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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:
Etymology23 · 07/10/2017 21:32

Red blood in stools is much less concerning than black.

Your work will cope: you will provide a doctors note and it will be fine.

You almost certainly don't have crohns and this isn't going to do long term damage. I have IBS and can have to use the loo 20+ times in a day. Up to 3 stools a day is considered within normal ranges.

I know that what the doctor said about your anxiety not helping will have been difficult to hear, but if it's stopping you from resting and sleeping then it will be inhibiting your recovery. Can you use distraction techniques like putting radio 4 on, or use calming breathing techniques to help you allow yourself to rest?

Original poster
Sienna333 · 07/10/2017 21:33

Thanks Nike. I am trying binding foods such as mashed potato and banana and lots of water. Haven't seen any blood from time I posted, stools have returned brown and kind of resembling some shape. That is good right? Having said that I know I will be rushing to the loo at 4AM which has happened every night since this hell virus began :(
Back is killing me too :(

OP posts:
Original poster
Sienna333 · 07/10/2017 21:35

Thank you Ety. I think I will feel better after calling in sick for the week, it ranks my anxiety up mega high. I really need to try and sleep the whole way through the night today, the broken sleep is making me even more anxious and emotional.

OP posts:
peachgreen · 07/10/2017 21:44

Would a diet like that not prolong diarrhoea?

Original poster
Sienna333 · 07/10/2017 21:46

As I sleep on my side, I get all the swishing and gurgling feeling which makes me want to run to the loo. It's hard to get comfortable

OP posts:
Original poster
Sienna333 · 07/10/2017 21:47

Why Peachgreen? It is all recommended as 'Binding foods'. Bananas are the top thing you can eat.

OP posts:
coraliss · 07/10/2017 21:51

I had a severe stomach bug for approx 6 weeks ( terrible diarrhoea) I lost almost 2 stone in weight, Doctors kept fobbing me off. In the end I went to A&E after yet another doctors appointment stating that waiting list to see specialist was 2 months... A&E immediately called my doctors & advised them that they had to arrange for me to see the specialist ASAP as this was an urgent case ( bearing in mind I had already lost about 2 stone in weight ) I saw the specialist & he did his investigation ( microscope up bum ) & discovered that I had this serious bad bug/ infection / bacteria ... he gave me a huge dose of antibiotics that i’d never heard of & 3 days later I was better. Took me ages to get right, my stomach & bowel lining was damaged from the bacteria & it took me a good few months to put weight on & start looking healthy again ( went down to size zero ) Sometimes it’s not just ‘ diarrhoea ‘ or a ‘ common bug ‘ mine was a very uncommon bug. Good luck. You need to stress that this isn’t normal!

coraliss · 07/10/2017 21:54

Thinking about it I think mine was some sort of parasite. Can’t remember as It was approx 10 years ago. My symptoms were constant diarrhoea, no sickness.

Original poster
Sienna333 · 07/10/2017 21:56

Had you been abroad PP?

OP posts:
PinkyBlunder · 07/10/2017 21:59

My daughter had this at the beginning of the year and it lasted around 2 weeks. It's a very common bug.

If you can eat, stick to the BRAT diet, little and often. Avoid all dairy. Drink Diarolyte solution to replace fluids, salts and sugars. You can also try Bio-Kult to try and re-balance the bacteria in your gut.

Some blood in stools after prolonged diarrhoea is common as you can get little irritations and cuts around the rectum. Not pleasant but not harmful.

All this advice we got from the hospital as my daughter (3 years old) was becoming quite dehydrated and we were advised to take her to A&E. You need to stick to it rigerously but it will pass.

As for work, phone your GP and get them to sign you off for a week.

Original poster
Sienna333 · 07/10/2017 22:14

Thank you Pinky. I have had this a total of 13 days so close to 2 weeks. Diorohea hasn't been all of those days but close to it. It hasn't been bad at all this evening, very light and stools although still loose are brown (Sorry.).
Thing is, I get all happy thinking it is gone and I will then probably have a terrible night with it. It's a weird virus.

OP posts:
Original poster
Sienna333 · 07/10/2017 22:16

I have a doctors note for last week, just not this one coming. Would I have to go to the surgery to collect it? Sorry for dumb question, just never had to to do it before.

OP posts:
PinkyBlunder · 07/10/2017 22:19

If the doctor has already seen you, they should be able to talk to you over the phone and issue a certificate for you to collect. Otherwise you might need to make another appointment.

I seem to remember it coming and going with my daughter too. It's a nasty one!

Original poster
Sienna333 · 07/10/2017 22:24

Thanks Pinky. It truly is vile, this virus has truly done me in.

OP posts:
KarlosKKrinkelbeim · 07/10/2017 22:44

When I had campylobacter after about ten days thought I was better, got out of bed to make tea, shat all over kitchen floor. Mum got home to find me crying and scrubbed by carpet. It is truly horrid but IT WILL GO

KarlosKKrinkelbeim · 07/10/2017 22:45

Scrubbed by carpet?? I mean scrubbing the carpet - is late and I'm slightly squiffy

Original poster
Sienna333 · 07/10/2017 22:52

Well I hope that won't be the case with me Karlos as done it 4 times already and was also scrubbing the carpet at 2AM the other night due to not making it in time. Also followed through in a meeting at work with bosses present the other week which was just marvellous as you can imagine.

OP posts:
Nikephorus · 08/10/2017 11:50

Hope you made it through the night without unwanted interruptions OP.

Original poster
Sienna333 · 08/10/2017 12:06

Woke up at 3AM with it but wasn't too bad. I can see it is improving slowly but does always seem worse of a morning which is weird. Night times are very uncomfortable, stomach just swishes and fizzes around. :(

Called into work to say I wouldn't be in this week, they seemed okish but surprised at how long it has been and that nobody else has it which has made me feel a bit anxious.

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

Try not eating anything after late afternoon / early evening so it has a chance to work it's way through earlier?
I have no idea where I picked up whatever it was that has affected me because I see so few people! It's just one of those things that affects some people randomly sometimes.

Youcanstayundermyumbrella · 08/10/2017 14:05

Sienna, I'm not sure I can see why you're planning on being off for the whole of next week. It sounds like you're getting quite a bit better. Maybe discuss with the doctor when you see them tomorrow? I would be rather surprised if one of my team called in sick for the whole week without a doctor's note for a stomach upset.

Original poster
Sienna333 · 08/10/2017 14:09

Yes I will try and eat no later than 6PM and hope that makes a difference. I need a full nights sleep, it's been nearly a fortnight without a full night.

I have no idea where I picked up mine either but from the responses here, it seems there is something going around.

OP posts:
Original poster
Sienna333 · 08/10/2017 14:19

Have you not read the whole thread Youcanstayundermyumbrella ? This isn't just a 'Stomach upset.' I work with vulnerable people and cannot risk passing this on. I also haven't slept or eaten properly in 2 weeks so am very weak. Any sensible boss would realise that. If I went in tomorrow or even Tuesday, I would possibly infect someone so really, what is the most sensible option? Staying at home so it is well rid or coming back too soon, not being at my best and passing it onto my colleagues?

OP posts:
Youcanstayundermyumbrella · 08/10/2017 14:25

I have read the whole thread and offered support and advice, and also have read how anxious you are about the knock on effects of being off work so long. Even with everything you say, you could be feeling well enough to work by Wednesday or Thursday, so I'd have thought it might be a better option to discuss next week with a doctor first rather than thinking at this point you'll need to be away all week.

Schtinkay · 08/10/2017 14:46

I had campylobacter recently and it was nearly ten days. Problem is, once I had hauled myself to the dr to shit in a cup and the same was back it has basically gone.

Much sympathy.

Great way to lose weight though!