Food Poisoning or 24-Hour Flu?

[3113]

I'm finally getting over one of the worst bouts of illness I've gone through in a long time. By the clock it was short, but damn! Awful. If I might indulge...At around noon yesterday I had a light lunch at a local eatery--nothing tasted wrong. At about 5pm I noticed some mild tummy upset but didn't pay much attention to it. Had a salad for dinner and started feeling not good. Rather bloated, like I had over-eaten, which I hadn't. By nine that night I knew I was sick. Painful stomach pangs, nausea (I felt close to throwing up a couple of times, but didn't), and, well, let's just say that my digestive system had made up its mind to get rid of everything in it if not one way then the other.

It got worse! As I believe is common, the blood left my extremities to take care of the center. It was a cold night and the house was chilly, but to me it was like I was shivering in an igloo. Toes, fingers, nose, legs. Cold enough to feel numb. I got the shakes and shivers, and even when I piled up blankets and turned up the heat I still couldn't get warm.

By this point--thanks to my unhappy digestion--I was dehydrated as well. I'd lost a lot of fluids. But my stomach felt so tender and delicate I was afraid to even swallow down water. I did manage a few sips, but at least twice I came close to fainting. I mean seriously, seriously close. I was white as a sheet. I couldn't even put myself to bed because I kept going through these cycles of pangs, restroom breaks, feeling faint and chills.

My husband was out and I did summon him home. In bed by 1am, his live body was the only thing able to warm me. Socks, blankets, the heater, did nothing. After a rough night with only a little, fitful sleep and continued upset, I awoke not much better. The delicate-tender stomach would not quit, my skin felt prickly, my muscles sore, small headache, ear ache, and I wasn't moving unless I had to--which I still had to as my digestion wasn't finished.

It's 1pm now and I finally feel able to sit up again. I'm not well, but the worse (knock wood!) seems to be past. I was able to swallow down some Advil, and I'm sipping water. But I have to wonder, what the fuckin' hell? Was I poisoned or did I catch some 24-hour-flu?

 

[TxRad]

I'm finally getting over one of the worst bouts of illness I've gone through in a long time. By the clock it was short, but damn! Awful. If I might indulge...At around noon yesterday I had a light lunch at a local eatery--nothing tasted wrong. At about 5pm I noticed some mild tummy upset but didn't pay much attention to it. Had a salad for dinner and started feeling not good. Rather bloated, like I had over-eaten, which I hadn't. By nine that night I knew I was sick. Painful stomach pangs, nausea (I felt close to throwing up a couple of times, but didn't), and, well, let's just say that my digestive system had made up its mind to get rid of everything in it if not one way then the other.

It got worse! As I believe is common, the blood left my extremities to take care of the center. It was a cold night and the house was chilly, but to me it was like I was shivering in an igloo. Toes, fingers, nose, legs. Cold enough to feel numb. I got the shakes and shivers, and even when I piled up blankets and turned up the heat I still couldn't get warm.

By this point--thanks to my unhappy digestion--I was dehydrated as well. I'd lost a lot of fluids. But my stomach felt so tender and delicate I was afraid to even swallow down water. I did manage a few sips, but at least twice I came close to fainting. I mean seriously, seriously close. I was white as a sheet. I couldn't even put myself to bed because I kept going through these cycles of pangs, restroom breaks, feeling faint and chills.

My husband was out and I did summon him home. In bed by 1am, his live body was the only thing able to warm me. Socks, blankets, the heater, did nothing. After a rough night with only a little, fitful sleep and continued upset, I awoke not much better. The delicate-tender stomach would not quit, my skin felt prickly, my muscles sore, small headache, ear ache, and I wasn't moving unless I had to--which I still had to as my digestion wasn't finished.

It's 1pm now and I finally feel able to sit up again. I'm not well, but the worse (knock wood!) seems to be past. I was able to swallow down some Advil, and I'm sipping water. But I have to wonder, what the fuckin' hell? Was I poisoned or did I catch some 24-hour-flu?

There was a 48 hour version of that going around when I left home early last month. Luckily, neither daughter or I brought it with us.

 

[voluptuary_manque]

I guess the first question is, "Did you get your flu shot?" If the answer is "No", you have your answer. Poor baby . . .

 

[TxRad]

I guess the first question is, "Did you get your flu shot?" If the answer is "No", you have your answer. Poor baby . . .

I haven't had a flu shoot since 1970. That one I was order to take and put me in the hospital for three weeks. Never had one since and never had the flue since, either. Knock on wood.

 

[voluptuary_manque]

I haven't had a flu shoot since 1970. That one I was order to take and put me in the hospital for three weeks. Never had one since and never had the flue since, either. Knock on wood.

I remember that one! Put me off of the blasted things for years but HM is a microbiologist and there's only so long you can put up with the brow-beating so I've taken to getting them again. The new versions are much improved!

 

[Ellafun]

There has been a lot of the stomach virus stuff floating around. I'm sorry to hear that you got knocked down so hard. Please feel better soon...tiny sips, but keep trying. Having to be hospitalized for dehydration is the worst.

 

[TxRad]

There has been a lot of the stomach virus stuff floating around. I'm sorry to hear that you got knocked down so hard. Please feel better soon...tiny sips, but keep trying. Having to be hospitalized for dehydration is the worst.

I thought Jessica Rabbit said, "I'm not bad, I'm just written that way."

 

[The_Fool]

I thought Jessica Rabbit said, "I'm not bad, I'm just written that way."

was it written or drawn? Off to google.

 

[TxRad]

was it written or drawn? Off to google.

Drawn, I believe.

 

[voluptuary_manque]

Drawn, I believe.

I'm quite sure it was 'drawn'. And man, do I remember that scene!

 

[3113]

I guess the first question is, "Did you get your flu shot?" If the answer is "No", you have your answer. Poor baby . . .

Next time I'm gonna call you and Stella to come hold me while I shiver Husband didn't get home for a while and I sooooo could have used warm bodies.

And no, I didn't get my flu shot. Looks like I'll have to start.

 

[voluptuary_manque]

Next time I'm gonna call you and Stella to come hold me while I shiver Husband didn't get home for a while and I sooooo could have used warm bodies.

And no, I didn't get my flu shot. Looks like I'll have to start.

That would be a good idea. This is only the 'seasonal flu' that no one seems to think is much more than miserable. But HM says that about 36,000 people die from it each year. Get . . . a . . . flu shot!

 

[SeaCat]

From your description this doesn't sound like any of the strains of "Flu" going around.

Nor does it sound like a form of food poisoining.

It sounds more like something like one of any number of stomach bugs. (The Nausea, Cramps, Diarrhea, Low Grade Fever etc.)

You are doing pretty much the usual treatment for this. Rehydrate and rest. If the fever continues take something like Tylenol if you can to help with the fever.

If it continues for another day or so get your tail to the M.D.'s and get checked out.

Cat

 

[carsonshepherd]

From your description this doesn't sound like any of the strains of "Flu" going around.

Nor does it sound like a form of food poisoining.

It sounds more like something like one of any number of stomach bugs. (The Nausea, Cramps, Diarrhea, Low Grade Fever etc.)

You are doing pretty much the usual treatment for this. Rehydrate and rest. If the fever continues take something like Tylenol if you can to help with the fever.

If it continues for another day or so get your tail to the M.D.'s and get checked out.

Cat

I'm agreeing with Cat. Flu is respiratory.

There are some experts who say that most of what we call "tummy bugs" are usually food poisoning. I tend to agree with that, but there is no way to know. The point is it doesn't really matter, because like Cat said, you are doing pretty much all that can be done for your symptoms.

What you had sounds a lot like what I got when food-poisoned by bad spaghetti sauce. It was horrible and I mean horrible.

I hope you feel better very soon. When you can eat again, please be careful. I like the BRAT diet - banana, rice, applesauce, toast. Dairy, even yogurt, can make nausea worse.

Feel better

 

[3113]

Back from the dead...sorta

It sounds more like something like one of any number of stomach bugs. (The Nausea, Cramps, Diarrhea, Low Grade Fever etc.)

You are doing pretty much the usual treatment for this. Rehydrate and rest. If the fever continues take something like Tylenol if you can to help with the fever.

Many thanks for the diagnosis, Cat! I still don't feel like eating though I think there is a hint of appetite waving at me from the distance. I'm still very tired and sleepy (no kidding right?), and the diarrhea persists though less aggressively, but the fever, cramps, nausea, muscle aches, etc. are gone. My husband no longer looks at me and wonders if the Zombie Apocalypse has arrived.

Not back to normal but I do seem to be heading in that direction.

When you can eat again, please be careful. I like the BRAT diet - banana, rice, applesauce, toast. Dairy, even yogurt, can make nausea worse.

I'm glad I got this message as I was musing on something like yogurt. So far the only "real" food I've had is chicken broth--which may have been not so careful but it did smell appetizing and tasted good. Next up will probably be crackers.

 

[voluptuary_manque]

Ain't bein' sick a miserable way to loose weight? *pats 3 gingerly on the shoulder*

 

[Handley_Page]

When thinking about liquid intake, please consider a little salt and sugar in a glass of warm water. (Unless your chemist has the drinks made up).
It's puts the essentials back. Potassium salt (Lo Salt) is probably better than sodium.

Get well soon

 

[3113]

Ain't bein' sick a miserable way to loose weight? *pats 3 gingerly on the shoulder*

Alas, I think it's all water weight. I've gone down from 90% water to 35%....

 

[TxRad]

Alas, I think it's all water weight. I've gone down from 90% water to 35%....

See what happens when you complain about the rain.

 

[3113]

When thinking about liquid intake, please consider a little salt and sugar in a glass of warm water. (Unless your chemist has the drinks made up).

I think the chicken broth has been taking care of that salt--which is a really good point. It might be why the stuff tasted so damn good. My body was like "Sodium!" Nectar of the gods chicken broth.

I'll see about maybe sipping down a little sweetened herbal tea tonight. Excellent idea, a little sugar.

See what happens when you complain about the rain.

Ha-ha-ha. I'd stick out my tongue at you, but I'm too weak to even create the emoticon....

 

[3113]

Update

Well, I spoke too soon about being rid of the aches. I'm still a little achey and chilly--but I don't seem to be running any kind of fever, so I must be the "poisoning"? I've got lovely color in my cheeks and have transformed from Zombie to Fairy Princess...if Fairy Princesses wore ratty pj bottoms and silly socks.

I've also reached that point where I'm really sick of sleeping. My subconscious has gotten bored with it and all my dreams are like, "Another? Okay, but all we've got left are rough drafts...."

On the plus side, my appetite did come back enough to want toast. My stomach was accepting and while it didn't jump for joy, it didn't get scary either. And the, er, other problem has quieted down a lot (yes!).

Right now I'm feeling very thirsty and taking care of that, and also dealing with the cat who wants to complain about how the service around here has gone down since I took sick and when will I be back on the job?

 

[xssve]

Hard to say, since food poisoning and stomach flu are both gastrointestinal bugs, they symptoms are similar - most of the family caught something at Thanksgiving, we all thought it might be food poisoning at first - half of the family are vegetarian, but the omnivores usually sample the veggies stuff, cause, it's... good.

Anyway, it was finally determined to have been a flu, since my oldest didn't eat anything but the dinner rolls, and he got it too, after a day or so - about the time I started getting better, as luck would have it, 'cause that was a clean up.

Too much information, I'm sure.

 

[TE999]

Well, I spoke too soon about being rid of the aches. I'm still a little achey and chilly--but I don't seem to be running any kind of fever, so I must be the "poisoning"? I've got lovely color in my cheeks and have transformed from Zombie to Fairy Princess...if Fairy Princesses wore ratty pj bottoms and silly socks.

I've also reached that point where I'm really sick of sleeping. My subconscious has gotten bored with it and all my dreams are like, "Another? Okay, but all we've got left are rough drafts...."

On the plus side, my appetite did come back enough to want toast. My stomach was accepting and while it didn't jump for joy, it didn't get scary either. And the, er, other problem has quieted down a lot (yes!).

Right now I'm feeling very thirsty and taking care of that, and also dealing with the cat who wants to complain about how the service around here has gone down since I took sick and when will I be back on the job?

You may want to swig some Pedialyte to boost hydration and correct any electrolyte imbalance. Said imbalance can make you feel as if you've shoveled coal all day.

 

[carsonshepherd]

I think the chicken broth has been taking care of that salt--which is a really good point. It might be why the stuff tasted so damn good. My body was like "Sodium!" Nectar of the gods chicken broth.

When I'm sick I must have Campbell's chicken and stars. Nothing else will do. Bland and salty and the tiny bits of chik don't interfere with my latent meat aversion.

That and orange Gatorade. Works for hangovers too.

 

[voluptuary_manque]

When I'm sick I must have Campbell's chicken and stars. Nothing else will do. Bland and salty and the tiny bits of chik don't interfere with my latent meat aversion.

That and orange Gatorade. Works for hangovers too.

I like hot pink grapefruit juice. Odd, perhaps, but it makes me feel better.