described only i was also passing bile. I hope you don't have this because it's awful. Hospital said that it's just got to work it's way through. Small sips of water rather than normal mouthfuls helped to keep me hydrated.

The NHS page might be useful https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/diarrhoea-and-vomiting/ and call 111 if you have concerns.

Are you resting totally and is anyone looking after you?

I feel for you. I had something like that a couple of months ago. It took a fortnight for me to recover but I am OK now. It was draining so I know how you feel. Drink plenty of water, it will pass. If it doesn't, seek medical advice but these things usually do resolve.

How are you now OP? If you haven’t done so yet, please do call for help. Also drink not just water but add a little salt and sugar. I know that tastes quite awful but it’s what you need. A sportsdrink like Gatorade could also do the trick for now. Small sips are fine, just get some of that salt and sugar in. These are not just to make you feel good, your body actually needs them. But do get help, you sound really unwell. I hope you’ll feel better soon!

You definitely need medical advice. I think the assumption is always these things are just d&v but your symptoms sound just like when 25 years ago I had salmonella (which is treated with antibiotics as it’s bacterial). No sickness but the worst diarrhea of my whole life by about 10 times. It was the illest by far I’ve ever been.

Be careful with the water. You can end up washing much needed electrolytes through if you drink too much. Small sips and if you have dioralyte in the house use that. If you live in a place where you could order stuff to be delivered to your house quickly, get some electrolyte water or tablets delivered.

You need medical attention though. Day five and getting worse not better definitely means you must see a dr quickly. When I was in a similar state I had IV fluids in hospital.

Yes that is right, salt and sugar added to the water.

The vomiting bug that's making its rounds is not your average S&D bug....that's for sure.

My baby got it at the tail end of a viral infection. We're on day 8 for him.
The middle one is on day 5 today.

We thought we were in the clear with middle DS yesterday. He are some raspberries and blueberries for dinner (wouldn't touch his actual food) then was sick again a few hours later.

You need some diarolyte in the house... I think that's all that's saving us from needing medical assistance.

But I agree with posters saying call 111, i hope you have!

GP here… please call 111… you sound very weak and dehydrated and likely need bloods and IV fluids as well to find out what is the cause.

You've described exactly how I was when I was diagnosed with Campylobacter. I went to the doctors after a week and she gave me a prescription for sachets to replace lost electrolytes, I had to do a poo sample as some of these types of food poisoning are certifiable. You definitely need to space - out the sips of water.

As others have said, definitely call 111. In the meantime, a doctor once told me the best thing to get your hydration and sugars back up is to boil lemonade to take all the fizz out then keep drinking that in small sips once cooled. Taking the fizz out makes it easier to stomach but you need all the sugars etc from it

You need to see a doctor or specialist nurse, get examined and hand in a stool sample.
As a present poster said too, I had severe diarrhoea , got tested, it was Camylobactor. I had been on holiday not long before, there can be a delay in symptoms starting

Needed to take antibiotics.
With hindsight, I think it was caused by chicken nit cooked properly.
Someone else I know had it recently too after being on holiday
Get seen ASAP and ensure a stool sample is sent.

I felt so ill with it, the pain was awful and the constant diarrhoea, I lost over half a stone in a week. Please get seen.

Thank you everyone. I’m off to a&e as advised by 111. I really need a drip, I’ve never felt so dehydrated. Was on the toilet yet again about 10 minutes ago and even getting out of the bed to get to the bathroom was the biggest effort.

Thank you so much for each and every response.

Good luck op.

Aww I hope they sort you out xx

You might be right re needing a drip. My brother ended up in hospital for 2 days after d&v. Tests returned norovirus. Hope you feel better soon op.