Giardia infection.. ewww

[teacoffee1]

Hi

As the title says... ewww I think I have Giardia. Just waiting on results from the doctor
Profuse diarrhoea and cramps, floating/greasy poo, absolutely disgusting

For those that have had Giardia, how long until you felt normal? Did you get antibiotics to treat it?
Has it left you with any lasting effects? I read it can turn some people lactose intolerant?

Please share your experiences so I feel less alone and grossed out by it

Thank you!

I had it once when I was travelling. It was hideous and I felt so unwell - I waited a while to see the doctor as I just thought it was a dodgy tummy. I got antibiotics and within a day I felt better!

It took me some time to feel normal again, maybe a few weeks. No intolerances here, but I do remember I took some probiotics and ate lots of yogurt.

@OatMilkLattes thanks so much for the reply. That's reassuring to know. I love all dairy and the thought of becoming intolerant to it really made me upset!
Once the results are back I hope the gp can start the right course of treatment.
It's actually horrific, so so disgusting, haven't a clue where I could have gotten it as I haven't been travelling and usually so strict with hand washing etc

I hope you feel better soon.

Could have been from anything - I think I caught mine by swallowing sea water 🤢 I’m super careful with hand washing/food hygiene too (especially when traveling). Hopefully the Dr will prescribe you and you can start taking them ASAP!

twice, both when travelling.

you haven’t mentioned the disgusting burps that smell like eggy farts! That’s the giveaway sign I know of that suggests it’s giardia over other stomach bugs, so although it depends on your test results I’d say it’s not a given if you don’t have this.

I had no long lasting effects.

It was a long time ago I had giardia. I remember Flagyl as treatment. You need it - it won’t go away on its own.

I had it a few years ago. At the time I had no idea how I'd picked it up, but it transpired a couple of neighbours had it too so we think there was a link somehow, maybe something to do with our water supply 🤢

Anyhow, once GP figured out what it was, after a couple of months of symptoms and several tests, it was a straightforward course of antibiotics and no issues since.

Got it from travelling, had been super careful. No lasting issues although lost a few pounds ( not a bad thing!) Lasted a few weeks till properly better but the drugs will help.

@Dammitthisisshit I actually don't have those burps so it could possibly be something else.. but everything I'm googling (I know I shouldn't google) points me in the direction of Giardia.
Hopefully results will be back this week and I will know for certain.

Whatever it is is horrendous I tell you that.. would honestly make me so much more aware on ice in drinks/public toilets etc when out

I got it travelling in Pakistan. My husband went to a chemist in Lahore and described the revolting burbs and diarrhoea and the chemist knew what it was. I don’t think I had antibiotics but don’t remember. Anyway it cleared up quickly.

Flagyll if it is giardia - definitely.

I had it for about 8 weeks - wasn’t tested for giardia originally as I hadn’t been travelling. Pretty sure I got in Glasgow either from a hotel or sushi restaurant- my colleague I was with got it too. It was horrendous. Diarrhoea up to 30 times a day - though I don’t remember eggy burps in particular. Once I took antibiotics it cleared completely in. 48 hours with no further ill effects.

Yep - had it. Can take ages to diagnose if I remember correctly as the parasite can "retreat" I was told and won't necessarily show up in stool samples.

The antibiotics I was given at the time were pretty hardcore as I recall and I found I became averse to meat/ dairy for a short time.

Pretty disgusting all 'round as I remember!

DC had it last summer, caught it in July while travelling. Was given some very strong antibiotics which cleared it up in about a week. The antibiotics were brutal, made DC cramp and sweat, I can’t remember if he needed to eat or drink plenty with them. Thereafter the major symptoms subsided but was left with the odd cramping and diarrhoea episode for another 3 months. So 5 months in total.

I had it once. It was weeks before it finally got diagnosed. I was living overseas and it was mid-Covid (relevant: I hadn't travelled anywhere else) and my doctor was adamant it could not be giardia as that "doesn't happen here" 🤔 I went private and immediately got a diagnosis. I'd lost almost two stone by this time and within two days of getting the right medicine it had cleared up! Amazing stuff.

came across this as I also think I have this!! I had a c section 5 weeks ago and my first bout of the vomiting, cramping, diarrhoea and eggy burps were 2 days after so I put it down to just after effects of the birth, but I’ve had 3 episodes since then in 5 weeks, they come and go for 48 hours. Then I’m ok for a 5/6 days and then it comes back?? So I defo feel like it’s not just a normal gastro bug as they don’t tend to come and go!! Going to phone GP tomorrow, hoping they will do a stool sample.

I had it, caught it while backpacking in Central America. The eggy burps were the worst!

I had flagyl (after a stool test at the GP) - also known as metronidazole. Made me feel sick. It's REALLY important that you don't have any alcohol while you're taking it, I was a young student and didn't think it applied to me - it was worse than the giardia!

Hope you get treatment and feel better soon x