4th day now

[bluigurl83]

Hi. So I'm a 26 yr old female who has never had any health problems other than the normal cold or flu.
Four days ago I woke up with extreme pain in my lower stomach. Thinking I was getting my period, I just brushed it off. However when I realized I had absolutely no appetite all day and nausea I knew it wasn't my "time of the month" causing the stomach pains. That same day I developed diarrhea which was bright yellow and constant (at least 10 times/day).

The diarrhea, sharp and stabbing stomach pains and nausea have lasted until now with absolutely no relief. Today is day 4. Although I haven't thrown up at all, I've been so nauseated that I have to force feed myself (only bread and crackers) but can't keep anything in my body anyway, I just run to the bathroom afterwards. Yesterday I had the worst fever I've ever experienced. Our house temperature was 85 degrees (I live in Miami, haha), I was in sweat pants and shirt, under the comforter and was so cold my teeth were chattering yet I was drenched in sweat.

Since I weigh 99lbs,  I'm worried I can dehydrate easily resulting in bigger problems. So yesterday I went to the Emergency Room. My fever is gone, although I'm still having chills. The Dr pressed on my stomach and under my belly button (where I have the stabbing pains) was so painful it brought me to tears. He, however, didn't think anything of it. He didn't give me an IV or blood work and pretty much brushed it off to be a "stomach virus" and instructed me to come back in 3 days if I still had pain.

I know my body, I have had a stomach virus before and this pain is very unfamiliar and worrisome to me. It's 5am here, and I'm awake because I can't sleep due to the pain. I think 4 days is an extremely long time for a healthy 26  yr old to have diarrhea, stomach pains and nausea. Am I being paranoid? Should I just wait it out? Is it just a stomach virus or something more serious that needs immediate medical attention?

Right now I'm living off Pepto, Ibuprofen and Gatorade. I hate taking medicine, so for me to be taking this much bothers me. I just need some advice. Thanks in advance!

-Angie

[Matthew007]

welcome to club (on the doctors not helping..)

well least your pain is down a little.. sometimes hospital's do a follow up call to make sure you're ok but i've never heard of the doctor doing it (unless he was really worried about you or flirting with you... ;)

anyway i'm thinking you still have gallbladder issues or you're now celiac/intolerant to something like a food allergy (the big ones are wheat/gluten/soy/lactose/fructose) so while you're sitting around waiting you could try taking those out of your diet for 2 weeks and then see if you're better or any improvement...

anyway hang in there :S

[bluigurl83]

Still diarrhea, day 8. The pain is gone though.
I work for the next 5 days, so on my day off I guess I'm going to a doctor even though I really don't want to b/c I feel they do nothing for me.
This is strange though, my ER doctor personally called my cell phone yesterday to ask how I am doing. I didn't know ER doctors did that... I'm going to call him back and tell him about the diarrhea. See what he thinks.

[Matthew007]

sorry to hear that blue :S yeah i'm still on a hunch of gallbladder issues for you with yellow stools but.. *shrugs* it's good to talk to an expert and figure it out.  Don't stress out too much like I did or you'l have anxiety issues.. which are not fun!

[coughting]

Yes, it is time to see the GI dr.  Where is your pain?  lower left or right or where?  I have chrons and one of the early symptoms was diarrhea and bouts of chills and fever.  So cold my teeth were chattering also.  The chills and fever early on were 6 months or so apart so I thought I had the flu or something.  Later the pain started and it got worse and worse.  

That of course doesn't mean you have chrons but it does mean you should get it checked out.  The earlier you find out what is causing this the better.

Good luck to you

[bluigurl83]

I think it is time to see a gastroenterologist. Today is the 6th day of diarrhea and pain. The pain seems to be present the worst right before going to the bathroom. But I have a constant achy feeling in the area that extends also to my lower back now.
I was feeling better yesterday and for the first time in days I was STARVING and ate a whole meal. I think I overdid it - just too much, too soon. Now regretting it because this morning I feel like **** (ha!). But really. :(

[bluigurl83]

Today is definitely an improvement. I'm having hot flashes though (but the chills are gone), still diarrhea unfortunately (ahhh!), and some pain but I took ibuprofen and it seems to be helping today unlike the other days.
I've missed so many days of work, I HAVE to go today. I'll be back on later.
Thank you everyone, I appreciate all the insight and wisdom! :)

[dith28]

This sounds like it could be cholecystitis (Gallbladder attack) especially if you have diarrhea after each time you eat.  If your symptoms persist, I'd try to get your doctor to order a gallbladder ultrasound.

[bluigurl83]

Thanks Matthew!

I'm thinking it IS just a stomach virus now....
Just found out that my friend in CA, along with 4 people she knows, had the EXACT symptoms as me and it lasted 4-5 days.
She told me hers lasted only 2 days - she ate plain yogurt with honey and drank something called "Kangen" water. I've never heard of this. Anyone else?

[Matthew007]

glad you're feeling better :) cool.. i'm in the same boat..no insurance (lovely) but i'd start taking some probiotics of some kind..maybe that'll help the fight whatever the bug is.   Even that actevia yogurt is better than nothing.. if you're lactose intolerant you can buy some pill form of aciddolpholisisaldkjf.. i can't spell that but you know what I mean.

Hope it goes away!

[bluigurl83]

Many thanks to everyone for the advice!!!!!!
Today I see a little improvement! The pain is still there, not as extreme but still present. Diarrhea today hasn't been yellow, but I still have it. I've been drinking water and gatorade and last night made myself a spinach, banana, and water smoothie (something I learned from a raw foodist) I figured that'd be good for me.
Unfortunately I don't have insurance so I'll probably stick it out and see how I feel tomorrow.

[Matthew007]

^lisa is right it very well could be the appendix totally forgot about that. Good point.  Yeah ER room if it gets worse..

[Matthew007]

Well it *could* be just a bug or virus like your doctor said but normally you do a stool study to see what the offending bug or reason is..looking for white blood cells for infection or red blood cells for colitis/chron's and such..and then treat it with antibiotics or steroids or whatever...if you've been on antibiotics just recently this could be c. difficile (which will get worse without treatment)

but yellow, bright yellow is a sign of liver/pancrease/gallbladder attack problems normally.  I'm sort of suprised your doctor didn't order any other test than that..fever can come with it if a stone is stuck or blockage especially in the bile duct near the pancrease.  You can get super ill sick..normally you have pain in the upper right quadrent but sounds like you're not.. maybe it's just pancreatitis if you've been taking pain medication or drinking a lot.

Like the others have said, if it get's scary sick..don't delay and get into the doctor.  I think a blood test would probably suggest elevated liver enzymes and a stool study would help find out if there's an infection in your gut.

:S hang in there (least you're doing the right thing by drinking gatorade..you're losing electroyltes/potassium so keep at it..try to stay hydrated as much as possible.)

[lisa6013]

I also would go back to ER, or maybe a different one.... If you have a primary care doc that can be paged on the weekends, I would call him or her.  This does not sound like a virus with the pains, etc.  Without bloodwork being taken, how do they know that you don't have some type of infection?  How do they know that it's not your appendix?  Sometimed people have 'referred' pain, which basically means that the source of your pain, can be in one area of your stomach, but radiate to another.... you need to get blood work, and ultra sound, etc. done immediately.... you are not getting any better, and you don't want to mess with this.  Go somewhere NOW!  Please keep us informed!!  Good luck hon!!

lisa

[mammo]

Go back to the ER and tell them your pain is worse.  I've worked in the medical field and found that sometimes exaggerating a bit will get you the needed attention and proper testing.  Bright yellow diarrhea is not part of a stomach virus.  I do think you need a colonoscopy, and blood work. Nobody knows their body better than you, and you know when something is more than the flu.  If you can get into a gastroenterologist right away, do this.  They are better able to address your issues.  Do the same when you call them, explainingg that you went to the ER, are not better, and the pain is worse, and you are feeling dehydrated (weak, worsening nausea).  Try to get some gatorade or orange juice in your system for the dehydration.

[crav41998]

Make an emergency appt with a gastroenterologist.  I got ill last year similar to you but without the pain.  In and out of the ER three times over a 2 month period and lost 10 lbs (I now weigh 94).  I had several tests done (Endoscopy, colonoscopy, hida scan, stool sample, lyme disease, and various blood tests).  All came back normal - which makes you feel better.  However I an tell you that it is now over a year later and I still don't feel well but you need to go to the doctor and have these tests done.  The pain would be scaring me.  Try another ER today.  I think you need immediate medical attention.  Let me know what theoutcome is.  I am concerned for you