# What is worse-vomitting or diarrhea? (Probably TMI) **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 29, 2004, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-worse-vomitting-or-diarrhea-probably-tmi/252644 "2004-06-29T01:53:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2004, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-worse-vomitting-or-diarrhea-probably-tmi/252644/1 "2004-06-29T01:53:48Z")
Gross, but it just popped into my head the other day-what do you consider to be worse-throwing up, or having the poops? I vote for diarrhea. At least with puking, yeah, it sucks, but you gag, heave and then you get a break, usually. With diarrhea, sometimes it lasts for about an hour and you also feel like you’re gonna puke at the same time. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2004, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-worse-vomitting-or-diarrhea-probably-tmi/252644/2 "2004-06-29T01:58:20Z")
I vote vomiting. At least with diarhhea you get to sit down, maybe read if it’s not too painful. ---
**Author:** ![misstee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/958977/32.png) [@misstee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/misstee)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2004, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-worse-vomitting-or-diarrhea-probably-tmi/252644/3 "2004-06-29T01:58:42Z")
Well, I really, really hate to puke. ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2004, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-worse-vomitting-or-diarrhea-probably-tmi/252644/4 "2004-06-29T02:00:19Z")
Definately vomiting. I have diarrhea frequently, due to medical problems. If I had to taste puke three times a week, I’d kill myself. ---
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2004, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-worse-vomitting-or-diarrhea-probably-tmi/252644/5 "2004-06-29T02:11:43Z")
Both from both ends. You know you are ill when you vomit, and the force of the vomit causes the other end to start running. ---
**Author:** ![Uvula\_Donor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/e19adc/32.png) [@Uvula\_Donor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uvula_Donor)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2004, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-worse-vomitting-or-diarrhea-probably-tmi/252644/6 "2004-06-29T02:20:09Z")
I hate to vomit. I really, _really_ hate to vomit, to the point where when I feel sick, I try to put off puking as long as I possibly can. Also, the discomfort caused by puke coming through my nose and getting lodged up behind my soft palate…yurrgh. Diarrhea is no more comfortable, mind you - a bad case will make me feel like someone has turned my bunghole inside out with a buttonhook - but at least each episode is over fairly quickly. Also: (TMI) And at just the right consistency and exit pressure, sometimes diarrhea will leave an interesting star-shaped smudge pattern on the porcelain with which to amuse and disgust your rommies, SOs, etc. (“Hey! C’mere check out this shitstar I just left in the bottom of the toilet!”) ---
**Author:** ![vivalostwages](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/d07c76/32.png) [@vivalostwages](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vivalostwages)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2004, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-worse-vomitting-or-diarrhea-probably-tmi/252644/7 "2004-06-29T02:32:11Z")
Vomiting is worse. It corrodes the esophagus, makes the throat sore, your eyes and nose run at the same time you’re barfing, and it makes your muscles hurt as well. At least diarrhea doesn’t spread the pain quite like that. ---
**Author:** ![Mbossa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/73ab20/32.png) [@Mbossa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mbossa)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2004, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-worse-vomitting-or-diarrhea-probably-tmi/252644/8 "2004-06-29T02:35:01Z")
These days, I only vomit as a response to excessive alchohol consumption. If I vomit when I’m drunk, it’s great - I hardly feel a thing, and I don’t have (much of) a hangover the next morning. If I vomit the next day, it’s not so great - stomach acid doesn’t really taste that nice, especially when you’re already hungover. But in either case, I vomit once or twice and then I’m done. Diarrhoea, on the other hand, tends not to go away after one…err…evacuation. It usually lasts for days - even weeks. For this reason, I consider diarrhoea worse. A single instance of diarrhoea is not as bad as puking, but the culumative effect is worse. One thing that I _really_ hate is getting an extreme case of diarrhoea that causes me to burp gas that tastes like rotten eggs. :shudder: ---
**Author:** ![Qwertyasdfg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/ecc23a/32.png) [@Qwertyasdfg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qwertyasdfg)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2004, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-worse-vomitting-or-diarrhea-probably-tmi/252644/9 "2004-06-29T02:35:23Z")
**TMI:** Once, when hung over, I had diarrhea that smelled so bad it made me throw up while I was sitting on the toilet. I hate throwing up more 'cause even when everything’s gone sometimes you’re body gives you the awful dry heaves, where you get pain but no release. Plus there’s the awful feeling before you throw up, and the taste. ---
**Author:** ![Dignan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f07891/32.png) [@Dignan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dignan)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2004, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-worse-vomitting-or-diarrhea-probably-tmi/252644/10 "2004-06-29T02:43:39Z")
My vote is for diarrhea being the worst. I’m not sure why. I guess it’s because it is the worst of the two in my opinion as far as the clean up goes. Jon Stewart was talking to someone on TDS (Paul Rudd?) and the guest was telling a story about the time he had diarrhea and was throwing up. Since the guest had both, he had to make a choice about which one would end up in the toilet. Stewart pointed out that if you have to choose one or the other to clean up, clean up the puke, because diarrhea is “like lava.” ---
**Author:** ![CanvasShoes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/74df32/32.png) [@CanvasShoes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CanvasShoes)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2004, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-worse-vomitting-or-diarrhea-probably-tmi/252644/11 "2004-06-29T02:59:56Z")
Definitely vomiting. IME it’s always accompanied by a LOT of pain, and usually happens unexpectedly in the middle of the night. Diarhea on the other hand (again, IME), seems to be over in a just a few “incidents” and has much less pain involved. Luckily, except for the 3 or 4 times a year I get middle of the night gastro-intestinal attacks, I seem to have a pretty ironclad system. ---
**Author:** ![CanvasShoes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/74df32/32.png) [@CanvasShoes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CanvasShoes)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2004, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-worse-vomitting-or-diarrhea-probably-tmi/252644/12 "2004-06-29T03:09:59Z")
> [@Dignan](#): > > My vote is for diarrhea being the worst. I’m not sure why. I guess it’s because it is the worst of the two in my opinion as far as the clean up goes. > > Jon Stewart was talking to someone on TDS (Paul Rudd?) and the guest was telling a story about the time he had diarrhea and was throwing up. Since the guest had both, he had to make a choice about which one would end up in the toilet. Stewart pointed out that if you have to choose one or the other to clean up, clean up the puke, because diarrhea is “like lava.” Oh ugggh, if you’re sick to the point where you’ve got both going on, you just need to get in the shower and stand in cool water until it’s all over. ---
**Author:** ![porcupine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ac91a4/32.png) [@porcupine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/porcupine)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2004, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-worse-vomitting-or-diarrhea-probably-tmi/252644/13 "2004-06-29T03:16:05Z")
For me, vomiting is worse, because 99% of the time it’s associated with a horrible migraine, and typically means the headache is so out of control it’s time for a trip to the ER. Plain old vomiting without the migraine is no big deal, though, so in that case the runs is worse. And on the rare occasions where I’ve got both, sit on the john and puke in the bathroom garbage can. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2004, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-worse-vomitting-or-diarrhea-probably-tmi/252644/14 "2004-06-29T03:25:51Z")
> [@GorillaMan](#): > > Definately vomiting. I have diarrhea frequently, due to medical problems. If I had to taste puke three times a week, I’d kill myself. Ditto. If I threw up as often as I got the runs, I’d have no teeth or esophagus left. At least diarrhea doesn’t take it’s toll on innocent by-standers.Figuratively! Literally would be very gross, and the subject of an MTV reality show. ---
**Author:** ![Wile\_E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c37758/32.png) [@Wile\_E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wile_E)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2004, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-worse-vomitting-or-diarrhea-probably-tmi/252644/15 "2004-06-29T03:27:21Z")
I didn’t realize there were so many others who felt the same way I do about puking. If I am feeling nauseas I will lay very still so as not to set anything off. It is a much worse feeling because it usually goes out your nose, too, and it burns and once you start you just keep going. You want to drink something to stop the burning from all the acid in your mouth and throat but if anything hits your stomach right away it just comes back up. You start feeling better and you eat some jello or drink some ginger ale and you find that as mild as that stuff may be going down it’s torture coming back up. Diarrhea can be bad, especially if unexpected and sudden, but still it’s usually only that one exit and it doesn’t burn as much. Even if it comes with bad intestinal cramps it’s stil not as uncomfortable and lasting a pain as stomach acid in the nasal cavities. Oh and if you have both going on you sit on the toilet and lean over the sink, tub or wastebasket (whichever is most convenient). ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2004, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-worse-vomitting-or-diarrhea-probably-tmi/252644/16 "2004-06-29T04:08:09Z")
Another vote for vomiting being worse. I get the shits occasionally, so maybe I’m just used to that more, but I vomiting more painful and wrong. At least diarrhea is moving in the correct direction! ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2004, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-worse-vomitting-or-diarrhea-probably-tmi/252644/17 "2004-06-29T04:31:58Z")
Neither. It’s the constipation that nearly kills me. Regularity is your friend. ---
**Author:** ![Rhiannon8404](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rhiannon8404/32/17929_2.png) [@Rhiannon8404](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhiannon8404)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2004, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-worse-vomitting-or-diarrhea-probably-tmi/252644/18 "2004-06-29T04:39:07Z")
> [@Qwertyasdfg](#): > > **TMI:** Once, when hung over, I had diarrhea that smelled so bad it made me throw up while I was sitting on the toilet. That happened to me once. The worst of both worlds. I’d much rather puke than have diarrhea. ---
**Author:** ![Incubus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c68b51/32.png) [@Incubus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Incubus)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2004, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-worse-vomitting-or-diarrhea-probably-tmi/252644/19 "2004-06-29T04:45:24Z")
I really hate the sensation of nausea. While both ‘attacks’ can sometimes come without warning, most diarrhea incidents did not have any discomfort leading up to evacuation. Puking, on the other hand, can culminate from HOURS of nausea. There was one time when I was really sick and extremely nauseous. My dad offered me some pills to help, but I didn’t want to think about putting ANYTHING in my mouth at the moment. I tried to concentrate on relaxing, and not think of anything that will make me any more nauseated. I walked past the kitchen table and spotted the two pills, and the only thing I could think of was… …that disgusting, chalky bitter taste when you ‘accidentally’ taste a pill. It was unfortunately so vivid in my mind I had to dash across the kitchen and throw up in the sink! :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Darkness](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/df705f/32.png) [@Darkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darkness)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2004, 5:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-worse-vomitting-or-diarrhea-probably-tmi/252644/20 "2004-06-29T05:51:53Z")
Throwing up is worse for me. Mainly because I have to taste it. I’d rather not have either, but if I had to choose, I’d choose diarrhea. And like **Mr. Blue Sky** said, atleast you get to sit. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-worse-vomitting-or-diarrhea-probably-tmi/252644.md?page=2)