Stomach Flu - similar symptoms to CD cramps

[The Real MC]

I caught the stomach flu last week (yay me!)

Initially I was confused because the symptoms were similar to abdominal cramps when crohns has a reaction to something I ate. The first night was the worst, vomiting and cramps for 10 hours. Slight dehydration and brief periods of chills. Fortunately nothing that warranted a visit to ER.

I've been through many episodes of CD cramps, but noticed some differences. The cramps weren't as frequent as those when CD is reacting to something I ate. As time went on I had headache, occasional fever, diarrhea, abdomen constantly bloated and achy, indigestion after every meal, mild cramping every day - all consistent of stomach flu. I'm on a bland diet and am getting as much H2O, protein, and probiotics as I can (right now a juicy cheeseburger sure sounds good).

I've had flare-ups before and these symptoms don't point to it. I'm getting a solid night sleep, my abs are achy but not painful, and I haven't had chills since the first night. While I am quarantined to the house, I can actually do some physical work. That is not consistent with my past flare-up. I guess I can breathe a sigh of relief.

I'll be glad when this flu is over though!!!

 

[ronroush7]

Take real good care of yourself. I hope you feel better quickly.

 

[Lisa]

Ugh! Hope you are feeling better soon.....I too can tell when it is a Crohn's issue vs. stomach flu/bug etc......so far I've avoided the flu, did have a nasty chest cold but that's just about gone thankfully!

 

[Scipio]

You may have a stomach virus such as norovirus, but there is no such thing as stomach flu. The term "stomach flu" is a misnomer. Influenza is a disease of the lungs.

In any case, I hope you feel better soon.

 

[cmack]

I hope you are feeling better soon too MC. Take good care.

 

[Cat-a-Tonic]

I also had norovirus a couple weeks ago. It was absolutely miserable and mine did warrant a trip to the ER. I got super dehydrated. The vomiting was bad but the diarrhea was worse, it was the "pee out your butt" type like colonoscopy prep. It wouldn't stop and I just couldn't keep hydrated, so I went to ER for rehydration. My vitals didn't come back up like they were hoping after a few bags of IV fluids, so I ended up being admitted overnight for observation. Not fun at all. Fortunately I did get to go home the next day. I didn't feel like myself for about a week, though. I had low/no appetite and the gut cramps and still had some diarrhea for about a week, even after the nausea & vomiting went away. It was a really bad virus! And then I had to bleach/wash everything in my house to get rid of those nasty germs, too.