Sore stomach after bug/antibx- how to fix?

[NahThen]

It's been bad the last few weeks. Nausea & soft stools, often with cramps and urgency in the mornings- this never happens.

About 3 weeks ago me and DP had either food poisoning or a stomach bug- I'm still not sure which it was- and since then things haven't been right. I've also had to take two courses of antibiotics which I'm sure haven't helped but I finished the last course at the same time as the food poisoning/bug. I've been taking kefir daily and trying to eat bland food/cut right back on dairy but nothing seems to be helping. Am I being impatient or should I get some actual medical advice?

I tried to reintroduce spices yesterday with a mild beef dish but it's set me right back and I feel awful today with bloating, nausea, indigestion and heartburn.

I can't tolerate kefir, its too acidic and your symptoms seem similar to mine, which are caused by excess acid. I also find dairy is sometimes helpful. But I avoid fats, especially butter and cream, all types of sugar and garlic.

Have you tried over the counter antacids, things like Gaviscon? They may help. As a last resort there are PPIs from the GP (or in small amounts from pharmacy) but it can be hard to stop taking them. Don't despair, these things tend to wax and wane on their own and just when you think it'll go on forever, it improves.

I'd see the Dr, did they do a stool test for you, what were the antibiotics for, they can cause cdiff. Did you see a Dr about possible food poison

Sounds like you might have C diff which I once got after antibiotics. I had a different set of antibiotics to treat it then very good probiotics to rebuild my gut flora.

Thanks all for the replies.
This week I switched the kefir for a "gut health" yoghurt a day instead but no different- I wonder if I should cut this completely. I wondered if it'd help building my gut bacteria back up but maybe I need a tablet probiotic?

@AudiobookListener I've tried Rennie's and peppermint tea which hasn't helped. I do have some omeprazole that I tried one day and I felt ok but I was still on bland food- not sure if the ppi helped or it was just a "good" day?!

@MissMoneyFairy I haven't seen the GP but wondered about asking for a stool test. The antibiotics were for a UTI- nitrofurantoin?- I didn't bother them with the food poisoning as I thought it'd just fix itself!

@Iamthemoom c diff sounds right symptoms wise except fever. I did have a fever with the bug/poisoning but haven't had it since?

OP I didn’t have a fever with cdiff - just the symptoms you mention. It was only picked up because my antibiotics were to treat a tropical parasite and they were retesting to be sure it had gone.

Oh thank goodness - I though it was only me suffering!
Mine started last Thursday morning, 3am… severe stomach cramps (knees to chest level cramps) vomiting, and very frequent diarrhoea.

Thankfully the vomiting eased off by Friday, but I could only keep tonic water in me…
Google gave me examples of what I could have, up to and including dysentery!

Cramping has only just eased off today, and I am just about eating normally, though very poor appetite, just eating what I fancy really.

I have been off work since last Thursday - I found out today that about 6 other staff have also had this bug in varying degrees.
I don’t think it’s anything I caught at home from food, I’d only eaten toast and 2 bits of malt loaf all of the previous day.
Medicine wise, I had Gaviscon - didn’t help cramps but did help with acid reflux and Imodium for cramps and diarrhoea - this did help ease it.

Wonder which bug I actually had?

Hmm that's interesting @Iamthemoom I should probably make a GP appointment and see what they think/see if I can get a test.

Since I ate lunch my cramps have ramped up, they're under my left rib and feel a bit like when you accidentally take too much laxative 🫣 if you know, you know!

Ah that sounds like a nasty bug @JeffLynnsGuitar hopefully on its way out now. I haven't had any vomiting but I'm very much NOT a sicky person, it's very rare I vomit. Though interestingly, the only two previous occasions I have had actual food poisoning, I've been very sick.. Gaviscon feels like it will soothe, I'll pick some up.

I usually err on the side of constipation so this is bizarre for me. I feel hungry but can't think of a thing I can face.

I am (possibly) such an idiot.

Around 4 weeks ago, I started taking a marine collagen supplement. My hair has been breaking really badly about 2" from the root and looking terrible, I asked my hairdresser and she recommended taking marine collagen.

Just taken my dose for the evening and had a lightbulb moment. Googled and, though it's generally ok for most, "Minor side-effects include: a feeling of heaviness in your stomach. mild diarrhoea".

Argh. I think I'll try cutting that out before I bother the GP!!