I had off and on symptoms for several months. The first time I wound up in the ER the doctors could not figure it out and sent me home and then I went downhill again 3 months later and went back in the ER and that's when a gastro Dr got involved and he requested a test for Giardia and it came back positive. Many people who get Giardia were camping recently or drank from a river or creek. After several months of feeling very sick and finally being diagnosed with Giardia it took one month++ of strong antibiotics to get better