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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

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

436 replies

Sienna333 · 05/10/2017 14:40

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 :(

OP posts:
RMC123 · 11/10/2017 20:41

Soberexpat she has seen a doctor twice who has given advice, examined and taken a stool sample. The last doctors consult was today. Why on earth would she go to A and E? This is not an accident or emergency. It’s unpleasant and upsetting. And although OP is anxious she is not in a life threatening emergency situation.
We seem to think everything should be fixed yesterday but unfortunately some bugs are just nasty and our bodies take time to fight them.
Probiotics are a good idea. They certainly helped with my son’s recovery last year. Also, when we have a stool sample that came back clear the GP advised regular immodium to help the bowel regulate itself.
Good luck

gamerchick · 11/10/2017 20:43

On the bright side though I was musing recently. My downstairs bog is the most lovely, comfortable and informative room in the house. It gets updated often 😉

Original poster
Sienna333 · 11/10/2017 20:46

Gamerchick, you really should keep pushing for help, that's no way to live.

RC, that is interesting about the immodium.

Honestly, I will be so relieved if it turns out to be a bug and that it can be sorted with antibiotics.

OP posts:
gamerchick · 11/10/2017 20:47

when we have a stool sample that came back clear the GP advised regular immodium to help the bowel regulate itself.
Good luck

That’s exactly what I do. It’s like giving the bowel a clip and telling it to bloody behave itself. Then things settle down for a bit.

Original poster
Sienna333 · 11/10/2017 20:49

Interesting to know if I have no joy with this stool sample.....

OP posts:
Haudyerwheesht · 11/10/2017 23:02

sienna I have suffered badly with health anxiety and also have IBS as well as other health conditions. In all seriousness you need to try and take a step back and stop obsessing and wallowing. I know how hard that can be I really do but you've most likely got a bug that's long lasting BUT WITHIN NORMAL RANGE. Even if it was crohns it's not the end of the world.

Tbh I find it frustrating that you keep repeating 'anyone would feel like this' because I don't think it's true. Anyone would be mightily fucked off and exhausted and run down but they would not be going on like this - you aren't the only person to ever experience this and other people experience much much worse but their lives carry on.

I hope you take this in the spirit it's intended. You need to get a handle on your anxiety - that's the bigger issue right now.

Original poster
Sienna333 · 11/10/2017 23:18

When you don't know the cause of course you will worry. All I am doingmis speculating in saying I feel it was an infection but it could be anything. The anxiety comes from not knowing the cause. I know my anxiety has been off the scale and perhaps irrational but I do have a right to be worried and upset.

OP posts:
Haudyerwheesht · 11/10/2017 23:38

Yes you have every right to be upset. It's horrible but you need to recognise you're catastrophising. Have you got any strategies to help?

Original poster
Sienna333 · 11/10/2017 23:43

I am trying the deep breathing and positive thinking, hard as that is.

OP posts:
Original poster
Sienna333 · 12/10/2017 20:05

Still got it. Just sat here in tears as it's so frustrating and my bathroom smells so awful and its so fucking exhausting.
I am terrified of getting the stall samples back but if it does by some miracle turn out to be just an infection then I really need them to give me antibiotics to shift the infection. I just feel so yucky.

OP posts:
TiesThatBindMe · 13/10/2017 00:54

It sounds awful pet. I've been reading your thread but I don't think I've commented yet. I don't do well with illness either and I'm guessing the yuckiness of diarrhoea and your exhaustion are hurting you. My only advice would be to just sleep and rest. If you get a bout of energy, bleach the bathroom, but don't beat yourself up if you can't. I take the advice on any medication usually 'if symptoms persits blah blah, contact your doctor'. I'd be going in armed with the leaflets out of my over the counter medication demanding investigation. I'm sorry you're so unwell. I hope you feel better soon.

Original poster
Sienna333 · 13/10/2017 08:44

I haven't taken any medications Tiesthatbindme .
Terrified about what the stool samples may say. Only way I can function right now is visualising the doctor saying that it looks like bacterial food poisioning and that she can give me some antibiotics to make it go away.
If I let my mind go to other alternatives, I wouldn't be able to function.

On that note, does anyone know how stool samples are delivered back to you? Do you ring them/they ring you etc?

OP posts:
DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen · 13/10/2017 08:47

Ring and ask if they're in yet.

Why won't you take imodium to see if that helps?

Teddy7878 · 13/10/2017 08:48

When I handed mine in I rang them in 2-3 days for the results (nothing was found).
Do you have to go back to work on mon or will you get signed off more?

Original poster
Sienna333 · 13/10/2017 08:58

I have been signed off till Tuesday. It is so frustrating as apart from feeling pretty exhausted and still having D, I am fine. It is making me so cross. My sick note just says 'Diorrhea issues' sounds so lame.
I will be surprised if mine comes back clear but in a way, I will be good as I think I remember her saying she can give me antibiotics then. Said if it came back as bacterial, she would be reluctant. This is why I haven't taken the immodium. Worried it could do more harm and prolong this even more.

OP posts:
Roomba · 13/10/2017 09:17

You poor thing, OP. I had campylobacter last year and it took about six weeks before I felt a bit better - it was horrific and I completely understand the 'this will never end' feeling!
I was off work for seven weeks and spent most of my time curled up in a ball in agony while my kids got more and more fed up with me being unable to do anything. It ruined DS2's first day of school for me as I was just too ill take take him myself Sad. I had a lovely meal booked for me and my kids as it was my 40th - I couldn't eat anything without being in agony so in the end my ex and his new wife took them to my birthday meal! I was so ill I didn't even care, that's how bad it was.

Most mild stomach bugs are over in a few days, but not all bugs are mild, sadly. My GP didn't seem to think there was anything unusual about how long it took me to recover even though I was sobbing and convinced I was dying. On the plus side I lost a stone and a half. Didn't look good on me though.

Take it easy, lots of water, soup etc. Hope you feel better soon Flowers

Original poster
Sienna333 · 13/10/2017 09:24

6 weeks? Wow...I don't think I could have coped if I were you. I started with this on the 24th September but it started off very mild, just loss of appetite, not feeling 'right' but which throughout the week led to stomach cramps which eased on the Friday but which then led to constant D and here I am, 3 weeks on. I am loads better in myself now, appetite is back, out of bed and walking around, that's what makes it so tough. In a way it gives me a little reassurance because if it was anything sinister, surely I wouldn't be ok like this right now.
It's just crazy to me as I am in no pain, desperate to get on with normal life but just stuck with this lingering D.

OP posts:
Teddy7878 · 13/10/2017 09:33

I still have diarrhea 11 weeks on. Can function normally now and go to work etc, but still hasn't cleared up

Original poster
Sienna333 · 13/10/2017 09:53

Don't you have other symptoms as well Teddy?

OP posts:
Teddy7878 · 13/10/2017 10:00

I did but not just have the diarrhea and bloating.
I did have dizziness, nausea etc for a few weeks but feel more normal now. Saw a gastroentorolgist and getting a colonoscopy and endescopy done next month and also had more blood tests done. Following the low fodmap diet incase it's bad post infectous IBS which can stick around for a few months

Original poster
Sienna333 · 13/10/2017 10:06

Yes with you, you seem to be stuck with bloating, pain and D where as with me it is just D. I hope my doctor doesn't suggest colonoscopys and all that. Hopefully it is just a case of needing some good antibiotics to finally shift it.

OP posts:
Teddy7878 · 13/10/2017 10:08

I don't have any pain. Just the D and bloating. It usually only happens in the morning and I feel really unwell for an hour or so and then I'm ok for the rest of the day other than feeling weak. Your GP would have to refer you to a gastro if they thought you might need a colonoscopy. You probably won't need anything like that unless it goes on as long as mine has. The probiotic I've been taken has stopped me from needing to go 10 times a day to just 2-3 times max

Original poster
Sienna333 · 13/10/2017 10:21

I don't have the bloating or any tummy issue so I hope it doesn't go down that route. I know it doesn't help to stress but I am terrified at the thought of anything like that.

OP posts:
Haudyerwheesht · 13/10/2017 10:27

Colonoscopy probably won't be needed but if it was you'd cope and be fine. Stop telling yourself you can't / couldn't function or cope. I had a colonoscopy straight after having ds and was breastfeeding so had no sedation - it wasn't the pleasantest but it was fine.

Teddy7878 · 13/10/2017 10:40

Millions of people have the procedure every year and they all survive. It's not pleasant but it only takes 20 mins and it's done. Fingers crossed you won't need anything like that though and it's either a bug, parasite, food intolerance or IBS. Sounds like you are getting a bit better which is a good sign. Keep calm whatever you do though

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