Have been caught with a bug twice the last couple of years, once while traveling, once here in the States.

The last time, I woke up in the middle of the night feeling nauseous, threw up, and then had bad diarrhea throughout the next day.

If you have never had bad diarrhea, you really don't know what it is like. This is not "soft stools". This is peeing out of your ass. It is mostly liquid and it just pours out. AND IT CAN KILL YOU. It dehydrates you. It makes you feel weak. It's hard to leave the house because you might have to run to the bathroom anytime.

1. You must stay hydrated
2. You should try to eat or drink a little something to keep up your energy. (I like gingerale or natural ginger beer.)
3. take Immodium

Immodium is a life-saver. It plugs you up. It doesn't kill whatever is causing the problem but it stops you from going to the bathroom and allows you to eat, drink, and leave the house. You will still feel bad for a couple of days as your body fights off whatever is in your gut but at least you will be functional.

Pepto Bismo is not as effective. It is said to kill some of the bugs but it does not plug you up. You will still have the diarrhea. In my opinion, becoming dehydrated from the diarrhea is the most dangerous aspect.

I do not recommend taking Antibiotics . This can help in the short-term by killing whatever is in your gut but may have long-term effects caused by depopulating your intestinal flora. If you do take them, you must repopulate your gut flora. yogurt, probiotics, etc.