How do you know if you have food poisoning?

There being poison in your food is a good indication :)

I cant say for sure because I haven’t had food poisoning but from what I have heard, if you have food poisoning, you will be sick from both ends…...probably at the same time…..

This question is a bit vague. Can you be more descriptive about your symptoms (and the symptoms of any other people who may have eaten with you)? Most people use food poisoning to mean the type of reaction that occurs shortly after eating tainted food. This is typically caused by a preformed toxin that leads quickly to nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramping +/- diarrhea. Fortunately, the symptoms resolve almost as quickly as they arise, so that people are feeling better (depending on the degree of dehydration) in 24–48 hours.

More serious gastrointestinal diseases will have some or all of those symptoms, plus fever and more severe diarrhea (+/- blood).

I recently had food poisoning. I was so sick . I had never felt that way. Chills with no fever, aching in all my joints, unconteollable vomiting and diarhea. Immodium did nothing for it! Phenergan finally stopped the vomiting after about thirty six hours. Diarhea for a few more days after that. I thought I was dying!!!!

Decide if you should see a doctor. Here are some guidelines:

“It’s recommended that children, the elderly, pregnant women and people with weakened immune systems visit their physicians if there is a chance they have food poisoning. According to Wilson, members of these high-risk groups are more vulnerable to foodborne illness and can become seriously ill.

A visit to the doctor is also warranted when people with diarrhea or vomiting have these symptoms:

* Bloody diarrhea
* Diarrhea that lasts three or more days
* Fever of over 101º F
* Dehydration
* Neurological symptoms such as weakness

In such cases, doctors recommend increasing your fluid consumption, especially drinks with electrolytes, like Pedialyte®. Sport drinks, like Gatorade®, are not recommended because they primarily replace minerals that have been lost by sweat. If dehydration is severe, IV fluids may be necessary. Stool cultures, and occasionally blood tests, may also be conducted to identify the bacteria or parasite. Treatment will vary depending upon the cause, though antibiotics may be used to treat severe bacterial infections.”

An irresistible urge that catapults you to bathroom, butt on toilet, head in waste basket, huge death wish, short rests on bathroom rug, profuse sweating, if you want more graphic and less scientific description than that of Shilolo’s. Once entire GI tract is empty, you will feel much better and can totter off to bed (and remember that chicken you left on the counter for too long and pray that you did not have dinner guests.)

I call it the “whichend two-step” because one doesn’t know which end to point at the porcelain god.

Cecil: what if both ends are working efficiently and simultaneously?

I would question whether imodium is a good idea if you have food poisoning. The diarrhea is your bodies way of getting rid of toxins and imodium will just slow that down making you ill for longer.

@gail- Your only hope is that your toilet is close enough to your shower…....?

@gail. That’s why there is ALWAYS a plastic trashcan next to the throne.

Bloodwork will give you a positive answer

@Lightly. Imodium is probably fine in the absence of signs of severe inflammatory or invasive gastroenteritis. Most likely this is due to Staph aureus or B. cereus. Both of these have minimal diarrhea and imodium is safe in this setting.
@gooch. Blood work will not help in the diagnosis of food poisoning. Looking at the stool (if there is diarrhea) will help, but this is rarely done if the symptoms are self-limiting.

I’ve had food poisoning twice. The only thing I can say is that you feel like you would be better off dead.

Best advice—give in to the urge to throw up, you will feel better sooner.

Good Luck!

Try not to throw up….that would be the challenge.

Alas, poison free. Thanks for the many great answers, duly rewarded.

So, yet, did you join the club or not, I can’t figure it out from your answer.
just want to pick out an appropriate sympathy card

@seesul – Nope, we think I have a food allergy that I am unaware of…

@yetanother If that is the case, you may want to have sensitivity testing done ASAP. Adult-onset allergies can be deadly. Allergic response tends to intensify with exposure.

My bother developed an allergy to crab as an adult. The first time he got violently ill. Later, it escalated to the point of his throat swelling and closing so that he faces possible anapylactic shock if he ingests any now.

I have reacted that way to MSG, which goes by many other names. (the whichend reaction, that is). I can also get a migraine from the smallest amount.