Diarrhea and Weakness

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-06-2004
Diarrhea and Weakness
4
Mon, 08-07-2006 - 3:39am

I am having the strangest symptoms! I would like to know anyone else's opinion on this. I will try to be tactful, but I apologize ahead of time for the graphic nature of this post.

About 2 days ago, I woke up feeling ill. I was very weak and nauseous. I proceeded to have 3 bowel movements - almost pure water - in 30 minutes. And it was green. Within another half hour, I vomited a marked amount of solid green matter. I had not eaten anything green or purple (which can mix with stomach bile to produce the green hue). I had no desire whatsoever to eat anything at all that day.

As the night progressed, I began having cold chills. I still felt very weak. So weak that it was a challenge just to walk down the stairs. Then I began to get cold. Worse still, I began to get dizzy and had headaches off and on. So at about 11:30 at night, I went to the hospital. I was so weak I could barely stand up.

I recieved a battery of tests - blood, urine and x-ray. After hooking me up to an I.V. to give me fluids and anti-nausea meds, they checked up on me periodically for several for hours, before finally sending me home with a diagnosis of "a Urinary Tract Infection and a virus." They gave me 4 perscriptions, one of which was Vicadin, and sent me home. The Care Sheet they sent home with me said that I should feel better within 3 days.

It's the start of the 3rd day, and I do not feel better. On average, I have 3 to 4 bowel movements - still almost pure water. They are normal in color, but they were only green the very first day, as I mentioned earlier. I have no vomiting and no fever. I get dizziness and headaches if i move around too much. My stomach often makes unusually loud gurgling sounds. I am still only strong enough to use a computer, sleep or watch TV. I can bathe, but it must be sitting down, and I have to rest afterwards. I have no desire to eat whatsoever and i have slight abdominal cramping as well as bouts of nausea. I am drinking as much Cranberry juice as I can stand. Even though I am consuming an estimated 800 calories or less a day, I have only lost 1.5 pounds. When I was at the hospital, the doctor did mention that something was slightly low. I can't remember what it was . . . possibly something to do with bruising and clotting - possibly my plasma count?

On a more positive note, I am now able to actually type with both hands, as opposed to leaning on one arm and typing slowly with the other . . . but after a short time of two-handed typing, I have to rest again. Walking the 5 feet from the bathroom to the bed has become a little easier as well.

Am I just recovering really slowly or am I still sick? Could the doctor possibly have given a misdiagnosis? I am beginning to think I am losing my mind! Can anyone tell me what is going on here?

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-04-2005
Mon, 08-07-2006 - 8:44am

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Glad you found us and had the strength to type!


I don't know how a urinary tract infection would be tied in to all the other symptoms you described and am guessing it is strictly coincidence. It really sounds like you have (had?) a really bad flu or stomach virus.

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iVillage Member
Registered: 07-06-2004
Mon, 08-07-2006 - 11:54pm

Thanks for being so nice and replying so fast!

As it turns out, I went back to the E.R. a second time. They took blood samples (again!), hooked me up to an I.V. to get fluids going through me (again!) and this time, a different doctor saw me. He said to stop taking the 4 meds I was originally given, and gave me a new prescription. He said that the UTI Diagnosis was wrong, and so were all 4 meds. Turns out, I have a bad case of Gastrointestinitis. They gave me this bright green stuff that tasted terrible but actually stopped my stomach from doing flips. They gave me a shot in my butt (ouch!) and let the IV finish before sending me home with my new prescription. Whew!

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-04-2005
Wed, 08-09-2006 - 8:18am

I am glad you went back to the ER, but what a shame that you were originally misdiagnosed and wasted time and money on unnecessary treatment. Here is what I found about your second Dx...


The most commonly isolated species of Campylobacter is C. jejuni, an organism that causes gastrointestinitis. Humans acquire the organisms by eating undercooked chicken or drinking contaminated milk and water. Infection usually leads to fever, cramps, and bloody diarrhea. The bloody diarrhea indicates that Campylobacter is an invasive pathogen that infiltrates the lining of the small intestine. Along the way, the organism excretes toxins that destroy the gut mucosa. Erythromycin is the preferred antibiotic for treatment.


Are you feeling any better yet? Please keep us updated and remember to finish the Rx you were given, even after you begin to feel better!

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iVillage Member
Registered: 07-06-2004
Wed, 08-09-2006 - 7:45pm

Wow, thank you! That was very kind of you to find that info. I just e-mailed a friend about an update on my condition, and I'm not doing that great but then again, I could be throwing up!

I have just slightly more energy at select hours than I did before. I still get nausea and stomach cramps. I still can't walk around much and I still can't eat much. It seems like I'm hot all the time now, sometimes to the point of sweating.

The doctor didn't give me the medication you mentioned, but he did give me Diphenoxylate, also called Ivax or Lomotil for the Diarrhea, which is working.

The doctor did say my recovery would be slow. I am just looking forward to the day I feel better! Thanks for all the support!