Please help, I have salmonella

Nurses General Nursing

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I recently got back from a trip. Went on a cruise, came back Sat. Dec 26, stayed in FL for 3 extra days and than drove home to MN. I was run down because I didn't sleep in car at all and we drove straight thru. Last Tue, I was incontinent of stool but thought I was overly tired. No appetite Wed. Thur AM developed fever and I've had fevers everyday since. Went to ER Sun, they bolused me, gave me zofran and cultured my stool. This morning they called and said it is salmonella. I've lost ten lbs in five days. I can't eat but able to drink fluids slowly. Incontinence of explosive stool finally stopped two days ago but the consistency of stool is the same. When they drew blood, my white count was normal. I started cipro this morning. I was able to give my shift aways at work because I can't leave my house yet. We have sterilzed the house three x. I can barely walk at times because I'm so weak. I walk the rooms of my house (can't really do stairs yet) for ambulation. I'm not vomiting - really HATE to do that and try to force myself not to. I am always nauseated. I'm 41 and no one in house has these s/sx.

Lots of pedialyte, chx broth and maybe a piece of plain bread. As a nurse my husband expects me to know what to do and I don't. I'm even a little scared because I have never ever been this sick. Highest temp Sunday was 104. This is after taking it axillary, oral and buying a new thermometer. Believe me, my eyeballs felt like they were on fire. So today I started cipro 500 mg BID for 5 days. My temp now is 100.5. I'm going to see how high it goes on it's own. Than of course ibu and/or tylenol.

I often come here for advice and I desparately need it now. I have never been so out of control of my body as I have been the past week. I'm exhausted because I stool every 4 hrs. The little community hospital I went to for fluids - doc told me to try immodium. What a joke. My stools are slightly bloody but I'm not surprised. I feel very bad for my colon right now:o. Anyway the only reason I didn't go to my hospital where I worked - I talked to a nurse that night to give a shift away and they were super busy, slammed with admissions, etc.

Can anyone help with advice? I'm having a moment of clarity and strength right now to type this. Any natural things I can do? Healthwise, I'm obese but no health hx. Is there a point when I should say, admit me and give me IV abx and fluids? It's hard to stay hydrated and not feel like you're going to vomit what you just drank. I'm on day 6 or 7 of this, exhausted and scared. I can't take care of my family or work obviously. I can't eat. My mom says eat rice, etc. When I take one bite of food, I have that feeling that you do when you're so stuffed after a turkey dinner, that you can't possibly take another bite.

It's January, diet resolution month. Excuse my humor here (it's how I deal), but try the salmonella diet and you WILL lose ten lbs in five days. :crying2:

Need to use the little girls room. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Nurse in Northern MN

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And what is stopping you from seeing a doctor?

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I'm sorry, OP, but it's against the TOS of the site to give medical advice. Nothing substitutes for going to see a medical professional. Hope you feel better soon.

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You poor thing! Sounds like you are miserable. Hope you are feeling better soon. I obviously cannot give advice (TOS, and not a nurse yet), but I do wish you a speedy recovery!

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sorry, I am seeing my doc today. I haven't slept much. I guess my original post was to see if other nurses have had this and what kinds of things did you do to help your recovery process. There have been times in my life when I thought I had "a little food poisoning" and I whined about it. Now I know what it truly is to have it and it's humbling. I don't mean to sound like an idiot and I don't mean to violate any TOS. I'm sorry.

Nurse in Northern MN

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

Golly - you sound quite ill....I would not wait for the doctor's appt but go to the ER immediately. Hope you get to feeling better soon.

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