Food Poisoning Type Symptoms 2x After Eating Popcorn?

[Melbel]

Last Thursday, I ate some microwave popcorn in the afternoon. I did not each much dinner because I was feeling ill. By 7 PM, I had severe cramping, with waves of pain crashing one after another. By 11 PM I was vomiting. I was still up with cramping through the night, but it was not as severe. I survived and felt better within a couple days.

Fast forward to yesterday. At a football game, I ate some of DD1's popcorn. Within a few hours, I started cramping badly (more generalized pain, not the waves like the prior week) followed by severe diarrhea. I was up past 3:30 AM with bad cramping at which time I took an Ambien and finally got some sleep. I am still not feeling well today.

Even though I LOVE popcorn, I cannot imagine eating it any time soon due to the association. Can popcorn cause these symptoms or is it just a strange coincidence? Any other thoughts as to what is wrong? I do not have time to be sick.

[jerigirl]

Diverticulitis? What happens if you eat nuts or corn?

[DrSally]

Could it be diverticulitis? It can cause really bad cramping upon eating seed type foods--nuts, corn, etc.

ETA: here's a link http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001303/

[Laurel]

I'm going to be the third to suggest diverticulitis. Those are classic symptoms.

[amldaley]

It could be IBS - some people get flare ups with corn.

It could be a reaction to the oil - again, some people get IBS or other digestive issues with certain kinds of oils.

In my case, I am now, as an adult, allergic to yellow artifcial coloring which is in alot of processes popcorn products.

[MSWR0319]

Originally Posted by jerigirl

Diverticulitis? What happens if you eat nuts or corn?

This was my first thought.

[JTsMom]

Could possibly be the artificial butter stuff too.

[JElaineB]

I was thinking IBS as well, it happens to me sometimes.

[Melbel]

Thank you for the thoughts. I have a history of IBS, but all has been stable for years. My current symptoms are much more severe than any other time, except for 1 GI illness that caused me to lose 10 pounds in a week (and led to the IBS). I normally tolerate corn, as well as popcorn well. I have been eating more almonds and blueberries lately as a healthier snack, so perhaps that is not agreeing with me. Go figure. I had stumbled upon diverticulitis too, but my symptoms seemed to come on so suddently that I was not sure it was a fit. My past IBS was also more of a chronic situation, rather than sudden severe symptoms. If avoiding popcorn, nuts, seeds does not work, I guess I will have to go visit my GI doctors again which I dread because they always run late and order invasive tests.

[Kindra178]

I think you could have a sensitivity to popcorn. Here is a funny story that happened to my brother and sil in line at concessions before a movie. Background: SIL has a popcorn sensitivity similar to yours. She gets debilitating cramps, in the bathroom for hours. Sometimes her stomach is upset for days.

SIL: I think I want popcorn.
Bro: No, you may not.
SIL: I just really have a taste for popcorn tonight.
Bro: Absolutely not, you may not get it.
SIL: I'll be fine. Just get me some popcorn.
Bro: No. I will not get you popcorn.
Man Behind in Line: Sir, you are an a$$hole. If you won't spring for your wife's popcorn, I will buy it for her. Try and stop me. You are a cheap, controlling ba&*ard.


Bro and SIL couldn't stop laughing. To make matters worse, they really thought the guy was going to beat up my brother, who is a thin guy and has probably never been in a physical fight in his life. He's also a doctor.