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Stomach Flu...so dehydrating! How to treat?

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Posted 5/4/2011 11:57 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Everyone,

I have a stomach bug and actually threw up for the first time in 10 years this morning (maybe it's because now everything doesn't automatically come out the other end?). I've been super nauseated all day and have barely been able to drink one glass of water, let alone my usual 9-10. Add to that the fact that my output has been COPIOUS and very watery. My guess is I've lost close to a gallon of fluids through my ostomy today.

I KNOW I'm dehydrated...I'm feeling a teense better (able to sit up and type now, yay!), but will stay home from work tomorrow as well to just get some fluids in me, as well as food.

Question is this: what is best to rehydrate? (dont' want to go get an IV) I don't wnat to take immodium since my body is trying to get rid of this virus, and think that may make me feel sicker. What is best to drink? Right now I'm doing water and ginger ale. I am going to try some salty crackers later.

Thanks for your help :)

Posted 5/5/2011 12:23 AM (GMT 0)
Stephanie,
I don't have an ostomy, but did have my colon removed 2 years ago. I got that horrible bug twice last year (NEVER had stomach flu before in my 55 year old life!) and the first time I had to get an IV, but the second time I drank gatorade and it helped so much.

I feel your pain....hope you're feeling better very soon!!

Janie
Posted 5/5/2011 1:20 AM (GMT 0)
I second the gatorade. That is what the doctor always told me to give my kids when they had a flu bug. G2 orange tastes pretty good, better than some of the others I think. Hope you feel better soon.
Posted 5/5/2011 3:20 AM (GMT 0)
sugar in the gatorade canmake it worse, if you get dehydrated and cant keep things down, just go on to the er or call your surgeon and get fluids, it will be really hard to catch up, and once you get dehydrated, for some crazy reason, your body starts rejecting stuff and you throw up more!  but if you really don't want an iv, try pedialyte and LOTS of salty stuff.
Posted 5/5/2011 12:54 PM (GMT 0)
You are doing what I was going to suggest...as you feel better you can increase fluids.

If it gets too bad you really should get an IV tho...
Posted 5/5/2011 1:57 PM (GMT 0)
I was able to eat some crackers and bread last night and about 4 glasses of ginger ale/water. I only threw up once, and that was yesterday morning.

I will try some pedialyte today. I remember trying that last year just before my surgery cuz I was so dehydrated, but it tasted awful.
Posted 5/5/2011 3:39 PM (GMT 0)
I find that I can't taste pedialyte when I'm really dehydrated, but if I'm getting better, it's disgusting. I always get the plain, don't like those little kid flavors.

I have a handbook from a medical group that gives a recipe for a rehydration drink (not for children under 12, so a grown up substitute for pedialyte): 1 qt water, 1/2 teaspoon baking soda, 1/2 teaspoon table salt, 3 to 4 Tablespoons sugar, and 1/4 teaspoon salt substitute if available (that's potassium). It says to measure precisely.

This tastes lousy too, but it's cheap.

The pharmacies near me keep the pedialyte under lock and key.... not sure what that's about? Guess many people who wouldn't ordinarily steal might if their kid were sick ....

Glad you're feeling a bit better, hope it continues.
Posted 5/5/2011 4:16 PM (GMT 0)
Just went out to the grocery store and they didn't have pedialyte (??) so I got powerade and vitamin water, like that coconut stuff. It's supposed to have 5 times the electrolytes of sports drinks and less sugar. It tastes ok.
Posted 5/5/2011 4:57 PM (GMT 0)
I just found out that Gatorade does come in a powder form which I am putting in with my travel notes...certainly easier than trying to get the bottled stuff especially if not readily available. The pedialyte is a good suggestion too. We are not going away until later in the year on a cruise but in the back of my head I want to be sure we are as prepared as possible. I'm sure IVs are available if needed and have the insurance sort it out afterwards as I am sure we would be charged for it up front. I'm a bit nervous about a cruise even though we have taken so many of them but we can't live our lives in a plastic bubble either.

The advice above is very helpful. Thanks.

80s chick...........hope you are a lot better today
Posted 5/5/2011 5:05 PM (GMT 0)
     about a month after my surgery I drank a glass of Gatorade and within a half hour my output was just pouring into the bag.  I also started throwing up.  Don't know whether I had a bug or not but the Gatorade sure didn't help.  I had to be hospitalized.  Sounds like you are doing better Stephanie :-) .  Hope all is well today!
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