Food Poisoning??

Queen Bee · #1 09/25/10, 02:46 PM

Anyone ever have it? How long were you sick? How long before you were completely back to your normal self?

Four weeks ago, We were going out on our boat, so I took some Dramamine--to prevent motion sickness. I usually take another brand but that's the only thing the store had. Before we could get going a rain storm came up and it was suppose to last all day.. We decided to go out for lunch and then some shopping. After lunch, I became a little queasy but made it thru the day. On the way home I got really sick but never threw up--just everything going straight thru me.. It lasted 2 days and felt better for 2days and "went down" hard! was sick for four days-- felt like the flu, couldn't do anything but go to the bathroom, ached ALL over, ran a high fever and had chills/sweats. Finally, thinking I had the flu, I went to the dr.. My bp was 100/62, temp 103* and I had lost 14lbs (I had just had a check up two weeks earlier)! Dr. ordered flu test, came back neg.. sent me to the hosp.. for a CAT scan on my GI track.. Found a 'thicken' on a large place on my colon.. Wanted me to go into the hosp for fluids but I said I really didn't want to go.. So he sent me home w/ an antibody and something for my stomach problems and said IF I wasn't better by Monday to come back.. I wasn't --so--I went back. They did more than a doz. test--everything neg. BUT that's what "He (dr.) expected" cause I had been on the Antibiotic.But because I had ulcers on my throat and in my mouth he thought Crohn's Disease! and sent me for a Colonoscopy. The GI doctor said he found NO sign of Disease but took a biopsy of the 'thicken' area to see what was going on... NOW, they say it could have been Food Borne illness and because I didn't throw up it passed down into my colon and
has caused all this mess!

It's been almost 4 weeks and I am still weak, want nothing to eat and little to drink and am not sleeping in a normal pattern--2hrs here--awake until 4am--then wanting to sleep until 11 am! Thank you QB

TheMartianChick · #2 09/25/10, 03:15 PM

I had food poisoning once... I was twelve and it lasted a few days and I felt like I was going to die. I did vomit, so maybe it made it pass through my system a bit faster. To this day, I am absolutely vigilant about proper food handling because I wouldn't wish food poisoning on my worst enemy.

I hope that they figure it out and that you start to feel better soon.

Our Little Farm · #3 09/25/10, 03:24 PM

Same here TMC. I had food poisoning once from Subway and it sounds similar, although I threw up too, 30 mins after eating. I am still 'sensitive' to any food that might be a little 'off'. Eating out can be great or a nightmare for me.

Hope you feel better soon...

Alice In TX/MO · #4 09/25/10, 03:25 PM

I got food poisoning in Hawaii years ago. I was sick a long time. Weeks.

Hubby drank the water in Mazatlan once. Took about a year to completely recover.

danielsumner · #5 09/25/10, 05:55 PM

It's the worst thing ever, Had it once, thought I was going to meet my maker. I was in my early twentys, me and some friends took a long road trip across the eastern US. Friends wife made a bunch of ham sandwiches, we were in three cars, eight of us. Friends wife was preggers, so didn't feel like eating, the rest of us scarfed the sandwiches down. Everyone except friends wife got deathly ill. We spent five days at a holiday inn in Atlanta. We were too sick to go to the doctor. Finially the two least sick (wasn't me) went to the ER, they thought they were going to be admitted. The doctors gave them meds for the rest of us and intructions about keeping hydrated ect. It was terrible. It took me over a month to feel right. Your fingernails and toenails even hurt, along with your Hair. You just have to wait it out, you will live. Don't go into the "light" just yet, give it a few days and you will survive. Hope you get better soon and "may the force be with you".

Daniel

Kmac15 · #6 09/25/10, 05:56 PM

Had several times but the worst sent me to the ER where I was admitted for 4 days. As a result of a messed up immune system from the food poisoning I then ended up with pneumonia. It took me the better part of a year to get back to normal.

ginnie5 · #7 09/25/10, 07:52 PM

food poisoning once from some meatballs. I never threw up but oh I stayed in the bathroom. Had them for supper and woke up the next morning with awful cramping. Fever, cramps, nausea, and felt like I had been hit by a ton of brinks lasted all day. the next day I was better but very weak for a few days.

highlandview · #8 09/25/10, 08:23 PM

I had it in Busch Gardens and threw up immediately - I fel weak a little while but recovered pretty quick. I wonder if Gatorade or something with electrolytes wouldn't be a good idea to help you recover from dehydration. Make sure it isn't a sugary drink because that could make it worse.

FunnyRiverFarm · #9 09/25/10, 08:41 PM

My husband got food poisoning in Mexico...didn't hit him until the plane ride home--OH NO! He spent most of the flight in the bathroom...went a few more times at the airport. Thought that there couldn't possibly be anything left so we got in the car and started driving...got stuck in a traffic jam and I could see him sweating...no exit in sight...no where to hide...so he had to run out into the median and drop his trousers in full view of everyone! People were pointing, horns were blaring...it was really something. I asked Hubby to describe the experience and he said that it was like his bowels had time-traveled into the future and he was pooing out stuff that he had not eaten yet...

It gets worse though...two weeks later he thought he was "better" and went to help the neighbor bale hay. First bale he lifted caused him to soil himself so he had to explain THAT to the neighbor and walk home with dirty britches.

That said--these illnesses can take months to recover from completely.

Callieslamb · #10 09/25/10, 09:30 PM

I got food poisoning in one of the spinach ecoli scares a few years ago. I was sick for six days. I will never, ever eat a chicken alfredo pizza with spinach again in my life. I was traveling to see my kids. Met a DDIL-to-be and missed a college graduation.

Sumer · #11 09/25/10, 10:08 PM

Ya twice.
2nd time wasnt as bad as the 1st but it was Christmas Eve so the holidays were not fun. I havent eaten at that place again in 10 years.

1st time was my own fault. I was in my late 20's & healthy as a horse. I now pitch out mushrooms out of the fridge if they look the least bit off. Felt icky the first day then 3 days straight in bed with a bucket. Not able to move or even drink water without throwing up. Only getting out of bed to bolt straight to the bathroom. I had to sit while holding a bucket to my face. Lost 10 pounds in 3 days. It took about a week to be able to eat normally and feel normal after that.

Shushy · #12 09/25/10, 10:38 PM

Yup, five years ago and I still remember every detail even though I carried a 101 degree fever or better for 3 days!! I couldnt keep anything down, I had it coming out both ends, I got dehydrated which made it worse. I threw up at least twice an hour for 24 hrs straight! I threw up so much that all the little blood vessels in my face broke and I was purple and I broke blood vessels in both my eyes so I looked like the devil!! I lost 15 lbs and couldnt eat much of anything for two weeks! Needless to say I havnt eaten pizza hut pizza since then!

pamda · #13 09/25/10, 11:16 PM

ot food poisoning 3 times. last that I remember was about 30 years ago. I was the last person to eat at work, back when you could eat in the dining room at nursing homes here. I ate tuna casserole and went home 2 hours later. I do not remember going to bed but remember eating some ice cream first. Next thing I remember my now ex wiping my face then picking me up and carrying me to the car. I had been throwing up in my sleep or I had passed out. I spent 6 hours in the ER and then he was taking me home but I made him take me back to work first. I never had so much fun telling someone off in my life. I was working sub-acute ward alone and some of my charges ate what I did. I take my work very seriously. The health deptment showed up as I was leaving and got into it with the office also. I have never been that sick and was told by a Dr. I might have repeersussions for years. I do have some kidney damage that is from this. I shouls add that it took over a year to fully recover.

Joshie · #14 09/25/10, 11:27 PM

My brother got food poisoning from eating one of those turkey legs at Six Flags. Caused renal problems. Now, my brother is Korean and it happens in Asians more than in Caucasians but.... Ask your doc to check your blood to make sure your kidneys are not having problems. Brother was sick for a few months but his kidneys are fine now.

Murray in ME · #15 09/26/10, 12:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Queen Bee

Anyone ever have it? How long were you sick? How long before you were completely back to your normal self?

I'm sorry you got sick QB. Food borne illness is never fun. Your questions, except for the first one, are hard to answer accurately simply because there are so many types of food borne illness. The duration of symptoms, and the symptoms themselves vary wildly depending on the type of illness. Unfortunately, with some types of food borne illness it can be months or even longer before you're completely back to your normal self. With the worst of them, some of the effects can be permanent. Your first question, sadly, is easy to answer. I'd wager pretty much all of us have had some form of food borne illness at some point in our lives. Even if we didn't attribute the symptoms to food borne illness. One of my chef instructors in culinary school had a theory that most of the time when people have the 'flu' or a 'stomach bug' it was in fact a type of food borne illness. That makes a lot of sense.

One of the difficult things with food borne illness is that it is often extremely difficult, to pinpoint what caused it. That's because almost all food borne illness require 12 to 72 hours before the onset of symptoms. Some forms even longer than that.

I hope you're feeling better very soon.

CrashTestRanch · #16 09/26/10, 12:37 AM

yup, multiple times ...

longest was a week, cost me $6000+ in hospital bills ... almost lost my job because of it ...

it took me a week or more to get back to normal every time ...

hydrate with pedialyte or homebrew hydration solution ...

vitamins, clear broth and LOTS of bed rest ...

Kathy NW Ohio · #17 09/26/10, 07:32 AM

Husband had it. Dr. told him to get charcoal capsules at the pharmacy. Take several to absorb the toxins from the poisoning. It worked pretty quickly.
We keep some on hand for just in case !

lemonthyme7 · #18 09/26/10, 08:39 AM

Got it from undercooked chicken wings. Had it coming from both ends and ended up trying to sleep on bathroom floor between bouts of sickness. Initially got sick in middle of night after eating the wings the evening before. It was terrible and something I wouldn't wish on an enemy! Was sick all the next day. Hubby was trying to be nice and got ginger ale, etc. but nothing stayed down. Was dehydrated but didn't go to hospital. After second day I could keep some fluids down but it was a week before I felt like myself again.
I hope you feel better soon - I'll be thinking of you.

Minelson · #19 09/26/10, 09:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FunnyRiverFarm

My husband got food poisoning in Mexico...didn't hit him until the plane ride home--OH NO! He spent most of the flight in the bathroom...went a few more times at the airport. Thought that there couldn't possibly be anything left so we got in the car and started driving...got stuck in a traffic jam and I could see him sweating...no exit in sight...no where to hide...so he had to run out into the median and drop his trousers in full view of everyone! People were pointing, horns were blaring...it was really something. I asked Hubby to describe the experience and he said that it was like his bowels had time-traveled into the future and he was pooing out stuff that he had not eaten yet...

It gets worse though...two weeks later he thought he was "better" and went to help the neighbor bale hay. First bale he lifted caused him to soil himself so he had to explain THAT to the neighbor and walk home with dirty britches.

That said--these illnesses can take months to recover from completely.

This is sooo sad! Your poor hubby

It sounds like a nightmare.

unregistered29228 · #20 09/26/10, 10:54 AM

I got food poisoning from a restaurant meal when I was pregnant with the first child. I threw up until I broke a blood vessel in my eye, and I can only describe it as something from The Exorcist - projectile vomiting every 10 minutes. I had diarrhea until there just wasn't anything left to come out. All this happened in about 6 hours overnight. At 5 a.m. I called a friend (hubby was out of town) and she took me to the ER. They put me on an IV and gave me something to stop the vomiting. Baby was fine, and they sent me home a few hours later. I stayed in bed exhausted and weak for a couple of days after that. And it was probably two weeks before I started feeling like myself again.

I think I got better quicker than some because of the *violent* way my body got rid of the bad food in the first couple of hours.

FunnyRiverFarm, your pooor husband! That would be a nightmare, having to squat in a median to be sick.