Disclaimer: Knowledge is the best medicine, but YHC advice is not based on your specific medical condition. We encourage you to learn more, then make an appointment and really talk with your health care provider. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor or 911 immediately.
Why do some people get diarrhea after eating out?
- Pamela, Colorado Springs
I’m assuming that you aren’t munching at Aunt Minnie’s World of Ice Cream, which would obviously lead to diarrhea from lactose intolerance in 25% of Euro-Americans, but up to 75% of Native Americans, African Americans, Hispanic Americans, and Asian Americans.
Several other benign possibilities exist. If you have irritable bowel syndrome or have had your gallbladder discarded, the higher fat content of most restaurant meals (why did you suppose it tasted so good?) leads to diarrhea. In those with irritable bowel, the increased fat triggers the exaggerated gastro colonic reflex, causing the colon to generate propulsive waves and thus diarrhea. Stay put at the restaurant until the potty impulse occurs. Similarly, those without a gallbladder fail to generate a good bolus of bile to emulsify the fat, and enjoy their diarrhea via the post-cholecystectomy syndrome.
Bacterial food poisoning symptoms include nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramping, and diarrhea that come on within 48 hours of consuming contaminated food or drink and generally resolve quickly. Bacteria may invade the wall of the intestine, interfering with absorption of water and nutrients, or exude a toxin that directly causes the colon to release fluids. Be concerned if you’re immunocompromised (on chemotherapy, have an inflammatory bowel condition, are on steroids, have moderate to severe liver failure, or have HIV infection), have fevers, or bloody diarrhea. If any of these are present, or if you feel dehydrated or have severe abdominal cramps, seek medical attention.
If you’ve been noshing at Grandpa Frank’s (Aged) Fish Shack, beware. Bacterial spoilage from under-refrigeration of finfish, such as tuna, mackerel, bonito, skipjack, mahi-mahi, and bluefish, may lead to scromboid poisoning from histamine production in the spoiled fish. Within two minutes to two hours after eating the fish, your symptoms may include rash, diarrhea, flushing of the face, and sweating, headache, dizziness, and vomiting. In addition, you may experience burning or swelling of the mouth, abdominal pain, or a metallic taste. Most people have mild symptoms which resolve on their own within twelve hours. If you think you have this condition, seek medical attention immediately- Scromboid poisoning may be life threatening!
Sign over a gynecologist's office: "Dr. Jones, at your cervix."
Door to endoscopy:
"To expedite your visit, please back in"
Door of a plastic surgeon's office:
"Hello. Can we pick your nose?"
In a hospital:
"If we see smoke, we will assume you are on fire and take appropriate action."
On a maternity room door:
"Push. Push. Push."
At an optometrist's office:
"If you don't see what you're looking for, you've come to the right place."
In a podiatrist's office:
"Time wounds all heels."
A new medical facility with several different specialists opened in a trendy part of the city last month.
Wanting to be different and creative, the administration decided that each doctor's office f would, in some way, be representative of his practice.
So, when construction was complete, the eye doctor's door had a peep hole, the orthopedist's door had a broken hinge, the psychiatrist's door was painted all kinds of crazy colors, and the proctologist's door was left open - just a crack.
"We have the results back from your test and... I'm sorry, you have an extremely contagious deadly disease known as G.A.S.H."
"G.A.S.H?" replies the man. "What the heck is that?"
"It's a combination of gonorrhea, AIDS, SARS and herpes," explains the doctor.
"My gosh, Doc!" screams the man in a panic, "what are we going to do?"
"Well, we're going to put you on a strict diet of pizza and pancakes," says the doctor matter-of-factly.
"Will that cure me?"
"No," says the doctor, "but it's the only food that will fit under the door."
Good Health Tips 
