extreme loose motion - #20643
I am really worried about what’s been happening to me lately. For the past week, I've been dealing with extreme loose motion, and it’s honestly taking a toll on my life. I mean, I was just on a family trip last weekend and started feeling this weird cramping feeling in my stomach. At first, it just felt like a little inconvenience, but then it turned into this relentless barrage of extreme loose motion. Like, every few minutes, I was running to the bathroom, and it was beyond embarrassing!! I thought maybe it was something I ate, but I’ve been really cautious about food. Then, I started having a low-grade fever and felt so weak that I couldn't even enjoy the trip. I've never had extreme loose motion like this before! I went to the doc and they mentioned it could be a viral infection but now I'm thinking, what if it’s something more serious? Should I be worried about my hydration levels with this extreme loose motion? I read that electrolytes are super important but with the way my stomach feels, drinking anything is tough. I just feel lost and confused on what to do next. How do you guys handle this extreme loose motion, and do you recommend any specific remedies or treatments?
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Doctors' responses
Extreme loose motions like you’re experiencing can indeed disrupt daily life and they’re often concerning. The immediate priorities here are to address potential dehydration and to determine the cause. Yes, maintaining hydration is crucial. With frequent bowel movements, you’re losing fluids and electrolytes which can lead to dehydration, a bigger risk especially if you’re noting weakness or fever.
Start by replenishing your fluids with oral rehydration solutions (ORS) available over the counter. They contain a good balance of salts and sugars to help replace lost electrolytes. If you find it hard to drink due to discomfort, sip slowly but consistently—try small amounts every 10-15 minutes.
As for dietary changes, follow a bland diet centered around the BRAT foods (bananas, rice, applesauce, toast) which can help firm up your stool and give your digestive system time to recover. Avoid dairy, high-fiber, and fatty foods as they might worsen diarrhea.
Considering you’ve noted a viral infection, if the loose motion doesn’t improve in a couple of days, further investigation might be necessary. Persistent diarrhea could indicate bacterial infections, or even conditions like irritable bowel syndrome or inflammatory bowel disease. You mentioned a fever and these symptoms together may need additional tests like a stool analysis to check for infections including bacteria or parasites, which is more common if you’ve traveled or had different foods recently.
Since you’ve started feeling weak and have a fever, if at any point you notice symptoms becoming severe like high fever, severe abdominal pain, or bloody stools, seek immediate medical attention. Also, if you continue to struggle with keeping any fluids down, medical assistance for IV fluids might be required.
It’s important to follow up with your healthcare provider if symptoms persist; they may also consider further imaging or blood tests based on your situation. Remember, while remedies and self-care are helpful, they’re no substitute for proper medical evaluation if things don’t start to improve fairly soon.
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