Food poisoning. Nasty!! Trust me. Having experienced the mortifying effects of being accidentally food poisoned, I vowed I’d write an article once I could type without retching over it. Mmmm *nice*
Anyways. My bout of unstoppable vomiting was due to a dodgy mussel. Was no-ones fault. They were absolutely delicious going down. Two other diners had a fabulous time. Me….. Not so much!! About 2 hours later I was beyond the “willing it away” and promptly made an impression on said hostesses garden and then 1/2 hour later in her bathroom. Which is where I spent the rest of the evening…..
Cue cringes from both sides. It was a first time get together and her guest was heaving in the side garden, the hostess flapping about knowing she “caused” this (but didn’t.)
Cue an equally mortified guest who couldn’t even begin to cover up her embarrassment or the nicely deposited pile of very well chewed up seafood. *wretch*
I can giggle and blush about it now whilst regaling the story. But at the time….. Awful.
The thing with food disagreeing with you, whether an intolerance or food poisoning is, it’s really hard to tell the difference….. If your body doesn’t like it, it will just get rid of it. I hate being sick (who doesn’t) but I was such a pathetic traveller as a child, travel sickness caused a phobia of sorts; I’ll pace and swallow and ignore and pray and curse before I’ll relax and just let my body get on with it. That euphoria after is great but usually short-lived…. There’s always at least another hurl in there. (isn’t this the best article ever??)
I seldom get rip-roaringly drunk as I just couldn’t endure the morning after or the end of the night stomach emptying session. Nope, I do my best to keep sickness to a minimum.
Health wise I’m rarely unwell, so it’s a real shock to the system when my body reacts so violently. For the next couple of weeks I had very little appetite, my stomach was tender, I felt achy all over almost what I imagine flu must be like…. I flushed my system with water and introduced dry bread then ginger biscuits….soon all was well, but it did take time. Longer than I expected it too. Days in fact…..
I’m also very wary of mussels. I know it was most probably a dodgy one rather than a reaction to them as I’ve had mussels before. But then when you check out food intolerances its very similar to the signs and symptoms of food poisoning. It’s made me think about what I’m eating even more. It’s also made me wonder re getting a food intolerance test done just to double-check, as there are other food groups I’d be sensitive to. I don’t want to get all pedantic re food and diet etc BUT I also don’t want to put myself in that situation again.
So, if you’re ever in a situation that “what goes in must come out”, here’s a guideline of what to do.
Food poisoning is an illness caused by eating contaminated food. Most people will get better without the need for treatment.
In most cases, the food that causes the illness has been contaminated by bacteria, such as salmonella, or a virus, such as the norovirus.
The symptoms of food poisoning usually begin one to three days after eating contaminated food.
They include:
feeling sick
vomiting
diarrhoea
stomach cramps
Foods that are particularly vulnerable to contamination if they are not handled, stored or cooked properly include:
raw meat and poultry
‘ready to eat’ foods such as cooked sliced meats, pate, soft cheeses and pre-packed sandwiches
dairy products, such as eggs and milk
Outlook
Most people with food poisoning will get better without the need for treatment. In the meantime, you can relieve the symptoms of food poisoning by:
drinking plenty of fluids
eating easily digested food, such as toast, until you feel better
Plenty of rest
Food Intolerance Reactions Vomiting
Home care for vomiting in someone with food intolerance reactions:
Drink clear liquids only, such as water, sports drinks, fruit juice and dilute tea. Sports drinks are best. The absence of food allows the intestines to rest.
Drink small quantities of fluids frequently. In general, two tablespoons of fluid every 5 minutes is an effective strategy.
Avoid milk and dairy products for 3 days.
Avoid liquids that irritate the stomach, such as citrus juice, alcohol and coffee.
If nausea or vomiting continues despite the above, consider one of the non-prescription medicines like pepto-bismol.
Once vomiting and nausea resolves, start bland foods first. If you tolerate bland food, then you can resume a normal diet.
Despite being a pukey subject to write about, I hope this article helps.
To discover more
Food poisoning and food intolerances (signs symptoms etc)
useful sites include:
www.nhs.uk
www.allergyuk.org
