Tummy troubles - when would you worry?

[grumblegut]

Recently been abroad to Ibiza on a girls holiday. Nothing mad but we did drink a fair bit. Pretty much on the day I arrived I started with a dodgy tummy and this lasted the whole week. I was using the loo at least 4-5 times a day and often it was mushy and loose (sorry tmi). I put it down to the heat and the change of food, maybe too much booze. Between episodes I felt fine so I don’t think it was a bug but it definitely spoilt the holiday a bit.

Have now been home 4 days and am still having problems. It’s not as frequent but I am still getting the cramps and bouts of loose stool, particularly after eating. This isn’t normal for me and I’m wondering if something else could be going on. As per NHS advice I will see my GP if it persists beyond 3 weeks but at the moment I’m just confused what could be causing it.

Ive had bowel issues in the past and two (clear) colonoscopies in the last 15 years. But I always worry when something is amiss like this.

It’ll settle soon. As you say, it was probably caused by a change of diet on holiday. It happens to me every time I’m away and not in my normal food routine and settles within a week or so of getting back to normal eating and drinking.

I had similar when away in July. Took a good 10 days to settle when home. But it did settle.

As long as you otherwise feel well in yourself, then I wouldn’t worry at this point. Get some electrolyte tablets / powders and add them to water a couple of times a day to replenish what you’re losing, try and keep your food less exciting, and give it a few days before speaking to a pharmacist if it’s still persisting. You may well have a bug, they do sometimes present relatively mildly with just loose stools and some cramping.

My first thought would be some sort of bug, try not to panic. Bacteria in water/ ice cubes/ whatever they wash salad in or even a bug from the plane.
Make sure you’re rehydrating with electrolytes and try to rest so your body has a chance to heal. Probiotics may help too (yoghurt, sauerkraut, kimchi etc, even tablets - I seem to remember the more expensive ones from boots with the most cultures being recommended - as your gut flora will be all out of whack and the different food and drinking alcohol will have made it worse)