Stomach flu, COVID, infection? Disgusting details within.

October 23, 2023 8:56 AM

My partner and I recently returned from Europe, recently had “colds,” and recently got the same severe sudden onset gastrointestinal symptoms within a few days of each other.

The GI symptoms were sudden onset, profuse, highly watery diarrhea (like OK, I’m taking a piss out of my ass), along with vomiting (less urgent and profuse, but emptying the stomach contents pretty thoroughly) and— most notably— disgusting eggy burps. All my symptoms started pretty much at the same time, in the middle of the night.

His started a couple days earlier than mine and while he’s not constantly sick, the symptoms are still going. Occasional vomiting, occasional diarrhea. Gross burps. He’s trying to get an urgent care appointment in accordance with his doctors instructions.

We both had colds with head congestion that has now mostly cleared up, prior to this. All our COVID tests are expired and we thought it was better to stay home and recover than go out to buy COVID tests.

Basically I’ve had all kinds of stomach ailments but never experienced this so I’m curious what y’all think we should do and what it might be. I’m really dreading the idea that it’s some kind of weird infection, because it’s pretty debilitating and the process of getting tested, etc. is always daunting when you can barely leave the house.

posted by stoneandstar to Health & Fitness (23 answers total)

That sounds a lot like giardia. But talk to your doctor(s)!
posted by pullayup at 9:00 AM on October 23, 2023 [3 favorites]

These symptoms are consistent with norovirus. It is extremely contagious which is why it tears through places like schools/universities or cruise ships occasionally. If you didn't immediately isolate into separate bathrooms and practice pretty extreme handwashing it was pretty much a guarantee it would transmit. It normally clears itself in 48 hours or so. Smoothies of any kind (e.g. store-bought pre-made ones not just from some fancy shop) can be a good way to re-introduce food/nutrition.
posted by cape at 9:08 AM on October 23, 2023 [4 favorites]

Seconding that that sounds like giardia.
posted by They sucked his brains out! at 9:11 AM on October 23, 2023

Those symptoms are consistent with a lot of things, but they are also consistent with the bout of COVID I had earlier this month and with my mother's COVID symptoms at the same time.
posted by jacquilynne at 9:46 AM on October 23, 2023 [4 favorites]

Your COVID tests may still be good past their printed expiration date.
posted by heatherlogan at 10:12 AM on October 23, 2023 [6 favorites]

What you should do is call your doctor.
posted by beagle at 10:33 AM on October 23, 2023 [1 favorite]

Response by poster: Sorry, should have added that I’ve already talked to my doctor. They basically told me it didn’t sound like I need antibiotics at this point and keep drinking Pedialyte. I’ll see them again in a few days or next week depending on how my symptoms go.

Our Covid tests are the type that will literally not work if they are expired, unfortunately.

Basically asking out of desperation because these chicken soup/scrambled eggs burps are so disgusting!
posted by stoneandstar at 10:37 AM on October 23, 2023 [1 favorite]

I live in Europe, Vienna Austria. A number of people i know are having gastro symptoms, plus flulike symptoms and subsequently also tested positive for COVID-19. In fact i started having same symptoms today. Have not yet tested myself. So depending where you were i think it is entirely possible this could be COVID-19.
Of course i am not your doctor, or medical provider.
posted by 15L06 at 10:44 AM on October 23, 2023 [1 favorite]

If it is norovirus (or most other gastrointestinal infections) it will almost definitely clear up on its own and there's nothing much you can do about it besides supportive care - keep yourself comfortable, keep drinking fluids, etc. A lot of the time if doctors suspect norovirus they will specifically *not* have you come in because they can't do anything if it is and it's so contagious there's a good chance you'll get vulnerable people in the office sick.

I had (probable) norovirus 10+ years ago and it was the woooooooorst and I felt like garbage for a week or two after my primary symptoms cleared up. I hope your doctor told you what to keep an eye on (i.e. when you should call back/come in/go to the emergency room)?

The sulfur burps are a sort of hallmark of giardia but they can go along with pretty much any gastro upset.

Hope you feel better soon!
posted by mskyle at 10:46 AM on October 23, 2023 [1 favorite]

I just remembered that my experiences noro also included fever/chills, painful stomach cramps, and extremely violent vomiting, so if you don't have those it probably rules that out. Surprised to hear COVID is doing this for some-- here on West Coast Canada I'm still hearing "sinus pressure" and fever / headache.

The sulfur burps are a sort of hallmark of giardia but they can go along with pretty much any gastro upset.

I think this might turn out to be an important clue: I've had noro a bunch of times and never experienced these.
posted by cape at 10:50 AM on October 23, 2023 [1 favorite]

My understanding is that the latest COVID variant presents with gastrointestinal (diarrhea + vomiting) symptoms. I would test. I hope you guys feel better soon!
posted by Stephanie Duy at 10:50 AM on October 23, 2023 [2 favorites]

Where is Europe? Any chance you ate unpasteurized cheeses or the like? Infections from food are not necessarily as quick as what we normally think of as "food poisoning".
posted by lydhre at 10:53 AM on October 23, 2023 [3 favorites]

IThese symptoms are consistent with norovirus.

I'm with cape on this one. One of my friends is a nurse and her son came down with it. She knew it from work at University Hospital and was horrified -- from what she told me, it is let's nuke if from orbit level tough. Standard disinfectant routines don't faze it and as it's Wikipedia page says, [t]ansmission can be aerosolized when those stricken with the illness vomit, and can be aerosolized by a toilet flush when vomit or diarrhea is present; infection can follow eating food or breathing air near an episode of vomiting, even if cleaned up. Do read the link, the stories there are terrifying -- you may want to quarantine your self if you have it. Also, what beagle said.
posted by y2karl at 10:53 AM on October 23, 2023 [2 favorites]

Get some COVID tests delivered (isolation/quarantine rules apply until you're both symptom free for at least 48 hours) but I'd assume it's giardia, based on your reported symptoms. It's very common and should resolve on its own. Lots of fluids and get some hydration replacement drinks to make sure you're getting electrolytes.

If it's not resolved in a week or so, you may need antibiotics to treat it, but for now just rest and take care of yourselves, wash your hands frequently, and most importantly: stay isolated as much as possible. Most of the things this could be are very infectious and people around you will not thank you for spreading it to them.
posted by fight or flight at 10:56 AM on October 23, 2023 [3 favorites]

Best answer: If there's a chance this is noro, you want to clean every surface you've come into contact with, and every hard surface in your bathroom, with bleach (CDC link). As I understand it, the virus can hang out for a while on hard surfaces, and the duration of immunity post-infection is not that long. You should also wash relevant laundry on very hot and we normally add bleach to the laundry in these situations as well.

This isn't a vote that it's noro (no idea) -- but when I think noro is a possibility this is what I do. It probably also makes sense to isolate from others for a few days as though it were COVID, and keep your doctor in the loop if it lasts longer than a couple weeks as it sounds like giardiasis can go on for quite a while if untreated.
posted by eirias at 11:16 AM on October 23, 2023 [2 favorites]

Best answer: Fwiw I once had noro for about two weeks, lost 11 pounds, and had to get rehydrated twice at the er. Apparently if you get too dehydrated you can get into a loop and not stop the vomiting/diarrhea cycle. Definitely call your doctor.
posted by toodleydoodley at 12:00 PM on October 23, 2023 [2 favorites]

Best answer: My daughter recently had combination fever, upper respiratory symptoms, and gastro distress. We took her to Urgent Care and she tested positive for RSV.

I had assumed influenza (which sometimes includes gastro symptoms, particularly with kids).

So internet sleuthing will only take you so far.

I would advise continuing with fluids and getting in with Urgent Care so you can both be swabbed for flu, influenza, RSV, and other viral conditions making the rounds. Your physician may also want to do fecal testing for giardia and other infections.
posted by champers at 12:14 PM on October 23, 2023

Best answer: Add ginger ale to your fluid intake. Ginger is a mild digestive aid/ anti-emetic(puke-reducer), and will change the flavor(sorry) of the burps. You might go off ginger ale for a while after. If you also drink chicken broth/ bouillon, you're getting the effects of electrolyte fluids.

I had similar gastro symptoms Weds eve/ early Thurs. am, severe cold symptoms since Friday, fever of 100.3F Sat night/ early Sun. After reading this, I tested for Covid, it was negative. Still blaming that anti-union chipotle burrito for what looks like food poisoning, followed by an opportunistic vicious cold for the rest. I've had noro, it didn't have the upper respiratory or gastro components.

You don't say how long you've been sick and/or if you've tested for Covid. If you are puking and/or have diarrhea for several days, you do need some electrolytes from pedialyte, gatorade or homemade. Salty chicken broth, juice, ginger ale will suffice, for the most part.
posted by theora55 at 1:20 PM on October 23, 2023 [1 favorite]

Just a note that if you are multiply vaccinated and boosted, the home COVID tests aren't as sensitive so you might need to test a few times. They are reportedly best at day 4 or 5 of symptoms; guidance is to test and if you test negative try again in 48 hours.

tldr; a single negative RAT doesn't reliably mean that you don't have COVID.
posted by lulu68 at 3:30 PM on October 23, 2023 [1 favorite]

Best answer: You should also wash relevant laundry on very hot and we normally add bleach to the laundry in these situations as well.

Wash hot, dry hot does the trick just as well. Everything contagious -- even norovirus -- gets baked to death after an hour in a dryer set at Hot.
posted by y2karl at 4:10 PM on October 23, 2023 [2 favorites]

Just wondering if you got the covid vaccinations?
posted by scottishterriers at 10:51 PM on October 23, 2023

If you're in the U.S., your government will send you free Covid tests.
posted by Iris Gambol at 12:08 AM on October 24, 2023 [2 favorites]

Another possibility: There is a cryptosporidium outbreak being reported in the UK, but possibly linked to travel in Europe (specifically “Spain and other Mediterranean countries”).
posted by mbrubeck at 1:24 PM on October 26, 2023