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What Is The Cause And Treatment For Gastroenteritis?
Question: stomach pain, diarrhea, vomiting (projectile), doctors switched pain meds and came off one too quickly knew I would have withdrawal symptoms but this has gone beyond that. Have had stomach pain for over 2 week just under right breast under ribs then towards stomach. Husband had same diarrhea and sickness for 5 days. My med switch was in January from Methadone to Exalgo, got off Exalgo after 2 months trying it now on Morphine and dilaudid for extensive back problems but wondering what this stomach is...it almost felt like a Norovirus with the symptoms but I went away for 5 days while husband was sick now home, stomach pain is back and bad smell in nose and taste in mouth is starting up again for me. I thought I was over this.
Brief Answer:
Likely to be a stomach bug.
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thanks for trusting us with your health concern.
It sounds like you are experiencing gastroenteritis. Since you were off for 5 days, a change in dietary habits and intake of contaminated food may cause stomach upset which is causing the frequent pains and other symptoms.
1. You can start by eating soft, bland food: toast, bananas, crackers, plain rice, cooked carrots, boiled potatoes, baked chicken ~ no skin, etc.
2.Have plenty of fluids and salts:Take broth, soup, fruit juices, soft fruits, or vegetables.
3.Avoid the following foods: Dairy (milk, cheese, yogurt, etc.), Cold drinks - stick to warm tea or water as long as symptoms persist, Raw fruits and vegetables, fried & greasy food and fast food, spicy food, caffeine,etc.
If the symptoms are not relieved , medical treatment might be needed after proper examination.
You can take an over the counter anti spasmodic and anti emetic till then. Consulting a gastroenterologist will help.
Please feel free to discuss further. I will be glad to answer the follow up queries that you have.
Wishing you good health.
Regards.
Dr. Rakhi Tayal.
For future query, you can directly approach me through my profile URL http://bit.ly/Dr-Rakhi-Tayal
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Dr. Tayal, you answered my question but why would I get over it , go out of state for 5 days , then when returning to the home I am feeling sick again and getting the pain in my stomach. Can it reoccur and keep reoccurring? Like I said my husband had it while I was gone. But before I left I was sick for approx. 2 mos. after coming off the pain meds and being switched so some of it I know was from meds. But the month of Feb, I have been dealing with this bug or whatever it is. Today I am nauseated, have a headache and stomach pain but not as bad as before. Can you explain Gastroenteritis to me?One more thing , my husbands diarrhea was green. Mine was not but I was so bad that I almost went to hospital for dehydration. I had to suck water from a cloth for 2 days. Mine was all liquid , bile and just water. I didn't have any blood in stool , no green stool, nothing...and can gastroenteritis can be cleared forever or is this going to be a reoccurring thing with me from now on and are my meds that I am on going to aggravate the condition more.
Brief Answer:
Can be treated with antibiotics.
Detailed Answer:
Hello.
Thanks for writing again.
Gastroenteritis is infection of the intestines. It can recur if an incomplete treatment is taken. It is possible that earlier your treatment was not complete and now you are having a second episode after a gap of 5 days.
You can get a stool test done to find out the type of infection you have.
It can be treated completely with the help of medicines. Please do not worry.
Green stool often indicates that food has passed through the intestines faster than normal (called decreased bowel transit time), before it could be changed from green to brown.
It can happen due to diarrhea, anxiety and stress, laxative use, antibiotic use, irritable bowel syndrome, etc. A recent change in the diet may also cause change in stool color.
You need to start with proper antibiotics after investigations.
Hope my answer is helpful.
If you do not have any clarifications, you can close the discussion and rate the answer. Wish you good health.
Regards
Note: For further follow up on digestive issues share your reports here and Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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