stomach problems

[acrow 0]

As many of the yardies here know, my SO moved here finally two weeks ago. We were recently married and are incredibly happy, except for one thing...he has been having terrible stomach problems since moving here, and this morning it has taken a turn for the worse with him actually vomiting...

He has been having on and off mild to severe stomach cramps accompanied by alternating constipation and diarrhea...his symptoms get worse at night. We have been eating the same things so I know it isn't food poisoning.

We have tried:

cutting out dairy

no caffeine or alcohol

aloe vera juice

alka seltzer

pill form laxatives(these help end the constipation, but new symptoms pop up)

ginger tea

and as of yesterday I bought him probiotic pills for IBS sufferers...they are supposed to take a week to work. I am also trying to feed him mostly what he is used to eating in Jamaica and I am letting him do most of the cooking for that reason.

I don't have health insurance for him yet. Is it possible that this is all just stress related...or maybe there is some bacteria here in food that he isn't used to?

Any advice or insight would be very appreciated

[Y's_habibitk 2]

As many of the yardies here know, my SO moved here finally two weeks ago. We were recently married and are incredibly happy, except for one thing...he has been having terrible stomach problems since moving here, and this morning it has taken a turn for the worse with him actually vomiting...

He has been having on and off mild to severe stomach cramps accompanied by alternating constipation and diarrhea...his symptoms get worse at night. We have been eating the same things so I know it isn't food poisoning.

We have tried:

cutting out dairy

no caffeine or alcohol

aloe vera juice

alka seltzer

pill form laxatives(these help end the constipation, but new symptoms pop up)

ginger tea

and as of yesterday I bought him probiotic pills for IBS sufferers...they are supposed to take a week to work. I am also trying to feed him mostly what he is used to eating in Jamaica and I am letting him do most of the cooking for that reason.

I don't have health insurance for him yet. Is it possible that this is all just stress related...or maybe there is some bacteria here in food that he isn't used to?

Any advice or insight would be very appreciated

See if the IBS med's help...then go from there It could be stress. Some people carry ALL of their stress in their stomaches (like me)

I hope he gets to feelign better soon

P.S- there is a NASTY stomache virus going around here. It could be a virus if it hasnt been that long

[sus 70]

Hey, Acrow - I know other people have had issues - PM Trelawny, I think Marcel did -

Are you eating a lot of fish? There are different mercury levels / etc... in the fish here - I know that I can't eat snapper here without stomach issues, but have no issue in JA.

I think it's just an adjustment to the food -

Try the BRAT diet - bananas, rice, tea and toast - that should clear him up, then slowly introduce things and see what bothers him.

[1luv 1]

Acrow, it is probably because he is not used to the food. The food here(canada) and there (USA) have so much chemicals in them.

[acrow 0]

thanks for the insight. I think you are all right. I am hoping he snaps out of it soon. I am taking him to a free clinic tonight just in case

[TRELAWNY PARISH 10]

Acrow,

My husband had the same issues...tell your hubby he has to take it easy. Remember his body has to get use to processed foods. With my husband most of the things, I would say a majority of fruits and veggies were always fresh hand picked. Same with fish and chicken (fresh)...it took a while, but he's okay now.

You can't introduce everything at once to some people. He may be cooking the same kinds of food, but it's not the same. My husband even say the flour taste different. Just pray he's not allergic to anything...my husband breaks out in hives from the COLD weather.

When his stomach gets bad he just eat plain white rice and drink some ginger tea. I wish I could send you some cerease tea. Hope he feels better.

[MandR 0]

1st things 1st.... DO NOT give him laxatives.

Get him Immodium AD over the counter and follow directions. This helps with diarreah.

Home cooked chicken soup. Dry Toast. Ginger Ale. Black Tea.

[Jesse and Hema 2]

Acrow,

My husband had the same issues...tell your hubby he has to take it easy. Remember his body has to get use to processed foods. With my husband most of the things, I would say a majority of fruits and veggies were always fresh hand picked. Same with fish and chicken (fresh)...it took a while, but he's okay now.

You can't introduce everything at once to some people. He may be cooking the same kinds of food, but it's not the same. My husband even say the flour taste different. Just pray he's not allergic to anything...my husband breaks out in hives from the COLD weather.

When his stomach gets bad he just eat plain white rice and drink some ginger tea. I wish I could send you some cerease tea. Hope he feels better.

I think this is exactly it, if I had to guess.

One thing to try as a remedy might be as simple as eating a lot of (a few cups a day) lowfat yogurt for a few days. Make sure the label of the yogurt states that it contains active cultures including L-acidophilus. Hopefully that can help.

If nothing helps in a few days, definitely try to find a free clinic, or one with a sliding fee program, to be on the safe side.

Good luck!

[HAL 9000 96]

I agree... if you take him to see a doctor, make sure you ask about having (sorry for the bluntness) a fecal exam to check for enteric microbial proportions. Don't need to sound like an expert, but the move may have shifted his microbial balance to one that is starting to be seen more in Western, high fat, high chemical diets like our own.

Hope he feels better soon.

[Tosh Love 77]

As many of the yardies here know, my SO moved here finally two weeks ago. We were recently married and are incredibly happy, except for one thing...he has been having terrible stomach problems since moving here, and this morning it has taken a turn for the worse with him actually vomiting...

He has been having on and off mild to severe stomach cramps accompanied by alternating constipation and diarrhea...his symptoms get worse at night. We have been eating the same things so I know it isn't food poisoning.

We have tried:

cutting out dairy

no caffeine or alcohol

aloe vera juice

alka seltzer

pill form laxatives(these help end the constipation, but new symptoms pop up)

ginger tea

and as of yesterday I bought him probiotic pills for IBS sufferers...they are supposed to take a week to work. I am also trying to feed him mostly what he is used to eating in Jamaica and I am letting him do most of the cooking for that reason.

I don't have health insurance for him yet. Is it possible that this is all just stress related...or maybe there is some bacteria here in food that he isn't used to?

Any advice or insight would be very appreciated

Hi Acrow,

I am so sorry to hear about his stomach pains. Are they mainly abdominal? I came to the States from another country in my teens and had similar problems. It turns out I could not digest the meat raised here (growth hormones? I don't know) but anyway, I cut out chicken and all meat for years and was okay. I also could not drink the soda here. Mind you I was able to eat and drink the same things in my native country. I hope this helps. The sugar here is also processed differently. I buy honey or imported sugar. I have been here now for 22 years and still have the same diet. By the way I tried chicken in Jamaica and was fine. I hope this helps.

[TRELAWNY PARISH 10]

Hi Acrow,

I am so sorry to hear about his stomach pains. Are they mainly abdominal? I came to the States from another country in my teens and had similar problems. It turns out I could not digest the meat raised here (growth hormones? I don't know) but anyway, I cut out chicken and all meat for years and was okay. I also could not drink the soda here. Mind you I was able to eat and drink the same things in my native country. I hope this helps. The sugar here is also processed differently. I buy honey or imported sugar. I have been here now for 22 years and still have the same diet. By the way I tried chicken in Jamaica and was fine. I hope this helps.

Shaun,

My brother and I were the same way when we moved from Jamaica 29 years ago. It took 3 years my mom said for our body to get use to the food. Almost everything we ate in Jamaica were from the yard and we raised out own animals. Some people are just extremly sensitive.

[acrow 0]

Thanks for the insight...You are right I think. Right now he is on a very limited diet, but when we start eating regularly again I think I will try to get as much organic as possible...

[Marlita 0]

Thanks for the insight...You are right I think. Right now he is on a very limited diet, but when we start eating regularly again I think I will try to get as much organic as possible...

Hi. My husband has the same issues. Although he said he had stomach problems back in JA, he seems to be having them worse now. I think its the foods he eats here. He's been trying everything! Eating all kinds of ####### I would not touch. Lots of junk. His fav place is Carls Jr. for crying out loud! But he wont listen to me when I say stay away from the #######, so I just let him. He went to the doctor yesterday to get his stomach looked at. They just gave him pills for indigestions or acid. Told him to take them and see if there is a change. Otherwise theres a more invasive way to see if he has an ulcer. I think alot of it is diet. He also says the flour here tastes different. So does the cows milk (i dont touch that stuff), so does the rice. So I just beileve some peoples stomach are not as strong as others. I know I have MAJOR stomach problems in JA, that I'd probably just be vegetarian down there. I think there's too much bacteria in the meat products for me there.

Anyway. Tell him take it slow, drink tea, eat light and ease into the foods here.

[StoneLove4Ever 0]

Gosh...I guess my hubby is going to have the same issues cause he has a weak stomach already too....he also say the flour here taste different (when his cousin would send him down a barrel) than JA....he is not a big eater and is very picky so I know he won't be into trying new dishes right away anyway....I hope it won't be too bad for him....