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Suggest Treatment For Abdominal Cramps And Diarrhea
Question: I have had stomach/abdominal cramps and diarrhea for over a week. this has caused weight loss and fear of eating. I have been drinking water to stay hydrated. Is this serious enough to require a doctors visit or is it just a long lasting stomach bug?
Brief Answer:
Please give details.
Detailed Answer:
Hi.
Thanks for your query.
To recapitulate: Female/58 - week long cramps with diarrhea - taken Imodium, Pepto Bismol, Cuturel - weight loss - fear of eating - drinking water to stay hydrated - wants to know whether serious enough to visit a Doctor or just a long lasting stomach bug...
Please give some additional information for me to assist you better:
Frequency of stools per day?
Any mucus, blood in stool, consistency and smell of stool?
How many Imodium have you taken, whether it helped?
Any nausea, vomiting, fever, chills, body ache?
Any medical condition like thyroid problem, diabetes?
Answers to these will help me to assist you better.
Usually stomach bug does not last so long nor it causes weight loss or fear of eating. Hence it is better to have clinical evaluation, examination and investigations to get a proper diagnosis and proper treatment.
Till then go for Electrolyte solution, plain water alone is not sufficient.
Please give details.
Detailed Answer:
Hi.
Thanks for your query.
To recapitulate: Female/58 - week long cramps with diarrhea - taken Imodium, Pepto Bismol, Cuturel - weight loss - fear of eating - drinking water to stay hydrated - wants to know whether serious enough to visit a Doctor or just a long lasting stomach bug...
Please give some additional information for me to assist you better:
Frequency of stools per day?
Any mucus, blood in stool, consistency and smell of stool?
How many Imodium have you taken, whether it helped?
Any nausea, vomiting, fever, chills, body ache?
Any medical condition like thyroid problem, diabetes?
Answers to these will help me to assist you better.
Usually stomach bug does not last so long nor it causes weight loss or fear of eating. Hence it is better to have clinical evaluation, examination and investigations to get a proper diagnosis and proper treatment.
Till then go for Electrolyte solution, plain water alone is not sufficient.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Frequency of stools per day? 10 or more
Any mucus, blood in stool, consistency and smell of stool? No mucus or blood. soft to loose, no identifying odor.
How many Imodium have you taken, whether it helped? I was taking several per day - helped in the beginning but then only slightly.
Any nausea, vomiting, fever, chills, body ache? Some nausea, no vomiting, occasional low grade fever, chills during or following diarrhea episode.
Any medical condition like thyroid problem, diabetes? none
Any mucus, blood in stool, consistency and smell of stool? No mucus or blood. soft to loose, no identifying odor.
How many Imodium have you taken, whether it helped? I was taking several per day - helped in the beginning but then only slightly.
Any nausea, vomiting, fever, chills, body ache? Some nausea, no vomiting, occasional low grade fever, chills during or following diarrhea episode.
Any medical condition like thyroid problem, diabetes? none
Brief Answer:
As discussed in details below.
Detailed Answer:
Sincere thanks for your detailed feedback.
It indicates bacterial origin as it is not being controlled by Imodium, occasional low grade fever with chills and more than 10 per day.
I would advise you the following in such a situation:
Consult your Doctor for clinical evaluation, examination and investigations of stool, blood and urine.
Get started o proper antibiotic if there is an evidence of infection on clinical basis or investigations.
Also get started on a PPI like Omeprazole, Probiotics and multivitamins.
Electrolyte solutions and continue taking lots of oral fluids, soft and bland diet as you would like to.
All the best.
Please give feedback and ask further relevant queries if you feel that there is a gap of communication.
As discussed in details below.
Detailed Answer:
Sincere thanks for your detailed feedback.
It indicates bacterial origin as it is not being controlled by Imodium, occasional low grade fever with chills and more than 10 per day.
I would advise you the following in such a situation:
Consult your Doctor for clinical evaluation, examination and investigations of stool, blood and urine.
Get started o proper antibiotic if there is an evidence of infection on clinical basis or investigations.
Also get started on a PPI like Omeprazole, Probiotics and multivitamins.
Electrolyte solutions and continue taking lots of oral fluids, soft and bland diet as you would like to.
All the best.
Please give feedback and ask further relevant queries if you feel that there is a gap of communication.
Note: Revert back with your health reports to get further guidance on your gastric problems. Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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