IBS Attack or Viral Gastroenteritis??

WOW..., what a weekend.  I was feeling nauseated on Friday, but ok to the point to eat.  I woke up Saturday morning feeling fine ate two scrambled eggs and a small banana.  Within two hours I was feeling so nauseous.  I was having the hot flashes (I wasn't sure if they were do to my normal hot flashes or because I was feeling so ill)  The best way I could explain it to my husband was, I had a full feeling at the top of my belly.  All I wanted to do is vomit and I would feel better.  I did have three normal bowel movements, but no vomitting.  I finally said I would try making myself sick........I normally don't do this(but who in there right mind would)?  I felt so much better after, but the minute I started drinking fluids.....the full feeling started again.  All that came up was my breakfast and pure fluids that I drank. 

I was laying around most of the day.  I had no energy and just felt plain poopy.  I did not have a fever.  Around 10:15p.m.  I got up and had a huge gurgle on my left side.....all of a sudden I started to sweat, felt just horrible as if I was going to vomit.  I had regular poo mixed in with D then all of a sudden........watery D just poured out.  I truly thought I was going to pass out, but I did not.  As many of us know, we tend to panic when feeling so horrible.  I made it to the couch and all of a sudden I started vomitting......all the fluids I drank........yuck.  I told my husband it was time to take me to the ER as I knew I was dehydrated.  I was given reglan and a bag of fluids.....felt better when I left.  The ER doctor gave me a RX for Tigan and I have not had to use it (suppossitories). 

I still feel weak and am staying home for the next couple of days.  Oh....ER doctor stated Viral Gastroenteritis. 

Sounds like gastroenteritis to me.  My motto is, if you are spontaneously puking with diarrhea and sweats, a virus is usually the culprit rather than an IBS "attack." My reasoning with this is that acute symptoms like these have a distinct origin, whereas IBS is this random label they give to people when nothing else can explain what's going on. 

There's just a slight difference in treatment for a rotavirus (a common cause of the "stomach flu," which isn't really a flu at all, but that's the pet name for this "class" of buggers), at least coming from my school of thought: when you suspect viral gastroenteritis, you shouldn't take any Immodium or any other meds that paralyze your intestinal tract.  The reasoning behind this is that the diarrhea that results from infection is a natural way for your body to expel it.  However, some docs might order things like Immodium if you are becoming extremely dehydrated.  Vomiting is usually treated sooner, with anti-emetics like Reglan, because you become dehydrated more quickly from vomiting than you would from D. 

The best way to tell how dehydrated you are is by paying attention to your pee.  If you've peed in the past few hours, you're generally not dangerously dehydrated and can treat yourself at home.  If you haven't peed all day or it's dark yellow in color and you have a headache and dry mouth and dizziness, that's moderate dehydration and IV fluids may be warranted.

Are you feeling much better now?

Hi-I am new to this group and have just been diagnosed with post-infectous IBS.  But I too have times of throwing up, hot sweats, diarrhea, etc.  It feels like the flu but according to my Dr. it is actually IBS.  I had another spout last night.  I wake up, I get sweaty, then I vomit and have D for about 3 to 4 hours afterwards.  I was wondering if this is normal becuase vomiting is not part of the symptoms of IBS.  I have also had times where I am exercising in the morning (hiking, walking) and I get real hot, feel as if I am going to faint, I later then have a bowel movement.  Does anybody else have these symptoms? If so, what do you do during an attack?  You can't keep the antispasmatics or anti-diarrheal medications down in order to allow them to work.

Thanks