Don’t know whether to ring the dr/111 for medical advice

[OnTheNatureOfDaylight]

No idea if it’s food poisoning/gastroenteritis or possibly gastric Covid.
I’m
Waiting for a test in the post because I can’t leave the house.
Been unwell since Saturday. I can’t eat and I’m dehydrated. I’ve barely left my bed.

I have diarolite and buscopan tablets to help with symptoms but I can’t even drink water without causing stomach cramps and needing to rush to the loo.

I have eaten 6 rich tea biscuits in 5 days plus a few crackers.

Can the dr help me with anything else or do I just keep going.

Im
Having to get up in the night to go to the loo due to cramps.

It’s really getting me down.

Given it's now Wednesday and you've been ill since Saturday I suspect your risk of being dehydrated is relatively high. I would ask for an urgent GP phone consultation. They might be able to prescribe something stronger than you get over the counter.

Thanks Emma.

I do feel a little better this eve.
I’ve managed to eat a little porridge

Can you press down on your fingernail and count how quickly the colour comes back?

That looks ok.
I’ve drunk more cordial today.
My headache is better also.

I did try a little plain pasta for dinner but I’m regretting it now. I was so hungry.

Keep drinking. Dehydration makes you feel dreadful.

i;m not a medic but the fact that you feel hungry is a good sign to me.
keep taking sips of any drink you can manage, and nibble tiny pieces of dry toast, crackers, plain biscuits.
avoid anything oily or rich or with dairy produce.
the rehydration sachets taste horrid but are useful, or you could try a little rice water, ie water in which rice has been boiled, with a pinch of salt and sugar added.
i don't think i'd take buscopan in this situation.
are you taking paracetamol/calpol. might help a bit.
if you feel worse, or worried, then do ring 111.
all the best.

Banana, rice (white), apple sauce and toast (white). Those are the foods to try to stop diarrhoea etc. But only when feeling hungry. Otherwise just have to water w the sugar/salts to hydrate. It’s fine to go a few days w out eating as long as you can drink water w electrolytes .

And some bugs can last several days. I once caught a diarrhoea bug from my kids that lasted 7-10 days!!! Liquid diarrhoea. First my son had it and then my dd and then me. So it lasted a month of me dealing w it!!! But the diet above helped a lot and it wasn’t so bad.

Thanks for the food recommendations. I’ve just had a rich tea biscuit to help me sleep. I realise that sounds weird. 😬
The buscopan cramps tablets have helped.
I’ve also taken an anti diarrhoea tablet after my pasta went straight through me. I’ve not tried that before. Didn’t think of it!

Tbh you are better off not taking the Imodium unless you absolutely need to (like leaving the house!) it's better if the bacteria is out rather than in.
I would phone the GP, they might want a sample. I hope you feel better soon.

Do not take Imodium, I became seriously ill from doing that once and my GP said whatever’s in you, needs to come out- never take Imodium.

Hope you feel better soon.

OP, I can sympathise, I'm just getting over a horrid bout of diarrhea. Started last Tuesday and I practically sat on the loo until Sunday. I just drank lots of water (even that was running through me) and nibbled on Rich Teas. I phoned the doctor on the Friday as I was passing a wee bit blood. At first the receptionist was keen for me to phone 111 as she said it could be Covid, but I got to speak to a GP who told me to drink water, toast or soup if I felt like it but no dairy whatsoever (He never mentioned Covid). I was to phone back on the Monday if no better as he would check for a bacterial infection in regards to food poisoning. But agree with others it's best to get it out your system. It can take a week, and I'm still getting cramps although I've dried up. But OMG it's bloody exhausting isn't it? Hope you feel better soon.

Hi, a good check for how dehydrated you are is to check your tongue, if its dry you are very dehydrated, still wet you are ok. For me that was the difference from being well enough to stay home or having to be admitted for IV fluids.

Thanks. I have had a white bagel this morning and didn’t need to rush to the loo.
I won’t take any more anti diarrhoea tablets.
I’ve only had one tablet so far yesterday evening.

I’m drinking plenty and my tongue feels normal.

I look so pasty though. Lovely dark circles under my eyes. 🥴

I am starting to feel better though and that’s all that matters.
I wanted to cry on Tuesday night out of frustration at not being able to eat anything with feeling awful
My body was so empty.

Sounds like you have got over the worst of it, stomach bugs are horrendous. DS was very susceptible when younger but seems to have got more resistant and fortunately DP and I haven't had one for years (touches wood!)

You might want to take a Diarolyte daily for a few days if you can tolerate them (you will be dehydated even if not seriously so), will help with energy etc and some Actimel.