Violently sick 24 hours after swimming in a river

[CrazyHorse]

21yo DS went kayaking (and I assume swimming) in the river, according to DD (DS isn't up to talking atm, I'll ask him later)

He's now being violently sick, repeatedly, even though there is nothing left to come up. His body, really, really doesn't want what ever is in him to be in him! Does this sound like something caught from the river or just a general sickness bug? Does it make a difference in how I can help hiim? I've asked him only to only have sips of water.

The same thing happened 5 years ago when he swam in a ford which is now well known to be polluted.

@DeadpoolvsBlackswan. 111 advised NOT to give Ibuprofen. She said paracetamol and gaviscon.

Clearly a typo for he.

Why are people so disgusting and throw their used Sanpro down the loo?
Panty liners and tampons floating on rivers and in the sea are gross.
Bag it and bin it. ( preferably in biodegradable bags)
or use a moon cup !

Cattle slurry can also get into water courses.

We should all be getting mad with the unscrupulous water companies! It’s a disgrace.

Here is an overview of the worst offenders and how many hours they discharged raw sewage into our waterways in one year alone;

Nationalise the lot.
Greedy bastards.

@PoopedAndScooped - does kidney injury cause pain? If DS isn't in pain anymore is that be something we need to look into with the GP?

I’m seriously thinking of not paying the sewage part of my water bill in protest. If they can’t act responsibly and they put profits over our health and the health of our planet I don’t see why we the public should pay for that.

@oakleaffy - I agree re cattle slurry. FIL was brought up in rural Ireland, and last time DS was ill he said "Of course he's bloody ill if he's swimming in a river next to cows"

Whenever I had done water sports in uk or abroad rivers the instructor had advised a can of full fat coke before and after. Totally thought they were having me on at first but it's a thing, and another friend who does competitive wild swimming swears by it too.

Sharkey is a good campaigner but he and surfers against sewage sell a massively oversimplified story. It's a moral crusade against water companies that suggests sewage is the only problem.

We used to dump all sewage untreated in rivers, along with a shit ton of industrial waste. Privatisation happened to fund more infrastructure to treat waste.

I'm not saying water companies are squeaky clean but the picture is way more complicated than the campaigners make out. Water companies are easier to pick on than other people who harm river health - people driving cars, people eating cheap chicken etc. Cats, dogs, rats, wild animals all shit in or near water.

The idea we should be able to dive into any body of water with no risk to health is a bit daft. And the idea only water companies are to blame if you get sick is also daft. There's a reason swimming pools were invented.

I honestly think Sharkey and sas are building people up for a fall. If we stopped storm overflows tomorrow, people would still get sick from swimming in rivers. The public will be very disillusioned when they realise it's a more complicated issue than they were led to believe.

Btw hope your son is ok, op!

My mistake then, not unwell since Wednesday but unwell since Tuesday with the recommendation by health professionals to go to A&E?

I'm genuinely not sure if you are taking the piss here. You crack on getting drunk and maybe give your ds the money to get a taxi to A&E as advised?

Apologies as I haven't read the whole thread but sickness after river exposure can be serious. I'd say at least ring 101, or contact your GP or go to A&E immediately.

People know who Steve Redgrave is but not everybody remembers andy holmes - Andy Holmes - Wikipedia

Just keep an eye on him OP. My DS was violently sick recently and it turned out to be appendicitis.

It's shocking. I swim outdoors in a river and reservoir, make sure not to put my head under or ingest any water - luckily I'm more of a paddler than an actual swimmer! Then wash my hands after and use hand sanitiser
Probably a bit OTT but immunocompromised

Kidney injury doesnt cause pain no

I guess maybe it could but iv had it 6 times and never had pain

But its a hospital job not GP
Plus its Friday night

Vomiting started Tuesday evening.

This evening DS was in severe pain, I went online to see what 111 suggested. They telephoned me and offered an appointment at a walk in center miles away, which I declined. 111 then phoned back and diagnosed wind and suggested paracetamol and gaviscon, which it seemed to have helped, along with walking around and a hot water bottle. They said avoid ibuprofen and swimming in rivers, but did say it could be just coincidence and DS has caught a sickness bug.

DS is now wandering around the house quite happily. If he's not well in the morning I'll take him to the local walk in which will be open then, but at the moment he plans to go and help a friend mend his car.

Also, he is 21, and the decision not to go to hospital was not mine alone.

Umm aren’t you mad op? Particularly at the ‘he seems to want a lot of nursing.’ A 21 yo who is happy to make himself sick / hurt repeatedly should also be pretty prepared to look after himself in my book, I’d be expecting an apology for his stupidity since it’s obviously impacted you.

@Hairyfairy01 - why would I be taking the piss?

I'm not cracking on getting drunk- DH and I had a glass of Prosecco each in the garden after work, there's still half a bottle left, but I'm not going risk driving after consuming ANY alcohol. At the time DS was wandering around the kitchen asking what was for dinner.

No Uber was needed, as it turned out.

I still have more questions re kidneys but I'm not going to be looking for the answers from MN, as it seems this is not the place.

Yes, I did panic when DS was in pain, but it's not nice to see your child
in pain, even if it turns out to be wind.

To put it simply you have said on here you have been advised by health professionals to take him to hospital but you won't / can't. And no, you don't always know what damage is being done to your kidneys.

Ok then. So 111 told you to take him to a and e with wind. Sure they did.

And now he’s had, guess what, beans for lunch.

I took my own time to look up a link for you about Weil’s disease. I was concerned.

At best you’ve made this up for fun (hilarious well done). At worst you’re getting pissed and ignoring medical advice in your lad’s best interest, cackling with laughter (pmsl featuring in your texts?) no doubt at the concern on here.

Either way, you’re the dregs mate.

At around 21:30 tonight (well last night) you implied he was writhing in pain?

@Codlingmoths - I'm a fool, but I'm not angry) I'm sure what type of mad you mean.

DH has said DS is a massive man baby, the amount of looking after he's wanted this week. I have literally had to mop his brow with a cold flannel, change his sheets daily while he refused to get out of the bed (he could have if he wanted to) run his bath for him, open the bottle of lucozade for him.

He won't apologise: he's frequently put himself in hospital with his crazy antics, and doesn't think of the stress it causes us. He does tell
us he got lucky with his parents though.

Yes, ds was also ill last year after swimming in a river. I didn’t realise it was so bad until this thread.