# Fluids vs. stomach bugs (tmi) **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 9, 2005, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fluids-vs-stomach-bugs-tmi/303011 "2005-05-09T03:13:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![NinjaChick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/71c47a/32.png) [@NinjaChick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinjaChick)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2005, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fluids-vs-stomach-bugs-tmi/303011/1 "2005-05-09T03:13:14Z")
Short version: How do I manage to keep myself hydrated while in the midst of a stomach bug? So, I woke up at about 3 AM on Saturday morning in seriously bad shape. I’d been fine when I went to bed three hours earlier, didn’t eat anything other than the mass-served cafeteria food in the past 24 hours, so I can rule out food poisoning. I had serious bouts of diarrhea from about 3 to 5 AM, vomited several times, and spent several more hours dry-heaving. At about 8 AM Saturday, I had a few sips of water and managed to keep it down, slept all day, and sometime Saturday evening, had a few more sips of water and nearly lost it again. Today, less exhaustion, slightly less nausea. I attempted to drink some flat ginger ale (heard it could help) and it didn’t stay down. Since this morning, I’ve drank about 8 ounces of water (estimate). short of sipping water to just before the point of puking, then waiting, how does one stay not-too-dehydrated in a state like this? Yes, I know, if I’m still in this bad shape tomorrow, I’ll go down to the student health office. ---
**Author:** ![bauble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f6c823/32.png) [@bauble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bauble)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2005, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fluids-vs-stomach-bugs-tmi/303011/2 "2005-05-09T17:09:59Z")
I’ve used a mixture of warm water, apple cider vinegar and honey as an anti-ematic. 1/2 cup of water and vinegar and 2 T. of honey, IIRC. Don’t try to heat the vinegar; the fumes will make it undrinkable (at least, that’s what my brother said when he decided to combine cold water, vinegar and then nuke them). ---
**Author:** ![irishgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/8edcca/32.png) [@irishgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/irishgirl)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2005, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fluids-vs-stomach-bugs-tmi/303011/3 "2005-05-09T18:18:30Z")
What you need is something like Diarolyte, an electrolyte powder. You should be able to buy it for a few dollars (or get a friend to buy it for you) from any pharmacy. You mix a sachet with the required amount of water, and drink it (try and get a flavoured one). It helps to restore a normal electrolyte balance in your body by replacing the electrolytes lost when you have vomiting and diarrhoea. It’s better for you than plain water or a sports drink. Failing that, you can make your own: 1 tsp salt 1 tsp baking soda 1 tbs corn syrup 6 oz frozen orange juice concentrate 6 cups water Remember little and often is better than big gulps. ---
**Author:** ![NinjaChick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/71c47a/32.png) [@NinjaChick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinjaChick)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2005, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fluids-vs-stomach-bugs-tmi/303011/4 "2005-05-09T21:34:50Z")
Thanks for the suggestions. I am feeling a bit better today and seem to be keeping things down much better.