I wasn't sure where to put this, but I think it falls under the category of a "bowel disorder." (-- I also tried posting this on another board before I found this topic.) I'm going to try not to be gross, but there's really no nice way to put it... Since the 11th of the month (this is the 5th day), I've had SEVERE diarrhea IMMEDIATELY after eating, every time I eat. I don't mean 10 minutes later; I mean 1-2 minutes after I eat something tiny. For example, I tried to have a little something with substance (aside from ginger ale and water), so I had a sugar-free smoothie (8 ounces) and I was on the toilet within 2 minutes, and I feel like I diarrhea more than I had eaten in 3 days. I probably have a bowel movement (almost liquid) 7 or 8 times a day, which needless to say interferes with my daily life. I've also been nauseous, but I haven't vomited yet. What I'm nervous about is that it seems to be getting worse and not better. I don't want to be a hypochondriac and go into the doctor if it's just a stomach bug and it'll pass, but has anyone here had anything similar to it? Does it go away on it's own? My cousin (who I was around a few days ago) had something similar to this 2 weeks ago, where she drank or ate something and it immediately passed through her, but she was also vomiting and is only 15 months old. The doctor said it wasn't contagious and you'd actually have to ingest her vomit or feces to catch the virus, but I almost feel like I may have caught it! The dates don't line up though either. Hmm... Well, I'm pretty desperate for help, and I'm quite nervous because hers got so bad where her parents had to hospitalize her for 4 days! I've been able to keep down fluids, but no food for 5 days, and I'm afraid of the same happening to me. Thanks for any help!

You probably have a stomach virus or stomach flu it could even be food poisoning.

The best thing that I use is yogurt or Kefir -- both have alot of friendly bacteria. I like best Stonyfield Farms best --- it has alot of friendly bacteria that helps replaces the bad bacteria in your Gastro tract. Kefir is
loaded with friendly culures. The best kinds are sold in health food stores.

I suggest you try several teaspoons every 2 hours. Until you can handle the BRAT (bananas, rice, applesauce, Toast) type diet that is easy to digest.

I wish you well ~~~Harry

Sounds like a bug. Try using the BRAT diet a few days (Bananas, rice, apples and toast) this is for diarrhea. Oops, just saw that Harry told you that! Ok, I'm posting this anyway, this way you have TWO people telling you this! :)

Could it be a worm or parasite infection?

I'm suggestion this because your doctor said you would have had to have ingested your cousin's vomit or feces to catch her condition. This is how worm and parasite infections are typically transmitted. I know it may sound gross, but there are many ways to accidentally ingest even just a speck of someone's feces and contract the disease, espcecially if your cousin was having chronic diarhea at the time. For instance, she went to the bathrooms, wiped, touched a doorknob, and then you touched the same doorknob. Worm and parasite eggs/cysts can usually live up to a few days.
Both worm and parasite infections can be highly catching.

I'm leaning more towards a parasite infection. By parasites, I am referring to the pathogenic species in the phylum known as protozoa. Devlish unicellular microorganisms that can be problematic.

These are the most common chronic-diarrhea causig protozoan infections:

1. Ameobic Dysentery (Amoebiasis). You get loose stools with mucus and blood. It's te only pathogenic human intestinal amoeba. Your stomach acids do not destroy the organism's cysts. This condition can lead to life threatening dehydration. 3-5% of the population carries this bugger. Transmitted fecal-orally. Treated with metronidiazole (flagyl).

2. Giardiasis - Causses prolonged diarrhea (weeks), nausea, weakness, and you get a sulfur odor in your breath and stools. Rarely fatal. Source is contaminated food/wate and it can be transmitted fecal/orally. Treatment is metronidazole.

There are a few other protozoan-caused dysentaries, but these two are the most common, and easily spread. If you think you may have one of these conditions, tell your doctor, bring in a stool sample, and ask for an "ova and parasites" test.

Though a worm infection is also possible, I just don't believe that they cause massive diarrhea this quickly, at least not without some worms coming out in your stool.


2.

Hey thanks everyone! I certainly hope it's just a bug and not parasites or worms... I should mention that my sick cousin is only 15 months old, and when I saw her, she was in the hospital and I didn't go anywhere near her. I didn't use the bathroom and I kept my hands in my pockets the entire time. I also washed them three times before I left the hospital (just to be safe), used hand sanitizer when I got in the car, and took a shower when I got home (all without eating or putting anything near my mouth, nose, eyes, etc. in the mean time). She didn't have worms or parasites either... It was some sort of "Rotavirus" I believe, and even though her parents were changing her diapers, they didn't catch it either. So I think it's less than .000001% that I ingested some of her feces, especially if her own parents didn't. :confused:

Anyway, just last night I had diarrhea again, but this time very little and my stool was pale, almost white (?). I read online that that could be from the persistent diarrhea and the bile not giving the stool its normal color, plus the fact that I haven't really eaten anything. The website also said it could be hepatitis :eek: but I don't have dark urine or anything like that. Should I go into the doctor if it doesn't clear up, or is that relatively normal for this sort of bug?

I'm actually thinking of getting Pedialyte today, as crazy as that sounds, because I can't hold down ANYTHING, and if it works for babies, it may work for me as well! I just ate a jello and I already feel like I'm going to be having a bathroom emergency in a few minutes. :rolleyes:

Jello is no good... you'd have to stick with the BRAT diet. If people get diarrhea really bad, it ends up running CLEAR sometimes once it gets to the 100% liquid stage, so it being pale is totally normal (well not NORMAL, but I mean it's normal for that to happen with diarrhea - I wouldn't worry about it being hepatitis or anything. Did you try any anti diarrheal medication?? That's always worked for everyone I've known.

If it turns out not to be a bug, you definitely need to go on to the Doc with it.

Could be a dozen or so things, IBS, Diverticulitis, Chrons, polyps...and the list goes on.

I hope it will ease up and you'll feel better soon, if not............GO TO THE DOC !

GATORADE helps dehydration a LOT. ;)

you need to see a doctor no matter what is causing this . If nothing else it will relieve your anxiety. These symptoms could be coming from several sources so dont trust the web to diagnose .theres a lot of great information out there but its best to get personal medical advice. It is most likely not serious but if it is something like irritable bowel disorder , your anxiety will only make the symtoms worse. Do yourself a big favor and see your doctor. take care and let us know how youre doing

Hey thanks for the tips everyone! I called my doctor's office yesterday and they said that there's a huge bug going around, and I have it apparently. :rolleyes: I fit every criteria and the doctor even said that the complete liquid I was passing (clear liquid instead of even diarrhea) was completely normal for this type of bug. To prevent infecting other people (and because I couldn't make it off the toilet for that long), we decided that it wasn't necessary for me to be seen since it's just viral and I was not dehydrated at all... somehow I managed to keep fluids down. :confused: Anyway, I stuck to the BRAT diet today and yesterday, and it seems to be helping! I never thought I'd say this, but I'm so excited that I had normal diarrhea for a bowel movement this morning (as opposed to clear liquid). I feel a lot better as well -- not so nauseous. :) Thanks again everyone! Your advice was very helpful! :D