Have Abdominal Pain And Diarrhoea After Having Food. Is It Food Poisoning?

Posted on Sun, 10 Nov 2013

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Sun, 10 Nov 2013 Answered on

Mon, 2 Dec 2013 Last reviewed on

Question : Friday night had dinner with friends and ate some fish that didn't taste great. Felt ok until about 14 hours later and then had a lot of upper abdominal pain throughout the day. Never vomited (although it may have helped ) and this morning I woke up and the pain was lower and diarrhea started again and was orange (not red) with a lot of mucos. Can you get food poisoning after that much time? What can I take to help

Answered by Dr. Grzegorz Stanko (18 minutes later)

Brief Answer: Yes, food poisoning is possible. Detailed Answer: Hello! Thank you for the query. Yes, food poisoning can appear after that much of time. Most of bacterial infections of digestive tract starts after 12 hours or even longer. This is very common. Most of food poisonings does not need medical attention as it heals without any medicines. However if diarrhea lasts longer than 48 hours, high fever appear, blood in stool, stool tests and antibiotics are necessary. As you have finished recent antibiotics treatment, your good intestinal bacteria has been in some part destroyed. This has made your intestines "naked" and easy to colonize by bad bacteria. I suggest you to stop taking any solid foods for 12 hours. Please increase liquids intake (mineral water, warm tea, Gatorade). Probiotic supplementation should be started. If the symptoms wont go away within 48 hours, please visit your doctor. Hope this will help. Feel free to ask further questions. Regards.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Grzegorz Stanko (18 minutes later)

Do I even try to take something like pepto bismol? I have GERD and am taking photonics, should I continue?? Also should the mucos and orange diarrhea concern me? Just not my norm so a little worried Thanks again for your help and prompt response, it is appreciated XXXXXXX

Answered by Dr. Grzegorz Stanko (6 minutes later)

Brief Answer: Detailed below. Detailed Answer: Yes, you can try pepto bismol if you have it. Loperamide should be also helpful and OTC. Please continue with GERD medicines. Mucus and orange color is a normal thing for diarrhea. So no reason for being concerned. Please watch your stool for blood. It indicates serious infection. Regards.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Grzegorz Stanko (3 minutes later)

Thank you very much. And have a great day!!

Answered by Dr. Grzegorz Stanko (2 minutes later)

Brief Answer: . Detailed Answer: You are welcome. Hope you will get well soon.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar