Is my e.coli resurfacing, or is this all stress related?

UnknownSaint

I may go into urgent care later today if this doesn't get any better, and have a doctor's appointment scheduled for Monday (I have to miss my 1st day of a critical summer school course. Whee.).

So a little background. When I was in middle school about 7 years ago I had a very nasty summer where I got e.coli in the intestines and it basically fucked me up for quite a while. I was hospitalized for about a week with some of the most horrendous stomach pains I've ever had, vomiting, diarrhea, the works. It happened on a family vacation, and for the next few years I couldn't even go an hour out of town with them - the very thought of it would make me sick to my stomach again. I eventually got over that and here I am.

Except last weekend I ended up getting way sick, akin to the early stages of what I had last time. This was the morning of the day I had to shoot a good friend's wedding, but I muscled through it and did what I had to do, felt better since.

Until yesterday. Started a new job, boss bought me lunch and I couldn't eat a bite. Felt like I would hurl and could only stomach a few french fries. Ate light the rest of the day and passed out for 10 hours. Felt awful this morning, and drove to my boss' house/office, ready for my 2nd day of work. Except an hour into it and right before we were going to leave I make a fantastic first impression by getting sick, yakking in his toilet (I'm not sure he knows about that part) and excusing myself for the day. I'm at home right now, resting and recovering (still feel sick to my stomach, still running to the bathroom now and then but not nearly as bad as a few hours ago) and about to pass out again, if I feel the same when I wake up I'll head to urgent care.

What I want to know, is if it were possible that my e.coli from years ago is resurfacing, or if it could have possibly done something to my stomach. Or maybe this is stress related? Kind of an elaborate physiological response, but I have a lot of critical things going on in my life right now regarding school and this new job, and I have a little history with stomach illness induced mentally. And on a sidenote, I'm allergic to amoxacillin, which I'm aware is a potential treatment for e.coli.

I probably won't get better information here than I will at the doctor's, but like I said that's already scheduled and I'm wondering if anyone has anything helpful or insightful in the meantime.

Thanks H/A.

bowen

Man it's hard to say. It could be stress, it could be e. coli, or it could be an ulcer (related to stress). Your best bet is your doctor. But it wouldn't be too far-fetched if it was e. coli (however that stuff is natural isn't it?).

Thanatos

Man, I wouldn't worry about what your boss thinks. It's your second day of work, you don't feel well, but you don't want him to think you're a flake, so you show up, and get sick. It's a perfectly natural reaction. If he holds it against you, he's a douchebag, anyhow.

I don't think it's possible for e-coli to "flare up" again years later. You kill it from your system, it's gone (other than what lives in your large intestine). It's possible you've gotten it again, it's possible it's stress, or it could just be a stomach virus. Your doctor will be able to tell you more.

bowen

Thanatos wrote: »

Man, I wouldn't worry about what your boss thinks. It's your second day of work, you don't feel well, but you don't want him to think you're a flake, so you show up, and get sick. It's a perfectly natural reaction. If he holds it against you, he's a douchebag, anyhow.

I second that, don't kill yourself worrying about what your boss thinks. It's not worth it, and if this is a stress related illness, you're only making it worse.

OremLK

May be jumping the gun to assume it's e.coli. Could just be a more garden-variety stomach virus. Go to the doctor and find out.

Thanatos

OremLK wrote: »

May be jumping the gun to assume it's e.coli. Could just be a more garden-variety stomach virus. Go to the doctor and find out.

Yeah, the odds of any given person getting e-coli that badly are really fucking low. I don't know if having had it before would make you more susceptible or not, though. Odds are, stress or simple stomach virus.

Gihgehls

I just had a really nasty urinary tract infection that rocked my world for about 2 weeks. The pains you described reminded me of it. Definitely go to a doctor. He should be taking a look at your blood and urine. The first doc I went to didn't do shit; he looked me over, poked me in a few places, and told me I had fucking gastritis. I didn't.

UnknownSaint

Alright. I just woke up from about 4 hours of sleep after a ton of sleep last night. It's hard to differentiate hunger pangs from stomach pain, but I'm feeling better. That worries me a bit though, it's kind of hard to explain "Yeah I only get sick when I go to work because of the worry of a new job".

chromdom

UnknownSaint wrote: »

Alright. I just woke up from about 4 hours of sleep after a ton of sleep last night. It's hard to differentiate hunger pangs from stomach pain, but I'm feeling better. That worries me a bit though, it's kind of hard to explain "Yeah I only get sick when I go to work because of the worry of a new job".

So don't say that. You had some stomach problems and went to the doctor. You're toughing through now though (say this is in case it is stress related and pops up again).

Unknown

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Zombiemambo

One of my brother's co-workers got E. coli and she threw up so uncontrollably she literally thought she was going to die of suffocation. Can't say that's the case for everyone, but I imagine you'd be hanging on to your toilet for dear life if that's what you had.