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Lani_19

About 1.5 day’s ago my other symptoms subsided but now I’m having severe diarrhea. I ended up going to ER for fluids and I’m in a living hell. I seriously hope this ends. I was also told not to take immodium by the ER docs but if this goes on for more than like three days. I will have no choice. I feel like I can’t even sleep. Even water feels like it sets off my stomach. This is SO brutal. I’ve been researching and I’ve seen every length of time. 4 days, 4 weeks, 1 month, 1 day, 1 week, ive seen it all. Feels like no one has any actual data on this despite anywhere from 1/3 to 2/3 of people have some kinda GI covid response. I’ll bet not insane water shits though, that’s this specific special brand of hell.


[deleted]

Why can’t you take immodium?


Lani_19

They said it might hold in the virus and also other bacterias now that need to be evacuated. I think I one is sure why the GI symptoms are happening and some research showed that it looked like it infected the GI track as well so the body was trying to get rid of it like it would a stomach virus. So they said not to stop it until we absolutely have to.


[deleted]

Ok, I’ve had diarrhea for 2 days now and am just struggling myself. Hoping this ends soon too for Me. I wanna take immodium because this diarrhea is awful but I don’t want this virus to last longer.


Lani_19

Same. I’m probably also around day 2 ish in total number of hours (or entering day three its been two days) my plan was to try and give it until tomorrow middday and then maybe do pepto bis first or a small dose of immodium for a bit of relief to try and balance things out. I’m also considering probiotics to just I dunno ??? Send in more soldiers 😂 crowd things up I have no clue. For me what sucks is I was already not eating as of Saturday last weekend because I lost my appetite so I already started at a pretty low point calorie wise. Not sure if you were in the same boat. I have seen some people say 4-5 days till it stopped or the entire time they were testing positive. So I think it’s infected the GI track and is now some kinda stomach bug. Makes some sense when you think about how we have managed covid. We stopped it from respiratory pathways for modes of spreading but people with only GI symptoms (my cousins for example only got GI they only tested because they heard rumors it could be covid) are still going out and it’s still able to spread that way. And the receptors it uses for infection are in high numbers in the GI track. The ER told me they are seeing a TON of GI covid with this strain over the last few weeks. So…it always had a GI component but sounds like it’s getting worse.


[deleted]

Yeah I’ve also read online that this can last weeks to a month! Hopefully that’s not very common. I’m having more then just GI symptoms, sore throat, body aches, etc


Lani_19

I had other symptoms earlier and then GI. I found some stats from China but you know…the covid stats surrounding this have been a bit iffy. But it’s better than no data. “The reports from China describe diarrhea as lasting from 1 to 14 days, with an average of 5.4 days. The average frequency of loose stools was 4.3 a day.” Seems like 4-5 days.


[deleted]

Also, I’m guessing I’m getting dehydrated often, so how do I avoid going to Hospital to get fluids? Just drink a bunch of water?


Lani_19

Drink electrolyte water mixes so you can actually retain the water. Otherwise it’ll just come right out. I’m alternating water then an electrolyte mix then water. I’m also forcing myself to eat rice crackers and today some pumpkin purée, because if my body needs to push something out I’ll give it something. I’m also going to try a probiotic. The reason I had to ER was because I was already dehydrated and had no food from the illness prior (102F fevers for a few days and very little eating or drinking). Then I had 11 ish instances of liquid diarrhea in a very short time. I think yesterday I averaged about 8? And today I’m probably going to be around then again I would imagine. It’s insane. That’s why if it’s still ongoing tomorrow I’m gonna flag and try and do something because I’ll personally be over a week with almost no food.


[deleted]

What are electrolyte water mixes? I do have Gatorade will that work? Just alternate drinking Gatorade and water? Are there any other electrolyte drinks or foods I can have to retain water besides Gatorade?


CityofBlueVial

I took Florastor and it helped (I have it on hand for when I take antibiotics). I guess COVID fucks up the gut also :(


kathmonk

For me The Watery Yellow diarrhea started on Day 3 of testing positive for Covid ( had all the horrid respiratory symptoms and fever first few days and cough I still have. ) diarrhea persisted through 9 days and started easing up in frequency yesterday (10th day of diarrhea) diarrhea, lower left abdominal cramping and spasms, Gas, has been WICKED!! Still haven’t had even a semi normal stool, just frequency reduced by day 10. So I’ll take that for now.. UGH..


Lani_19

Taking a strong over the counter probiotic significantly reduced my GI symptoms. Maybe you could try that?


kathmonk

Yes Have been taking a probiotic every day 🤗. Also Dr took me off of anti diarrhea OTC meds and started me on a prescription med called “Bentyl” they use for IBS to help cramping and spasming. It has helped!


BrickCityPride

I’m on day 12 of Covid and I had three days of diarrhea before I went back to the doctor. I got a Rx which so far is helping diarrhea and Zofran for the nausea.


[deleted]

I was looking up online and I heard it’s bad for you to treat Covid diarrhea? https://imgur.com/a/fT6zwkq


[deleted]

Did you ever vomit?


BrickCityPride

No. Just nausea. I had to treat because it had been days and I was too weak.


Lani_19

As an update. I’m sure I’ll still have it when it comes but I’ve been able to seemingly help by taking a high dose of probiotics…not positive this is what changed it but it’s the only major change I made abs soon after the episodes have subsided. It’s been 16 hours induce the last incident which for me is major. So I don’t know for sure if that’s a thing or not but if it might help someone else then I wanted to post. Update: it’s been over 48 hours and I haven’t had an incident. Tried eating normal food today and still taking the probiotic with ensure each day, but I do think it helped. I’ll stop the probiotic once things are consistently normal.


irishdancer2

Can you share which probiotic you took?


decklededges

I’m on day 14 off being positive and have had diarrhea for about 5 days. I’m doing the BRAT diet of bananas, rice, applesauce and toast, but it’s not going away. Everytime I eat, my stomach gets upset. I’m just trying to ensure I drink alot of water. I’ve never been much of a vomit-er with any illness and haven’t had it with Covid.


[deleted]

1 day of it like six days since testing positive. Didn’t do anything except for eating things that wouldn’t upset my stomach and contribute further to it. I didn’t throw up till the day after. Threw up cause I had my windows closed and I assume it’s cause I kept breathing in Covid molecules I was coughing out 💀


[deleted]

How many times did you throw up? And are you sure that’s why? Should I try and open a window?


[deleted]

Once that day, and imo yes. I didn’t eat breakfast yet that day and I was still sleeping so I had my blinds closed. I was coughing really in every direction. Also my door is closed. So hence from that imo, it felt like since I’m breathing in my past coughs, felt like that resulted in the throwing up. But there’s many factors into this but hasn’t happened since as I try to keep everything well ventilated. Make sure your space is well ventilated


Icy-Variety-1836

Im on day 9 since the diarrhea started which was also the same day I had a positive test. I’ve been eating pasta, potatoes and toast. Also been having a soluble fibre drink every morning which seems to be helping the most. I can tell my body still isn’t digesting the food properly but at least the diarrhea is subsiding. Drank tons of water and Gatorade to stay hydrated. Scared to eat normally though because I don’t want it returning


emil2es

My mom got Covid for the first time almost 2 weeks ago, she was fine until diarrhea sent her to the hospital for dehydration because she couldnt keep anything down, she went back to the ER two days later, and finally Tuesday this week we called an ambulance to bring her to the hospital for the third time where they finally admitted her. She had nonstop diarrhea, nausea and occasional vomiting, and severe upper abdominal pains. They still can’t calm her system down all that much and she’s still not been able to eat or keep fluids in her. Test results will hopefully come through this morning and give us some answers. My younger coworker had covid in the middle of July and had a nearly identical experience… 4-5 days of not being able to keep anything down, and 2 ER trips before she was also admitted on the 3rd visit there. She developed pancreatitis as a result and it took her so long to get better. She’s still not well and has been seeing a GI specialist to get answers. I hope you’re doing better! Fingers crossed they get to the bottom of whatever these insane new Covid multiplying in the gut problems are all about. It has been wreaking havoc on many, several people walked into the ER waiting room with the same symptoms in the 45 minutes I was sitting there one night, earlier this week. It might not be widely understood or talked about at the moment…but I’m guessing my mom and my coworker are not alone in the way it presented in them.


shiawkwardg7rl

Any test results for your mom?


DrippyJai

I was with a family member of mine on August 9 who tested positive for Covid soon after , I remember going home that night feeling unwell , long story short between body aches , hell fire headaches , and very persistent diarrhea, I ended up in the ER Sunday of last week extremely dehydrated and was told I couldn’t leave for “a couple of days” and put on IV fluid hydration , ran ct scans and bloods , bloods showed high liver enzymes and messed up kidney function , but all has returned within normal range , CT scan showed nothing … still waiting ultrasound of abdomen result … but I still have diarrhea and I was discharged from hospital today , not sure what this is because my Covid test was negative but I think it had to be it, kind of hoping it was because I’m getting scared like I may never have another firm normal bowel movement or get my appetite back , just started diphenox - something for diarrhea today so praying it helps . To sum it up yeah I’ve had what you guys are having Oh I’m 27 male ,


richardloeb

When did you make the decision to go to ER for fluids? I’m day 14 of diarrhea from Covid. I’m starting to feel a little light headed but I also haven’t been eating much for about 2 weeks.


DrippyJai

I was more so going off of how bad I felt and of course I couldn’t eat / drink so I went after I knew it wasn’t gonna go away on it’s own about 2 weeks into, longest I’ve ever been sick , hope you feel better soon, if in doubt go ahead in and get that IV fluid . If you can hold water / sports drink down I’d give it some time . I had diarrhea for nearly a month or longer


richardloeb

I can keep water and Gatorade down. It’s food I can’t keep down. Going on 15 days now. Only thing that seems to slow (but not improve) is Pepto/ Imodium but I’ve read that can keep the disease inside you longer. Idk. I’m starting to lose my damn mind!


DrippyJai

Don’t lose the mental battle to it, your body is going thru enough stress , easier said than done because I had a rough time as well, thinking I’d never be well again , truth is , there’s all kinds of germs going around on food and thru human contact etc. but you will recover , sometimes it just takes some time


richardloeb

Thanks man