I came out of the emergency room a couple of days ago with a diagnosis of gastroenteritis. I hadn't felt that bad since elementary school when the stomach flu was an almost annual tradition for each and every student. Now, when I say the stomach flu, I don't mean influenza. To call it the stomach flu is, technically, a mistake. The real flu is a respiratory illness caused by the influenza virus, while gastroenteritis is caused by a viral infection in the intestines.
The symptoms associated with a stomach virus include dizziness, vomiting, cold sweats, fever, diarrhea, abdominal pain (stomach pain), and the irking suspicion that you may end up losing your innards to the porcelain gods. So, in the spirit of recovery from this rather appauling flashback to my youth, I present to you some of my physician's recommendations for getting rid of the stomach flu--ahem--I mean, gastroenteritis.
Removing the Problem
Seeing a physician should be your first step to cure stomach flu. Seeing your doctor isn't to get a prescription for medicine to help cure gastroenteritis but to get medicine to fight the flu symptoms: anti-spasmotics for cramps, antinauseants for vomiting, and some blood and stool tests to make sure it isn't something worse—like worms. Gross.
It is a good idea to drink a lot of fluids. Diarrhea, a very common stomach flu symptom, causes dehydration very quickly. Even after drinking almost 8-10 glasses of water every day, the doctor said I was still dehydrated and short of electrolytes. So, get some Gatorade in bulk. Don't fight the poop soup, just let it go. Your body needs to get rid of that stuff.
Simplifying your diet will help you cure gastroenteritis. Keep your diet down to clear liquids for the first 24 hours (broth, water, juices). If you feel better after 24 hours, then you can move on to foods like white rice, white bread, apple sauce, and bananas. Try to avoid citrus, greasy foods, dairy and tomato products, alcohol, coffee, and carbonated drinks. In other words, don't go to McDonald's.
If the stomach flu has you in a lot of pain, as acute gastroenteritis will, don't be afraid to take pain killers. Pain killers with acetaminophen, like Tylenol and Excedrin are good because they don't upset your stomach as easily as medicines like ibuprofen, Aleve, and aspirin. If you're having way too much stomach pain, ask your doctor for Oxycodone. That'll knock the pain out, help you sleep, and make everything really funny before you pass out.
A sufferer of gastroenteritis shouldn't need to be told this, but get some rest. The reason doctors tell you to rest is because your nutritional intake is extremely low when you have a stomach flu, even if you're slamming Campbell's Soup like cans of Miller Lite at a baseball game. Your body is running on reserves and needs you to be lying down so you don't waste protein and calories that could be used to fuel your immune system.Medical Treatment of Gastroenteritis
By now you should realize that there isn't much more you can do about gastroenteritis or the stomach flu than simply treat the symptoms and wait for death. Just kidding. You're not going to die, but may have to wait a while before you can get rid of gastroenteritis. Antibiotics won't do anything to treat a stomach flu. If anything, antibiotics will make it worse because antibiotics kill the good bacteria in your intestinal tract, making you more susceptible to severe abdominal cramps. So, stock up on Gatorade, Tylenol, and a season or two of your favorite sitcom.
If your symptoms don't go away within 48 hours, or if you're having sharp, localized pains, or if you develop a high fever, or if you have blood in your vomit or in your stool, it is a good idea to call your doctor immediately.
