To be in tears thinking I will never get over this bug?

[Sienna333]

Have a bad stomach bug which originally caused severe stomach cramps and loss of appetite/nausea but then turned into diarrhea which I have now had for 9 days. Doctor just said to wait it out but although I feel a bit better and the time between each diorohea attack is lengthening, it is still there and worse in the early hours. I have it three or four times in the day which aren't that bad but in the night it is a different story and I have it 1-2 times really bad.
I have already taken a week off work and dread the thought of calling in for yet another week. Most people who get diorohea are over it in 5 days, I don't get why it is not the same for me. I really cannot live like this anymore wondering when it will decide to stop, it is pure hell :(

You underestimate how anxiety efffects your toilet habits. I literally thought I had bug after bug. I was so so ill. Has tests, ultra sound, colonostapy. The works. All came back clear. Funnily enough, things cleared up after that.

I think the stress of what it could be made it worse. A vicious cycle. You do sound quite an anxious person and you are catastophising a great deal.

Please try and calm down a little. Deep breaths. If you feel something else is happening insist on being referred for more tests.

Sienna, sorry I never replied when you asked about back pain the other evening - I went to bed and forgot about the thread until I saw it again today.

You're right - two weeks of constant crapping isn't normal, but even now, it is almost certainly down to a nasty bug and maybe some post infectious IBS or lactose intolerance. A stool sample has gone - the only other thing I may do at this stage is some bloods just to check you're inflammatory markers and make sure you aren't dehydrated or anaemic.

Having said that, I totally understand why you're worried, but please try to relax a little because your anxiety could be making the diarrhoea worse (ever had diarrhoea before exams at school or a job interview?).

I also agree that it's totally frustrating for you, especially when you just want to get back to work. Lots of things could be causing the back pain - trapped wind, muscular if you're spending time in bed and less active than normal.

I really hope that you're better soon

2 weeks of constant crapping is NOT normal. I don't see an end in sight and am exhausted it IS in the range of normal as plenty of people have said. People are getting annoyed because it's highly likely you have a bad bug but you're talking about life long conditions and hospital appts.

Take the flipping Dioralyte because I bet you haven't

sienna seriously, you've had so much good advice from this thread and from your GP that you seem to ignore in favour of convincing yourself you're seriously ill. That coupled with the fact that there will be many many people affected by serious and debhilitating digestive illness on MN reading this, will have pissed users off to be honest.

Doctors don't maybe think it could be something serious and then just don't bother following it up. Chrons, diverticulitis (which everybody has btw, it's wear and tear of the gut), bowel cancer, colitis and all the other serious things you are convincing yourself you probably have are very specific with characteristic features, all of which are much much more than prolonged diarrhoea. Fact is there's 1000s stomach affecting viruses and bacteria out there that can cause issues for any given amount of time. Dr Google is NOT your friend.

The biggest issue you seem to have right now is that you have unchecked anxiety which is allowing you to catastrophise. When you start doing that, it's time to get help to get it back in control.

Heightened anxiety will affect your bowel movements.

The back pain has gone now Kate, I think it's just the lying in bed that did it.

The doctor did recheck my blood pressure, oxygen levels and felt my tummy which she said was fine. Meant to add, she said she was reluctant to prescribe antibiotics until stool sample is back.

Pinky, I do understand but until you are in my position and have been crapping for 2 weeks straight with no end in sight, it is really hard to stay rational. I haven't had a proper nights sleep in ages and am anxious when it comes to the evening knowing I will be up and down in the night with it. When you are tired, it all seems worse, and also when you aren't seeing much improvement. It's hard to think of another few days/nights like this let alone anything more. It's hard not to get really frightened and I know that doesn't help but I am scared, really scared.

Who said I haven't been in your situation? I've also stated further up the thread that my 3 year old was in exactly the same situation only a few months ago, only difference being she was vomiting constantly too and that went on for at least 3 weeks. Last year she also had a very similar situation that turned out to be infantile diarrhoea. That beauty went on for months.

This happens to people ALL THE TIME and most people will have been in your situation at some time in their lives I'm afraid.

There has to come a time when you're actually willing to help yourself.

ARE YOU TAKING PROBIOTICS AND DIORALYTE?

ARE YOU DRINKING LOADS THROUGHOUT THE DAY? 7 GLASSES OF WATER MINIMUM PLUS EXTRA?

caps are necessary I think

Don't presume people haven't been in this position, I had dysentry for a month after traveling. People do know how awful it is and how important it is to do everything you can to help yourself.

Download a relaxation app on your phone, they're very helpful when anxiety is bad.

Come on, get a grip, deep breath!

I am drinking loads, not having the sachets after every bm as I wouldn't be able to get them down quick enough but I am well hydrated and sipping on peppermint tea right now.
I get that others have been through similar, I just feel alone in it and the length of time it is taking is a huge concern. Speaking to my mum helped somewhat as she said hers lasted 3 and a half weeks but didn't go to the doctors till the end as she just wasn't all that concerned and just knew in the end it would go. Maybe we both just take twice as long to get over a big stomach virus then others.. As I said before, her stool sample came back clear, she has never had stomach issues before or now and yet she suffered with D for nearly a month...

When i had food poisoning i continued to have an upset stomach for about 3-4 weeks. Probably because my intestines were all inflamed.
Have you been taking a strong probiotic? You need one with about 20,000 live bacteria minimum. It will clear any nasty bugs out of your guts and replace everything with healthy bacteria. You can get them on Amazon for about £10 for a pack

*that should be 20 billion live bacteria, not 20,000

you don't have to take a diarolyte sachet after every BM. Get the ones with rice powder in, it firms you up!

I will order one now, always worth a try.

I'm glad your daughter is being looked after by her dad. And I'm sorry if I seemed harsh. I just think your bowel troubles, horrid though I don't doubt they are (and seriously, two weeks of diarrhoea is fucking horrible and you have my sympathies) are the lest of your worries. You seem totally incapable of managing your anxiety, and refuse to accept that you should be expected to be able to. You refuse to listen to the facts that contradict your worst case scenario mindset. You are, in ref to your initial quedtion, bring extremely U!

When you feel a bit better (and you will, probably very soon!) please consider how low this fairly run of the mill setback brought you and consider seeking additional/more effective support for your mental health problems. It is do important that you acknowledge that your response to this situation is not normal, proportionate or helpful.

It's just the uncertainty I think and the fact I feel I have no control over my body right now. It actually does really help me when people comment and say that they know I will be ok. It doesn't feel like that now so it helps.

I do think most people would feel the same as me. Maybe not as vocal but I can't think of many people who would feel relaxed and ok in themselves. I am exhausted, scared and just want my life back.

www.planetorganic.com/optibac-for-every-day-max-30-caps/25995/?utm_source=googlefeed&utm_medium=googlefeed&utm_campaign=googlefeed&src=googlefeed&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIq5DM-qLp1gIVywrTCh300Qy5EAQYBCABEgKF3PD_BwE

These are great OP

I would avoid gluten and dairy for a while too

Bone broth and gelatine will heal your gut also

OP I feel for you. I am just getting over salmonella and ecoli poisoning.

I was hospitalized in ICU for 5 days. I was hallucinating. Hearing things. RIDIC dehydrated: I lost over a stone.

I was visiting the bathroom 4 times an hour FOR THREE WEEKS. I nearly lost my mind. I couldn’t work and was house bound.

I thought it would never end.

It was only after a month that I could leave the house and start to eat that I felt human again.

Have you had antibiotics ? A good probiotic?

And you are right it is not normal. I went to ER after four days of vomiting and crapping four times an hour. They told me off for waiting so long.

My infection levels after my stool sample were 210 (should be 5 maximum) and I was so severely dehydrated I was at risk of heart failure:

If you are this ill, go to a and e.

Sorry to hear Pat. I am glad to hear you are improving x

The doctor said that until the stool result comes back, she is reluctant to give me antibiotics but for me, that is the best case scenario. My body obviously needs some help kicking whatever is out of my system so fingers crossed she does that. That's if it is minor enough to be treated with antibiotics but I keep forcing myself now to bat those thoughts away.

I am ordering the probiotic, any recommendations?

Bioglan

Pat, A&E can't do anything as my only symptom right now is diarrhoea. Started off with the stomach cramps/nausea but that has all gone now. I have been to the doctors several times and am waiting on a stool sample which will hopefully confirm an infection/bug.

Optibac

Man you’d hate my bowels. I’ve had the shits for 8 years. Had all sorts of tests and there’s nothing seriously amiss. I should have shares in loperamide.

It’s likely your bowel is a bit trigger happy and stroppy after your bug. If it turns full time into IBS which is miserable you’ll have to learn to deal with this anxiety.

Why haven’t you taken a few Imodiums? Christ I’ve been known to take 15 of the fuckers on a bad day.

Gamerchick, do you have any other symptoms or just D? You shouldn't be living like that.
I took Immodium for the first day but it didn't work so stopped it. I also got blood in my stools for a while (Gone now) but know you can't take anti d medicines if you have that.