[41M] Experiencing watery diarrhea and occasional sharp stomach pain

What might be happening

Based on your symptoms, here are a few possible conditions:

• Gastroenteritis: This is an inflammation of the lining of the intestines caused by a virus, bacteria or parasites. Viral gastroenteritis, also known as the stomach flu, is the most common form. Symptoms can include watery diarrhea, abdominal cramps, nausea or vomiting, and sometimes muscle aches or a low-grade fever.

  • Treatment typically involves rest, hydration, and over-the-counter remedies. Antibiotics are not usually needed unless the gastroenteritis is caused by bacteria.

• Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS): This is a common disorder that affects the large intestine. Symptoms include cramping, abdominal pain, bloating, gas, and diarrhea or constipation, or both.

  • Treatment of IBS typically involves long-term management of diet, lifestyle and stress. More-severe symptoms can be treated with medication and counseling.

• Food poisoning: This occurs when you eat contaminated food. Symptoms, which include diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps, and sometimes fever and chills, usually start within a few hours after eating the contaminated food, but they can begin up to a week later.

  • Treatment of food poisoning typically involves rest, hydration, and over-the-counter remedies. Antibiotics are not usually needed unless the food poisoning is caused by certain kinds of bacteria.

Please note that this is not an exhaustive list and other conditions could also explain your symptoms.

What you can do

Here are some general suggestions that might help you feel better:

1. Stay hydrated: Diarrhea can cause you to lose fluids quickly, so it's important to drink plenty of water. If you're finding it hard to keep water down, try taking small sips at regular intervals or chewing ice chips.

2. Rest: Your body needs energy to fight off the virus. Getting extra sleep can give your body the rest it needs.

3. Eat light: While you have diarrhea, eat simple, mild foods like rice, crackers, and bananas. You should also avoid dairy products, as they can worsen diarrhea in people who are lactose intolerant.

4. Over-the-counter remedies: Over-the-counter anti-diarrheal medications like loperamide (Imodium) can help with diarrhea, but they should not be used if you have a high fever or blood in your stools.

What you should look out for

Please seek immediate medical attention if you:

• Have severe abdominal or rectal pain
• Have bloody or black stools
• Have a high fever (above 102 F)
• Are showing signs of dehydration, such as dry mouth, decreased urination, severe weakness, dizziness or lightheadedness
• Have had diarrhea for more than two days

Please remember that while I strive to provide accurate and helpful health information, this advice is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.