Stomach Problems/Parasitic and other Infections - Bowel Disorders Message Board

09-03-2002, 08:44 AM

Hi,

Has anyone had any experience with parasitic and other stomach infections? What I mean by other infections, is bacterial stomach infections rather than viral? Are they hard to clear?

I do have other stomach problems myself, but these are now very much under control, however, I went to France about a month ago and came back with what I thought was a stomach virus. I had stomach pains, diarrhea and vomiting. This cleared naturally and I seemed to be ok.

This afternoon though I have started to have severe stomach pains. My belly button is very sore and then just below it and then the pain is mostly located around the left hand side of my stomach. I have had several episodes of profuse watery diarrhea and have just got of fthe toilet now after having to sit there for the best part of 30 mins. I think I have a fever also. I have not vomited though and have been taking sips of water, although no actual food.

Do you think that this could be a recurrance of what I thought was a stomach virus from a month back and should I see a doc for a stool sample. Is this something that might need antibiotics?

Thanks. I am now off to hibernate in bed with a heat pad on my belly until I feel better.

Cheers

Sarah

Bettawrekonize1 · 09-03-2002, 09:47 PM

I would definitely suggest seeing a doctor first. If the doctor doesn’t help then get a second opinion. After seeing a doctor then it would be a good idea to talk to us for additional information (if you wish). Good luck.

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Life is in the Blood

Harry · 09-03-2002, 10:28 PM

Sarah,

I have been tested for gardia several times with no success. I think tests for parasites are not as reliable as we would like them to be--- I know one Doctor that only uses a Lab in North Carolina because he does like the test results from the labs around here. The people I have known with posible parasite infections were given a 10 day round of Flagyl and it seem to work. It is a very effective and powerful antibiotic---as you probably already know.

I once was given it years ago and it cleaned out all the bacteria out of my GI tract and I had a bad case of yeast infection--- that gave me problems then but now I know what to do with Candida problems.

I wish you well.

By the way I had a CBC and Ferritin blood test done last Friday. My hemoglobin that went to 8.4 because of diverticular bleeding(lost about 1/2 my blood) is now 15.5 and Ferritin is 49 ---normal range of 27 to 300. My colon surgery was 6 months ago today. I sure have taken alot of Iron and other vitamins and supplements since then.

God Bless---Harry

09-04-2002, 05:09 PM

Hi Harry,

Thanks for that. Glad you are feeling better. 15.5 is a better Hb than mine is now.

I went to the doc this afternoon and told him what had happened. He had me lie on the couch so he could see my belly and when he touched the lower left hand side of my belly, I went through the roof. He also got a stethascope out and listened to my belly. Well, the good news is that he does not think that I have giardia or any kind of parasite. When I came back from France I had a stomach virus when I got home. This seemed to clear and I thought nothing of it and it all started up again, so the doc thought that this was a residual infection from the first infection that started again because I had not properly got rid of the first bug. He said that as I had such acute pain in my belly - right over my gut, that he felt that there was a lot of infection and inflammation in that area and that I may even have some diverticular pockets that were inflammmed. He said that I would need an antibiotic and gave me a five day course of Ciproxin 500mg twice a day to kill it off.

Here's hoping that it does the trick. Well, at least my fever has gone down and my belly is a little less sore than it has been. I am taking the Acidophilis though.

Anyway, thanks again.

Sarah