Gastroenteritis - any self-help advice please!

You poor thing - it is really grim when you have this.

Make sure you have plenty of liquids - and rehydrat is good as it puts back all the good things that you are draining away.

I always stick to just liquids till it gets better.

Sometimes you can seem to relapse because you eat too much too soon, but it is important to see the doc if it persists and your remedies are not working.

I do hope that you feel better soon. What a way to start the new year.

Dioralyte? Sachets from Boots keeps you hydrated but also replaces electrolytes lost in the D&V. Grated apple is supposed to help. Eggs are "binding" but might be too much for a system struggling to overcome a nasty bug. Maybe you should just stick to clear fluids for a day or so until your systems recovers (and it will!!)

MY ex had a severe and quite prolonged attack of gastroenteritis that eventually cleared up when I put him on the BRAT diet, an American idea that I found on the internet. You have lots of water but all you eat is bananas, rice, apple sauce and toast - all quite plain with nothing added. The theory is that these foods are neutral to the gut. I think we skipped the apple sauce bit, but just stuck to the other foods - plain boiled white rice, incidentally.

Could be noro virus which lasts a few days and clears up on its own but it's best to keep to lots of clear fluids and take plenty of rest. I have had NV twice and found it best to avoid fibre, dairy products and other proteins. This was also a good regime for a nasty tropical dysentery I once had but won't go into detail on that. When I felt I could cope with solids, bread and honey filled the gap. Take care. On the bright side, this could be an effective post-Christmas de-tox.

Had this before Christmas (Norovirus), clear fluids, diet coke to replace electrolytes and also stops the nausea, plain biscuits (ginger nuts helped) and sit it out (no pun intended) I'm afraid.

If it does not get better by tomorrow- go to the docs and get checked out. If you have a little container and a plastic or wooden spoon- take a sample with you. Sorry, I know it is awful and so embarrassing.

I had the same thing happen 2 years ago when visiting the UK- and it was diabolical. In the end went to visit the surgery with a sample, and it came back (it takes a few days for the test to be conclusive) as campylobactor. The effects lasted for quite a long time- but as said Anno- a good (really bad actually) to lose weight quickly. Horrible, so I truly emphathise with you.

Pepto Bismol and boiled white rice to bind. Sips of water to start then build up fluid intake has always been my remedy for D & V. When the stomach has settled I start off with soup and dried toast.

Hope you feel better soon Rowantree

Thank you all for your suggestions
Don't think we have any bananas that aren't rotting (and neither of us is able to go and buy any!) but white rice and toast sound a good plan. I'm wondering whether the soup was too heavily spiced and rich for the time being, plus I had some yoghurt, as well as some butter on a roll. I'll cut the dairy for now! Resigned to a day in and out of bed again, though hoping to get some washing and tidying done. I always feel so guilty doing nothing

granjura is exactly right. prolonged symptoms of diarrhoea need a proper diagnosis and for that a specimen will be required. having had Campylobacter (the most common form of food poisoning and dysentery from a badly cleaned swimming pool in Ibiza - the whole hotel got it) I can tell you that you can get pretty run down and the system needs support so GP advice is crucial. It may well be Norovirus but do get it checked. I hope you are feeling better soon- much good advice on here re fluids but medication to 'stop you up' should be taken with caution - the body is trying to rid itself of this toxin and you could be just prolonging the symptoms - see your GP.

I would stick with a consommé initially. As for housework, just ignore it, your health is more important

Before the rehydration sachets became widely available our GP used ro recommend slightly flat lemonade or cocacola, you may have some of that in the house.

Then plain toast, white rice or plain tea biscuits.
A Health visitor once recommended milky food for DD which she said 'binds' but I don't agree, I think bugs feed on milk.
Hope you feel better soon, but if not do get tested as others suggest.

I always stick to the water only until sickness has stopped then progress to dry toast and tea without milk. Most foods will irritate an inflamed bowel.

You can easily make rehydration salts at home. No need to buy it.

www.provident-living-today.com/Rehydration-Formula.html

I understand aid agencies promote these simple remedies but in the more remote places they work they also often have a problem with getting clean water.

I agree roseq. A GP once told me to give DS2 milky cornflakes when he had severe diarrhoea. I listened but did not obey and DS got better quite quickly.

I and my son also got a dose of this when we were on holiday in Bulgaria (never again!). Many of the people in our hotel were struck down and we eventually identified the source as being the swimming pool. When I got home, I had an attack of migraine every day for a week and couldn't go to work.

How terrible it is that in some parts of the world people run this risk every day through lack of clean water and sanitation. It must be awful to feel so ill and not even have a nearby toilet.

Flat coca cola (not the diet sort)

GP recommend flat coke to my brother gradually building to plain food, as mentioned rice and toast.

But not for children.

Flat coke or Irn Bru which has more ginger in it.

I gave it to DDs and now GDs who were told it was for medicinal purposes and because it does work.

I'm on day three now, I tried a cup of coffee this morning and let's say things didn't go down that well... I am living on elderberry cordial, I came to the conclusion that hot and sweet was what I wanted. No food the first day, a pastry from sainsbury's yesterday and a slice of toast this morning. Dbh is determined to try me on fish tonight. I'm not sure but I'm willing. This is the second time I have had norovirus, it's delightful. Straight on top of a disgusting cold, too. Plain rice, a bit of bread, maybe pasta, but everything tastes wrong unless it's sweet to me. I'm a bit nervous about that fish, I could handle white but I bet it's swordfish or something.

Cold fizzy water, cold apple juice, I just could not face anything else when I had it. Nasty, but afterwards appetite returned with a bang!

I would avoid anything with fruit or veg as they are purgatives.

Well, I suppose coca cola does taste like medicine ( horrible stuff, the taste would make me feel more ill!)

Yes I can remember having a really nasty dose - couldn't even keep fluids down for a while and phoned the Dr after the children asked me to help them with their homework and I couldn't make sense of it. He advise drinking rice water and flat coke (yuk)

I can remember also whilst doing my degree looking at D&V in what was then known as 3rd world countries (very non-PC now) and the children were given if I remember correctly three fingers and thumb of sugar + 2 fingers of salt to water - can't remember how much liquid though so that is no good!!!