# Same illness three times in 90 days: what do I have? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 29, 2004, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/same-illness-three-times-in-90-days-what-do-i-have/226636 "2004-01-29T20:26:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Jurph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/50afbb/32.png) [@Jurph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jurph)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2004, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/same-illness-three-times-in-90-days-what-do-i-have/226636/1 "2004-01-29T20:26:02Z")
At first I thought it was food poisoning, but the three meals were 1. Lamb cooked at a friend’s house, 2. Chicken vindaloo at a restaurant, 3. Chili with cornbread and rice, from a frozen TV dinner. The only common ingredient in all three meals (to my knowledge) was sticky white rice. After each of these meals (around 7pm each) I would feel fine. At about 3am, I would awaken from a fitful sleep with a sharp pain in my lower abdomen, resembling bad gas. By 4am, I would finally have diarrhea, which lasted until about 5:30. The sharp pain would increase gradually, eventually becoming dull, and leading to six or seven bouts of vomiting, about one an hour, culminating in dry heaves and vomiting bile. By noon or 1pm, I would feel fine, but exhausted and chilly. Throughout the illness, my body temperature fluctuated (or felt like it was fluctuating) wildly, going from fever to chills and back. I _never_ used to get sick, and now I’ve been ill with this three times in three months. I’m starting to get really tired of it, and I want to know what on earth is causing it. ---
**Author:** ![Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/50afbb/32.png) [@Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duck_Duck_Goose)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2004, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/same-illness-three-times-in-90-days-what-do-i-have/226636/2 "2004-01-30T04:43:25Z")
Disclaimer: IANA doctor. Well, it could be any of a number of Irritable Bowel Syndrome things: celiac, Crohn’s, colitis, etc. Or it could be appendicitis. Or it could be gallstones. Who knows? Bottom line: Get thee to a doctor. He’ll do tests. You’ll find out what’s wrong. P.S. I agree that it’s probably not “food poisoning”. ---
**Author:** ![Gorsnak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gorsnak/32/7587_2.png) [@Gorsnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gorsnak)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2004, 5:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/same-illness-three-times-in-90-days-what-do-i-have/226636/3 "2004-01-30T05:32:40Z")
Doesn’t sound like ulcerative colitis to me, and I have it. Gradual onset, noticeable presence of blood in the stool, no vomiting, no actually feeling ill besides the irregular bowel movements. Actually, the described symptoms _do_ sound a lot like food poisoning to me, but the multiple occurences makes that seem a bit of a stretch. I concur that professional medical attention is called for. ---
**Author:** ![notquitekarpov](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/71c47a/32.png) [@notquitekarpov](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notquitekarpov)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2004, 7:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/same-illness-three-times-in-90-days-what-do-i-have/226636/4 "2004-01-30T07:51:48Z")
Wide guess - but maybe another possibility if this is occurring regularly? Could it be a parasite with a life cycle of between 22 and 44 days? Something like giardia lamblia?? ---
**Author:** ![Z\_Al](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/41988e/32.png) [@Z\_Al](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Z_Al)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2004, 7:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/same-illness-three-times-in-90-days-what-do-i-have/226636/5 "2004-01-30T07:55:47Z")
> [@notquitekarpov](#): > > Wide guess - but maybe another possibility if this is occurring regularly? > > Could it be a parasite with a life cycle of between 22 and 44 days? Something like giardia lamblia?? Yes, that’s my guess too. Try not eating and see what happens. ---
**Author:** ![edwino](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/35a633/32.png) [@edwino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/edwino)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2004, 8:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/same-illness-three-times-in-90-days-what-do-i-have/226636/6 "2004-01-30T08:09:07Z")
IANAD but it sounds to me like everyday run-of-the-mill Staph aureus food poisoning. The food perhaps had been sitting around too long. Ingestion of a reasonable titer of bacteria leads to poisoning from the endotoxins. This causes crampy diarrhea and vomiting within 4-8 hours, which passes when you get rid of the endotoxins. Giardiasis can be contracted from ingesting water from mountain streams or from other contaminated water or food. It is not incredibly common but a common treatment for periodic diarrhea is a course of empiric metronidazole which will cover Giardia. Most gut inflammatory syndromes or diseases don’t include vomiting and diarrhea. But it has been a while and I am probably forgetting some. An oddball suggestion is Bacillus cereus, which is a food poisoning contracted from cooked rice. ---
**Author:** ![edwino](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/35a633/32.png) [@edwino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/edwino)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2004, 8:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/same-illness-three-times-in-90-days-what-do-i-have/226636/7 "2004-01-30T08:11:52Z")
I should correct myself and say Giardia is not particularly common in the US or Europe (although it is endemic in Russia), but it is extremely common throughout the rest of the world. ---
**Author:** ![terd\_ferguson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8edcca/32.png) [@terd\_ferguson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terd_ferguson)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2004, 8:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/same-illness-three-times-in-90-days-what-do-i-have/226636/8 "2004-01-30T08:23:12Z")
I’d also say go to a doctor, but I’ll play the guessing game. It could be chronic appendicitis. I had this a year ago. I had all of the classic symptoms of acute appendicitis: fever, the runs, loss of appetite, nausea, intense ab. pain, After a couple days, however, the symptoms started to go away and by the 4th day I felt pretty much normal. Just had some pressure in my lower right side. It stayed that way for 7 weeks until I had it yanked. I did some research on the chronic appendicitis just because I wanted to see other what other people went through. And for some people they would show symptoms, they would go away, and might be gone for years, but would eventually come back. I think it varies a lot. Anyway, that would be my guess. A CAT scan would show, but I had issues with mine. Had to have a second opinion because all the radiologist said was that there was a loop that didn’t go with anything at about $100 a word. I was also tested for Crohn’s late October because the symptoms came back. This was sans appendix. I was negative, but it sounds like we had similar symptoms so I guess that might be a possibility, too. They would need to do a Colonoscopy and some bloodwork for that. Anyway, good luck. I hope everything turns out well for you. ---
**Author:** ![KP](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/a9adbd/32.png) [@KP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KP)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2004, 8:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/same-illness-three-times-in-90-days-what-do-i-have/226636/9 "2004-01-30T08:44:08Z")
This is not a very common presentation. You didn’t specify your usual diet, living circumstances, medical/family history, possible environmental exposures and lifestyle issues (smoking, drinking, etc.). As I considered your symptoms, the possibilities and relevant questions multiplied. I don’t think anything short of a clinical interview and possibly directed exam+tests would be helpful., so I’m going to second the trite, but usually wise, advice that you see a physician. Don’t worry yourself sick over it, but do it ASAP: while most of the possibilities are mild or moderate, a few are quite serious - and someone has to get he oddbal conditions (which often seem far less oddball, once all the circumstances are known). While food poisoning is not out of the question, the varied sources, including a meal of commercially packaged food, make it unlikely, absent a common factor like a late night snack of improperly stored or contaminated leftovers. The so-called ‘short incubation’ form of _Bacillis cereus_ food poisoning is classically associated with reheated rice and can present with the symptoms and timing you described, but it can only be definitively proven by analysis of a sample of the affected food (which probably isn’t available now). As a general “book” rule, only Staphylococcus and preformed toxins of certain other bacteria -which may not be destroyed by cooking- cause symptoms in 6-12 hours. There are several other conditions that should be ruled out before leaping to that diagnosis. ---
**Author:** ![UncleBill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/d26b3c/32.png) [@UncleBill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleBill)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2004, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/same-illness-three-times-in-90-days-what-do-i-have/226636/10 "2004-01-30T12:39:22Z")
Sounds vaguely similar to something I had a few years back. Was in Guatemala and drank the water. Picked up an unidentified bug that liked lots of beer. After nights of heavier than normal drinking, I was DONE four about two days. Liquids coming out of everything that could produce liquids. Then fine again. The docs didn’t know exactly what it was, and prescribed two drugs to kill anything that moved. Problem was, no alcohol or caffiene during the ten day course of treatment. It took until the third attack (whilst in Germany on business) that that cure became more attractive than the affliction. See a doc. Maybe your bug likes sticky rice. ---
**Author:** ![Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/50afbb/32.png) [@Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duck_Duck_Goose)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2004, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/same-illness-three-times-in-90-days-what-do-i-have/226636/11 "2004-01-31T04:32:06Z")
> [@](#): > > **Most gut inflammatory syndromes or diseases don’t include vomiting and diarrhea.** Ummmm…30-year colitis and Crohn’s sufferer here. Yes. They do. > **[Colitis: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia](https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/001125.htm)** > > Colitis is swelling (inflammation) of the large intestine (colon). > [@](#): > > Colitis is an inflammation of the large intestine that is caused by many different disease processes, including acute and chronic infections, primary inflammatory disorders (ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s colitis, lymphocytic and collagenous colitis), lack of blood flow (ischemic colitis), and history of radiation to the large bowel. > > For more information about a specific type of colitis see: > > pseudomembranous colitis > Crohn’s disease (regional enteritis) > ulcerative colitis > ischemic colitis > irritable bowel syndrome > necrotizing enterocolitis > cryptosporidium enterocolitis > CMV colitis (a viral infection of the colon) > > Symptoms > > Symptoms can include abdominal pain, diarrhea, dehydration, abdominal bloating, increased intestinal gas, and bloody stools. [Pseudomembranous colitis](http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000259.htm) > [@](#): > > Symptoms > > Watery diarrhea > Urge to defecate > Abdominal cramps > Low-grade fever > > Additional symptoms that may be associated with this disease: > > Stools, bloody > Abdominal pain [Crohn’s disease](http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000249.htm) > [@](#): > > Symptoms > > Abdominal pain > Fever > Diarrhea > Loss of appetite > Weight loss > Abdominal mass > Abdominal sounds (borborygmus, a gurgling or splashing sound heard over the intestine) > Clubbing of the fingers or toes > Gastrointestinal bleeding > Foul-smelling stools > Tenesmus > > Additional symptoms that may be associated with this disease include the following: > > Bloody stools > Joint pain > Incontinence > Swollen gums > Constipation > Abdominal fullness - gaseous [http://www.ccfa.org/research/info/aboutcd](http://www.ccfa.org/research/info/aboutcd) > [@](#): > > \*Ileocolitis: The most common form of Crohn’s, affecting the ileum and colon. Symptoms include diarrhea and cramping or pain in the right lower part or middle of the abdomen. > > \< snip \> > > Gastroduodenal Crohn’s disease: Affects the stomach and duodenum (the first part of the small intestine). Symptoms include loss of appetite, weight loss, and nausea. Vomiting may indicate that narrowed segments of the bowel are obstructed.\* [Ulcerative colitis](http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000250.htm) > [@](#): > > Symptoms > > Diarrhea, from only a few episodes to very frequently throughout the day (blood and mucus may be present) > Abdominal pain and cramping that usually subsides after a bowel movement > Abdominal sounds (borborygmus, a gurgling or splashing sound heard over the intestine) > Fever > Weight loss > Foul-smelling stools > Tenesmus > Jaundice > Additional symptoms that may be associated with ulcerative colitis include the following: > Nausea and vomiting > Joint pain > Gastrointestinal bleeding [http://www.gastro.org/clinicalRes/brochures/ibd.html](http://www.gastro.org/clinicalRes/brochures/ibd.html) > [@](#): > > _The most common symptoms of ulcerative colitis are diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and rectal bleeding…Ulcerative colitis is an illness that has periods of remission (time when you feel well) and relapse (time when you feel ill). Half of the people who have ulcerative colitis have only mild symptoms. Others have frequent fever, bloody diarrhea, nausea, and severe abdominal cramps._ [Ischemic colitis](http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000258.htm) > [@](#): > > Symptoms > > Abdominal pain > Fever > Vomiting > Bright red blood via the rectum (blood in the stool) > Diarrhea > Back pain, low [Irritable bowel syndrome](http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000246.htm) > [@](#): > > Symptoms > > Diarrhea alternating with constipation for 6 months or more > Abdominal pain > Following meals > Relieved by bowel movement > Intermittent > Abdominal tenderness > Abdominal fullness, gas, bloating > Abdominal distention > Nausea > Vomiting > Loss of appetite > Emotional distress > Depression [Necrotizing enterocolitis](http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001148.htm) > [@](#): > > Symptoms > > Abdominal distention > Vomiting and feeding intolerance > Blood in the stool (visible or microscopic) > Lethargy > Temperature instability > Diarrhea [Cryptosporidium enteritis](http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000617.htm) > [@](#): > > Symptoms > > Watery diarrhea several times a day > Abdominal cramping > Nausea > Malaise > Malnutrition and weight loss (in severe cases) > **[Celiac disease - sprue: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia](https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000233.htm)** > > Celiac disease is an autoimmune condition that damages the lining of the small intestine. This damage comes from a reaction to eating gluten. This is a substance that is found in wheat, rye, barley, and > [@](#): > > Celiac disease - sprue > > Symptoms > > The symptoms of celiac disease can vary significantly from person to person. Symptoms may be intestinal or seemingly non-intestinal in nature. This variability is part of the reason the diagnosis is frequently delayed. For example, one person may present with constipation, another with diarrhea, and yet a third with no irregularity in stooling. > > A partial listing of gastrointestinal symptoms: > > Abdominal pain > Abdominal distention, bloating, gas, indigestion > Constipation > Decreased appetite (may also be increased or unchanged) > Diarrhea, chronic or occasional > Lactose intolerance (common upon diagnosis; usually resolves following treatment) > Nausea and vomiting > Stools that float, are foul smelling, bloody, or “fatty” > Weight loss, unexplained (although people can be overweight or of normal weight upon diagnosis) Nifty diagnostic flow-chart for “short term abdominal pain”. [http://familydoctor.org/527.xml](http://familydoctor.org/527.xml) ---
**Author:** ![Calliope](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Calliope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Calliope)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2004, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/same-illness-three-times-in-90-days-what-do-i-have/226636/12 "2004-01-31T05:37:00Z")
Could you have an intolerance to a spice that is being used? Alternatively, it sounds a lot like a gallbladder problem. Definitely see a doctor. ---
**Author:** ![miss\_smartypants](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6bbea6/32.png) [@miss\_smartypants](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/miss_smartypants)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2004, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/same-illness-three-times-in-90-days-what-do-i-have/226636/13 "2004-01-31T13:08:01Z")
I once had food poisoning after eating at a restaurant. It was a birthday party and only those who ate cake got sick making it pretty easy to guess that it was most likely salmonella. If the others who ate the lamb dinner did not get sick you can most likely rule out food poisoning. However a pet can carry salmonella. Do you have a pet?