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What to do when you have loose motion?
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Digestive Health
Question #12151
45 days ago
74

What to do when you have loose motion? - #12151

Diya

I am worried because I’ve had loose motion for the past three days, and it’s driving me crazy! It started after I tried this new street food, and I thought maybe it was just my stomach reacting, but now it’s persistent. Nothing I eat seems to stay in, which is uncomfortable, to say the least. I’ve never experienced something like this before. I’ve been drinking water, trying to stay hydrated, but I’m not sure if that's enough. I feel a bit drained. What should I do when you have loose motion like this? Should I just wait it out or do something more? I read somewhere about BRAT diet, and I wonder if it helps. Is it okay to eat bananas and rice, or should I just stick to clear liquids? I have mild cramping and I’m a bit worried because my friend said loose motion can lead to dehydration. What to do when you have loose motion? I really don’t want to go to the doctor if I can help it, but I'm also feeling like I should. Any advice would be super helpful. Thanks!

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Doctors’ responses

When you’ve been dealing with loose motion for a few days, it’s essential to get on top of it to prevent dehydration and ensure you’re on the road to recovery. Given that it started after eating street food, it could be a viral or bacterial infection. Staying hydrated should be your priority since constant loose motion can easily result in dehydration. Continue drinking water, but consider adding an oral rehydration solution (ORS) or drinks with electrolytes. These can help replace lost salts and minerals. If you’re not able to get those, you can make a simple ORS at home by dissolving six teaspoons of sugar and half teaspoon of salt in one liter of water. Sipping it throughout the day is a good approach. The BRAT diet—bananas, rice, applesauce, toast—can indeed be beneficial as it’s bland and easy on the stomach, thus helping solidify stools. It’s okay to incorporate these foods if you feel up for eating; just remember to consume them in small, frequent portions. As for staying clear from other foods, try to avoid dairy, spicy foods, caffeine, and fatty foods, as they might make things worse. Over-the-counter medications like loperamide can help slow down the bowel movements, but use them with caution and ideally a pharmacist’s recommendation, especially considering your symptoms could be an infection where stopping diarrhea suddenly might not be ideal. If you start experiencing high fever, severe pain, bloody stools, or if symptoms persist beyond a few days, it’s wise to see a doctor. They can rule out more serious causes like bacterial infections that might require antibiotics. For now, have some rest, keep hydrated, and monitor how your symptoms evolve over the next day or so. That should give you a clearer picture of whether you need more advanced care.

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