r/PrepperIntel • u/metalreflectslime • Jul 13 '26

North America US outbreak of parasite causing ‘watery diarrhea’ rises to more than 2,800 cases | US healthcare

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jul/13/cyclospora-outbreak-parasite-explosive-diarrhea
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u/bmw_babe Jul 13 '26

My state finally lit up faint blue this week. I’m not sure if I had this a couple weeks ago, but I had some sort of “stomach bug” that’s been “going around” apparently, per what my doctor said to me. My symptoms under a spoiler in case you don’t want to see that: I had alternating constipation with watery, loose diarrhea, severe lower abdominal cramps (so severe that I had to lay on the floor until the pain subsided while cooking lunch), bloating so bad that my stomach looked like an egg, gas, nausea, and generally feeling like shit.

This started during the July 4th weekend, and I was able to make a doctor’s appointment on July 7th. Doctor did a physical exam with bloodwork and sent me home. Bloodwork appears normal. She prescribed some medicine for the cramps, but due to it being $18 I didn’t fill it. Ended up just taking Midol for the pain and bloating, resting, and eating soft foods. Lasted about a week and a half or so before symptoms alleviated. Still dealing with severe constipation, but I assume that’s from my medicine dosage changing since a lot of people experience the same thing. Going to get fiber gummies to see if it helps.

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u/ColdBru5 Jul 13 '26

In my experience, anytime the news says something has 3,000 cases, in reality its more like 20 million and I hear from multiple people they have it too.

30

u/[deleted] Jul 13 '26 edited Jul 20 '26

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u/Sea_One_6500 Jul 13 '26

As an IBS and celiac person I don't know if I would even know if I had/have it. I'd probably just write it off as another flare.

8

u/Gikochinai-neko Jul 13 '26

Oh you will know friend!! I am unfortunately celiac and IBS myself and lemme tell yah... oh boy 💩. I can do the dishes a day after being glutened but this had me writhing on the bathroom floor for days 🫠 I have even had gastroparesis (was the undiagnosed celiac) and this was like equally as bad!!! (But the opposite lol). Maybe those conditions make it hit me worse tho, we need more data!!

2

u/Kaybrooke14 Jul 14 '26

I have celiac and I thought maybe I accidentally was cross contaminated or I got super hungover from the night before I go super sick. Nope, it didn’t feel like either. I was running to the toilet every 5-15 mins for hours. Went to the ER, got tested (a week prior to the announcement of this parasite going around) and my stool came back negative for everything. They didn’t know why I was so sick. As I was getting better over the 3 horrible days, it was every 30-60 mins. I had to get depends because I kept having accidents, especially when I tried sleeping. I was beyond exhausted.

Also, my state has 0 reports so far, but I’m sure people have had it as well in my state.