This is NOT happening...is it???

[dddarrington]

We are one week from our Disneyland trip that has been planned for over a year and booked since February! And here I am....SICK! I have been having bowel issues (sorry, tried to explain it in the best way possible) for over a week and a half, and they have no idea what is going on. Currently I am on a clear liquid diet and doing better, but as soon as I eat ANYTHING, it all comes rumbling back!

I keep thinking, I could stay on a clear liquid diet until we get back....right??? But reality creeps in and I don't think I would have the energy. WHY can't they figure out what is going on with me!?!? I don't want to ruin this trip, by being sick or having to cancel. GRrrrrrrr!

I just wanted to get this off my chest. I really need some Disney magic to come my way and make this go away.

 

[Midnightred]

You need to go to the doctor ASAP, tomorrow morning, and see if there is something that can be done. You are paying too much money and looking forward to too much for this illness to set you back. You might have colitis of some kind that can be fixed with antibiotics.

Midnightred

 

[OregonMinnie]

I assume you've told the Dr. about the trip, and there are meds. they could give to at least treat the symptoms I would think, until more testing can be done. It could be something as easy as taking an antibiotic. I will pray for you to recover and at the very least, to be able to manage the symptoms enough to go. I know it must be stressful, but at least you have a week and aren't leaving tomorrow

Let us know how things go!

 

[dddarrington]

Yes, I've been to the doctor, and I've had a CT with contrasts. It does not appear to be diverticulitis. But I am on an antibiotic and an antidiarreal medication. I'm with you....just control the symptoms until we get home...PLEASE!

I've got an email into my doctor (yes, I'm spoiled, and he's awesome...but he was out of town last week) asking what else we might try. A long time ago I got Giardia a parasite...I have NO idea where I would of picked that up and it was very similar, so I've been wondering if it could be that again. I'd mentioned that to the other doctor and to my doctor, so we will see what he says. And yes, I've told him about the trip. He's usually good to come up with something so I'm hoping!

Thanks for your encouraging words.

 

[OregonMinnie]

Yes, I've been to the doctor, and I've had a CT with contrasts. It does not appear to be diverticulitis. But I am on an antibiotic and an antidiarreal medication. I'm with you....just control the symptoms until we get home...PLEASE!

I've got an email into my doctor (yes, I'm spoiled, and he's awesome...but he was out of town last week) asking what else we might try. A long time ago I got Giardia a parasite...I have NO idea where I would of picked that up and it was very similar, so I've been wondering if it could be that again. I'd mentioned that to the other doctor and to my doctor, so we will see what he says. And yes, I've told him about the trip. He's usually good to come up with something so I'm hoping!

Thanks for your encouraging words.

I'm glad it wasn't diverticulitis! Have they tested for parasites? You never know where you can pick things up! I have a great doctor too, and I can text her with any problems. I'm sure he will do whatever he can to make the trip doable. You may have less energy, and enjoying your favorite treats may be more difficult, but you'll still be in DL

I'm trying to recover from mono, which was diagnosed in Feb., and now they are looking into other things. I am def. worried about stamina and also not making things worse because I will want to push it. I have another month, but considering it's already been 8 months, I'm not too hopeful. They say it just takes time

Keep us posted on how things go!

 

[Midnightred]

Sorry I didn't read closely enough to see you had already been to the doctor. Usually Flagyl or Augmentin are the drugs of choice for any type of bowel infection. Just treat the symptoms and stay hydrated. I'd rather be at DL even with a bowel problem!

Midnightred

 

[jacs1234]

I hope they can clear you all up within the next week.

 

[DarthMole]

Antibiotics can be rough on the stomach so it may be hard to determine if things are getting better until you are off the meds.

If they haven't tested for parasites or other types of infection, they probably shouldn't have put you on antibiotics for a stomach issue.

It sounds like you're seeing two doctors. One must be a gastro doc then??? If not, you should probably get in to see someone who knows the digestive system and not just a family doc. I recently had some issues like this and after my regular doc sent me for the usual panel of tests for infection and they came back negative, the doc recommended I see a specialist.

Good luck. If you're going to just treat symptoms and attempt solid food, adding fiber may help.

 

[pharmama]

You don't need to provide this information in the forum, but if you have not already been tested for clostridium difficile ("C.diff") infectious diarrhea please ask your doctor to test you. If you are positive, as much as it would be awful, please do not go to Disneyland. C.diff is a nasty bug that is difficult to kill (hand sanitizer doesn't do it) and can be a real problem for healthy people- even worse for young/old and those with immune systems that aren't 100%.

Again-no need to share here if you've been tested or anything- just putting info out there. Hope its not c.diff and that whatever it is they can get it sorted out!

 

[damo]

Has anyone suggested some probiotics to maintain the good bacteria in your gut?

 

[DarthMole]

Has anyone suggested some probiotics to maintain the good bacteria in your gut?

Probiotics, or food items like Activia, can certainly help balance your system. However, the symptoms the OP is suggesting sound like more than just a little imbalance. I'd still discuss it with a doctor. I wouldn't leave anything off the table.

Also, finding the right probotic can be difficult, time consuming and expensive. Many doctors will throw the term probiotic out there as if there is only one type, but there are many out there. There are a handful just for the digestive system each using different bacteria strains. If a doc recommends probiotics, be sure to ask which one and why he's recommending that one over another.

 

[bakerudall]

Look on the bright side, your insides will be completely empty and waiting to be filled with all that Disneyland cuisine!

During recovery, yogurt and bananas have always helped me (long before Activa was around).

 

[DisFam95]

I agree w pharmama. Get tested for c diff. We have to suit up in protective gowns to work w patients that have that in the hospital. Usually treated w flagyl and can be easily contagious. You don't want to spread that around DL!

Good luck and I hope you get some answers.

 

[elphaba91]

I hope you're also taking something to make sure you keep your electrolytes up. That's really the biggest danger with these sorts of things. I presume they have something like Hydralyte or Gastrolyte available in the U.S? Plain foods like dry toast and saltines should be okay too.

Also, make sure that the family are all washing their hands vigilantly to try to avoid catching it too!

 

[luulu1999]

Hopefully maybe its just a virus too and it will work its self out, my doctor always says if your sick for more than 10 days you should go to the doctor because after 10 days it wouldn't be a virus....hopefully you get to feeling better and have an awesome trip!!

 

[dddarrington]

Thank you everyone for your suggestions and concerns. Here's the latest. On medication I have had one day without diarrhea! Still have the gas, bloating and pain, but found an over the counter med for that and am feeling pretty good. Not perfect, but good enough for the trip. Then my regular doctor...the second doctor in the original post has now put me on Flagyl taking me off the first antibiotic...which I read up on, and it covers both diverticulitis AND protozoa (parasite) issues. Now WHY didn't the first doctor put me on that??? I just started that tonight, but hopefully that will take care of things. One day at a time.

I have to agree with Midnightred, even with a bowel problem, I still want to go to Disneyland. As for the c diff that a few of you were talking about. I have had this long enough here in my home that if it were contagious. others would have contracted it by now and it's just me! So I'm thinking that is not the problem.

Again, thanks for all the suggestions...so far so good.

Diana

 

[ionz13]

You probably have already taken the Gas-X (simethicone) for the gas and bloated feeling.

If you still have diarrhea during the trip, use Immodium (loperamide) 2 tabs at first instance of loose stool, then 1 tab as needed (max of 16mg/day). Or if you have pepto bismol, that might work better to coat the stomach a bit.

Remember to drink a lot of water.

Metronidazole: no drinking alcohol while on the medication and for two days post completion, can lead to a bad reaction.

Good luck!

(fyi: I'm a phamacist)

 

[pharmama]

I would not use no one else in your house having symptoms as evidence that it's not c.diff.

That said, Flagyl is first line for c.diff so that should be covered now too. (it does not treat diverticulitis. It may be used to treat secondary inventions that can occur with diverticulitis but not the diverticulitis itself).

Hopefully this will get you on the mend and ready for Disney.

(also a pharmacist... As you might have guessed from my username)

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

 

[T0rrent]

Ugh I feel your pain. Last year a week before our trip while sitting at home I started feeling sicker and sicker. 103 degree fever and just like you everything passed through. I recovered in time for the trip but still had no appetite till the last day of the trip and of course our friends took us to slaters 50/50 that trip Hope the meds they gave you clear you up so you can enjoy your trip.

 

[stasijane]

Glad things are looking better. How are you feeling today?