When you've got the trotts

[comloulou]

My friend and I argue about this important point. I say if you've got the squits take something like imodium and be done with it, she says you have must have a bug etc and so its best to let nature take its course. I know dehydration etc can be an issue with her theory, who's right?

[Miss Zippy]

I think it depends on whether the 'trotts' is a problem you experience frequently or not. If it is, then it could be a symptom of an underlying problem such as irritable bowel or a parasitic or viral infection, in which case you should seek treatment for that as I don't think it can be good for you to take medication like Imodium frequently. If, on the other hand, the trotts is just a very infrequent problem (e.g. the result of a dodgy curry or too much alcohol), I would reach for the Imodium every time!

[brawburd]

Leave well alone! Speaking from a personal and professional point of view, drugs which diarrhoea can cause unpleasant side effects, especially stomach cramps and sometimes constipation! They do not treat the underlying cause. If there is something in the bowel causing irritation or infection, then drugs stop this being expelled and prolong the problem. Fluid and electrolyte replenishment is the first step, so any medication used should address this. Hope your question is not too immediate and you have been able to make it back to the computer!

[comloulou]

Hahaha yes thanks Im fine, i do actually have IBS and find imodium can help occasionally, I was really just wondering about the medical view point. But thanks both, very informative and strangely entertaining.

[incitatus]

with ibs you would be far better off seeking specialist advice. An antispasmodic like mebeverine would be a better bet than loperamide

[comloulou]

Good points well made but Ive been visiting doctors for many years and have found anti-spasmodics pretty useless. There are days when if I want to get out and pay the mortgage I have to use loperamide. Not every day mind, yoga, avoiding the foods I like to eat and trying to chill out are all fairly useful strategies.

[Lennon]

I know this sounds awful, but hey - when something doesn't agree with your body or you are ill etc, then you get the 'trotts' because you're body wants to get it out of your system as soon as possible, therefore it doesn't take out the juices (nice eh?) in the intestine to make it solid, it rejects it in near enough liquid form. Therefore your body is sorting the problem out on its own, and anything you take could interfere with that. Best to leave it be.

[darth vader]

...and drink plenty of water (to aid the flushing, and eliminate possible dehydration)