How to Manage Gastrointestinal Illness
Nobody likes being ill, but illnesses in the gastrointestinal tract can be especially uncomfortable. They make even the simplest things more difficult. However, there are several things that you can do to make your GI illness a little more manageable.
- Start yourself on a liquid diet. Clear liquids are best at first, especially if you are having difficulty with diarrhea. Drinking water, sports drinks or broth is your best bet during this time. If you begin to feel an improvement later, you can branch out to food that has more sustenance.
- Take an over-the-counter drug that will relieve some of the symptoms. Any type of medication that contains bismuth, such as Pepto Bismol, should help relieve some of the pain that you are feeling in your GI tract. You can also look for other pain relievers, especially those that help with discomfort in the stomach.
- Call your doctor for advice if you are not seeing an improvement. It may be necessary to make an appointment to visit them. They may be able to prescribe medication to help relieve the pain and the symptoms. They can also give you a course of treatment for your particular GI illness.
- Remain home if possible for the duration of the illness. Depending on what type of illness you have, you may spread it to others. Make certain that you stay away from children or babies that have little immunity from illness. If it is possible, take a day off of work or school until the worst symptoms have passed.
- Use a heating pad to help relieve pressure in your midsection. Buy an electric heating pad to gain comfort. You can also make a homemade heating pad out of a clean athletic sock. Fill the sock with rice and tie a not at the end. Then place it in the microwave for about a minute. You will find that the makeshift heating pad holds it’s heat well.