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Post by lagatta on Sept 30, 2016 13:58:51 GMT
What causes this nasty condition (I mean occasionally, in generally healthy people, who have access to clean drinking water and refrigeration of food)? And what is best to do, other than obviously keep drinking water and only eat boring, bland food.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 30, 2016 17:27:50 GMT
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Post by chexbres on Sept 30, 2016 18:20:54 GMT
Eat small amounts of plain boiled white rice, applesauce and drink flat Coke or Sprite.
You just have to wait it out, unfortunately.
I ate a bad oyster in Paris on New Year's Eve eight years ago and was sick with "the gastro" for 3 entire weeks.
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Post by onlyMark on Sept 30, 2016 18:36:49 GMT
Whatever you do, (you meaning 'one'), don't take something like Immodium to block yourself up. Whatever is causing it needs to be flushed out.
I've suffered on a couple of occasions with Giardiasis and it was dire for quite a few days. Keeping hydrated is the key, it isn't so important to eat unless you feel like it. It won't usually do anyone any harm to go without for a day or two but after that, best stick to what you can keep easily down.
Flat coke, as mentioned, but not too much of it, but water with electrolyte powder is good. If you can't get hold of the rehydration powder because you are in the middle of the desert or somewhere, then a mix of water, sugar and salt (to taste) will do for a while.
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Post by lagatta on Sept 30, 2016 21:30:42 GMT
I'm sure I could find rehydration powder, but does it contain a lot of sugar?
I'm feeling much better, but a bit weak and dizzy. It was pretty much only plain rice and rice noodles at first (not the best in terms of GMI, but I ate very little); I don't eat apples or drink fizzy drinks. Yes, I've been drinking a lot of water, and some herbal teas (infusions). Fresh ginger in hot water is good.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 30, 2016 21:39:40 GMT
Frankly, I would only worry about rehydration if I had dysentery or typhoid.
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Post by fumobici on Oct 1, 2016 0:54:54 GMT
I was awoken Tuesday night/Wednesday morning by acute gastric distress. It was damn unpleasant but I decided to ride it out. I got no sleep after that and couldn't eat anything for almost 48 hours--whatever I tried to swallow came right back up. The next day, Wednesday, was if anything even a little worse, all I could do was to lay in bed moaning in pain. That evening I seriously considered going to the Emergency Room at the nearest hospital, a place I haven't visited in over twenty years. The next day Thursday, however, was markedly better--even though I still felt like complete shit, at least I could sleep a little and sit up or be on my feet for a half hour before I became weak and dizzy and had to lay down in bed again. Today saw further improvement, but I slept like a log for 12 hours, walked the dog for a bit in the morning and had to fall into bed exhausted for a couple of hours on returning home. I had some errands and shopping I really needed to get done today and managed but I felt impaired and a little unsafe driving, my cognitive processes were probably as off as if I'd consumed two glasses of wine too many.
The cause of the spell was no doubt food poisoning, I made a batch of Jerk marinated pork tenderloin and assorted vegetables and something in all the many ingredients must have been off. If I feel truly 100% again by Monday, I'll be pretty happy with that, I still have discomfort (as opposed to outright stabbing pain) and very low energy.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 1, 2016 5:01:47 GMT
I think I have been very lucky with "food poisoning." Whenever I have had anything "bad" it is ejected from my body within about six hours and after that I am almost always totally fine. In any case, no bout has ever lasted more than 24 hours.
As for diarrhea, it has never been much of a problem in my adult life. However, in the past two or three years when I have been given major doses of antibiotics for various reasons (and which I had not taken for at least 30 years), the drugs have slaughtered my intestinal fauna and flora causing liquid stool. The only way to stop it is to take something called "ultra levure" (ultra yeast) which gets things back to normal by the next day.
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Post by onlyMark on Oct 1, 2016 7:40:15 GMT
Frankly, I would only worry about rehydration if I had dysentery or typhoid. Always good to see personal opinions. I'm sure you mean that only applies to you and is not general advice. I'm sure I could find rehydration powder, but does it contain a lot of sugar? I don't know what 'a lot' is to you. But sugar/glucose isn't there to provide calories or energy, it is there because the body needs it to be able to effectively absorb the other stuff like sodium. Water still works by itself but there is no need unless feeling particularly weak and dizzy to drink anything other than water or teas, as long as at least a normal amount of fluid is consumed. It all depends how bad the runs are and for how long and if here is vomiting as well. |
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Post by questa on Oct 1, 2016 12:40:25 GMT
I have had much experience with this condition, from Travellers Tummy to Bacillary dysentery, even a family of whip worms I played host to for some months.
Mark's advice is good. Cola gives a caffeine lift that makes you feel better, white rice or mashed potato provides easily digested and soothing carbs which give energy. If you really must travel and have to use a 'blocker' any painkiller that contains codeine is as good as Immodium etc. Just make sure you drink water, small amounts frequently is best.
It is not always the food that causes runs but not washing hands before any eating or drinking is often the culprit. Our bodies are accustomed to the bugs from our own countries but we have no such protection in other places. We touch handrails, crafts in markets, shake hands with people etc.then go sit in a cafe touching straws or eating peanuts without a good wash.
I have had 2 serious attacks, one from a cheese sandwich on a ferry from Sumatra to Penang for which I used Noroxin. Took 5 days to settle. The other was the Bacillary Dysentery which I got in India and was ill through Pakistan into China. Noroxin didn't help and I had to get treatment from a Doctor in Kashgar. My GP at home ran tests and treated it.
When you do settle down avoid foods that are fried or have any fat in them.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 1, 2016 13:18:20 GMT
My two attacks (but not serious) happened in Karachi, Pakistan and Yogyakarta, Indonesia. My body just purged and reset, and all was back to normal within 12 hours.
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Post by htmb on Oct 1, 2016 13:51:48 GMT
Fumobici and Lagatta, hopefully you will both continue to improve and feel 100% in no time!
I have food allergies, so must be careful when eating out since symptoms can strike within minutes of consuming the wrong thing, but I did suffer a horrible bout of food poisoning many years ago. When I'm sick I typically want to be left alone, but I was so ill this one time that I needed help just getting to the toilet. My symptoms continued after all had been expelled and I was rapidly becoming dehydrated. My husband had to help me put on some clean clothes and drove me to the doctor. For me to accept this type of treatment was totally out if character, but I was just that weak and helpless.
The doctor, whose practice we had recently joined, examined me, tested me for all the bad stuff and gave me a prescription. He may even have given me an injection. I don't remember. I was alone in the examining room with him, sick as a dog, and all I wanted to do was go home and crawl back into bed. However, this man began to give me a spiel about Amway, trying to sell me on some sort of vitamin and mineral product line he was pushing. He gave me a cassette tape containing more information. There I was, sick, dehydrated, sleep-deprived and he's giving me his Amway spiel! The whole thing was surreal and if I hadn't actually had the tape in my hand as I left the office I would have though I'd been hallucinating.
Needless to say, we never returned to his practice.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 1, 2016 14:57:36 GMT
That sounds like a terrible experience, htmb. And questa, wow. Yes, wash your hands. Anytime I've been out in public now, I wash my hands as soon as I get in. Halts not only stomach but respiratory distress.
I've had food poisoning a few times, landed in the hospital once. Spaghetti Bolognese from a school cafeteria, shrimp salad and Caesar salad are three things I'll never be able to eat again in my life.
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Post by fumobici on Oct 1, 2016 15:14:02 GMT
...and so I woke up this morning as good as new. Wasn't expecting that. I think Jerk pork is now off my list of prospective menu items, but I won't really miss it either, for that sort of thing I prefer either the Mexican or SE Asian treatment anyway.
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Post by fumobici on Oct 1, 2016 15:15:58 GMT
Jeez htmb, that is definitely medical malpractice, he should have lost his licence to practice for that.
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Post by htmb on Oct 1, 2016 15:35:14 GMT
I agree, fumobici. I don't remember a lot about what happened afterwards since I was so sick, but I remember asking my husband to report the incident. Within a year, the man was no longer practicing medicine in our town, but I don't know any of the details. Maybe he was more successful selling Amway than he was at practicing medicine.  |
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Post by lagatta on Oct 1, 2016 20:32:14 GMT
I feel much better too, but not 100%... Confess I have been having just a bit of coffee every morning as I can't exist without at least a modicum of caffeine. In spite of everything, it does make me feel better. I took it as coffee on ice which also dilutes it without making it taste like diner crap. Trying to think of anything I would eat that doesn't contain at least a little oil. I certainly don't crave fatty food, but I do want some lightly sautéed things. I ate a container of this stuff, which I find is always a big help: www.biokplus.com/en_ca/products/original Different flavours, none very tasty. I have two more containers but I'll just take half of one a day for the next four days, and some more "normal" ewe's yoghurt that is also probiotic, but not as strong as this stuff. They also have capsules, which I carry with me when I travel abroad. Even in other developed countries, the ambient bacteria in foodstuffs and the stuff in the water can be a bit different, so it can happen. |
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Post by onlyMark on Oct 1, 2016 21:31:26 GMT
lagatta, mentally feeling better outweighs to me any actual physical disadvantage. What I am trying to say is yes, eat and drink what is recommended, but if having a coffee makes you feel better, if having something lightly sautéed makes you feel better, then do so. You are poorly, you're not on death's door and need immediate intervention.
If I'm ill I'll eat whatever I fancy (within reason) as a treat because I am ill. If you can't then, when can you?
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Post by lagatta on Oct 1, 2016 22:20:17 GMT
Yes, I'm poorly, but I'm generally in good health and this is not dangerous in my case, just very disagreable. I had much less coffee than usual, and instead of tea later in the day, I'm drinking some herbal crap (oh, it's not that bad, but it isn't proper tea). I'll have a smidgen of toasted sesame oil on my carrot rice with chicken (roasted yesterday). Carrot rice: www.vegrecipesofindia.com/carrot-rice-recipe/ but obviously I didn't use all those spices, and none of the hot ones: just some fresh ginger added with the rice and broth (mine is NOT vegetarian, there is some poultry stock along with water) and at the end some cumin and caraway, which I find soothing. |
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Post by questa on Oct 1, 2016 23:03:36 GMT
When you are travelling and have to keep moving, it can knock the strength out of you. It is easy to get to the point where all you can do is walk slowly from toilet to toilet and miss the things you came to see. My classic was the Taj Mahal. I walked the path from the famous seat at the beginning of the pool right up to the steps of the glorious building then knew I had to 'go'. No toilets nearby...had to struggle back to the facilities near the entrance gate. Three cleaning ladies chatting there saw how sick I was and found a chair and an electric fan for me to rest in comfort. I knew I could not walk the distance again so I never saw the inside of the Taj. I did get to meet some lovely ladies in the cleanest toilets in India though.
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Post by onlyMark on Oct 2, 2016 5:24:10 GMT
Just to mention - "Curry Powder is a popular spice mix that has a number of valuable health benefits, including the prevention of cancer, protection against heart disease, reduce Alzheimer’s disease symptoms, ease pain and inflammation, boost bone health, protect the immune system from bacterial infections, and increase the liver’s ability to remove toxins from the body." www.organicfacts.net/health-benefits/herbs-and-spices/health-benefits-of-curry-powder.html |
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Post by mossie on Oct 2, 2016 16:02:30 GMT
ISTR having to swallow large quantities of sulphaguanadine? tablets, which rapidly reappeared initially. I had bacillary dysentery twice, the first dose was the worst, I lost about 25 pounds in about a week the flesh just melted off me. I went from skinny to severely malnourished in not very easy stages.
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Post by lagatta on Oct 2, 2016 19:56:36 GMT
Horrors. Where did this happen?
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Post by onlyMark on Oct 2, 2016 20:10:10 GMT
Sounds like Egypt.
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Post by mossie on Oct 3, 2016 14:50:56 GMT
Got it in one Mark. One epidemic saw the sick quarters swamped with over 200 cases, about a quarter of the unit strength. They discovered there was a carrier working in the airmens mess!!! The toilets were bucket and chuck it and the product was collected by the locals in the so called "honey cart". They spread it on their fields to grow water melons, which they sold to us. Happy days.
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Post by onlyMark on Oct 3, 2016 16:43:36 GMT
It was always still advised never to eat water melon in Egypt. Even now they do the same and using Nile water for irrigation is not the healthiest of things. I never ate it at all when I lived there for that reason. Dysentery is still fairly rife and many have it without knowing, just spread it around, especially in the food service industry.
I felt poorly once and went to the doctor there. He took some samples and told me to come back in a week. I did so and he said he has the results and I have Hermes.
I said don't you mean Herpes.
He said, "No. You're a carrier".
Whilst I was in the country there was a big archaeological find in Luxor.
They found Mummy that was covered in chocolate and peanuts.
Apparently he was called Pharoah Rocher.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 3, 2016 23:32:23 GMT
I've had food poisoning a few times, landed in the hospital once. Spaghetti Bolognese from a school cafeteria, shrimp salad and Caesar salad are three things I'll never be able to eat again in my life. My absolutely favourite food as a child was fried scallops, but after an "incident" I thought I would never eat them again. But about ten years later, I ate some prepared differently (albeit with trepidation) and it broke the curse, so now I can enjoy them in any way shape or form again. It allowed me to discover that even though it takes a bit of forcing oneself at first, it is possible to get over other similar aversions quite easily with a bit of willpower. After all you know deep down that those items -- spaghetti bolognese, shrimp salad and caesar salad -- are not guilty but rather the places that served them incorrectly. So I hope that you will not deprive yourself forever. There is also the alcohol department. Normally people never accuse a stomach bug for the awful thing that happened, but they never want to drink that item again. While it probably would be good to find a reason to swear off all alcohol forever, that does not seem to happen -- just the guilty item. In my own experience, I stayed away from rum for about 15 years, but I have slowly rehabilitated it, even if it is not my favourite drink (not that it was even at the time of the 'incident'). It is just a shame to be repulsed by totally innocent things just because we were stupid in our youth. |
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Post by htmb on Oct 3, 2016 23:50:30 GMT
Scotch on the rocks at twenty. Great going down; not so good coming back up. I tried it again many years later and, while it no longer completely repulsed me, I found it to be not to my taste at all.
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Post by questa on Oct 3, 2016 23:55:21 GMT
The condition has many different popular names. Bali belly, Delhi belly, Montezuma's revenge, the trots (maybe not as severe as the runs?) and others.
What names have others heard used? (without getting too graphic)
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Post by lagatta on Oct 6, 2016 23:40:43 GMT
By the way, I feel really well now, if a bit tired. A bit wary of eating certain foods, such as a lot of salad. Tonight I braised some (very good) chicken legs with vegetables: red onions, roll-cut celery, thinly sliced carrot and mild peppers (poivrons).
I went out for supper last night with friends and was fine eating and drinking a bit of wine and bubbly (cava and prosecco) but I didn't eat or drink much.
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