Tummy bug (gastro-enteritis)

I sympathise and hope that this post catches you at a good time
🫤
Usually if it’s something I’ve eaten (that’s off ) then the problems start around 2 hours after.

Anything that takes a while to cause problems could be unwashed salad leaves, or even contamination on the packaging, or unwashed hands? I doubt you will find out, it would be a shame if it’s the treacle tart wouldn’t it? ☹️

Hopefully by now you are asleep and your stomach has settled, if not, I hope it all settles down very soon.

On the plus side, it’s a good start to any potential diet……….

I hope you're feeling better this morning. There are so many ways that this sort of thing can happen. During the Covid outbreak, we were advised to wipe all packaging on groceries as it can carry bacteria. It's still a good idea to do this as not everyone has clean hands. The inside of shopping bags can carry germs too. In fact, it's amazing that tummy upsets don't happen more often.

Never slept a wink. Tummy ache is constant. Bright red/pink Blood on toilet paper. I do have haemorrhoids which play up occasionally. But the stomach cramps are driving me mad - thanks for reading. I have both Buscopan and Imodium , which usually settles it, but I read somewhere if there’s bleeding, you should not take it. I’m almost sure the bleeding is from the haemmoroids, but this constant niggle in the stomach is bothering me. I can’t sleep. I could be having a tummy virus.
But thanks again.

CrazyH Sorry to hear about your tummy upset it’s not a funny situation to be in - hope it goes away soon, as for you’re bleeding haemorrhoids I was prescribed a fabulous cream for mine and it wasn’t anasil it was much better, sorry I can’t remember the name but it worked magically

If this continues CrazyH you really need to contact your surgery just in case it's food poisoning.
I was very ill several years ago, caused by soup eaten at a motorway services.
Like you, I had bad stomach pain.
My GP had to notify Public health.
I had to submit stool samples for several weeks until clear.
Hoping you are not going to be as ill as I was, but you need to look after yourself and get help in good time if you think you are not improving.
Best wishes.

CrazyH - sure you know, but it is very important that you do keep drinking a lot of water. Gastro-enteritus, whatever the cause is very dehydrating, and this can make you very ill. Best to drink just plain water, and a lot of it.
Novovirus is in some hospitals at present. Do not just assune food poisening. If it carries on today, then you would be wise to contact your GP - but whatgever you do KEEP ON DRINKING WATER.

I do recall my grandmother being very poorly with similar symptoms some years ago and her GP asked her to list everything she had eaten in the previous 48 hours even though she did suspect that it was something she had eaten only a few hours previously, like the OP.

She also had to submit samples of her poo - eventually the cause was identified as a sausage roll purchased from a small local bakery.

GP advised Gran to drink Coca Cola - I can still hear her saying 'I'm not drinking that muck' - but after some cajoling on our part she complied and it worked.

If is food poisoning would suspect he salad, I never knew this but pre packed salads can easily harbour nasties that lead to food poisoning, an outbreak of ecoli recently was traced to supermarket salads. Am not saying is ecoli btw. But as someone else has said don’t discount noro virus though that is mainly vomiting as well as the runs.
Am sure you are drinking plenty, coke when flat is good, it has the minerals you need to replace.
Hope you feel better soon.

Don’t take Imodium, your body needs to evacuate your bowel, if you stop this process it could cause problems. Only take it once you are recovering i.e cramps have desisted, if you still have a nervous bowel as a result of your illness. Btw not my advice but the advice of my GP years ago when I got a bad case of food poisoning.

Poor you 😥
I second what Babs says, but please make sure you don’t allow yourself to get worse! Whether or not you contact your GP, it pays to remember that the constant diarrhea you have suffered will have ‘knocked the stuffing’ out of you/ caused you to lose valuable electrolytes which your body needs. This may be why the cramps are bad. So, something like Dioralyte from the pharmacy, drunk regularly in water throughout the day - and whilst you’re not eating - will make a world of difference whilst your body recovers. Rebalanced electrolytes will free you from possible muscle pain, weakness, fatigue, irregular heartbeat, all sorts of wobbles. Water alone will not replace what you’ll have lost. Feel better very soon 🌺

It is very likely to be norovirus, there has been a 117% rise in cases this year. Starts suddenly with projectile vomiting and explosive diarrhoea, although, like every illness symptoms can vary from person to person. Food poisoning is much rarer than people think.
Take frequent small sips of fluids, doesn’t have to be just water but would not advise milk, fizzy drinks or fruit juice and paracetamol for the pain. Sometimes peppermint tea is helpful
.If you struggle with vomiting immediately after fluids then just take a teaspoon every 5-10 minutes as you will absorb some through your mouth and the small volume is unlikely to trigger vomiting.
When you feel like eating just have what you fancy but in very small amounts at a time. If normally fit and well then seek medical advice if you have not improved within 48 hours. Do not take ibuprofen and disinfect door handle, light switches and loo flushes preferably with a bleach solution. Be obsessive about hand hygiene, soap and hot water are best. Alcohol hand gel does not kill norovirus. Hope you feel better soon, there’s a lot of it about.

If you're too poorly to go out, try dissolving a little salt and sugar in warm water and drinking that. Hope it all subsides soon.

mum2three

I hope you're feeling better this morning. There are so many ways that this sort of thing can happen. During the Covid outbreak, we were advised to wipe all packaging on groceries as it can carry bacteria. It's still a good idea to do this as not everyone has clean hands. The inside of shopping bags can carry germs too. In fact, it's amazing that tummy upsets don't happen more often.

Totally agree.

Well, it never rains but pours. My haemorrhoids have flared up, and this morning , there was a lot of blood. I had a similar episode a few years ago, the Doctor checked me and said I had some internal haemorrhoids too. Anyway, if the bleeding doesn’t settle , i will make an appointment to see the Doctor. 😫- thanks for listening and the advice

Grandmafrench

Poor you 😥
I second what Babs says, but please make sure you don’t allow yourself to get worse! Whether or not you contact your GP, it pays to remember that the constant diarrhea you have suffered will have ‘knocked the stuffing’ out of you/ caused you to lose valuable electrolytes which your body needs. This may be why the cramps are bad. So, something like Dioralyte from the pharmacy, drunk regularly in water throughout the day - and whilst you’re not eating - will make a world of difference whilst your body recovers. Rebalanced electrolytes will free you from possible muscle pain, weakness, fatigue, irregular heartbeat, all sorts of wobbles. Water alone will not replace what you’ll have lost. Feel better very soon 🌺

As Grandmafrench suggests: www.chemist-4-u.com/dioralyte-natural-electrolyte-powder-6-sachets?gad_source=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMImubTge7IiwMVKppQBh0ccRMZEAQYASABEgLsffD_BwE I went out and bought a substantial supply when I heard Norovirus was going tthe rounds.

Rice water is very good for upset stomach.

stanfordhealthcare.org/content/dam/SHC/programs-services/cancer-nutrition/docs/diarrhea-during-cancer-treatment-nutrition-tips.pdf

Does anyone remember kaolin and morphine. Came in a big brown bottle. Was so good at treating things like this.

Babs03

Does anyone remember kaolin and morphine. Came in a big brown bottle. Was so good at treating things like this.

Yes I use to buy that. Babs03

Norovirus on the whole lasts 48 hours.

I think the culprit was the salad, unlikely to be the treacle tart. If it continues tomorrow I would contact your GP because Environmental Health will have to be involved if unwashed hands are the culprit.

I hope you have a better night's sleep.

Slept much better last night - slight stomach cramps. Hopefully on the mend - will see how it goes today. If the bleed continues, I will definitely make an appointment to see the Doctor. I’m one of those who hates bothering them - I hope there’s a female doctor available.
Thank you all so much - have a lovely week xx

Probably the cream.

Glad to hear you're on the mend. I never buy bagged salad anymore since my daughter was hospitalised with ecoli after eating lettuce from a bag. Drs agreed it was that, she's a vegetarian and had only eaten the lettuce for lunch. All the very best to you now.

I feel sure the culprit was the salad, after all the treacle slice had been baked, and cream even if it is slightly off, which you would have tasted, does not usually cause a tummy upset.

I hope you are over it now, or have been in touch with your doctor if you still are ill.

Most likely the salad and could be ecoli