treating ropey guts in the bush

[Toddy]

The chalky stuff (maalox or rennie for instance) is for hart burn - your stomach acids going wild. Since chalk is a base it neutralizes the acid. I doubt it will help against stomachs being upset by other reasons.

John, can you elaborate on the tobacco? I smoke, but if I keep smoking when my stomach is upset, I am sure to upset it more.

Toddy: apples? When I eat apples on an empty stomach it gives me cramps. So why start with them?

I agree about the chalk for acid. Tobacco I've never tried, adn the apples are very rich in pectin. Apple puree goes down soft and easy. It's a soft bulk in the guts after the rigours of the squits.

I also agree with the 24 hours no food, but you have to keep the liquids up. Even if it seems as though it's running right out of you, both ends sometimes, just keep sipping it.
The vast majority of babies ever born died before they were five years old because of dehydration. Plain water isn't the best, the salt +sugar stuff helps keep everything balanced while the body fights the biological war in your guts.

It's all too easy to spread infection around with poor hygiene, especially in a camp situation. If you have the buggit you caught it from someone/ something. Try not to keep it passing along.

The commercial immodium and the like work by kind of paralysing the gut for a little time ( really they just kind of slow down the muscular contractions of peristalsis ), I'm wondering if that's what the tobacco does too ?

cheers,
Toddy

[TeeDee]

Dont know if anyone can answer this but its been bugging me for a while.

Why is it that you can get Mass produced drugs such as Aspirin so very cheaply yet Imodium is , what i consider ,relatively pricey per unit?

A pack of aspirin
http://www.mysupermarket.co.uk/tesco...ablets_16.html

A pack of Imodium
http://www.mysupermarket.co.uk/Shopp...odium&SortBy=3

Why is it so relatively high? Or am i just a frugal little bunny??

[MrEd]

its probably cos aspirin has been around so long that any pharmaceutical company can make it in massive quantities cheap, i bet imodium has to be made under licence from the inventing company which costs money so bungs up the unit cost somewhat.

[TeeDee]

costs money so bungs up the unit cost somewhat.

Was that an intentional pun?????

[MrEd]

Was that an intentional pun?????

no completely un-intentional!! lol im a comic genius and didnt know

[Man of Tanith]

its probably cos aspirin has been around so long that any pharmaceutical company can make it in massive quantities cheap, i bet imodium has to be made under licence from the inventing company which costs money so bungs up the unit cost somewhat.

Think you are right there aspirin has been about for so long even if it was licensed it will have expired by now.
quite a lot of medicines have a licence for a certain amount of time to allow the developer to make back what they have spent develop it. once licence has expired it is a free for all for anyone who wants to make it.

Personally it is very rare that i use immodium, flights home from exotic climes or long journeys where a toilet stop every five minutes isn't practical.

some really helpful suggestions guys n gals
thanks muchly
Sam

[Eric_Methven]

I've found the best solution to the runs is a teaspoonful of Bisto gravy granuals. It doesn't actually cure the squiffs, but it thickens them up nicely!

[Mesquite]

I've found the best solution to the runs is a teaspoonful of Bisto gravy granuals. It doesn't actually cure the squiffs, but it thickens them up nicely!

[Melonfish]

I've found the best solution to the runs is a teaspoonful of Bisto gravy granuals. It doesn't actually cure the squiffs, but it thickens them up nicely!

thats so wrong! LOL

one thing i also carry is packs of Resolve, they're a morning after the night before type thing, helps for headaches and sore stomachs as they contain paracetamol and bicarb
i am like a walking pharmacy when i'm out.

last weekend i know willow bark has Salicin in it and helps releave aches pains and fever. horridly bitter tho.

[phill_ue]

Aye, but have you ever tried chewing chalk?

It's bad enough chewing Rennies, but chalk (shudders), you should give it a try.

Cheers

Liam

Yes, I've tried it! The powder stuff you get is probably not as bad as you mix it in water and down the lot. Still, it is last ditch stuff, but picking bits of compacted chalk out of your teeth is not fun!

[Miyagi]

Yes, I've tried it! The powder stuff you get is probably not as bad as you mix it in water and down the lot. Still, it is last ditch stuff, but picking bits of compacted chalk out of your teeth is not fun!

You're not wrong there!!

Liam

[SleepyWeasel]

I know codeine will slow your digestion down, but an old friend of mine recommended some flour mixed up as a paste will bung you up, I think he meant to take it oraly, not by any other route.

I do agree that if you have had a stomach bug then it might not be a good idea to bung yourself up as it's your body's way of purging the toxins out, but you have to make sure that you balance what's going out with what's going in. Water with some sugar and a pinch of salt should keep you rehydrated.

[MikeE]

I've found the best solution to the runs is a teaspoonful of Bisto gravy granuals. It doesn't actually cure the squiffs, but it thickens them up nicely!

Chalk has the same effect, Kaolin and Morphine used to be a good stand-by the morph slowed it all down and the Kaolin (Chalk by any other name) stoppered you up!

[John Fenna]

Getting something to bung you up is important if you are going to be travelling by public transport and have the trots!
Bus drivers apreciate you not exploding while the bus is in motion!

[Andy2112]

Getting something to bung you up is important if you are going to be travelling by public transport and have the trots!
Bus drivers apreciate you not exploding while the bus is in motion!

On the number turdy 7 ?

[Seabeggar]

Fluids +++++ , avoid Immodium etc unless you have to travel.

If you have rice (after years roughing it in Asia this was always to hand) boil it up , no washing it, nice and sticky, bit of sugar and a little milk powder if you have it. Usually helps bind things up nicely.

If you are in the Tropics and you have diarrhoea with fever , blood and mucous you have dysentry. Unlikely to be ameobic but most travellers think it is and take metronidazole with no benefit, just make you feel sick. Far more likely bacilliary, and if its bad take a dose or 2 of ciprofloxacin 500mg.

[Locky]

Great thread, especilly as i am a big IBS sufferer. doctor told me generally an upset stomch can usually be irregular eating habits such as a busy lifestyle, so eating small and regular can cure the trots, also breakfast is a must, I used to say i didnt have enough time for brekky, but you soon start eating it. docs also said irregular eating for so long probably caused IBS as when you wake, your metabolism kicks in, and has nothing or little to digest until the stomach is next fed, thus creating gasses and excrement.
Biology lesson over for today, homework is breakfast.

[leaf man]

top thread!

dont fancy some of the cures, but if i was bush bound and runny, i would certainly consdier them

[georann]

In british army ration packs you get two different types of biscuits. The ones in the green packet (biscuit greens as they are known) are like hobnobs and theyre good if you have diarrhoea. The other ones , in the purple packet (biscuit browns), are like fruit shorties and theyre good if you have consitaption. The idea being you eat a balance of them or adjust to how your feeling.

[Tengu]

Dads just had a dose of the D and V....

Its shocking how sick he got.

he took tonic water, (sips, not great gulps) and eventualy lucozade, tea and ginger beer.

no drugs at all.

Hes much better now

[RAPPLEBY2000]

In british army ration packs you get two different types of biscuits. The ones in the green packet (biscuit greens as they are known)

"biscuit greens"? no...never heard them called that before
Biscuit brown or Biscuits AB is normal (plus the slang)

are like hobnobs and theyre good if you have diarrhoea.

"they are like hobnobs"?
OK you've never tried them have you!!try tastes like "chipboard" and you're getting closer!

The other ones , in the purple packet (biscuit browns),

again...no...."Biscuit fruit filled"

are like fruit shorties and theyre good if you have consitaption. The idea being you eat a balance of them or adjust to how your feeling.

"are like fruit shorties", "theyre good if you have consitaption"
no... they aren't:

you either have never tried them or you have a vivid imagination!

And Please, don't use army rations for any sort of medical treatment: or research

that's made my day

It's true Biscuits brown were designed to "solidify" stools, to make life slightly easier for soldiers in the field, but Diarrhoea might be a symptom of something more serious and you should be getting fluids in to the patient not feeding them.

I doubt very much there is enough fiber in the fruit biscuits to make any difference!
as a side note most biscuits will "block you up" if you eat enough of them, you don't have to resort to army rations with iffy packing dates!

[johnboy]

The Army have a new type of Ration Pack on issue...

http://www.army.mod.uk/news/14369.aspx

Biscuits brown and biscuits fruit have been replaced...

[Itzal]

In british army ration packs you get two different types of biscuits. The ones in the green packet (biscuit greens as they are known) are like hobnobs and theyre good if you have diarrhoea. The other ones , in the purple packet (biscuit browns), are like fruit shorties and theyre good if you have consitaption. The idea being you eat a balance of them or adjust to how your feeling.

BISCUIT GREEN? who knows them as that, certainly not troops biscuit brown, which are rubbish (or were, the new rat packs are far better and less er 'blocking' shall we say)

[MI5_Dog]

I'll be watching this thread with interest as I have Crohn's disease and don't feel like letting me stop me from getting out and enjoying myself in the bush.

[Front Room Woodlander]

I recall peppermint tea being a daily bowel soother.
Trying to thin k of the original plant form of Immodium which I think, dim memory, is synthetic. I think it maybe to do with pepper plants.
However, peppermint tea is good for IBS and squirts.
All the advice about hydration, salts and sugars is good.
Had a lady who purged herself every day and had to have daily potassium bloods done so we could tell if a heart attack was likely.

[phill_ue]

Do they do "biscuits, pink" and "biscuits, yellow" then? I prefer to call them "biscuits, disposable" or "biscuits, give them to the Padre to re-roof the church with"!

[maddave]

We referred to biscuits brown as "Biscuits DOG AB"