How to stop nausea and diarrhea fast

The best way for your doctor to figure out what's causing your diarrhea is to get some information from you.

They will want to know:

• If there's blood or mucus in your diarrhea
• How watery it is
• How long you've had it
• If anyone around you has it
• If your urge to go is severe
• Do you have belly pain, or pain in your bottom?
• Do you have a fever?
• Do you feel dizzy or confused?
• Have you traveled anywhere recently?
• Are you taking antibiotics, or have you recently finished some?
• Do certain foods make it better or worse?

They also might want to get a sample of your stool to send for lab testing. They may order blood tests as well.

If your doctor thinks a specific food is causing your problem, they may ask you to stay away from that item for a while to see if it helps. A common example is intolerance to milk products, called lactose intolerance. If you have this, changes to your diet usually help.

If your doctor needs more information to figure out what's going on, you may need to have a test called a colonoscopy. Your doctor will use a snake-like tube that lets them see the walls of your colon and rectum.

How to Feel Better

Diarrhea should go away in a few days without treatment. Until you feel better, rest, drink enough fluids, and watch what you eat.

Your body loses water with each trip to the bathroom. If you lose too much, you can get dehydrated. It's important to keep drinking fluids. 

Drink clear liquids -- water, broth, or fruit juice -- during the day to stay hydrated. Try to get about 2-3 liters (8-12 cups) a day while you’re sick. You can sip them in small amounts between meals instead of while you eat. Your doctor might recommend a sports drink to replace salt, potassium, and other electrolytes your body loses when you have diarrhea. If you also have nausea, sip the liquids slowly.

There is no particular food group that will best for treating diarrhea and physicians no longer recommend the long suggested BRAT diet of Bananas, Rice (white), Applesauce, and Toast. Still, all of these foods are good, valid options. Some other good choices include:

• Potatoes
• Smooth peanut butter
• Skinless chicken or turkey
• Yogurt

Avoid foods that can make diarrhea or gas worse, like:

• Fatty or fried foods
• Raw fruits and vegetables
• Spicy foods
• Caffeinated drinks, such as coffee and soda
• Beans
• Cabbage

Treatments

Most of the time diarrhea doesn't need to be treated. But some over-the-counter medicines can help you feel better.

Two types of meds relieve diarrhea in different ways:

• Loperamide (Imodium) slows the movement of food through your intestines, which lets your body absorb more liquid.
• Bismuth subsalicylate (Kaopectate, Pepto-Bismol) balances out how fluid moves through your digestive tract.

Read the directions on the package. See how much of these medicines to take and when to take them. Don't take more than the label recommends -- it won’t make the drug work better or faster. And don’t take more than one of these medicines at a time. Over the counter diarrhea medications are also not recommended in patients who have bloody stools or fever.

If you have any questions, call your doctor or pharmacist. Don't give Kaopectate or Pepto-Bismol to children -- it could cause dangerous health problems. 

Get medical help if you:

• Have severe pain in your belly or bottom
• Have bloody or black poop
• Get dehydrated -- you feel very thirsty, pee less than usual, have dry mouth, and feel weak
• Run a fever of 102 or higher
• Aren’t better in 48 hours

There are few things worse than having an upset stomach and diarrhea. This condition can completely throw off your day, keeping you tied to your toilet and limiting the foods and drinks you can enjoy. Understanding what causes these symptoms to arise and how to treat them effectively can dramatically cut down the time and effort you spend dealing with them. 

An upset stomach, also known as indigestion, is a general term used to describe discomfort or pain felt in the upper abdomen. Some common symptoms associated with an upset stomach are:

• Body chills
• Burning Sensation (h eartburn)
• Cramps
• Discomfort
• Diarrhea
• Fatigue
• Headache or body aches
• Nausea      

An upset stomach is usually followed by diarrhea, which is loose, watery, and, potentially, more-frequent bowel movements. Symptoms associated with diarrhea may include:

• Abdominal cramps
• Bloating
• Blood in the stool
• Mucus in the stool
• Fever
• Nausea
• Sudden need to have a bowel movement

Remedies and Treatments for Upset Stomach and Diarrhea

Upset Stomach Remedies 

Most stomach ailments can be treated at home. As soon as you start feeling sick, begin limiting your diet to clear liquids in frequent, small amounts. Make sure to drink enough fluids to keep your urine clear or a pale yellow.

If you’re not able to keep liquids down and begin to vomit, start with sips of water or sucking on ice chips. Once you are able to keep that down, try other fluids like:

• Clear soup broth or bouillon
• Decaffeinated tea
• Sports drinks
• Clear soft-drinks like 7-Up, Sprite, or Ginger Ale
• Juices like apple, grape, cherry, or cranberry (make sure to avoid citrus juices)
• Popsicles

Once you are able to keep all liquids down, try some solid foods along with the liquids. Good foods to try are: 

• Applesauce
• Bananas
• Soda crackers
• White rice
• White toast 

It may take several days to one week to regain your appetite, energy level, and for your bowels to regain normalcy.

Diarrhea Treatments
Most cases of diarrhea clear on their own within a couple of days without treatment. If you've tried lifestyle changes and home remedies for an upset stomach and diarrhea without success, your doctor might recommend the following:

Antibiotics

Antibiotics might help treat diarrhea caused by bacteria or parasites. If a virus is causing your diarrhea, antibiotics won't help. Alternatively, if your doctor determines that antibiotics are what’s causing your diarrhea, they will likely lower the dose or switch to another medication.

Electrolytes

While water is an effective method to replace fluids, it doesn't contain the salts and electrolytes that are essential for your body to function. Drinking liquids that have these essential minerals like sodium and potassium can increase your speed of recovery from diarrhea.

Treatment to Replace Fluids

Your body loses a lot of water when you have diarrhea. Your doctor will likely recommend a steady regimen to ensure you are replacing the fluids and salts your body has lost. This usually means drinking plenty of water, juices, and broth. If drinking liquids upsets your stomach or causes vomiting, your doctor might recommend getting IV fluids.

Treating underlying conditions

Your diarrhea might be caused by a more serious condition, such as inflammatory bowel disease. If your doctor determines this to be the case, you might be referred to a specialist, such as a gastroenterologist, who can help devise a treatment plan for you.

Upset Stomach and Diarrhea Prevention 

One of the best things you can do to avoid an upset stomach and diarrhea is to avoid certain foods that are known to cause them. These include: 

• Alcohol
• Caffeine
• Fatty or greasy foods 
• Non-cultured dairy products (i.e. milk, cheese, ice cream) 
• Raw vegetables
• Spicy foods
• Whole grains

Additional prevention measures you should take to avoid an upset stomach are: 

• Wash your hands with soap and water after using the bathroom 
• Wash your hands with soap and water before and after eating or handling food
• Do not share eating or drinking utensils with others
• Avoid milk, cheese, or egg-based foods that have not been refrigerated
• Handle uncooked meat or poultry carefully — wash hands, utensils, and work surfaces well after preparing, especially before handling other foods

When to See a Doctor

An upset stomach and diarrhea are usually nothing to worry about. Consult your doctor if the symptoms don’t go away after two days or if they begin to get worse in that time. Additionally, consult your doctor if you experience any of the following: 

• You feel dehydrated, including feeling excessive thirst, dry mouth, little or no urination, severe weakness, dizziness, or lightheadedness
• You have severe abdominal or rectal pain
• You have bloody or black stools
• You have a fever of more than 102 degrees Fahrenheit

Remedies for Children

In children, particularly young children, diarrhea should be taken seriously as it can quickly lead to dehydration and, possibly, death. One out of nine child deaths are due to diarrhea, and it is the second leading cause of death in children under five years of age. You should call your doctor if your child's diarrhea doesn't improve within 24 hours or if they:

• Haven’t had a wet diaper in three or more hours
• Have a fever of more than 102 degrees Fahrenheit 
• Have bloody or black stools
• Have a dry mouth or tongue, or if they cry without tears
• Are unusually sleepy, drowsy, unresponsive, or irritable
• Have a sunken appearance to their abdomen, eyes, or cheeks
• Have skin that doesn't flatten if pinched and released

Ask your doctor about using an oral rehydration solution, such as Pedialyte, to prevent dehydration or replace lost fluids.

Emergency Care

Almost ten percent of all visits to the emergency room are stomach-related. You should call your doctor immediately if the pains in your stomach are so severe that you can't move, sit still, or find a comfortable position that doesn’t cause additional pain.

Seek immediate medical help if the pain becomes severe or is accompanied by other symptoms like: 

• Bloody stools
• Fever
• Persistent nausea and vomiting
• Skin that appears yellow
• Severe tenderness when you touch your abdomen
• Swelling of the abdomen