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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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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:

CockacidalManiac · 07/10/2017 13:37

Antibiotics might clear it if it’s a bacterial infection, however they might aggravate it in the short term too; one of the potential side effects can be diarrhoea.

Original poster

Sienna333 · 07/10/2017 13:46

I simply can't miss a 3rd week off work due to this. I do have help for anxiety but can you all honestly say you wouldn't be feeling the same way as me right now?

OP posts:

chantico · 07/10/2017 13:53

Diarrhoea which has lasted for 3 weeks or more and blood in stools are both symptoms which need proper investigation (source NHS website).

You really need to see a different GP as this one sounds shit. Can you get an appointment for Monday?

There are a number of possible causes, and investigations should show what is happening and what needs to be done about it.

Though I am wondering if there's a bug going round this year that is causing fairly long-lasting looseness.

Stress doesn't help (and I think your current GP is adding to it); traditional things that might are high fibre diet, plenty of fluids, activated charcoal and peppermint.

ElsieMc · 07/10/2017 13:54

Oh dear op. I left something like this because I was so busy at work and thought it might be stress related. It went on for weeks I am afraid and when I eventually went to the doctor she really told me off. I had a bowel infection and had been taking Imodium to get through the day at work and then dashing home at lunchtime because of the state I was in. I told the doc that it actually felt like early labour pains and she nodded in agreement. You will know if you have an infection because of the smell - I wont go any further than that.

Two years back, I saw the doctor with what I felt was a very had virus. I was at the stage where I could not get my breath. I was sent home, having been told it was a virus. I worsened and went back. I had whooping cough. It is infectious and by then I had passed it on to my pregnant daughter. I was given antibiotics, although they cannot help with this, purely as a measure to prevent me infecting others.

Do go back op.

Silversun83 · 07/10/2017 13:56

I agree with all the PPs who said it sounds like campylobacter.. I had it four years ago and was ill for about a month..

Had the most awful stomach cramps, nausea and heartburn, my whole body hurt and had chronic diarrhoea for about 3/4 weeks.. I went to the GP after about a week who asked me to do a stool sample.. By this point, the worst of my symptoms were easing slightly so I think it took another week for me to actually do the sample.. But even then it still showed campylobacter.. By the time they'd got back to me though, it was nearly three weeks since I first became ill and I would say my symptoms had 75% resolved.. They still advised taking the antibiotics though to completely see the back of it.

Campylobacter is a very persistent bug... I think my body possibly would have cleared it completely eventually but who knows! I was also like you (to be honest I get like this every time I have a stomach bug!).. I get so caught up in a pit of despair that I cannot see how I am ever going to feel better again. But you will.. Just go back and request that they do a stool sample.

CockacidalManiac · 07/10/2017 13:56

You wouldn’t be able to go back Monday anyway, as the 48 hour rule generally applies.

hannah1992 · 07/10/2017 13:57

There will be light at the end of the tunnel.

Do you have a partner at home? If not any other help? Go see ooh gp and see what they suggest.

The other month my mil was in agony with stomach cramping and bad dirrohea. Her gp said it's a bug etc she really was feeling poorly and went to ooh gp. They admitted her for blood tests and it turned out to be an infection of some sort. She was only in hospital a few hours while they did bloods and got results then sent home. Couple of days later she was fine.

I wouldn't be thinking it was something serious. But possibly an infection of some sort.

CockacidalManiac · 07/10/2017 13:58

I simply can't miss a 3rd week off work due to this. I do have help for anxiety but can you all honestly say you wouldn't be feeling the same way as me right now?

I was off for about three weeks with Camplyobacter about 20 years ago. You do sound very anxious.

CockacidalManiac · 07/10/2017 14:00

Her gp said it's a bug etc she really was feeling poorly and went to ooh gp. They admitted her for blood tests and it turned out to be an infection of some sort.

A bug is an infection.

chickhonhoneybabe · 07/10/2017 14:04

Ring NHS 111 and get seen today.

FaithAgain · 07/10/2017 14:10

My friend had something similar and it was campylobacter. I agree you should call 111. Make sure you say there's blood in your stool. Get their advice. You may be able to get seen in OOH over the weekend. I may help with your anxiety if you can get seen. If they do give you an appointment, take a stool sample with you. They are more likely to take you seriously m.

TiesThatBindMe · 07/10/2017 14:11

I'd call 111 for advice too.

StarryCorpulantCunt · 07/10/2017 14:15

My DP had norovirus that completely floored him for nearly 4 weeks. Normal recovery time for noro is 2 to 4 days. Confirmed by lab tests to be norovirus. GP was gobsmacked. I then caught it and was over in within 12 hours. Some people do just get bugs worse than others. I get every cold going and they last months but rarely bugs and when I do, they clear quickly. My immune system is a beast for stomach bugs. You doctor is right though if you're feeling run down and anxious then it will hit you all the harder.

Haudyerwheesht · 07/10/2017 14:17

OP you need to get this in perspective. Yes it's horrible and you must be utterly exhausted but panicking like you are is counter productive. Please try and calm down. You aren't the only person to ever experience this and it's unlikely to go on forever. Stress definitely can and does make stomach issues worse so please try and do some relaxation techniques and see the GP on Monday. Keep drinking, rest as much as you can and ask the GP for a sick note for work.

Runningpear · 07/10/2017 14:29

I have crohns and believe me you would be going ALOT more that 4 times a day. However blood is not normal unless you have active crohns or Colitis or it's a pile.
Ask for a stool sample to rule out any bacteria / bugs. It could just be a very bad bug that needs specific treatment.
Try not to worry, you sound very anxious and losing perspective. Really diahorrea 4 times a day is not that bad, but a stool sample will tell the docs if it's something more serious.

MrsA2015 · 07/10/2017 14:31

Ive just recovered from the same thing OP. Mine started with a dodgey chicken burger but lasted way too long as it coincided with a bug too. Stay hydrated !

Roomster101 · 07/10/2017 14:31

Careful, though - If it is a bug like Shigella taking loperamide will only make things worse.

I think it would be better by now if it was Shigella.

Allthelightsgoout · 07/10/2017 14:34

Once you're better I'd ask for more help with your anxiety.

Original poster

Sienna333 · 07/10/2017 14:48

Bleeding in stools can be found in bacterial infections so yes, not normal as such but it is a symptom.

I know I am a very anxious person but anyone would be in my situation. I am worried about my two jobs and the security of them as well as what is actually going on with my health.

OP posts:

Runningpear · 07/10/2017 14:56

Yes I understand you are worried about being off work, but if you think you aren't fit for work then you do need to be off. If you do have a bug, they won't thank you for spreading it around if you do go in!
I honestly think you should get a form for a stool screen & a stool pot from your gp's on Monday to get it tested.

GladysKnight · 07/10/2017 16:27

Hi Sienna - just to add to the suggestions to get a sample taken. I once had giardia - another one that doesn't go away of it's own accord, but it was dealt with very decisively by the right antibiotic (unpleasant one to take, but it was such a relief having the diagnosis). You can get that one from salad so no dodgy burgers or shellfish required!

Stay hydrated and take (yup its disgusting) dioralyte as your salts will be right out of whack, and that makes you feel absolutely horrible, without question. You WILL get better.

RMC123 · 07/10/2017 16:29

I think instead of panicking you have to be proactive.

You can’t be sacked for being genuinely ill. You can get a Doctors note.
If you really feel you can’t wait until Monday to see the GP ring out of hours, ask for an appointment and ask to leave a stool sample. Given the amount of time this has gone on it is very unlikely they will refuse.
Some nasty bugs can just taken a long time to go. Without a stool sample you can’t tell whether you need antibiotics. Given inappropriately they will just make the situation worse. They might make it worse even if they are needed.

Slimthistime · 07/10/2017 17:08

OP are you going to out of hours? I hope so and hope you feel better asap.

holdthewine · 07/10/2017 18:38

Blood in your stool can also be simply from everything being irritated from the constant ‘action’. Please don’t panic. There are many explanations.

If you are going to go to out of hours or a walk in go early this evening before the rush starts. They may make you an appt to see someone gastro as an out patient and circumvent GP. This happened to DD when she had a severe kidney infection (pyelonephritis) diagnosed in A&E, one night in AAU (acute admissions) and a follow up urgent referral to a urologist.

Nikephorus · 07/10/2017 21:08

Blood in your stool can also be simply from everything being irritated from the constant ‘action’.
This ^^ totally - if you've been going that often you'll have irritated it a lot & that'll be why there's blood. It's not going to be any sort of issue, merely something that will disappear as soon as you're back to normal. I've had intermittent dodgy guts since last Sunday - last night was really unpleasant yet today I'm fine again. Are you being really careful what you eat? Going for bland & not too much of it? Letting your system calm down? Sometimes starving yourself for 24 hours is the best thing. My dog gets this sometimes & it can last for days if she's eating fairly normally yet goes within 24 hours if I starve her for 24 hours. (I know dogs & humans are different but same principle). And it is anxiety-provoking when you're in the middle of it but it will pass & is obviously fairly common right now judging by these responses. You just have to keep telling yourself that it will. But ease off the food for a bit to let your system settle - if there's nothing in it, nothing can come out!! And then go with dry toast or something to ease it back in.

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