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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:
PurplePillowCase · 06/10/2017 23:04

yes go back.
I had similar a few years ago.
a d&v bug and then just didn't get better for a couple of months.
turned out my kidneys were affected and the cramps/diarrhoea were a symptom of that.

Original poster
Sienna333 · 06/10/2017 23:04

I just saw blood in my stool. I really cannot take this. I know shigellla virus/food poisoning can do this but I can't cope with the anxiety

OP posts:
LolaTheDarkdestroyer · 06/10/2017 23:05

I had it for about 3 months years ago. Lost lots of weight it was horrible. They still never found out why I had it for so long.

Afternooncatnap · 06/10/2017 23:06

Unfortunately there is not much they can do for stomach bugs. I got a very nasty stomach bug, won't go into the details. But I was pretty much told that as long as you don't dehydrate you just live with it. I had symptoms for around 2 years, it can take that long for your digestive system to get back to normal.

WineAndTiramisu · 06/10/2017 23:06

If there's blood, I'd certainly go back to the GP. Ask for a stool sample to be sent off which should give an answer

Original poster
Sienna333 · 06/10/2017 23:16

I am so terrified, this is going to drag on and on. I will be off work for weeks and who knows if I will now be hospitalised? So scared.

OP posts:
Maria1982 · 06/10/2017 23:21

Honestly, in the nicest possible way, try some deep breathing to calm down.

It is very unlikely that it will go on for weeks and that you will have to be hospitalised. You are keeping fluids down and not vomiting, so why would you need to be hospitalised?

I am afraid it does sound like your anxiety is out of control.

Do go back and see a different doctor on Monday, but at this stage blood could just be external due to the irritation of multiple bowel movements.

Original poster
Sienna333 · 06/10/2017 23:25

What if it's not and I am seriously ill? I want to believe it is shigella but I can't. In a blind panic. I am trying to keep calm but it's impossible right now.

OP posts:
Altwoo · 06/10/2017 23:54

Sienna, please try and get a grip of yourself. Worrying is not going to change anything and it is a waste of your energy. Why assume the worst? You’re not a doctor and have no reason to believe this will lead to you being hospitalised.

The positive is that you now have something tangible to go back to your doctor with for further investigation.

Don’t google, don’t self diagnose. Breathe, deeply. Book to see your GP tomorrow.

This is what you can do, right now, to help yourself. Worrying will just tire you out. What if you just decided not to worry? Would that change anything for you? It really will be okay.

ScouseQueen · 07/10/2017 00:15

It's much more likely to be some kind of bug than anything else, even though I think the GP has underestimated the seriousness of the bug. What you need to do, and I understand this takes energy you probably feel like you haven't got, is keep pushing to see a different doctor. Try your out of hours service (ring your GP surgery and you should get a message about who you ring on weekends) tomorrow and see if you can get a different doctor to see you. If that doesn't work, ring your GP surgery again Monday and insist you need to see someone else. If anyone else is able to help you, get them to ring.

Please try and get some rest now. I had a very unpleasant time with my version of this but eventually I did get treated and recovered. You just need to stick it out for a bit longer till you get in front of a more empathetic doctor. So do your best to drink enough (weak squash is probably better than water if you don't have Diorlyte), and rest. Ask whoever you can of friends or family to help you. It will be ok in the end. Flowers

Haveyoutriedturningitoffandon · 07/10/2017 00:18

Handhold OP. I'm in exactly the same position. Day 8 of horrible diarrhoea, nausea, high temp, cramps, for me too, and although it's letting up, it's not stopping. I've had a clear sample back from the lab and my GP has said as long as I'm able to take in 2-3L of fluid per day, a few Diarolyte sachets to rehydrate, and don't begin to show signs of dehydration, that this is totally normal - she reckons 7-10 days could be the time frame. It's just a shitty sorry bad pun bug that's doing the rounds right now. I know that doesn't help with work etc, but perhaps it'll help to know it's not just you, and in my area there are loads of people struggling with the same bug.
I agree with other posters though, phone your GP (please don't go to the doctor/hospital unless you feel you are in danger/suffering a medical emergency as the potential for infecting others is high) for reassurance - mine has been great, and has said she'll phone me on Monday to see how I'm doing, and if no better she'll do further investigations. I was panicking around day 6 as I thought I'd contracted something terrible and getting a sample done (and it coming back clear) has put my mind at rest.
Obviously no one online can diagnose you, but there are nasty bugs going about, and it all sounds quite familiar to me.
Hope you can get some sleep tonight Flowers

Shamoo · 07/10/2017 00:23

I think I have the same thing - started on Monday (bad stomach cramps, no appetite), on Tuesday night turned to diarrhoea - been off work since. Keep thinking it is getting better in the evenings and then in the night it is terrible. I am so hungry but don't want to risk anything. And I have a lingering headache to top it off. I totally feel your pain. I cried with frustration last night, feeling a bit better now its the weekend and I don't need to worry about work. Definitely something going round. Good luck - I really hope you feel better soon.

PurpleAlerts · 07/10/2017 00:24

Try and avoid dairy for a week. Bugs can cause temporary lactose intolerance. Look at labels - lactose is in many products. My DD had a bug that went on for weeks when she was little. A GP we took her to on holiday told the us about the lactose thing and it worked a treat.

Original poster
Sienna333 · 07/10/2017 07:39

3 bowel movements again last night/this morning. I am exhausted. I haven't had a good night's sleep since this all began. Had major anxiety attack last night, was sweating and worrying something chronic. Tomorrow I have to let both workplaces down for yet another week and then Monday, go back to the doctor. Again. I just can't do it anymore, I am mentally and physically drained and can't see a life outside of this hell.

OP posts:
KarlosKKrinkelbeim · 07/10/2017 07:51

It does sound a lot like campylobacter which is vile and does hang about for a while. I was ill with it for a fortnight but it did clear up without antibiotics.
I would say they should definitely be taking a stool sample to see what's going on. The blood is very likely because of all the punishment your poor old bum hole has taken but tell them about that too. For now, rest as much as you can and plenty fluids. Recovery is much faster with plenty of rest.

Original poster
Sienna333 · 07/10/2017 08:39

I can't see this ever ending. This whole bug in total is now at nearly 2 weeks and last night was horrendous. If the bug is meant to be only 2 weeks, why is it still awful? I know I am probably being annoying but this life at the moment is pure hell. Am I am doing is sitting in a room, going to the toilet or trying to sleep. I can't do it anymore.

OP posts:
TammySwansonTwo · 07/10/2017 09:18

Please try and calm yourself, I know it's difficult - blood in your stool is not really surprising when you've been going so frequently and diarrhoea can cause tissue damage. If it looks like blood when it comes out then that's a good thing - blood coming from within the digestive system doesn't look like blood, chances are you've got a small fissure of piles.

I had constant diarrhoea and crippling stomach cramps every time I ate for many years - turns out I had adhesions on my bowel caused by endometriosis. Once they were removed it completely stopped. I didn't have any of the other symptoms of a bug though (no sickness, temperature etc) so most likely you do have some kind of bug - it's just whether it's bacterial or viral.

In terms of work, as embarrassing as it is, if you're concerned about your job I would explicitly tell them that you still have severe gastric symptoms and not only are you too weak to work, you are concerned about being contagious. In most jobs you need a sick note at this point so you'll need to go back to the doctor anyway. Make them aware of the blood and ask them if they want to take samples as you're concerned it could be bacterial as its gone on so long. I don't think this is an unreasonable request after being sick so long but there's no reason to think this will last forever!

KarlosKKrinkelbeim · 07/10/2017 09:44

With a serious infection like campylobacter two weeks I think would be quite standard to be suffering symptoms and off work. Try to relax and rest, I think it's deeply unpleasant for you but you have no need to be frightened.
We are trained to think of tummy bugs as minor but when you get one of the bad guys you discover how wrong that is! However you will recover. One benefit is it makes you more vigilant with food hygiene. I never eat barbecue now (was BBQ chicken that did it for me)

Original poster
Sienna333 · 07/10/2017 11:03

I just can't help but think it is is more sinister. 2 weeks now and last night was one of the worst. It shouldn't be so bad at this stage. Although there seems 'less' diorohea, the urgency is still there and I don't think anyone can say it is normal to have been up in the middle of the night with dirohoea every night within that time period.
Would be interested to hear back from Shamoo and haveyoutriedturningitonandoff. Your symptoms sound identical to mine except I am continuing to get the bloody stools.

OP posts:
PuppyMonkey · 07/10/2017 11:14

Ok, Im not a doctor and please don't think I am trying to diagnose you. But your symptoms sound a lot like what happened to my brother a few years back and it turned out he had Crohn's Disease. His went on for about a month until he was rushed into hospital after collapsing. It might be something to ask the doctor about when you go back, as I think you definitely should.

Hopefully it'll just be the bug and you will get better all by yourself.

Please stop worrying about calling in sick for work, you need time off if you are ill, nothing anybody can do about that.

Slimthistime · 07/10/2017 11:17

I'm so sorry OP

I think they should have tested a sample a few days ago but now you have blood in your stool, I'm sure they will. (btw a friend had that recently, it turned out to be salmonella, so perhaps not something as alarming as you are fearing).

is there an out of hours who can see you and at least give you a jar etc so you can have a sample ready to send to a lab?

Original poster
Sienna333 · 07/10/2017 11:17

Oh jesus. Now I am scared.

OP posts:
UnbornMortificado · 07/10/2017 11:19

My friend has had a bug remarkably similar and she's waiting for a sample coming back checking for ecoli.

I'm sorry it sounds rough

ScouseQueen · 07/10/2017 11:21

It will end, when you get the treatment you need. It can't just go on forever. Deep breaths. Have you rung your GP out of hours service today like I suggested? If not, do it now.

Slimthistime · 07/10/2017 11:22

oh Sienna I hope you don't mean me?

my friend is fine, it's just I was saying what happened because I didn't want you to be focusing on worse things. Sorry if I made things worse.

I have anxiety and stuff like this sets me off as well. I had something like this once and the doctor gave me an antibiotic even before the tests came back. Obviously all doctors will have different ideas but I feel like they've done nothing for you and I think that's really unfair of them.

I was just saying that blood in the stool might be the thing that gets them to stop being so rubbish. Flowers