I can barely make it to the bathroom in time...

[CTyankee]

I came back from California on Oct. 31stt and have had explosive diarrhea off and on since then. My guess was that I had caught a virus while being in an airplane for 6 hours. But today is Dec. 23rd and I am still experiencing it. I'm treating the symptoms with Immodium and Dramamine for my nausea.

Now I've had to cancel Christmas with my family. I was able to order some stuff online but will miss the festivities. I am feeling so damn weak, too.

I'll go to my pcp next week but I think he'll tell me the same thing I already know. But it will make me feel better not to have to worry.

[auntAgonist]

1. Please try to stay hydrated! I know that's lame advice. I hope you feel better soon.

Drink gingerale or ginger tea for the nausea. Can you buy Vernors gingerale where you are?

[TreasonousBastard]

2. Two months of this? Good thing you're seeing a doctor. I've had similar bugs that lasted...

a day or two, but this long is scary.

[mercuryblues]

3. No. It is not a virus.

Not for 2 months. There is something else wrong with you. Insist on a full checkup, including an MRI or cat scan. Stop taking Imodium the prolonged use can be contributing to the diarrhea and nausea.

[CTyankee]

11. I have a gastroenterologist. Maybe I'll skip the pcp and go directly to the specialist. I've seen

him before but for a different reason.

[Nay]

14. Yes, you should go straight to your gastro. In fact, call him up tomorrow and tell the office how

long you've had your symptoms and they'll probably want to see you right away. If there is only an emergency number because the office is closed, call it. IIRC, you are in your 60's or 70's? They'll surely rush you right in.

It could be a parasite (like giardia) that your body is having trouble fighting and eliminating. Did you drink any iffy water or eat something from a food truck in California?

In any case, you need to see someone quickly because you may become dehydrated and/or lose too many nutrients by waiting.

[CTyankee]

15. I will call first thing tomorrow. Hubby can probably get me there, altho he has physical therapy

on Mondays. We'll just have to work around it.

[Nay]

18. I'm glad to hear that. Obviously you are well enough to post here, but don't

mess around with symptoms that have lasted that long, esp diarrhea. It's definitely something that needs to be looked at right away in your case, since it's been 2 months.

You'll have to come back and tell us which of the DU internet doctors was correct. LOL.

[SCRUBDASHRUB]

19. Definitely go to the gastroenterologist.

Could be irritable bowel syndrome or irritable bowel disease such as ulcerative colitis, which I have. Obviously, I'm not a doctor but I was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis in 1990. It's treatable but be sure to get checked out. I would say better safe than sorry.


Good luck, and keep us posted.

[dlk]

4. Have You Been Tested for Crohn's Disease?

[CTyankee]

5. No. Is that something I should be tested for?

[democratisphere]

6. Yes. Get off the Imodium immediately! Lots of liquids till you see the doctor.

Get to the doc immediately.

[3Hotdogs]

12. Why to abandom Imodium?

[democratisphere]

22. Here.

Read ALL carefully

https://www.everydayhealth.com/drugs/loperamide

[luvs2sing]

7. Have you taken antibiotics in the last few months?

If so, get checked for CDiff.

[packman]

9. I learned that almost ALL antibiotics cause loose bowel problems

Been on and off them due to dental problems and , believe me, they can affect your bathroom problems. Have to stick to the BART diet when on them - B= bananas, A= apple sauce, juice , R= rice (white nothing on it), T= toast(plain and simple). Nothing spicy, nothing fried, nothing greasy.

[CTyankee]

16. P picked up babas and apple sauce today. Also yogurt.

[CTyankee]

24. I now remember that I HAD taken two different antibiotics for a urinary tract infection...

the doc put me on Nitrofurantoin and after taking 5 days worth of that, I called him and said I still felt the same pain so he put me on Cipro and I took that for another 5 days. That must have been the proximate reason for this episode.

Now I feel much better and my bowels are better, too. I am a little weak, however, from the siege of my body. So I rest often. After all, I am 79 years old...

[NCjack]

8. Sounds like what happened to my wife. She had diverticulitis, which

required emergency surgery to remove a section of the lower intestine. Don't delay -- call your PCP for an appointment.

[CTyankee]

17. I have had diverticulosis. It was no fun.

I haven't been drinking iffy water or something off a food truck.

[LunaSea]

10. Infographical shit...

[Cousin Dupree]

13. You need medical attention, and not next week! If you had to cancel Christmas you are sick.

Need to be seen today or tomorrow. Please don’t delay.

[CTyankee]

20. I am in agreement there. How enjoyable can you be celebrating Christmas sitting in an adult

diaper.

[question everything]

21. In the meantime, get yogurt with active culture

[CTyankee]

23. I did today, along with applesauce and bananas...

[pansypoo53219]

26. i take acidopholous(sp?) if i take anti-biotics. hate yogurt.

[PennyK]

25. Take a probiotic!!!!

Like Imodium. You need to replenish the healthy bacteria in you digestive tract.

[CTyankee]

27. I'm taking Immodium. Couldn't function without it!

[Lithos]

28. A couple of things I keep semi-stocked

Bone Broth, Applesauce, Pro-biotics (take one everyday) and Cinnamon.

Applesauce and cinnamon (as much as you can mix in) nips the common stuff fairly fast.

BTW, you could have gotten one of several childhood stomach bugs - ex: Hand/Foot disease things. You could have had a sick kid (or adult) on the flight ahead of you - those things are extremely contagious.

L-

[greatauntoftriplets]

29. Have you seen a doctor yet?

It's crucial that you see one ASAP. Go to the ER if necessary.

[CTyankee]

30. I'm calling for an appt. on Monday with my gastroenterologist.

Hope to see him very soon. I'll stress that I am not well and he'll understand.

[Jane Austin]

31. You should call your doctor and ask if you can try a prescription for

Flagyl.

It's a digestive system antibiotic.

If you have giardia or other critter in your intestines, that may fix you up in no time.

If not, no harm done.

I have spent enough time around puppies and out in the country that a very wise internist said, when I consulted him for symptoms like yours, "I could give you a lot of tests, or I could give you Flagyl and see if that doesn't work for you."

It did.

You really need to get this stopped soon.

Good luck!

[CTyankee]

32. I enjoy a couple of glasses of wine in the evening. Can Flagyl be taken in that case?

[Jane Austin]

35. I don't see why not.

But ask the doc who prescribes the Flagyl to you.

[Maggiemayhem]

33. Have Dr check for C Diff

[Blue_playwright]

34. Hope you are better but if not...

There is a bacterial thing that is common in dogs but we are generally resistant to - I had a similar thing to what you have for more than three weeks (I was so sore I had to use diaper rash ointment) one summer. My liquid poo was also frequently acid green. My doctor could not figure it out and kept giving me different medications but I took my pets in for their yearly exams and apparently looked like shit myself. The vet asked me some questions and when I hit the acid green part he said he knew what it was and gave me a pack of dog pills. I’ve known him for 25+ years so I trust him and I took the little blister pack of several pills.

I shit you not, I took pills for a Mastiff-sized dog for two days and it cleared right up. Three or more weeks of misery and sitting on the toilet solved because the vet knew some humans could get sick from a bacterium that generally targets dogs.