To think I should be back to normal by now...

[lanbro]

I'll preface this by saying I'm rarely poorly, great immune system, haven't needed time off for illness in years...

3 weeks ago I picked up a sickness bug, both ends. Was almost bed/toilet bound for 3 days, when I was better still shattered and mega dehydrated. Now, my stomach still isn't right, I'm very farty and constipated, whereas normally I'm very regular, and I've got pretty persistent heartburn, almost as bad as during pregnancy.

Surely this isn't still the after affects of the bug? I miss just pooping in a normal manner and not farting when I go for a stroll...!?

I think that's not abnormal. I've had issues for several weeks after sickness. A blood test at the GP showed my something or other was slightly raised which is common after a bug - tested a couple of weeks later and was normal.

Pro/pre biotics would be a good shout.

You may also find it helpful to avoid the main IBS triggers for a few days (doing a low FODMAP diet) and reintroduce things gradually - this usually helps me on the rare occasion I get IBS symptoms (usually always medication or sickness related).

BW

@LogicalBlodge thank you, I'm going to add some to my online shop now, great shout!

No advice, but it sounds very similar to what I had. Im never a sick/gastro issues person so this was a shock but weeks on. Im still not the same as before and now have a cough on top of it. My immune system feels beaten 😭

One of my children had a stomach bug that took longer than usual (more than 48 hours, less than a week) to stop the D and some V. But bowel movements weren’t right for a couple of weeks after (very solid and stunk to high heaven even for poo!), the doctor just said that gut bacteria can take a while to reset the environment after being ill and as long as not losing volume of fluid (causing lack of nutrients) then it would calm down, which it did.

Try some Kefir to get some good bacteria back in your gut.

Not unusual OP
Take care of yourself, you will get there

The heartburn is worth a check up, you could talk to the pharmacist and see what they think.

I've popped some on my shop for later...

Thanks all, seems it's normal so will just ride it out!

You can temporarily become lactose intolerant when you've had a bug. It should all settle down. But it's still annoying! If it hasn't settled in a month or two you should see your GP.

Hopefully the kefir will do the job. I had a tooth extraction a few weeks ago which got infected. The liquid diet (couldn't chew) and antibiotics really did a number on my digestive system, but kefir with breakfast for a week seemed to sort it our for me.