Elderly Relative With Diarrhoea And No Taste

[DEESMITH1970]

My 85 year old Uncle has had diarrhoea ongoing for 3 weeks now and since his booster Pfizer vaccine in January he cannot taste anything properly. No appetite for 3 weeks since the D started. Just feels generally unwell. Covid tests weekly show Negative. Anti D tablets not helping. Stool test and blood test came back "normal" on Friday. Doctor doesn't seem concerned just keeps saying its a virus/stomach bug. D has eased off a bit the last few days its only during the night now but still cannot taste anything and no appetite. Any words of advice please?

[barry1010]

Did he start taking any new medication around the time this started?

How often is he opening his bowels?

[calmck]

Plenty to drink and/or electrolyte replacement drinks. Try the BRAT diet. Bananas, rice, apple sauce and tea. The old staple chicken soup with rice. Small frequent meals. Maybe a stool sample for "bugs". How many times a day is he going?

[DEESMITH1970]

No Barry. Has taken the same BP tablets for years. Changed nothing to his diet at all. We are baffled !

[barry1010]

Is he losing weight?
Does he get to the toilet in time?
Is it diarrhoea or loss of bowel control?

[davebro]

Barring anything really serious I would go for a light diet, plenty of fluids & a daily multi-vitamin tablet.

[DEESMITH1970]

Tried the Electrolyte drinks etc. soups small meals. He has lost weight - about half a stone. He was having D about 5 times a day and then a few times during the night. The daytime D has stopped but still going in the night - he dreads nightime now. He keeps saying I can "taste" and smell a "funny smell" all the time. He is completely with it - and always been active. My Aunt literally has to make him eat meals as he really has no appetite and his usual favourite meals he tries to eat but just does not "fancy"..

[Sqad]

No big deal.
Both diarrhoea and loss of smell can be attributed to the vaccination.
Blood and stool tests negative and the diarrhoea is settling.
Follow the advice of calmck 9.08.
The taste, may or may not return and there is nothing one can do to influence that.
He is onthe Road to recovery.

[barry1010]

I'm wondering if he could be constipated which can cause a bad taste and loss of appetite.
It is not unusual for constipation to cause 'overflow diarrhoea'. Has his GP had a good feel of his stomach?

[margarettom]

When I had diarrhoea for three weeks ( medication reaction), I found Kaolin & Morphine (liquid bought in the chemist) helped overnight.

[DEESMITH1970]

His own Doctor and "out of hours" Doctor last weekend examined his stomach all OK. He also has no stomach pain thankfully.

[margarettom]

I presume you’ve tried Imodium?

[emmie]

i take a medication called Loperamide, this is on prescription, you can buy it over the counter at Boots or any decent chemists, its called
imodium, and can and should stop the diarrhoea.

[DEESMITH1970]

Has been taking anti-diarrhoea tablets for 3 weeks - not helping. Thanks for all your replies. Definitely think it is something due to the 2nd vaccine.

[emmie]

does he take the loperamide, as that generally works....

[barry1010]

Has he got any dental or gum pain? Could he have an abscess?

[barry1010]

emmie, you can buy that OTC from Tesco for £1.15 for 6. It costs the NHS a lot more than that to prescribe it.