Severe stomach upset -- cause for concern or not?

[robert@fm]

As the thread title says, I currently have a very bad tummy upset -- passing copious amounts of liquid from my rear end (I'm about to down 2x500ml bottles of Sainsbury's Caledonian spring water to tackle the consequent dehydration) and suffering pain and general unwell feelings.

Pre-Dx I would have dealt with this by sucking a few extra-strong peppermints, or by cooking myself something with enough garlic to stun a vampire half a mile away; neither of these is practical at the moment, although I suppose I could go out tomorrow and get me the fixings for peppermint tea.

What should I do; should I just rest and recuperate (and perhaps self-medicate), or is something like this serious enough to warrant GP/A&E attention?

 

[Robster65]

I know that there are outbreaks of norovirus about at the moment, so it's possible that it's that.

I would contact NHS Direct for a better diagnosis. They're closing a lot of wards in these parts and urging people to stay away, so don't go to A&E just yet.

If you can get hold of some rehydration powder too, it will replace your electrolytes, which will help your recovery.

There are certain foods which help to settle your stomach once you are past the worst but prob just fluids for now.

But deffo ring NHS Direct if you're concerned.

Rob

 

[Northerner]

I hope you are feeling much better this morning Robert. I would normally have recommended calling NHS Direct, but know that you can have some problems using the phone, so I was looking to see if there were alternate methods of getting help from them, but couldn't find anything. You can email them, but their promised response time is 5 days! 😱 Couldn't find whether you could text them. There must be some way of getting help, but it's not obvious, perhaps they intend that you just use their website symptom checker?

 

[Copepod]

As well as offering advice by phone, NHS Direct also has an oline symptom checker - see https://www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk/CheckSymptoms/SATs/aaRouterWeb.aspx Will give anser depending on what medication you are taking for diabetes and / or anything else.

Not sure what is your issue with using phone? If it's hearing, then worth approaching one of the Deaf charities, who may have information about getting information by text on mobile phone, for example. If it's psychological, then you could turn up at GP surgery and ask to speak with a nurse or GP - sounds like it's not really an A&E situation, but NHS Direct symptom checker is a better way of determining that than my comments.

If you finish all your bottled water, then there's no reason not to drink tap water to maintain hydration. Nothing wrong with a peppermint sweet, either - mint might help settle your stomach / guts, and there's not much sugar in a single sweet. Mint tea (or ginger, usually with lemon) is also a good gut settler. Basically, with an infection, the priority has to be keeping yourself adequately hydrated, and less concerned about blood glucose levels, although obviously you don't want to send you levels too high.

 

[robert@fm]

Thanks for the replies; I know that peppermint and garlic (though probably not together😱) are good folk remedies for stomach upsets, but I'd forgotten that ginger is another such...

 

[Pumper_Sue]

Thanks for the replies; I know that peppermint and garlic (though probably not together😱) are good folk remedies for stomach upsets, but I'd forgotten that ginger is another such...

Hi Robert, glad to see you up and posting hope you are feeling better this morning.
I have been told flat coke is meant to be very good for tummy upsets. Must admit my tum is churning at the thought of that though.

 

[MCH]

Thanks for the replies; I know that peppermint and garlic (though probably not together😱) are good folk remedies for stomach upsets, but I'd forgotten that ginger is another such...

Hopefully you are getting better as I write, but if things aren't improving, get in touch with NHS 24. I didn't and ended up passing out and fracturing my humerus! - you can't be too careful.

 

[imtrying]

I take it you don't want to take something like immodium??

I hope you're feeling much better today 🙂