To think DH may be Re infected?

Feelingmehmehmeh · 2023-01-14T03:51:27+00:00

Family had stomach virus. I was nauseous and vomit only, DS 1 very mild nausea plus slightly loose movement for 1 evening. DS2 only nausea and loss of appetite. DH Diarrhoea nausea and pain in stomach . Diarrhoea went (with the help of Imodium and he even had a full stool but now the next day the Diarrhoea is back as bad as ever. Has this happened to anyone else? I don’t know if he has somehow reinfected himself but I didn’t think that was possible so soon. Now I’m concerned for the rest of us too…..could we just keep getting it? I’m eating normally but have moments when I still feel a bit icky 4 days post vomit.

Original poster

Feelingmehmehmeh · 14/01/2023 03:55

DH timeline was D (can’t keep trying to spell diarrhoea) on Tuesday night. Nothing Wed (Imodium) Proper but slightly loose stool Thursday then D again tonight.
today is the first meal he hasn’t had rice. Maybe I gave him normal food too soon 🤷🏻‍♀️

OP posts:

Randomness12 · 14/01/2023 04:07

The problem is the Imodium, it stops the symptom but that retains the infection in the body rather than allowing it to pass through which is what your body is trying to force by giving you the symptom. So once the imodium has stopped the symptom, it creates a back log which means a normal bowel movement, then it wears off and you’re still infected. It doesn’t treat the infection, so he’s not reinfected he’s just prolonged it. Always best to let nature take its course unless there’s a reason you need to leave the house or similar. Hope he feels better soon.

Dontsparethehorses · 14/01/2023 04:10

I think it’s the same episode not reinfected- don’t think there was a 48h window without any loose stool from what you’ve said (Imodium aside)

gingerhamster · 14/01/2023 04:36

Randomness12 · 14/01/2023 04:07

The problem is the Imodium, it stops the symptom but that retains the infection in the body rather than allowing it to pass through which is what your body is trying to force by giving you the symptom. So once the imodium has stopped the symptom, it creates a back log which means a normal bowel movement, then it wears off and you’re still infected. It doesn’t treat the infection, so he’s not reinfected he’s just prolonged it. Always best to let nature take its course unless there’s a reason you need to leave the house or similar. Hope he feels better soon.

Yes to this - you don't take Imodium when your body is trying to rid itself of a bug/food poisoning...

sanityisamyth · 14/01/2023 05:30

Randomness12 · 14/01/2023 04:07

The problem is the Imodium, it stops the symptom but that retains the infection in the body rather than allowing it to pass through which is what your body is trying to force by giving you the symptom. So once the imodium has stopped the symptom, it creates a back log which means a normal bowel movement, then it wears off and you’re still infected. It doesn’t treat the infection, so he’s not reinfected he’s just prolonged it. Always best to let nature take its course unless there’s a reason you need to leave the house or similar. Hope he feels better soon.

This.

TheOriginalEmu · 14/01/2023 05:37

It’s a total myth that taking loperamide somehow stops your body getting rid of a virus. There is no medical evidence of that.

Mummyoflittledragon · 14/01/2023 05:49

That’s a very mild virus op… or a mild reaction. It needs to go through your dh’s body and can take a lot longer than 48 hours. Diarrhoea can continue for days.

garlictwist · 14/01/2023 06:06

Randomness12 · 14/01/2023 04:07

The problem is the Imodium, it stops the symptom but that retains the infection in the body rather than allowing it to pass through which is what your body is trying to force by giving you the symptom. So once the imodium has stopped the symptom, it creates a back log which means a normal bowel movement, then it wears off and you’re still infected. It doesn’t treat the infection, so he’s not reinfected he’s just prolonged it. Always best to let nature take its course unless there’s a reason you need to leave the house or similar. Hope he feels better soon.

I'm afraid this isn't accurate. The body fights a virus using its immune system from the inside. It doesn't "shit the virus out", as it were.

Mooshroo · 14/01/2023 06:33

Absolute myth that loperamide slows it down. I’ve had viruses where D lasted weeks. No I didn’t take Imodium although the baby I was carrying probably didn’t help 😅

WonderingWanda · 14/01/2023 06:48

I would imagine the firmer stool was just created by the immodium but the loose stool after suggests he isn't quite over it. You can have an upset tummy for a while after a bout of d&v. Stick to plain foods, consider some probiotics to reset his gut bacteria.

gamerchick · 14/01/2023 06:52

Yeah don't take imodium for a bug. Body needs to do its job

TheOriginalEmu · 14/01/2023 14:42

gamerchick · 14/01/2023 06:52

Yeah don't take imodium for a bug. Body needs to do its job

That’s bad advice. There is no harm in warding off dehydration with loperamide.

gamerchick · 14/01/2023 14:49

TheOriginalEmu · 14/01/2023 14:42

That’s bad advice. There is no harm in warding off dehydration with loperamide.

Show quote history

I don't assume that a stomach bug is a virus. I use a lot of imodium in general and taking it, then realising it's an obvious germ that's now sitting in my guts for longer than necessary, from experience is a mistake.

What other people do is up to them. Look after yourself to ward of dehydration. There are things out there for that.

TheOriginalEmu · 14/01/2023 15:15

gamerchick · 14/01/2023 14:49

I don't assume that a stomach bug is a virus. I use a lot of imodium in general and taking it, then realising it's an obvious germ that's now sitting in my guts for longer than necessary, from experience is a mistake.

What other people do is up to them. Look after yourself to ward of dehydration. There are things out there for that.

Show quote history

It is up to them, I never said differently, but it IS bad advice and I’m going to make that clear bevause this idea that the bug needs to get out through your bowels is just untrue. There is no medical reason you shouldn’t take Imodium when you have a bug. Full stop.

Original poster

Feelingmehmehmeh · 14/01/2023 16:59

Thanks as pp have said, it does seem to be the Imodium wearing off. He was maybe a bit too optimistic about how fast it would go away. Perhaps because I was lucky and was only sick - nothing else.

OP posts:

amicissimma · 14/01/2023 17:31

IME following the assault on my guts from the infection, it takes quite a few days to settle down, even if the pathogen is probably long gone.

It's as if my poor guts are irritated for a while.

budgiegirl · 14/01/2023 17:42

Randomness12 · 14/01/2023 04:07

The problem is the Imodium, it stops the symptom but that retains the infection in the body rather than allowing it to pass through which is what your body is trying to force by giving you the symptom. So once the imodium has stopped the symptom, it creates a back log which means a normal bowel movement, then it wears off and you’re still infected. It doesn’t treat the infection, so he’s not reinfected he’s just prolonged it. Always best to let nature take its course unless there’s a reason you need to leave the house or similar. Hope he feels better soon.

That's just not true. There's no harm taking immodium to relieve the symptoms if you want to. It's probably just that he's taking a few day to get over the upset. I doubt he's reinfected.

gamerchick · 14/01/2023 19:27

TheOriginalEmu · 14/01/2023 15:15

It is up to them, I never said differently, but it IS bad advice and I’m going to make that clear bevause this idea that the bug needs to get out through your bowels is just untrue. There is no medical reason you shouldn’t take Imodium when you have a bug. Full stop.

Show quote history

Well, from my own experience I'm rejecting what you're saying. You can do what you want though.

DadANDPK · 14/01/2023 19:32

Of course taking Imodium when you've got a bug doesn't help! It just stops your body getting rid of the bug. It's helpful if you need to go somewhere & can't stay home, but it's unhelpful & masks the bug.

@Feelingmehmehmeh your DH isn't RE infected, he's just not recovered yet!

hope you're all over it soon x

Jedsnewstar · 14/01/2023 19:34

Imodium does not cure a stomach virus it stops the symptoms. It should only be used really for nervous stomach problems so you can briefly get on with life or attend an event.

Otherwise you are stopping the very way you body is trying to cure you of the infection.

Onnabugeisha · 14/01/2023 19:34

today is the first meal he hasn’t had rice

You werent all eating the same rice, and then DH ate more of this now old rice?
You could have had food poisoning not a stomach virus given the symptoms.

TheOriginalEmu · 15/01/2023 10:57

gamerchick · 14/01/2023 19:27

Well, from my own experience I'm rejecting what you're saying. You can do what you want though.

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Your anecdote doesn’t trump researched medical evidence.

TheOriginalEmu · 15/01/2023 10:59

DadANDPK · 14/01/2023 19:32

Of course taking Imodium when you've got a bug doesn't help! It just stops your body getting rid of the bug. It's helpful if you need to go somewhere & can't stay home, but it's unhelpful & masks the bug.

@Feelingmehmehmeh your DH isn't RE infected, he's just not recovered yet!

hope you're all over it soon x

That’s not true. Your body doesn’t get rid of a stomach bug by defecating. That’s not how bodies work.

TheOriginalEmu · 15/01/2023 11:00

Jedsnewstar · 14/01/2023 19:34

Imodium does not cure a stomach virus it stops the symptoms. It should only be used really for nervous stomach problems so you can briefly get on with life or attend an event.

Otherwise you are stopping the very way you body is trying to cure you of the infection.

It doesn’t cure it, no. But it does manage the symptoms and is a perfectly legitimate method of doing so. It’s also not true at all that you should only use loperamide for ‘nervous’ stomach disorders. You can use it for any loose bowel movements regardless of reason. Many people take it long term on prescription. I do.

Witchofthedales · 15/01/2023 11:45

gamerchick · 14/01/2023 06:52

Yeah don't take imodium for a bug. Body needs to do its job

Agree and especially where the body is actively trying to remove the bug ( by shitting in the first place ) you're just preventing it from doing what it's trying to do.