Sick and pill taking time

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-05-2004
Sick and pill taking time
13
Wed, 09-01-2004 - 3:45pm
Hi,

I just returned from a two week vacation in CA and must have picked up a bug or something because I have been somewhat sick since. I hate to have to say this but I have had diarrhea. I get 'sick' every day but late in the afternoon and since I take my pill every morning at 6:00 a.m. I'm not too worried about that because it's more than 10 hours later, but this morning I had 'it' at 8:00 a.m., exactly 2 hours after I took my pill. Does this mean that I am not protected for the next 7 days? Also, I felt the gurgling in my stomach before that, maybe 7:30 a.m. which is 1-1/2 hours after taking the pill but because I was driving to work I didn't stop until 8:00 a.m.... a very difficult task. Would that make a difference since had I been near a bathroom it would have happened at 7:30 a.m.? I am very sorry if you find this gross but I am really concerned and my concern is worse than my embarassment. Any advise would be greatly appreciated. Lucy

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iVillage Member
Registered: 08-16-2004
Wed, 09-01-2004 - 4:01pm
Ok, not to be gross myself, but I think if it's "normal" diarrhea, as in not a lot of it, you are probly fine?? But if it is the really bad stuff (where you can't leave the bathroom for like an hour or whatever), you may have lost your protection... I'm not an expert on this stuff, but that would be my guess. Anyways, if you are concerned, I'd say use backup for a week and you should be just fine...

Good luck and I hope you feel better soon!!!

Susan

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-25-2004
Wed, 09-01-2004 - 4:12pm
There is some information about diarreah and birth control effectiveness in the messages in the first birth control message board. I think it was written by Jill. It may help...
iVillage Member
Registered: 12-30-2003
Wed, 09-01-2004 - 5:46pm
Hi lucygirl2004,

Hon, don't be embarrassed... such things happen... I hope you are feeling much better soon! If I were you I'd count the event this morning as a miss... Perhaps it wasn't but why take the chance? Better safe than sorry, right? How long has this diarrhea been going on? Make sure you're well hydrated. Have you seen a doctor? Let us know how you're doing, ok?

Hugs,

      Jill

    

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-05-2004
Wed, 09-01-2004 - 6:57pm
Thanks for your responses. Jill, I have been sick since Sunday night. I was only getting the diarrhea in the afternoons but today it was this morning and I'm unhappy to say again when I got home from work at 6:00 p.m. I didn't even think about dehydration but I do know that I am also dizzy as heck when I stand from sitting, the back of my eyes hurt, my vision is a bit blurry and the thought of food makes me nauseous. Do you think these are signs of dehydration? I didn't even think about making a doctor's appointment but I think I will. I am nervous... three people in the town where my parents live in CA where I was these past 2 weeks died from the West Nile Virus very recently and it started with the stomach flu. I should be fine, I don't detect any mosquito bites on me. Can you tell I'm paranoid now? I will make appt. first thing in the a.m. thanks again. Lucy
iVillage Member
Registered: 12-30-2003
Wed, 09-01-2004 - 11:01pm
Hon, I have no medical training but I don't like the sound of blurry vision! Don't mess around with this. If I were you I'd get myself to a doc-in-the-box (Patient First etc.) or the ER if your doctor can't see you right away. Hang in there sweetie! Let us know how you're doing, ok?

Hugs,

      Jill

    

Avatar for lucy4980
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Thu, 09-02-2004 - 1:54pm
There is a flu bug going around in CA - I had it along with about 1/3 of the people in my office. My symptoms sound like yours. Your additional symptoms sound very much like dehydration. Go see the doctor just to make sure. Better safe than sorry. And just remember - anytime you have any diarhea or fever, drink extra liquids, nothing with caffeine though.
iVillage Member
Registered: 06-05-2004
Thu, 09-02-2004 - 5:36pm
Lucy,

Thanks so much for letting me know about that flu bug in CA. It makes sense though as I was all over the place and the very day I came home I got sick. How awful. May I ask how long (on the average) this thing lasts; if you know? I have been drinking extra liquids mainly beccause my mouth dries out very quickly but also coffee which has caffeine. I didn't know caffeine was bad for the flu. While I do have to have a cup of coffee every morning (I get nauseous and terrible headaches if I don't) I will ensure to only have one cup until I get better. thanks again...from another Lucy.

Avatar for lucy4980
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Thu, 09-02-2004 - 5:51pm
This flu caught me by surprise - I've never had a flu in the summertime. I thought I had food poisoning or something, then a coworker was sick too and our symptoms were the same, so we started to realize it was flu. For me it lasted a couple weeks, but I think I didn't fully get over it and had a relapse. I was sick, got marginally better, but not 100%, then about a week later I got sick again - fever, diarhea, fatigue, etc.

The thing about the caffiene is that I think it is a ... I'm drawing a blank on the word, but something that makes you pee more rather than retaining water, so if you are trying to replenish fluids from dehydration, it can work against you. A cup of coffee isn't going to hurt you, but if you drank a lot of coffee or caffiene sodas, it could make your recovery longer. Also, with the flu you need rest and since caffeine is a stimulent, it can keep you from sleeping. When I have the flu, I like to drink Sprite. I don't know if it helps anymore than any other fluid, but my mom would always give me Sprite or 7Up when I was a kid and had the flu. My mother-in-law swears by it too. So who knows?

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-05-2004
Thu, 09-02-2004 - 6:14pm
Thanks again for responding Lucy. For what it's worth, my mother too swears by 7up but she used to open up the can and let it fizz out and give it to me when it was flat and no carbonation. I think I do remember it worked. That said, I think I will head out to the market for some. Thank you for the reminder! Lucy
iVillage Member
Registered: 08-16-2004
Thu, 09-02-2004 - 9:29pm
About the caffiene thing, the word she was looking for was diuretic. Now, I have read some studies lately that say that sodas and stuff with caffiene in them (not sure about coffee) aren't as bad as far as liquid goes than we thought. Now they are saying that these caffiene containing liquids will still give you fluids, but just not at nearly as good a rate as a non-caffiene drink.

Also, about the carbonation - I don't think it's harmful, but if it bothers you, do let it fizz out. A lot of this is psychological too, so what you think works for you probably will. I personally like the carbonation - it settles my stomach (or at least so I've told myself). I also like ginger ale if I'm feeling sick to my stomach - the ginger is soothing, altho you have to find some with real ginger in it.

Anyways, like I said, alot of this is giving yourself with what you associate with getting well. If you have strong memories of your mom giving you flat 7up and it working, that will probly help you...

Good luck and let us know if you start feeling better!

Susan

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