Stomach flu...food poisoning...???

I felt fine all day...went out for dinner and when I got back I had my first spell of diarhea. After that I have had sharp stomach pains for about 30 seconds to a minute, followed by a run to the bathroom with diarhea (mostly all liquid). Then I will be fine for about twenty minutes and the cycle starts again with the stomach cramping and a run to the bathroom..

I have no chills, no nausea (unless I think of the food I ate) and have not thrown up...

Are these symptoms too soon to relate to the food I ate for dinner or maybe a stomach virus? or something else...?

I usually feel fine-it just started about 8 hours ago.

There are two different types of foodborne illnesses. An intoxication which occurs fairly quickly after consuming the iinfected food product and then there's an infection; which occurs several hours to DAYS after consuming the food.

A foodborne illness is when a person eats food containing harmful microorganisms, which then grow in the intestinal tract and cause illness. Some bacteria, all viruses, and all parasites cause foodborne illness via infection. The foodborne bacteria that cause infection are: Salmonella spp., Listeria monocytogenes, Campylobacter jejuni, Vibrio parahaemolyticus, Vibrio vulnificus, and Yersinia enterocolitica. The most common viral agents that cause foodborne illness are: Hepatitis A, norovirus, and rotavirus. The most common foodborne parasites are: Trichinella spiralis, Anisakis simplex, Giaria duodenalis, Toxoplasma gondii, Cryptosporidium parvum, and Cyclospora cayetanensis.

Intoxication
An intoxication results when a person eats food containing toxins that cause illness. Toxins are produced by harmful microorganisms, the result of a chemical contamination, or are naturally part of a plant or seafood. Some bacteria cause an intoxication. Viruses and parasites do not cause foodborne intoxication. The foodborne bacteria that cause intoxication are: Clostridium botulinum, Staphylococcus aureus, Clostridium perfringens, and Bacillus cereus. Chemicals that can cause an intoxication include cleaning products, sanitizers, pesticides and metals (lead, copper, brass, zinc, antimony, and cadmium). Seafood toxins include ciguatera toxin, scombroid toxin, shellfish toxins, and systemic fish toxins. Plants and mushrooms can also cause an intoxication.

Your symptoms don't sound like a foodborne illness. More like a gastrointenstinal virus. Drink lots of fluids and keep yourself hydrated.

rule of thumb is this. True food poisoning involves violent vomiting and diarhea, you are very sick and feel incompacitated. You likely have gastoenteritis...ie stomach flu. When you have food poisoning you will know, it hits suddenly and violently.

its probably a stomach virus. food poisoning takes like 6 hours from the meal you ate that made you sick. you vomit and have diarrhea with food poisoning.