Why do we have abdominal cramps and weakness after a travel?

Question

Hello doctor,

My boyfriend and I went on a trip three weeks ago on a bus. Before we ate, his stomach started to hurt, and he began getting cramps. He was well-hydrated. The next day, his cramps worsened at night, and I also started to have terrible cramps. His cramps got worse throughout the night, but mine did not. After we got back, he took some medicines. I took regular medicines for my cramps. My boyfriend's cramps stopped, while mine did not. Whenever the cramps came back, they got worse. These past few days, he felt weak but got better. Yesterday night, he had terrible stomach cramps again and felt weak. He threw up and felt better but still has these cramps.

Kindly help.

Thank you.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I have reviewed your case history, with a recent history of travel, followed by abdominal cramps, likely because of eating something causing infection to the gut.

You both should check your stool DR (detail report) to find infections like travelers, diarrhea, etc.

My advice:

Consult your specialist, talk to them, and take medications after their consultation.

Take anti-spasmodic medicines like No-spa (Drotaverine Hydrochloride) or Mebeverine (Microcrystalline cellulose, Lactose monohydrate, Sodium starch glycolate type A, Povidone, Magnesium stearate, Talc) twice daily, half an hour before meals for three to five days, along with probiotics. This might improve your symptoms, whereas probiotics help replace healthy gut bacteria. You may need antibiotics for three to five days if you have infectious stools.

Try to eat home-cooked meals and a soft diet. Avoid eating out for a couple of days. In case of no improvement, first-line antibiotics can be used for infective colitis or enterocolitis. Take tablet Ciprofloxacin 250 mg half an hour after breakfast and dinner (twice daily) for three days. If you have known allergies to any medicine, do let me know before use.

I hope this helps.

Thank you.

Answer 2

Hello,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

Episodic abdominal cramps are less likely because of oxygen issues or inhaled bugs. For oxygen-related issues, a person should feel shortness of breath at the time of reduced oxygen, which must be at the time of traveling on the bus, in your case.

It is related to something you people ate while traveling or immediately before or after. So yes, it can be a bacterial or viral cause of abdominal upset, but not related to your chest or oxygen issues when you do not have any chest symptoms like cough, shortness of breath, fever, etc.

Follow the previous instructions; I hope it will improve in the next 24-48 hours. If not, one should investigate further, like blood tests, etc.

I hope this helps.

Thank you.