possible e-coli sickness???

[mamamary]

Anyone ever had problems with e-coli? My ds has been sick on and off since Mon. night. He had some diah. and stomach pain. Wed. he was ok until the afternoon and he's been pretty bad ever since. We went to the dr. yest. and she thought it was a stomach virus (said what to eat/drink etc.). she asked him if he had blood in the stool and he said he hadn't noticed. So I figured OK he prob. didn't then - you'd notice right? Anyway got home yest aft and he went to the bathroom and told me there was lots of blood. Called back to the drs. and we had to do a "sample" to send to the lab. Lab said it will take at least 2-3 days for results - that prob means I won't hear anything until monday.

He's already been up/in the bathroom and in pain today since about 5:30. I guess I'm just wondering if anyone has been in this position. I go online and there is really so many overwelming things to read. The doctor didn't give us any other instructions other than when she thought it was just a virus.

I'm wondering if I should call again to the dr. but would they recommend anything else when we still don't know what we're dealing with. The dr. doesn't open for close to 3 more hours so I think I just feel better venting here to see what you all think.

Thanks for listening

 

[MerMom60_94]

Anyone ever had problems with e-coli? My ds has been sick on and off since Mon. night. He had some diah. and stomach pain. Wed. he was ok until the afternoon and he's been pretty bad ever since. We went to the dr. yest. and she thought it was a stomach virus (said what to eat/drink etc.). she asked him if he had blood in the stool and he said he hadn't noticed. So I figured OK he prob. didn't then - you'd notice right? Anyway got home yest aft and he went to the bathroom and told me there was lots of blood. Called back to the drs. and we had to do a "sample" to send to the lab. Lab said it will take at least 2-3 days for results - that prob means I won't hear anything until monday.

He's already been up/in the bathroom and in pain today since about 5:30. I guess I'm just wondering if anyone has been in this position. I go online and there is really so many overwelming things to read. The doctor didn't give us any other instructions other than when she thought it was just a virus.

I'm wondering if I should call again to the dr. but would they recommend anything else when we still don't know what we're dealing with. The dr. doesn't open for close to 3 more hours so I think I just feel better venting here to see what you all think.

Thanks for listening

FWIW I had all the same symptoms last week (minus blood). I do believe it was a virus because I know of a lot of other people who have stomach bugs right now - some of them are vomiting, I was not. It could be that the blood is because his intestines are irritated at this point. Make sure he is getting lots and lots of fluids. I started feeling sick Tuesday and was not well until Sunday night. I hope he feels better soon.

 

[mamamary]

Our doctor also said this stomach virus was going around in our area. But when she mentioned the blood she seemed to think that would indicate something more serious. Hopefully it's not but I appreciate you're telling me your story. We were orig. planning on going to NY this weekend for a grad. party but I guess we'll have to skip it

 

[mamamary]

Anyone else?

 

[CF'er]

What had he eaten in the 24hrs prior to symptoms starting? Hamburger is the main culprit for E coli.

Hope he feels better soon.

 

[swald91]

I have a friend who had very similiar symptoms that you mention. She is an older lady (80) and e.coli was something the doctors mentioned. She had been quite sick on & off-not sure whether or not it was ruled out though. I do hope your son is feeling better soon and you get results back asap.

 

[Pooh_Friend#1]

Many years ago I had e-coli coming back from Mexico and that was the worst time of my life. I will never forget how sick I was and haven't ever been that sick. I had diarrhea and was vomiting constantly, and I mean constantly. I would be sitting on the toilet and throwing up in a trash can at the same time. Worst stomach pains of my life. I do not remember having blood in my stool, but I was so sick I may have not been paying attention. The doctor put me on Cipro and it took about a week to get better.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

My dd had rotovirus when she was little, about 2yo, and had to hospitalized. Not sure of what your child has but here is a description of it and I think they can test for it? Not sure.

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/rotavirus/DS00783/DSECTION=symptoms

Also there is salmonella, which my brother got from his birds and that was awful. He was very sick like the pp poster. You can get it from handling reptiles, birds and undercooked food. That is bacterial as opposed to viral.

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/salmonella/ds00926/dsection=symptoms

Then there is food poisoning with a list here.

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/food-poisoning/DS00981

Good Luck getting your child well.

 

[mamamary]

Thanks for your replies everyone. I don't think it's food poisoning. He had that a few years ago and I'll never forget how sick he was. Luckily he has no vomiting. I guess I'm just impatient with waiting for the test results.

I still think i'll just call the doctor to see if maybe we need to do anything differently in case it is e-coli.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

I am sending you a PM.

 

[minkydog]

I had a similar illness about 20 years ago. No vomiting but the abdominal pain was just debilitating and I was passing blood. Had to get all the samples, etc. Turned out I had picked up a parasite. Getting on the right med fixed me up in just a couple days.

 

[mamamary]

I am sending you a PM.

Thanks so much for the pm. I do have another call into his doctor. I'm just sitting here trying to figure out what he ate before symptoms started. It's just weird that everything he ate at least one or two other people ate.

Thanks again.

 

[DawnCt1]

DS#3 had e coli about 5 years ago complete with a sudden onset of bloody diarrhea. We had a culture done immediately and DH being suspicious of the symptoms started him on Cipro. It came back E-coli, a serious strain. We were lucky that the Cipro was effective. Often it isn't. If there is a concern, obtain a stool culture.

 

[mamamary]

DS#3 had e coli about 5 years ago complete with a sudden onset of bloody diarrhea. We had a culture done immediately and DH being suspicious of the symptoms started him on Cipro. It came back E-coli, a serious strain. We were lucky that the Cipro was effective. Often it isn't. If there is a concern, obtain a stool culture.

Thanks for your post. We had a culture done yest. afternoon. We don't expect results back until Monday. I talked to his doctor again today and she does not want him on antibiotics until we know exactly what it is. Her main concern is that he does not get dehydrated. She told me that if his symptoms get worse (which they are not - thank goodness) to bring him to the ER. I've got him drinking and it seems the blood had subsided. Right now the pain is also getting better I will be keeping a close watch on him this weekend.

 

[RitaZ.]

Thanks so much for the pm. I do have another call into his doctor. I'm just sitting here trying to figure out what he ate before symptoms started. It's just weird that everything he ate at least one or two other people ate.

Thanks again.

It may not be anything he ate, but something that he touched that was contaminated.

DD had E-coli when she was 3. There are different strains. None of my children has ever been so sick. I hate mystery illnesses.

Anyway, DD had vomiting, diarrhea and stomach pains. I took her to the ped, who said it was probably viral. However, he instructed us to take her to the ER if we saw any blood in her stool. Later that night, sure enough, there was blood in her stool. She was screaming in pain. It was awful. We didn't even call the doctor, we rushed her to the ER. They did all kinds of tests while she was there and put her on IV fluids. We went home sometime around 5 a.m. and were told to take her back to see her ped first thing that morning. We did. She began to feel better that day. We found out later, from the stool culture, that she had had E-coli. I even got a call from the health department.

BTW, while DD was sick, I cleaned everything with bleach. Especially every time she went to the bathroom. The nurse from the HD was impressed that no one else in our family had contracted it. She said that it is highly contagious.

Good luck and I hope he is feeling better real soon. Do stay in touch with the doctor.

 

[mamamary]

It may not be anything he ate, but something that he touched that was contaminated.

DD had E-coli when she was 3. There are different strains. None of my children has ever been so sick. I hate mystery illnesses.

Anyway, DD had vomiting, diarrhea and stomach pains. I took her to the ped, who said it was probably viral. However, he instructed us to take her to the ER if we saw any blood in her stool. Later that night, sure enough, there was blood in her stool. She was screaming in pain. It was awful. We didn't even call the doctor, we rushed her to the ER. They did all kinds of tests while she was there and put her on IV fluids. We went home sometime around 5 a.m. and were told to take her back to see her ped first thing that morning. We did. She began to feel better that day. We found out later, from the stool culture, that she had had E-coli. I even got a call from the health department.

BTW, while DD was sick, I cleaned everything with bleach. Especially every time she went to the bathroom. The nurse from the HD was impressed that no one else in our family had contracted it. She said that it is highly contagious.

Good luck and I hope he is feeling better real soon. Do stay in touch with the doctor.

Are you saying if DS has e-coli we can get it from him? I didn't even think about that.

 

[LilyWDW]

Are you saying if DS has e-coli we can get it from him? I didn't even think about that.

Yes it can transfer from the fecal matter and even if you clean the visible stuff up, the E-Coli can still hang around.

 

[laurie31]

Are you saying if DS has e-coli we can get it from him? I didn't even think about that.

Oh yes, stomach bugs - whether viral or bacterial - are very contagious. Even if it IS "just a virus" you could catch it. So be exceptionally careful about handwashing especilly before you eat and before you touch your face/eyes/nose.

I hope it's not e. coli, but regardless, it's so miserable to have that kind of sickness. I hope no one else in the family gets whatever it is.

 

[mamamary]

Yes it can transfer from the fecal matter and even if you clean the visible stuff up, the E-Coli can still hang around.

ok - just cleaned out my bathroom

 

[C.Ann]

E-coli in children can be extremely dangerous.. If his condition worsens, please take him to the ER.. Don't wait until Monday for the results..

I know you said you cleaned the bathroom, but have you cleaned everything else he may have touched?

I had a nasty, nasty stomach/intestinal bug myself last week - literally had to spend a few days in bed - which is pretty much unheard of for me.. Lots of severe nausea; severe cramping; diarrhea; etc.. Don't know where I could have picked it up because I hadn't been anywhere recently, but it sure threw me for a loop!

Hopefully it's just a bug and the little guy will feel better sooner..