‘Explosive diarrhea’ roils a small Midwestern community.

Many people have diarrhea.

So when he hit Nick Palmiter in early July, he didn’t think much of it.

“I’ll be fine,” he told himself.

But the symptoms persisted. And as the days turn into weeks, the stomach cramps become unbearable.

“I was in absolute pain,” Palmiter said, “and to the point where I was probably using the bathroom at least 15 to 20 times a day.”

The 29-year-old described the feeling as constant pressure and bubbles, “almost like you have a balloon in your stomach.”

At the urging of a colleague, he finally visited an urgent care facility and upon arrival was told he needed to go to the emergency room immediately.

It was in the hospital that Palmyter was diagnosed with cyclosporiasis, an intestinal disease that affected thousands of people in 41 states — the largest recorded outbreak in American history.

Michigan has seen the most cases nationally (more than 7,000). And in Monroe County, a rural area on the state’s eastern border where Palmiter lives, reported cases are among the highest.

“It makes you feel absolutely sick,” Palmiter said of the experience, “like you have nothing to give.”

The county has a population of about 154,000. As he says State figures, ExternalThere, 286 people were infected with cyclosporiasis – cyclospora parasites are ingested and include symptoms such as “explosive diarrhea”.

The sheer size of this small community had a huge ripple effect.

“Anxiety” and “fear” were the words Palmiter used to describe the feeling around him.

His mother, Michelle Palmiter, said the same.

“I’m seeing a lot of people who are concerned about it,” she said.

Including her niece, who had emptied the entire fridge of any produce, including what Michelle saw as the perfect watermelon.

“Instead of doing a good scrubbing and cutting, she’s throwing it out,” Michelle said.

“Since this started, she’s had a whole baby living off chicken nuggets and goldfish[crackers],” said a mom who left comments on social media boards showing other Monroe County residents going to similar lengths.

Michelle still eats fruits and vegetables, but only what she cooks. “I’m definitely not going to eat at all,” she said.

Part of the reason for “people’s panic,” she says, is how the government has handled its response to the outbreak.

“We don’t believe what they’re saying about it.”