My wife has been sick for 2 weeks

Hello @blaflamm, Welcome to Connect. I'm sorry the VA hasn't been much help for your wife. I don't have any medical training or background but it sounds like your wife has what is called Traveler's diarrhea. Mayo Clinic has some information along with some treatment, lifestyle and home remedies that might be helpful.

"Traveler's diarrhea is a digestive tract disorder that commonly causes loose stools and abdominal cramps. It's caused by eating contaminated food or drinking contaminated water. Fortunately, traveler's diarrhea usually isn't serious in most people — it's just unpleasant."
--- Traveler's diarrhea: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/travelers-diarrhea/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20352188.

Did her doctors mention or suggest any treatments to help?

Maybe a worm?

Prayers she gets better ASAP

This may have nothing to do with going to Mexico or being out of the states at all. Has she had a colonoscopy lately? In the last year? Or an EDG? I'm surprised the doctor wouldn't recommend one of those two or both if she continues to have diarrhea....
I wish you all the best!

Good advice from the other folks! It's really sweet that you are undertaking this search on your wife's behalf.

I am not a medical professional. My husband and I have traveled to Mexico 5 times, and we lived there for 5 months.

A couple more ideas based on our experiences:

Write down her symptoms and any changes. Resolving this problem may take awhile and you may forget details later. (important)

Record how many times she defecates. This will help you be accurate about whether she is getting better or worse. It can be hard to know when the changes are little by little. (important)

Take her temperature daily to make sure that she hasn't developed an infection. (Really important)

Be sure she stays hydrated. Pedialyte makes a solution for grownups, and it's better than gatorade. (Really important)

If she is losing weight, maybe add some Ensure nutritional beverages. (Really important)

Try a hot water bottle or heating pad on the abdomen for the cramps. Very gentle massage might help, too.

Maybe try to move around during the cramps. Rolling side to side in bed may be enough, if she is too weak to stand. Might help with gas, if that's what is causing some of the pain.

Clear, warm beverages may be nice, too. Mexicans swear by chamomille tea for upset guts.

Use the BRAT diet: Bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast (crackers, etc). These are foods that naturally slow the bowels. Jello can be good, too.

Maybe add a probiotic. I would suggest a pill form first since dairy products with probiotics can be hard to digest.

Hygiene is really important with this type of illness. Use disinfectant wipes everywhere and all the time. Maybe use disposable cups, plates, etc. for a couple of weeks. Maybe keep hand wipes and a small trash bag near your wife in case she is too tired to wash her hands.

Chances are, her gut just needs to recover. But you should be on the look-out for symptoms of getting worse or complications: blood in stool or urine; changes in urine color and output; changes in color of stool (pale clay-colored or black); yellowing of eyes or skin; pain in a specific place in the abdomen or back.

There are a lot of "bugs" and diseases in Mexico that US physicians are not familiar with. You need to help the doctors by being alert to symptoms and recording them accurately.

My husband got very sick after one trip to Mexico. Had to go on short term disability! He had taken Biaxin before and during the trip to prevent the runs. We think it may have caused the runs. First step he tried was to let it all out, which did not work in his case. Then, on doctor's advice, he used maximum doses of prescription anti-diarrheals to stop it up, which did eventually work. I don't think that he was ever prescribed an antibiotic for it.

I hope that I haven't scared you! These ideas come from my tendency to worry and to want to cover every base. I hope this information helps!

Good luck with everything and keep us posted on her progress!