If The Stomach Flu Has You In A Lot Of Pain As Acute Gastroenteritis Will Dont Be Afraid To Take Pain Killers
Pain killers with acetaminophen, like Tylenol are good because they dont upset your stomach as easily as medicines like ibuprofen, Aleve , and aspirin. If youre having way too much stomach pain, ask your doctor for Oxycodone. Thatll knock the pain out, help you sleep, and make everything really funny before you pass out.
How To Get Rid Of The Stomach Flu: 7 Home Remedies That Can Help
Getting rid of a stomach virus can actually be as simple as waiting 24 to 28 hours for symptoms to subside. If youre looking to feel better faster and recover well from the stomach flu, there are some natural remedies that you can easily do at home that have been known to help boost the recovery process.
1. Hydrate
Do you know what the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say about how to get rid of stomach flu caused by the norovirus? According to the CDC:
There is no specific medicine to treat people with norovirus illness. Norovirus infection cannot be treated with antibiotics because it is a viral infection. If you have norovirus illness, you should drink plenty of liquids to replace fluid lost from throwing up and diarrhea. This will help prevent dehydration.
When you have the stomach flu, youre most likely dealing with diarrhea and/or vomiting. Both of these symptoms mean a lot of water loss for your body and the chance of dehydration which only makes you feel that much worse. To avoid becoming dehydrated from the stomach flu, its really important that you consume a lot of clear liquids like water, coconut water and herbal tea.
2. What To Eat
3. What Not to Eat
You want to know how to get rid of the stomach flu fast? Well, what you dont put into your body can be just as important or helpful as what you do put into your body! If you have the stomach flu, there are certain foods and drinks youll want to avoid until youre feeling better.
4. Rest
7. Probiotics
What Is The Best Remedy For The Stomach Flu
The stomach flu can be brutal when it hits. It can’t be treated with medication. You can only take something for the symptoms. Here are some tips to make it go a little smoother: Drink a lot of fluids. You are putting out a lot more than usual and you have to replace that. You also have to replace the electrolytes you lose through vomiting and diarrhea. Clear liquids are best. You can drink sports drinks, Pedialyte, and tea with ginger or peppermint. Try to avoid caffeine and alcohol. Eat the BRAT diet. If you can keep food down, eat bananas, rice, applesauce and toast. These are easy to digest and have carbs to give you energy. Avoid dairy, fibrous foods, fatty and spicy foods.Acupressure. There is a spot on your wrist that is said to reduce nausea if pressed. Get a lot of rest. Let your body fight off the bug that is attacking it. If you aren’t sleeping, relax on the couch. To treat the symptoms: you can take ibuprofen or Tylenol for fever and aches. For diarrhea, you can take Imodium or Pepto-Bismol. You can ask your doctor for an anti-nausea such as promethazine or prochlorperazine.
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How Can I Treat Viral Gastroenteritis
In most cases, people with viral gastroenteritis get better on their own without medical treatment. You can treat viral gastroenteritis by replacing lost fluids and electrolytes to prevent dehydration. In some cases, over-the-counter medicines may help relieve your symptoms.
Research shows that following a restricted diet does not help treat viral gastroenteritis. When you have viral gastroenteritis, you may vomit after you eat or lose your appetite for a short time. When your appetite returns, you can most often go back to eating your normal diet, even if you still have diarrhea. Find tips on what to eat when you have viral gastroenteritis.
If your child has symptoms of viral gastroenteritis, such as vomiting or diarrhea, dont hesitate to call a doctor for advice.
Medicine For Stomach Flu
Although most cases of gastroenteritis do not require formal medical attention, some medications can help to manage uncomfortable symptoms. With that said, doctors recommend hydration as the first-line treatment for gastroenteritis.
The following medications may help relieve symptoms of the stomach flu:
- Loperamide Antidiarrheal medicines can help solidify the stool and reduce the effects of diarrhea.
- Promethazine Antiemetic medications disrupt the function of acetylcholine, a naturally occurring chemical that produces feelings of nausea and motion sickness.
- Acetaminophen Analgesics reduce fever and alleviate aches and pains caused by abdominal inflammation.
These medications can be prescribed by a doctor to manage the symptoms of a stomach infection, but they are not necessarily stomach virus remedies. If youre experiencing uncomfortable or long-lasting symptoms, ask your doctor how to get rid of the stomach flu.
Physicians recommend that children consume fluids and bland, easily digestible foods to manage stomach flu symptoms, as over-the-counter and prescription medications can further aggravate the gastrointestinal tract. Rest and hydration are most commonly advised to alleviate the symptoms of gastroenteritis.
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What Not To Eat
Generally, avoid dairy, fibrous foods, and anything fatty or spicy.
- Dairy: Not everyone has a problem with milk when they have the stomach flu, but it could be hard to digest and can aggravate gas and diarrhea.
- Fiber: You dont need the extra fiber if your bowels are loose.
- Grease: Avoid greasy and salty foods like bacon.
- Spices: Stay away from tomato-based dishes, curries, and chili sauces.
Acupressure has been shown to be effective in treating some types of nausea. The Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center suggests finding pressure point P-6 by measuring the width of three fingers down from the bottom of your palm.
Press below that width with your thumb and youll feel a sensitive spot between two tendons. Gently massage with your thumb for two or three minutes.
Sea-Bands are a product worn on the wrists. These can be useful in treating nausea if the P-6 acupressure point gives you relief.
Is It Stomach Bug Stomach Flu Or Food Poisoning
Your stomach is in knots as another wave of nausea strikes, sending you to the bathroom for the third time in an hour. But whats the cause? Two likely culprits are stomach bug and food poisoning. But how does stomach flu differ from food poisoning? Understanding the difference may lead to feeling better sooner and even prevent the illness from occurring in the first place.
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How The Stomach Flu Is Treated
In most cases, viral gastroenteritis doesnt need to be treated by a healthcare provider. Home remedies, like getting plenty of fluids and eating a bland diet, can treat symptoms until the illness passes. For people who have a digestive disease or another serious illness, however, seeking advice from a healthcare provider might be needed to avoid complications.
Diarrhea or vomiting that lasts more than a few days, contains blood or mucus, is black or looks like coffee grounds, or causes severe pain, is a reason to seek medical attention as soon as possible.
The Stomach Bug Can Be Contagious
Donât be the person that goes out and socializes while dealing with diarrhea from the stomach bug. No one likes that person, and with good reason. The stomach bug can be spread by fecal, oral, respiratory, food, and even water transmission. And because incubation periods vary, you may be a day or two out from experiencing diarrhea symptoms and think youâre fine, though you may still be contagious. Donât be the person that spreads the stomach bug. Let someone else handle and prepare food while youâre experiencing diarrhea symptoms and a couple days after the symptoms stop just to be safe. If you need to go out, have Pepto Diarrhea LiquiCapswith you for on-the-go relief so youâre prepared in case your diarrhea symptoms act up.
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How Can I Take Care Of Myself
- Rest your stomach and intestines by following the suggested guidelines for your diet during the illness, but make sure you prevent dehydration by drinking enough liquids. Drink just small amounts or sips while you are having vomiting.
- Do not take aspirin, ibuprofen, or other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicines without checking first with your healthcare provider.
- Your symptoms are getting worse.
- You keep having severe symptoms for more than 1 or 2 days, or you are just not getting better after a few days.
- You start having symptoms that are not usually caused by stomach flu, such as blood in your vomit, bloody diarrhea, or severe abdominal pain.
You Can Avoid The Stomach Bug
You canât always avoid contact with someone who has the stomach bugâespecially if you live with that person. But that doesnât mean youâre doomed to catch the stomach bug. First off, practice proper handhygieneâmeaning, wash your hands with soap and water, especially after using the bathroom, changing diapers, and before and after handling, preparing, or eating food. Give an extra clean to anything the sick person comes into contact with, like counter tops, changing tables, bed sheets, pillowcases, and clothes.
Sometimes you may not know exactly where you caught the stomach bug. Handling food is one way to spread the symptomsâso if you know the stomach bug is going around your community, consider skipping the all-you-can-eat buffet. When traveling, stick to bottled water and avoid raw and peeled fruit and vegetables.
The stomach bug is no fun. Remember that Pepto Diarrhea has your back. Take Pepto Diarrhea at the first sign of diarrhea from the stomach bug so you can get to the source with its dual action formula and more importantlyâget relief from your diarrhea symptoms.
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Pepto Diarrhea Can Treat Diarrhea At The Source
The stomach bug will passâbut thereâs no need to suffer through it or simply control the symptoms. Aside from staying hydrated, the best thing you can do for the stomach bug is treat the diarrhea symptoms. Pepto Diarrheahas you covered. Its dual action coats your stomach and kills the common bacterial causes of diarrhea. You can count on fast, calming, and effective diarrhearelief with Pepto Diarrhea. Even better? In addition to the traditional liquid form, Pepto Diarrhea also comes in liquicaps and caplets for on-the-go-relief. As always checking with your healthcare provider is a great step to confirm whatâs causing your symptoms in the first place.
Stomach Flu And Dehydration
How can I prevent dehydration?If your baby or child has had several bouts of vomiting or diarrhea, he or she will need to replace lost fluids and electrolytes.
If you are breastfeeding, continue to give your baby breastmilk. Breastmilk has fluids and electrolytes needed to prevent dehydration. Your doctor may also want you to give your baby an oral rehydration solution .
If you feed your baby formula, try switching to one that is lactose free while your baby is sick. Lactose can make diarrhea worse. Your doctor may also suggest switching from formula to an ORS for 12 to 24 hours, and then switching back.
For toddlers and young children, use an ORS, which contains the right mix of salt, sugar, potassium and other nutrients to help replace lost body fluids. Children older than 1 year may also have clear soups, clear sodas or juice mixed with water to help prevent dehydration. You should avoid giving your child plain water and dark sodas. Water alone does not contain enough salt and nutrients to help with dehydration. Dark sodas are typically very high in sugar and can irritate your childs stomach.
Signs of dehydration
- Little or lack of urine, or urine that is darker than usual
- Urinating less frequently than usual
- Thirst
- Irritability
- Dry mouth
- No tears when crying
- In babies who are younger than 18 months old, sunken soft spots on the top of their heads
- Skin that isnt as springy or elastic as usual
- Sleepiness
What is an ORS?
Should I feed my child when he or she has diarrhea?
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Stomach Bug Healing Supplements/teas
Probiotics
Probiotics will be a game-changer. Probiotics help supply your gut with beneficial bacteria that encourages healthy digestion and bowel movements. A virus can impact your gut microbiome, so its vital to keep it balanced. Probiotics also help prevent long-term GI issues linked to dysbiosis. If youre looking for a high-quality probiotic, visit my online Fullscript dispensary UltraFlora Acute Care by Metagenics is my favorite to have on hand when illness strikes.
Charcoal
Charcoal is known to help detox the body of toxins and bacteria. Taking charcoal can help eliminate any excess invaders that make your body work harder. Lets have your body focus on healing rather than playing defense!
Immunoglobulins
Mega Mucosa by Microbiome Labs is healing and soothing to the gut. It contains dairy-free immunoglobulins and amino acids that all support a healthy mucosal barrier and immune system.
Peppermint, Ginger/Tumeric and Chamomile Tea
Chamomile has soothing effects and also has antimicrobial activity, while peppermint is known to help calm a queasy stomach. One of my favorite brands is Tulsi Tea and they have a great tumeric ginger tea as well. You can add a teaspoon of raw honey to either of these. Your toddler may love some warm sweet tea as well but avoid giving honey to your little peanut if they are under 1 year old.
Whats The Difference Between Stomach Flu Food Poisoning And Seasonal Flu
Stomach flu isnt the same thing as food poisoning, which often occurs within hours of ingesting a contaminated substance. Food poisoning has similar symptoms to stomach flu. Symptoms of food poisoning usually last for one to two days.
Stomach flu isnt the same as seasonal flu, which causes coldlike symptoms that typically last one to two weeks.
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Peppermint Is Also An Excellent Remedy For Stomach Flu
As a carminative herb, peppermint will help you get rid of gas, eliminate bloating, and make stomach cramps go away. Add a teaspoon of dried leaves to a cup of boiling water, then steep for ten minutes. Strain it, then drink this peppermint tea four or five times a day, between meals, for two to three days.
How Long Do The Effects Last
Stomach flu rarely lasts longer than 1 to 3 days. However, it may be 1 to 2 weeks before your bowel habits are completely back to normal.
Dehydration is a potentially serious complication of stomach flu. It can happen if your body loses too much fluid because you keep vomiting or having diarrhea. If you are severely dehydrated, you may need to be given fluids intravenously . In children and older adults, dehydration can quickly become life threatening.
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Whatsymptoms To Watch For
Post-infectious IBS is a constellation of symptoms that resemble irritable bowel syndrome, Dr. Kirsh says.
Symptoms are usually lesssevere than the original infection and may include:
- Abdominal cramping.
- Nausea.
- In some cases, constipation.
Overtime people do tend to get better, he says. For most of them, this is notgoing to be lifelong IBS.
The symptoms of post-infectious IBS develop after an infectious GI bug such as viral gastroenteritis or a bacterial infection like E. coli or Salmonella or even C. difficile. Patients may suspect this condition if they had a documented GI infection that resolved, but their digestive function wont go back to normal. That should tip them off that they should seek out help.
When To Call Your Doctor
Food poisoning and viral gastroenteritis can become severe enough to require medical attention. However, Dr. Thomas says, in most cases, people can effectively manage either condition with proper rest, hydration and at-home medical treatment. But call your doctor if youre unsure whats causing your symptoms or if youre having high or persistent fevers.
Also keep in mind that other health issues can mimic the symptoms of viral gastroenteritis or food poisoning. Call your doctor if your symptoms worsen or if you experience any of the following:
- Bloody stool or bloody vomit
- Inability to keep any fluids down
- Diarrhea lasting more than three days
- Fever above 104 degrees
- Severe abdominal pain
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What Are The Symptoms Of Stomach Flu
The main symptom of gastroenteritis is diarrhea. When the GI tract becomes infected during gastroenteritis, multiple activities from the virus brings on diarrhea. Malabsorption occurs because of the destruction of the gut cells called enterocytes. The virus can also disrupt the reasbsorption of water and induce secretory diarrhea, which is responsible for the loose liquidy stools.
- Headache and body aches.
Whats Causing Your Nausea
When your stomach is upset, even reaching for a glass of water can cause painful discomfort. But while you search for a remedy, you should consider the cause of your unease. In the case of this health symptom, the cause may be mild, but it may also be severesometimes even life-threatening.
Some of the relatively mild causes of nausea that can lead to vomiting include food allergies, stomach flu, food poisoning, acid reflux, and migraineheadaches. Some of the more serious causes include head injury, diabetes, vertigo/stroke, heart problems, pancreatitis, appendicitis, accidental drug ingestion, bowel obstruction and cancer.
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