When to start eating again? Diarrhoea bug

[cadburyegg]

Had a diarrhoea bug the last 2 days. It wasn’t too bad yesterday, and I managed to eat a reasonable meal at dinner time (chicken/potatoes/veg). Regretted it though as was up most of the night and felt awful most of today but feeling a bit more human now.

i haven’t eaten anything all day though so maybe that’s why! Bit scared to try anything, but quite fancy a banana. I’ve had some rehydration salts.

When do people usually start eating again after this kind of bug? I’m feeling a bit weak from lack of food but want to give my gut a chance to recover a bit before eating. yes I know I can go on the nhs site etc but wanted some recent opinions.

If you've got an appetite that's your body's way of telling you it's ready to try food. Give half a banana or some dry toast a go. Just a little bit, then more in a hour or so if you keep it down.

But really really make sure you are on top of your hydration. Water, lucozade, dehydration salts as often as the instructions allow.

Be guided by your appetite. You'll soon know if you're not ready!

I always feel the body needs you to keep eating as it helps flush everything through the system, and helps you recover.

Foods with fibre seem obvious so a banana is a good call, apples too. Toast with hummus, nuts, lentils, veg like broccoli all good.

All I could face when I had similar a month ago was white bread. And forced down as much liquid - including dioralyte (flat full fat coke does too) as possible,

I would eat small amounts of bland food, so toast, plain rice, biscuits, things that won't irritate or inflame your gut to give it chance to settle.

When you’re hungry really- usually best to start with something plain like white toast

When your body tells you to. Start by eating something plain and simple - toast, crackers, ginger nut biscuits. I always find flat coke helpful as well.

A banana is a great choice.

The BRAT diet recommends plain carbs after a stomach upset, such as bananas, toast and rice.

When I had gastroenteritis the BRAT diet saved me! It's bananas, rice, applesauce and toast but I only did bananas and toast with no butter. I held it down and it didn't upset my tummy. How curious you crave a banana, you must need the nutrients. Try doing this for a couple of days.

Thanks. Had a banana and now feel awful again. Taken some Imodium in desperation in the hope I’ll get some sleep. Kids sick now too but fortunately asleep. We are supposed to be going on holiday on monday. Feel very sorry for myself right now!!

When I had something a bit like this around Christmas, the Dr told me to just stop eating for 36 hours. He said that was his best advice, even if a bit old fashioned. I didn't quite make 36 hours (about 30) and it definitely worked. Perhaps try that if you don't have any risk factors like diabetes? Just make sure you keep up the fluids.

I went out for a Mother’s Day dinner on Sunday and it was absolutely delicious, but sat on my stomach all night and threw it all up early hours Monday morning.
D&V Monday and Tuesday with the worst nausea ever.
What helped me was once I could keep down water I had a packet of Jacob’s crackers by my side and just had a nibble when I fancied rather than trying full meals.
Now Thursday evening and other than the crackers I managed a few spoonfuls of potato last night, a few bites of scrambled egg at lunch today, and a microwaved tortilla wrap at teatime tonight.
Hope this helps, and hope you feel better soon!

For me when I last had this, it was about a week or two before I properly started eating, so I mainly focused on trying to drink plenty instead. I did have prolonged post-infection nausea though, so for me that significantly affected my appetite. I stuck mainly to crackers, plain digestives, bread, eventually eggs was ok too, that sort of thing.

Thank you everyone. I turned a corner yesterday and feel so much better today.

Now I think I’m coming down with tonsillitis 😥