IBS or food poisoning

[Squash56]

Hello everyone, I was diagnosed with IBS D in 2019 I do also have anxiety which does effect my IBSD . I’ve been feeling fine, therefore hoping you can give me your opinions as currently I’m struggling with a dreadful explosive yellow D and D like a tap. It hit me early Wednesday morning and continues with stomach cramps, rumbling stomach and wind. I’m hydrating myself with water and using hydration sachets, eating a BRAT diet ( small quantities of food).

I haven’t experienced this type of D since I had COVID three years ago, so tested thankfully negative. Wondering if it’s a virus, infection or just an IBS flare up. This is day 5 wondering if I should contact GP tomorrow unless I improve today.

Grateful for any opinions, thank you for reading this.

[Shoosh_kw]

Hi, most probable it is a virus or certain food you had according to your symptoms, I am in the same situation since last friday and on BRAT.

[Squash56 in reply to Shoosh_kw]

Thank you for your reply, I struggle on with BRAT, hope you feel better soon

[xjrs]

Unfortunately, you'll not be able to know what this is yourself or anyone here on this forum. Yellow stool can be related to fat malabsorption (among others). You could try eating just plain white jasmine rice and lean protein for a day or two. This will be digested wholly in the small intestine, with no residue for the colon so it should stop the diarrheoa and give your bowels a rest. Then introduce a well tolerated vegetable such as carrots and gradually work back to your normal diet. Might also be best to seek advice from your GP if this lasts more than 1 week. You could ask about the possibility of a test for BAM (bile acid malabsorption).

[Squash56 in reply to xjrs]

Thank you for replying, I haven’t eaten much else but white rice and lean chicken and very small portions as just don’t feel like it. Drinking lots of water. Will contact my GP after 7 days if it hasn’t settled down. Thank you again, and I’ll also try jasmine rice.

[xjrs in reply to Squash56]

Good luck.

[Andann]

I have IBS but even with food poisoning (usually with some nausea and vomitting when its really bad ...) it hasnt lasted more than 3 days.

[Luisa22]

It may be a passing infection of some kind or bad reaction to a food? Especially as you wouldn't normally get it this badly in an IBS D flare up. I know with a flare up I will get very loose stools and feel unwell also in myself, and a flare can go on for a few days, but I wouldn't normally get yellow diarrhoea or feel as bad as you describe. And usually my normal appetite would be with me.

I'd say drink plenty of fluids, make sure you get electrolytes (but beware of what is added to some electrolyte drinks!) and let this flush itself out of your system for a few days. Any worse, and get advice from NHS 111 or your doctor if available.

[Squash56]

thank you, I am drinking lots of water, I think I’m just starting to get over this as the frequency has reduced and generally feeling a bit better. I recall when I had these symptoms with Covid, two years ago (not 3 years ago - a typo!) talked to my GP he believed it was Gastroenteritis probably caused by Covid, it took 12 days to clear up then. Hopefully it will clear up soon otherwise I’ll contact the GP.

[tryfan004]

hi squash56, I would make an app to see your gp. Also take a stool sample along for testing. I put up with this sort of thing in june this year for a couple of weeks. a paramedic at the surgery said it was just gastroenteritis. I started eating properly and it came back. I saw a gp who sent off a stool sample and it turned out I had salmonella food poisoning. It lasted for the whole of june and I ended up loosing a stone in weight. I think it was from rocket in a bag of mixed salad - it turned out to be a 'napoli' strain which comes from italy mostly and is connected to rocket. Good luck.

[Squash56 in reply to tryfan004]

Thank you, Interesting as I also eat rocket on a regular basis.

I’ll make an appointment. Hope you are completely recovered now.