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Digestive Health
Question #14909
45 days ago
63

loose motion water - #14909

Rohan

I am really stressed out cause the last few days, I've been dealing with this weird issue of loose motion water. It started after I had a pretty spicy dinner at a friend's place, think it was tacos or something. At first, I thought it was just a one-off thing, but nope! It’s been relentless since then. I’m talking about running to the bathroom like every 30 mins, and it’s all liquid, super frustrating. I’m not feeling nausea or anything, just the constant urge to go. A couple of days into this, I started to feel a bit dizzy too, maybe because I’m not keeping enough fluids in? Should I be worried about loose motion water like this? How long can this go on? I tried to stick to bland foods, but it seems like nothing is helping. Do I need to go to the doc or would some over-the-counter meds be enough for loose motion water situations like this? I keep thinking about possible causes. Could it really just be the spicy food? I mean, I thought I was tough, but clearly, my stomach disagrees. Help! What should I do?

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Doctors’ responses

It sounds like you’re dealing with something frustrating, and while spicy food can sometimes irritate the stomach, it might not be the only factor at play here. Loose watery stools, as you’ve described, commonly point to diarrhea, which can result from a variety of causes, like viral infections (such as norovirus), bacterial infections, food intolerances, or even stress. If viral, these usually resolve within a couple of days, but since you’ve mentioned it’s been persistent for a few days now and you’re feeling dizzy, dehydration is a concern. Dehydration from fluid loss can lead to dizziness and lightheadedness, and it’s crucial to address this right away. Increase your fluid intake with oral hydration solutions or water, and consider drinking fluids with electrolytes like sports drinks or oral rehydration salts.

Avoid caffeine and alcohol right now as they might decrease hydration levels further. Continue eating small amounts of bland foods—think bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast—these can help firm up stools for some people. However if diarrhea continues despite this, over-the-counter anti-diarrheal medications like loperamide can help reduce the frequency of bowel movements, but do not use them if you suspect a bacterial infection or if you have a fever and are seeing blood in your stools, as these may require antibiotics. If symptoms persist longer than a week, worsen, or dehydration signs like consistent dizziness, dry mouth, and dark urine occur, it’s advisable to consult with a healthcare professional promptly. This is especially true if you can’t retain any fluids, as it may require medical intervention like IV fluids.

As for the possibility of food borne illness concerned, it could be but without other symptoms like fever or persistent nausea, it’s hard to be certain. Should there be any alarming red-flag symptoms such as high fever, persistent vomiting or signs of severe dehydration, seek medical attention quickly. Wishing you a smooth recovery soon.

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