how to stop stomach cramps and diarrhea

Considering these symptoms have been persistent and disruptive to your life, it’s important to get to the root cause, and you’ve already taken a good step by seeing a doctor. Given the timing of your symptoms post-travel and considering you mentioned consuming food that might be suspect, it could be a gastrointestinal infection, potentially from a virus, bacteria, or even a parasite — often referred to as traveler’s diarrhea. It’s also possible that this could be a foodborne illness or an exacerbation of a condition like IBS if you have any history of that. Since your symptoms are ongoing, it’s critical to ensure you’re not dehydrating, even though you said you’re drinking more water. Along with water, you may benefit from oral rehydration solutions to replenish electrolytes. As for diet, you might try limiting dairy, caffeine, alcohol, and fatty or spicy foods, as these can worsen gastrointestinal symptoms. Stick to bland, low-fiber meals, like rice, bananas, and toast — often called the BRAT diet. While over-the-counter anti-diarrheal medications were suggested and not very effective, these can sometimes slow down bowel movements but usually don’t address the cramping. Antispasmodics or similarly prescribed medications might provide relief for the cramps. Additionally, consider probiotics to help restore gut flora balance, though these can take time to work. If there’s no improvement, further evaluation is warranted, potentially stool tests or an examination to exclude more serious conditions. Be alert for red-flag symptoms like blood in stools, severe dehydration (e.g., confusion, dizziness), or persistent fever, which necessitate more immediate medical attention. If nothing seems to resolve, you might need a follow-up with a gastroenterologist for a more thorough examination, just to be safe, considering the impact on your daily activity.