Tummy troubles (detailed)?

Question

I have had a few bouts of loose stool today, like 4 or 5. I have a son who's 7 months old and I have been very careful to wash my hands and handle him more carefully. I don't get nauseous and I have no fever, I've just "gone" a lot today and it's been loose. I took some Immoduim and it's subsided, but my stomach still feels I guess unstable is a good word. My husband just left for Iraq and I've not been sick before without someone, mainly him, here. I just want to know if I should be concerned or if I have something that could be contagious to my son. I don't want to not be able to care for him because I am sick or get him sick.

I make just be overyl paranoid, but I just never have been sick without my husband here. I'm just afraid to pass it to my son if it's something contagious, but I doubt it is because it's stopped now.

Oh yeah, I can't seem to spell either :)

For people who think it's a virus, I don't think it is a virus because I didn't feel sick. My stomach never hurt. I just had to "go". I'm just asking if I should be concerned and what I can do to treat it.

Answer 1

According to "The Home Remedies Handbook by Editors of Consumer Guide":Gastroenteritis-the catch-all medical term for intestinal flu, viral infection, and food poisoning-is the second leading cause of missed work time (the common cold beats it). Diarrhea is uncomfortable and unpleasant, but generally no big deal in otherwise healthy adults. However, if diarrhea becomes a chronic condition, the situation changes. If it affects the very young, the elderly, or the chronically ill, it can be dangerous. And if you're not careful to drink enough fluids, you could find yourself complicating what should have been a simple situation. Because the condition generally lasts only a few days, doctors don't usually culture the stool to diagnose what started it in the first place. It's most often due to a viral infection, which antibiotics can't fight. You just have to tough it out for a couple of days. The virus has invaded the bowel, causing it to absorb excessive fluid, which leads to the watery stools. You may also experience cramping, nausea and vomiting, headache, fever, malaise, and even upper-respiratory-tract symptoms, such as a runny nose.
One clue: If members of your family all get sick, but at different times, it's likely a virus that got passed around. Bacteria, which often cause traveler's diarrhea in certain parts of the world, can also be responsible for diarrhea as the result of food poisoning. Much rarer are microbes like amoebae and giardia that try to set up permanent housekeeping in your bowel, causing diarrhea that lasts for weeks or months. You can get these from contaminated foor or water, public swimming pools, and communal hot tubs. Certain drugs, especially antibiotics, can have diarrhea as a side effect. Magnesium-containing antacids and artificial sweeteners such as sorbitol are often overlooked culprits. Unless diarrhea persists, you usually don't find out its cause. Treatment is aimed at relieving the symptoms and at preventing dehydration, the most serious consequence of diarrhea.
* Ride it out. If you're not very young or old or suffering from any chronic illness, it may be safe just to put up with it for a couple of days. Although there's no definite proof that diarrhea is a cleansing action, it probably serves some purpose.
* Keep hydrated. In the meantime, make sure you maintain your fluid and electrolyte balance. Obviously, you can lose a lot of liquid in diearrhea, but you also lose electrolytes, which are minerals like sodium and potassium, that are criticalin the running of your body. Here's how to replace what you're losing:
= Drink plenty of fluids. No one agrees on which fluid is best-again, because of the electrolyte problem. The experts do agree you need at least 2qts of fluid a day, 3 if you're runninga fever. Plain water lacks electrolytes, although you may want to drink this part of the time. Weak tea with a little sugar is a popular choice. Some vote for Gatorade, although it's constituted to replace fluids lost through sweating, nor for diarrhea, a whole different ball game. Defizzed, nondiet soda pop is recommended by some, although anything with a lot of sugar can increase diarrhea. So can caffeine. Fruit juices, particularly apple and prune, have a laxative effect, but others may be OK.
= Buy an over-the-counter electrolyte replacement formula. Pedialyte, Rehydralyte, and Ricelyte are available over-the-counter from your local drug store. These formulas contain fluids and minerals in the proper proportion.
* Keep your liquids cool but not ice-cold. Whatever you choose to drink, keep it cool. It will be less irritating. Sip, don't guzzle; it will be easier on your insides.
* Sip some chicken broth. Or any broth. But have it lukewarm, not hot, and add some salt.
* Rest in bed. Give your body a chance to fight the bug that's causing this.
* Put a heating pad on your belly. It will help relieve abdominal cramps.
* Try yogurt. You'll want to make sure you get a product that contains live lactobacillus cultures, which are friendly bugs that normally live in the gut. There are anecdotal reports but no good studies that yogurt works. But there's no harm in trying.
* Eat light. Soups and gelatin may go down easy. Bland foods like rice, noodles, and bananas. Potatoes, toast, cooked carrots, soda crackers, and skinless defatted chicken are also easy on the digestive system.
* Take the pink stuff. Stopping the diarrhea with an over-the-counter medication may not be the best thing for your body. Diarrhea probably reflects your body's attempt to get rid of a troublesome bug. If you do feel it's necessary, however, PeptoBismol is probably the safest over-the-counter antidiarrheal medicine. Studies show it may have a mild antibacterial effect, which would be most useful in travler's diarrhea, since this condition is usually bacteria related.
* Take Kaopectate or Imodium A-D. Again, you're probably better off going without anitidiarrheal medication. If you absolutely need some relief however, you can try one of these over-the-counter medications. Imodium A-D slows down the motility, or movement, of the gut; Kaopectate absorbs fluid. Elderly patients shouldn't take these medications because decreased motility can be dangerous in an infection and can lead to worse problems.
* Don't do dairy. Avoid milk or other dairy products like cheese during the time that you're having diarrhea as well as for 1-3 weeks afterward. The small intestine, where milk is digested, is affected by diarrhea and simply won't work as well for a while. Milk may sound soothing, but it could actually make the diarrhea worse.
* Cut out caffeine. Just as it stimulates your nervous system, caffeine jump-starts your intestines. And that's the last thing you need to do in diarrhea.
* Say no to sweet treats. High concentrations of sugar can increase diarrhea. The sugar in fruit can do the same.
* Steer clear of greasy or high-fiber foods. These are harder for your gut to handle right now. It needs foods that are kinder and gentler.

Answer 2

The flu and upper resportory and intestinal flu is going around..
its pretty bad too..i had it twice in the last month and a half..the second time i only had what you have and the first one i had to go to the doctor for meds


Just make sure you drink plenty of good fluids and wipe everything down that you touch...
door knobs and toilets any thing that you come in contact with
and dont for get the tylenol and day quil..

Answer 3

I definatley think that you're fine!!! You're lucky to hardly ever get sick like this. My boyfriend just left for Iraq and the stress of it makes my stomache hurt sometimes, so maybe thats what it is, just stress and anxiety.

Answer 4

Being affiliated with the military (I'm prior USAF and now a USAF wife) you should have recieved from Tricare, taking care of yourself (a book). Go on the BRAT diet for couple of days, limit dairy. If you're really worried go to the dr.

Answer 5

It might be stress from him leaving or a bacterial infection
heres what to do
1 stress management
2 Vitamin C

just wash you hands alot after coughing, sneezing or using the bathroom and he should be fine

Answer 6

It could just be nerves. I know if my husband left for Iraq, I would be a mess. But if you're really concerned, go see a doctor.

Answer 7

I agree with previous posters that you should see your doctor. I'd like to add that you should avoid taking immodium unless your doctor tells you to, since if you have a virus, it just blocks it up inside. Make sure that you are drinking a lot of liquids (without caffeine) to make sure that you won't dehydrate. Have a speedy recovery!

Answer 8

it could be a 24 hour virus or like the other person said it could just be the stress from your husband going to iraq ..... nerves and worring can do alot of wierd things to our body.... hope you feel better soon............

Answer 9

It could just be the fact that your hubby has left for Iraq - fear.

That's exactly what happen to me before anything that worries me.

I hope you get better soon :-)

Answer 10

Oh take your head out your ****, and get a life!!