Food Poisoning and Getting to Urgent Care

October 12, 2020 2:55 AM

I think I have moderate salmonella poisoning and have spent the last hour and a half trying to stabilize my stomach and bowel. I may need to get myself to an urgent care center or an ER. If I call an ambulance, how will the EMTs handle me having ongoing, simultaneous vomiting and diarrhea? Writing this during a brief reprieve and am embarrassed by the prospect of losing my dignity.
posted by Kitchen Witch to Health & Fitness (17 answers total)

Response by poster: Note: if I discover that going to an ER via ambulance is necessary, I will just do it. I just want an idea of what might happen during transit if my symptoms don't cease. Oh, also, I am naked right now because i am in so much pain.
posted by Kitchen Witch at 3:03 AM on October 12, 2020

They'll likely give you something in the ambulance to try and supress symptoms, but I want to reassure you they emt see very sick people with stuff like this all the time. It's not their favorite thing in the world, but they chose to be in this type of job and handle these things. If your in lots of pain with uncontrollable vomiting and diarrehia, it's okay to just call. You'll be one of many people who have had symptoms in the ambulance . It will be cleaned up.

Remember to grab your ID, emergency contacts number or your phone and a cell charger if you can.

If you don't want to take that step right now, do reach out to a nurses hotline provided by your insurance if you have one, or your pcp answering service so they can direct you on next steps, and what you should do.

Take gentle care of you, and feel better soon!
posted by AlexiaSky at 3:18 AM on October 12, 2020 [11 favorites]

To add: EMT will likely have dispossible bed pads (chucks) to place under you for the trip. They'll have bowls for you to try and vomit into but if you miss dont stress it. A bedpan may be available. I know it feels hard and embarrassing but I promise you that EMTs see a lot a lot, and they will just see a sick person who needs to see a doctor, do their job and get you to where you need to go. This situation is totally unremarkable in the EMT world.
posted by AlexiaSky at 3:35 AM on October 12, 2020 [7 favorites]

You are going to be very dehydrated soon and need to go in before it gets too bad.
As alexiasky says above, gather your insurance cards, emergency contact number, phone and charger. Call your emergency contact now. Put on a robe, or shirt and bottoms. Call an ambulance. After all, it is not like you could drive or take an Uber. Call an ambulance, and tell the dispatcher about your simultaneous emissions. The EMTs will deal with it. This is a thing that happens in ambulances and hospitals. It is distressing for you, but no more undignified than bleeding all over the place from multiple traumatic injuries. Please call and go before your electrolytes are messed up so you can avoid other complications. I wish the best for your quick and full recovery.
posted by KayQuestions at 3:53 AM on October 12, 2020 [13 favorites]

I have barfed all over the inside of an ambulance. The paramedics were completely unconcerned, and in my (admittedly blurry) memory, were kind and reassuring as they wiped things up and carried on.
posted by rockindata at 3:57 AM on October 12, 2020 [2 favorites]

If you’re not ready to call an ambulance (let’s face it, going to the hospital sucks) do you have a friend or neighbor who could come over with, like, a case of Pedialyte (and maybe pick up some diarrhea medicine or a Zofran scrip called in by a Dr.) and keep tabs on you? I know, you don’t want anyone to see you like this! But you probably don’t want your neighbors to see you carried out on a stretcher either.
posted by mskyle at 4:14 AM on October 12, 2020 [3 favorites]

If you can't get pedialyte, mix 1 liter of water with 2 tbsp sugar and 1/2 tsp salt. Add the juice from 1/2 a lemon for taste and vitamin C, if you have one. Make sure the sugar and salt are fully diluted in the water, I add them to a bottle and shake the bottle.
posted by mumimor at 4:57 AM on October 12, 2020 [8 favorites]

And I hope you get well soon
posted by mumimor at 4:58 AM on October 12, 2020

Response by poster: No ambulance needed. Symptoms finally subsided enough that I could keep down water and take a Tylenol. I really appreciate the responses you've given. I have never been in an ambulance before, and since my most severe illnesses typically involve the dual vomit/diarrhea experience I have always been mortified of the prospect of nice EMTs coming in to see me at my most vulnerable in order to take me to the ER. I feel better knowing that, while not great, it's not uncommon or viewed as especially bad.

Fingers crossed that I don't get another round.
posted by Kitchen Witch at 6:15 AM on October 12, 2020 [15 favorites]

Grab an old towel, too, though they'll have tons of appropriate stuff, because this is not uncommon.

Ginger ale has sugar, chicken broth has salt, drink lots of both, tea with sugar, too. I had severe food poisoning a few years ago, spent a few days pretty incapacitated; it was weeks before I felt okay. If possible, have a friend or neighbor check in on you twice a day, even by phone and, ideally, make food for you when you are able to have some. If you have a doctor, ask them to prescribe an anti-emetic to help you stop vomiting, and ask a friend yo pick it up, and get some Immodium while they're there.
posted by theora55 at 6:21 AM on October 12, 2020

Best answer: I'm glad you're feeling better, but wanted to weigh in for the benefit of an unfortunate future reader in the same predicament. I'm an EMT and you absolutely don't need to worry. Patients in the ambulance spew forth all kinds of bodily fluids from various orifices - that's just the nature of acute care. You will almost certainly be on a disposable pad, you'll probably be covered with sheets/blankets that will be washed and sanitized after each use, the stretcher will be sanitized between patients, and the whole ambulance will be sanitized at least daily (or as often as there are substances dirtying it). In short, the whole system is set up to deal with this, and EMTs/paramedics have seen it hundreds of times before. They won't even bat an eye. Please no one ever let embarrassment stop them from calling an ambulance!
posted by ClaireBear at 6:48 AM on October 12, 2020 [40 favorites]

In my experience, ambulances go to hospitals, not urgent care. So calling an ambulance automatically narrows that choice to hospitals only. If you are not in life-threatening condition and the ambulance service is not too busy, and their contract doesn't prohibit it, you may be able to request a specific hospital. It depends on all the above stuff and maybe things I haven't thought of.

If you are nauseated, plain water is not the best beverage. Something with sugar or salt is a much better choice for re-hydration, which is the main problem with prolonged nausea and diarrhea. They replace some of the electrolytes vomiting, especially, causes. Water can also prompt more nausea in a way sweet or salty fluids don't. This is why pedialyte is such a good choice, though most adults don't have it at hand. muminor's homemade pediatyte recipe above is a good substitute and costs much less than pedialyte.
posted by citygirl at 7:18 AM on October 12, 2020

As someone who seems to get a ferocious gastro/noro every other year: when you get a grocery delivery or a friend does a drugstore run, have them get some Pedialyte (or store brand) popsicles. They'll likely not have any in the freezer (check just in case), they'll be on the shelf and you'll have to stick some in the freezer and wait. They're the same sleeve-pop format as Otter Pops, which makes them very easy to consume in microscopic nibbles until your system gets propped up enough to want an actual glass of hydration solution/food. You might end up needing them this time, definitely good to have on hand next time.
posted by Lyn Never at 8:11 AM on October 12, 2020 [1 favorite]

I have had salmonella before; it's awful but the worst stuff (knife like pains in the stomach, extensive vomiting at the same time as diarrhea which were both among my several symptoms but YMMV) usually happens at the beginning. I didn't require an ER visit but I did see a doctor who tested me for salmonella- it takes a while before they know; and once they confirm it they do have to report it (in the US, anyway) to the local health board who will then call and interview you to get an idea of what may have caused the salmonella so they can determine if there's a pattern in the community or if it's from a specific source.

You will still want to see a doctor and get diagnosed if this keeps up, because it requires antibiotic treatment and it can still linger and have affects on your GI tract for years even after the infection has technically cleared. I don't want to get into too many icky details here in the answers section about what I went through that week, but feel free to DM me if you have questions.
posted by nightrecordings at 10:11 AM on October 12, 2020

Response by poster: After comparing my symptoms to previous experiences, I think what I actually had last night was a ruptured ovarian cyst. I have had them before, and the last rupture was so extremely painful it landed me in the ER. There is nothing you can do with a ruptured cyst except ride it out, so if I had gone to the ER last night, it would have been a very expensive trip for something that can't really be treated unless you're exhibiting signs of internal bleeding (ask me how I know!)

Thank you again for helping me through the pain.
posted by Kitchen Witch at 10:04 PM on October 12, 2020

I never took an ambulance because I'm cheap and skimp on my health, but I have arrived at the ER with a homemade towel diaper and puke bucket and noone batted an eye. In fact, once in the ER you probably would have had to give a stool sample by using one of those collection buckets that go in the toilet. When you are in that condition, if anyone is pearl clutching about you not having any decency that is their problem.
posted by WeekendJen at 3:42 AM on October 13, 2020

Best answer: One more piece of wisdom to add to this for readers, take a change of clothes with you in a plastic bag. You would likely end up in a hospital gown if you arrive in a bit of a mess, but hopefully when you are ready to go home, you will want something to change into, and ideally thats not soaked with body fluid clothes. The plastic bag is handy for bringing home the sodden stuff too. If the dual vomit/diarrhea is a thing for you, future you might appreciate the purchase of a packet of disposable pull-up style underwear. They can save you....unnecessary leakage...in a critical moment. Amazon also sell the 'good' barf bags which are a nice to have especially if you live alone and don't have someone who can help you with mess management. Ones like this, not recommending this exact one persay are your best bet for ease of use. Money well spent! Glad you are feeling better!!
posted by Northbysomewhatcrazy at 4:30 PM on October 13, 2020