Bad stomach on holiday

[pootlingby]

Currently on day 3 of an all inclusive holiday in Mallorca - much look forward to - and since we got here I’ve had intermittent but fairly persistent diarrhea. Not sure if it’s the heat, food, water, a bug picked up travelling or maybe a combination of all. I feel fine in between episodes but after a few minutes of eating I find myself rushing off to the loo with very bad cramps so I’m wary of eating too much. No pharmacies nearby but I do have Imodium with me. Any tips? Is this likely to pass or will i have it the whole week? I’ve experienced a dicky tummy abroad before but usually only for a day or two.

A GP told me last year that Imodium serves a purpose but shouldn't be used as standard for diarrhea. There is something troubling your gut that is being expelled. By forcing your body to stop getting rid of it, you're only masking the symptoms.

It's rotten for your holiday but I'd save the Imodium for your flight home, when it's pretty crucial and hope it runs its course before then.

Yes I did take one yesterday and it has firmed things up somewhat but hasn’t gone rid of the cramps and frequency. Something clearly isn’t right so I ought to let my body get rid of it I guess. Really annoying as otherwise I feel fine but this is ruining the holiday for me and certainly making me wary to eat and drink a lot.

Dose up on the immodium. Only eat cooked food. No ice in drinks. Hopefully it passes. 💐

Only eat cooked, non icy or non spicy food, no alcohol, some mint tea can help with digestion, plenty of fluid but best to avoid cold drinks (from my TCM doctor)

You're not drinking the tap water are you? I'm pretty sure when we went there, the tap water wasn't drinkable.

No definitely not. Only bottled and water from machines but I have had some ice. Given it’s an AI place with a reputable holiday company I’d hope they are making the ice properly but who knows.

Peppermint capsules can help (or peppermint tea) if you can get them.

Er…as wise pps have already said, use Imodium with care. It stops the expulsion of the problem.

A friend had several doses and didn’t do a poo for a week. 😲

You might have a sensitive stomach that struggles to adapt to different water, rather than a stomach bug. I moved to a part of Spain that has drinking water classed as excellent on a safety level but I had an upset stomach for a few weeks until I got used to the change in mineral content and then I was fine. I did have to go to a pharmacy and get tablets to settle stomach at first which I was happy to do as I was fairly certain my body hadn’t been poisoned by a bug.

On holiday, you don’t have the luxury of having time to adapt so stick to bottled water, no ice, be wary of hot drinks machines that will be plumbed in, and be mindful that fruit and salad will be rinsed using tap water.

I had a dodgy stomach on holiday in Thailand once, even though I'd stuck to bottled water (even for brushing my teeth) and we worked out it was because I was drinking tea in the hotel. I assumed it was safe because the water was boiled but apparently they don't actually boil the water there. It's hot but not hot enough to make the water safe.
Personally, I would take Immodium so I could enjoy the holiday but expect to be constipated when I got back.

I’d take the immodium. No way would I want that in a hot climate even if it means kicking healing down the road a bit.

If you can get buscopan that will stop the cramps.

I had this last year in Turkey. Didn’t feel unwell but had the runs for 24 hrs. I just ate bland food and stayed near a loo, it did pass. I felt like mine was just fatty foods and heat. Hope you feel better soon

Unfortunately the most sensible thing would be to drink loads of water but that seems also to be the problem.

Sympathy, OP.

It isn’t constant but it seems to happen after eating so I’m very cautious about what and when I eat and haven’t been going too far from the hotel. I’ve had a few iced coffees and normal coffees each of which come from a machine, hadn’t considered that. Will save the Imodium for the journey home! And keep my fingers crossed it improves. Also got pregnancy piles that never went away (kids are both in school now!) and they have taken a real battering which is also very uncomfortable. The joys. Will stay at home next year.

I'd avoid coffee and dairy aa, that can make it worse, stick to bottled water and plain food and it might well clear.

Never take immodium if it's a bug, you're just trapping all that into your gut. Use buscopan instead, it really helps with the cramps. And keep drinking lots of water. Stick to a really plain diet like toast and don't have any dairy for a few days. It'll pass, and keep your immodium for the plane home just in case.

I would stick bottled water rather than out of those machines. Some of those machines are never cleaned.

After a 3 week holiday in Sri Lanka, on the day that we were due to fly home, I woke up with the trots, and went into real panic mode as I couldn't imagine how I would cope with a long flight home, without having an accident. We mentioned it to a member of staff, who suggested that I drink black tea with lime juice. To my surprise, it did the trick, and less than 12 hours later I boarded the flight feeling pretty confident. I would suggest asking the locals in the hotel what they suggest OP, as they may have a local cure for this sort of problem.

Meanwhile, I hope it doesn't completely spoil your holiday.

We’ve just been there and never knew to not drink the water. Poor you op, stick to dry foods and avoid dairy. It’s also probably the heat making you feel worse

I wouldn’t have the ice. What do you mean by make the ice properly? Freezing the water doesn’t kill bacteria so you risk getting poorly if you have it

Making it with bottles, or otherwise safe water.

I meant making it with bottled water, surely they can’t just freeze tap water when you’re not meant to drink it?!

I live in Mallorca and tap water is tested on a regular basis and residents in an area are warned if it isn’t safe to drink (they do take measures to fix any issues). I know the water where I am is fine, but I only drink it through an osmosis machine as I don’t like the taste. Anyway, your hotel will be using safe water if it’s a reputable one and if there are issues, other people in the hotel will be ill. You could nip down to one of the private doctors and see if they will give you anything to get rid. It’s about € 50 a visit which you can reclaim from your travel insurance. I can’t say I’ve ever had any stomach complaints in Mallorca.

They would more than likely buy bagged ice in large resorts. What sort of foods are you eating, is it stuff that is cooked in lots of oil possibly not agreeing with you?