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continuous loose motions
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Digestive Health
Question #16686
6 days ago
26

continuous loose motions - #16686

Diya

I am dealing with this really annoying issue of continuous loose motions. It started about four days ago after I had some street food that I thought was fine at the time, but ugh, now I'm just stuck in this cycle of running to the bathroom and it's getting so frustrating! I can't eat much without worrying I'll have another episode. I've tried drinking more water and even some electrolytes since I heard that helps, but honestly, the continuous loose motions don't seem to let up at all. I also had some stomach cramps and felt a little nauseous yesterday — not fun! I went to my doc and they suggested some probiotics, but I'm wondering if anyone here has dealt with anything similar. Like, how long does this normally last? I can't go to work like this and it's seriously impacting my life. I keep second-guessing if it's something more serious. Should I wait it out or do I need to push for further tests? I'm feeling a bit lost and just want to get back to normal. Any advice or similar experiences would be super helpful!

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Doctors’ responses

It sounds like you’re dealing with acute gastroenteritis, most likely foodborne, given how this started after eating street food. The symptoms you’re experiencing—continuous loose motions, cramps, and nausea—align with that, often caused by viral or bacterial infections. Most cases resolve in a few days; however, since you’ve been dealing with this for four days now, focusing on careful management is key. Drinking more water and electrolytes is a great start as dehydration is a major concern during prolonged diarrhea. Ensure you’re rehydrating with oral rehydration solutions or electrolyte drinks that potassium and sodium properly, which simple water doesn’t replace. Probiotics can help restore your gut flora, speeding up recovery, and are generally safe. If you notice no improvement in 48 hours, or if symptoms worsen, it may indicate a more severe infection or require an antibiotic—so consult your doctor again. Watch out for red flags like blood in your stools, high fever, continuous vomiting, or signs of dehydration such as dizziness or extreme thirst. These would necessitate immediate medical attention. For now, stick to bland foods like bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast (the BRAT diet) and avoid dairy, fat, caffeine, and alcohol, as they can aggravate diarrhea. Rest is important as your body needs time to fight the infection. If after a week, you’re not recovering or notice any concerning symptoms, insist on further tests, such as a stool test or more detailed medical evaluation, to rule out possible bacterial pathogens like Salmonella or E. coli. Meanwhile, try to keep stress at bay, as anxiety can sometimes exacerbate gastrointestinal symptoms.

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