Have you ever had the stomach flu?

[Blue_Roses]

This has to be the worst feeling since childbirth. :puke:

It started Monday with what I thought was a two day hangover from a few beers (I didn't think I'd drank that much) on Saturday night, but after staying in the bathroom all night Monday, I knew it had to be more. It seems it's a stomach flu and it has literally kicked my ass. Here it is Thursday and I still feel like it is knocking my guts around.

I'm no longer running fever, but my insides feel like they are being turned inside out and eating is out of the question. Every time I try to eat some crackers my stomach feels like it's twisting a tight rubberband.

I've missed two days of work and just sitting here on the computer is rough..

Has anybody had this before and HOW LONG will this last...I'm ready for this shit (no pun intended) to pass.





;(

[azmouse]

1. About 2 yrs ago I was really sick

I didn't know whether to sit on the toilet or lean over it. The worst of it lasted about 24 hrs but the effects lingered for 3-4 more days.
Just sip on broth and rest as much as you can. You should try to get liquids down as much as possible because dehydration can be a problem when you are vomiting a lot or have diarrhea.

I hope you're feeling better real soon!! :hug:

[Blue_Roses]

3. that's exactly how I feel

the first 24 hours was brutal! Now it just seems to be lingering. I hate being sick. I have so much I need to do.

[azmouse]

6. A good day of rest will help you get better faster.

Watch some movies, keep drinking water, broth, soda... whatever you can keep down. Get some sleep. Read a book. You'll recover faster and then be able to catch up on chores or work or whatever needs to be done.

You could still be contagious. I passed the illness on to my husband but luckily he didn't get as sick as I did.
As a preventative measure, be sure to wash your hands A LOT this winter. If you are sick chances are others are too and you don't want to reinfect yourself. After the bout of illness I had, I've become much more aware of hand washing to avoid sickness.

[AngryAmish]

7. can't reinfect yourself with the same bug

Unless one is immunocomprimised.

[azmouse]

11. Yep. I understand that.

But as you're getting over one illness your body is weakened. I guess I should have said you could get sick with other viruses.

[MissMillie]

2. New Years' Eve 1990

Went to see 'til Tuesday in Boston. Half way to the show, had to pull over and :puke:

I hadn't had ANYTHING to drink.

Felt lousy throughout the entire show.

Spent the next 3 days not being able to hold anything down. Everyone was sure that I had over-indulged (except those that were with me).

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

4. Nasty business, stomach flu.

Last time I had it, I ended up sleeping on the bath mat on the bathroom floor because I was too miserable and exhausted to lie on the bed and I needed to be close to the loo, either to sit on or lean over. I made frequent calls to Ralph on the big white phone for about a day, then when that part was over I just lounged around for a couple more days, unable to eat or drink much of anything.

I'd give it about three or four days. Unpleasant days. You have my sympathy -- but you should be just about over it. Hang in there.

[AngryAmish]

5. Stomach flu is a misnomer

Usually it is food poisoning.

That said, it sucks. I have had it a few times. Upside - I usually lose five pounds when I get it.

Advice - cable t.v. and gatoraid. I am serious about the gatoraid - it is tasty and has sugar and minerals. No caffeine but coming off caffeine gives an addict a horrible headache.

[azmouse]

8. That occurred to me too.

But it isn't always from bad food. When I got sick a lot of others around the area where I live were sick too. And then I had the bad luck to pass it along to my husband. Poor guy! It was just at the time when he was at a meeting to deliver a paper he had written. He was sooo sick but managed to do his job anyway.

[Maddy McCall]

10. Lots of times it is a virus.

When those nasty bugs go around here, every kid gets them, and then it's the parents' turn. They are indeed communicable.

[Blue_Roses]

12. Could be, but here is something on stomach flu

that I found yesterday when I was trying to figure out what was wrong.

Stomach Flu (Viral Gastroenteritis)
What is stomach flu?

Stomach flu is a viral infection that affects the stomach and small intestine. It is also called viral gastroenteritis. The illness is usually brief, lasting 1 to 3 days.
How does it occur?

Many different viruses can cause gastroenteritis, including rotaviruses, adenoviruses, and the Norwalk virus. Gastroenteritis is caused by swallowing one of these viruses. The body fluids of infected people contain the virus, sometimes even before their symptoms begin. The virus can be spread by direct contact with an infected person (for example, kissing or shaking hands) or by sharing food, drink, or eating utensils.

The virus enters the stomach and intestine and inflames the lining of these organs. As a result, the stomach and intestine are temporarily unable to perform their usual functions. The virus can also cause food to move more rapidly through your gastrointestinal (GI) tract.

Some bacteria, parasites, medicines, or other medical conditions can cause infections that have symptoms similar to those of stomach flu. If your symptoms are unusually severe or last longer than a few days, your health care provider can determine if the diarrhea is caused by a virus or by something else.
What are the symptoms?

When you have stomach flu, you may have one or more of the following symptoms:

* nausea
* vomiting
* stomach cramps
* diarrhea
* mild fever
* fatigue
* chills
* loss of appetite
* muscle aches.

The illness may develop over a period of hours, or it may suddenly start with stomach cramps, vomiting, or diarrhea.



http://www.med.umich.edu/1libr/aha/aha_gastroen_crs.htm

[Maddy McCall]

14. "Food poisoning" usually subsides in a day.

I think your self-diagnosis is correct. My credentials include holding my own son's head up over the toilet while he pukes for three days. ;)

Only thing that makes us feel better when we have this terrible bug is 7-UP, which for some reason is better than Sprite.

:hug: Hope you feel better soon.

[Bridget Burke]

25. My family called it "the GI's"....

Some people do confuse food poisoning with "stomach flu." I've had dreadful food poisoning, but everything "passed" in 24 hours.

Of course, real "flu" is something else again.

Lots of confusing names. It's all bad.

[Left Is Write]

23. Stomach ailments can also be caused by something other than food

poisoning, but you are absolutely right that "stomach flu" is inaccurate.

The flu is a resipiratory ailment.

I usually just say "stomach bug."

[ncrainbowgrrl]

37. Actually, there's some nasty gastrointestinal bug goin' round.

I actually wound up in the ER from it, so dehydrated that I couldn't walk by myself without passing out.

Apparently, this particular bug- version North Carolina 1.0 starts with vomitting. Then the diarrhea. And then you get everyone else in the house sick. According to the ER nurse, once the diarrhea starts, if family members are trying to take care of their loved one, they're almost guaranteed to wind up with the bug. I really REALLY wish I had known that before I took 2 days off from work to take care of my partner.

[eyesroll]

9. My whole household got it a few months ago.

Kiddo brought it home from preschool (thanks!)...she was sick for 24 hours, then, after she went back to her mom's, her father and I were sick for a day or two (it lingered a little longer for me)...then her mom got it the next weekend.

Blah. Not fun.

Feel better.

[kwassa]

13. I had it for a week ....

very painful stomach ache, like a sharp stabbing sensation. Bad diarrhea, too. I was off work for several days, went in, had to leave again.

It didn't get better until a doctor reluctantly prescribed a mild opiate drug. I understood immediately why people get addicted to them, but it was nice to finally be pain free.

It was also January, and a bizarre heat wave in LA, in the 80s. It somehow went with my condition.

[Chorophyll]

15. My son had it right through Thanksgiving. Yuck.

It took about five days for him to get back to normal. Hang in there; you're almost done.

:hi:

[Blue_Roses]

16. this must be going around in the schools

I substitute teach and I heard from my supervisor that it was taking a hit in the schools. Great.:eyes:

[Chorophyll]

27. I believe it is.

But like an earlier poster said, if your immune system's okay you can only get it once. Small comfort, huh?

[cwydro]

17. That's no fun

hope you feel better soon.

[BarenakedLady]

18. Yes

and it was awful. I don't remember how long it lasted. I'd pretty good at blocking out memories I'd rather forget.

Hope you feel better soon. :hug:

[crim son]

19. Yes. Three Christmases ago, I got it about ten days

before the holiday. The vomiting lasted for two days but I was virtually incapacitated for seven. Needless to say we had guests for Christmas. My grandmother and uncle didn't get sick during or after their visit, but my sister and her family became violently ill the day after Christmas, even though they arrived after I'd recovered and attempted to disinfect the house. It's awful and I hope you feel better soon!

[Jokerman]

20. I've got it right now.

The bowl of soup I had around 10 last night is the first food I've kept down in three days.

I started taking Pepto-Bismol yesterday afternoon and as much as I hate the taste, I think it has helped.

Good luck.

[Blue_Roses]

28. Hang in there!

I know how you feel! I swear if I have to wipe everything down from the grocery cart handle to my kid's sneeze, I will fight to keep from getting this again--I hope...

:hug:

[Jokerman]

33. Thanks. I'm on my way to see the doctor.

Within an hour of my post yesterday I was back on my knees praying to the porcelain god. I woke up this morning with a fever of 101 so I called my doctor.

I hope you're doing better.

[DainBramaged]

21. Shit yeah

[Avalux]

22. gastroenteritis -

impossible to determine what's causing it through the internet but I'd say if you don't feel better within a few days to see a physician. :hi:

[pitohui]

24. oh may be this is what i had recently

i didn't know what the hell it was, i figured it couldn't be the flu because there was no sinus involvement, it was all diarrhhea/vomiting

i did have a fever, again it would come and go, actually i thought i might be having premature hot flashes so i was not thinking clearly and assumed that getting medical advice would be useless

the first week was the worst, but it comes and goes

i was on the road when it hit so it was rather challenging, some days i had to spend more time rushing for the white telephone, other days i was close to normal

i'm fine now, i'd say 2 week recovery but probably the worst is over by now, just use it as an opportunity to rest up and go slow

[Reverend_Smitty]

26. yes...unfortunately

It hasn't happened to me since my freshman year of college, though it only lasted a day, it was hell. Fortunately we only shared a bathroom with one other dorm room so it wasn't "quite" as bad when I was practically laying on the bathroom floor begging for the sweet release of death. Yeah stomach flus are the worst!

[SPKrazy]

29. The Night Before My Parents 50th Wedding Anniversary

somehow I showed up and staggered around, even made a toast.

They had desserts of every imaginable kind from a German bakery in Loveland Colorado

Everytime I looked at anything I felt ill again and I had a cold sweat

took 3 days to get over that.

:puke:

[Roon]

30. Something like this has been going around Denver

First it dropped my parents, then it dropped my grandparents, then my cousin caught it from some guy at work. Same symptoms. I dodged the bullet this time.

[Az]

31. The Stomach Flu is just natures way of reminding us that we are just tubes

Had a bout of it years ago (may have been food poisoning). Good grief. I was in the bathroom for 24 hours. Both ends purging and sometimes at the same time. To make matters worse my roommate got hit at the same time. Unfortunately for her I got sick first and basically moved into the bathroom on a semi perm basis. She wound up doing unspeakable things to the kitchen sink.

[JackBeck]

32. Stomach flu can be caused by many things.

Food poisoning, bacteria, or viruses (such as Hepatitis A).

If the "#2" persists, you might want to seek medical attention to make sure dehydration doesn't set in.

Hope you feel better soon. I know how much it sucks.

[Zero Division]

34. We just had a norovirus (a type of GI infection) outbreak here.

I work in retail currently, so trying to stay away from these outbreaks can be a challenge. For the past year or so, though, I've been trying to drink a lot of cranberry juice (already noted for its helpful prevention of urinary tract infections) based on the news I read about a study showing an anti-viral effect on non-human gastrointestinal infections using cranberry. So far I've been successful in warding off three separate outbreaks of GI infections (including instances where I was in direct contact with infected people), unlike the colds that have gone around. It's certainly no scientific study, but I won't be surprised to find out that it helps fight GI infections in humans, as well.

Here's one article on the study: Cranberry Juice May Thwart Stomach Viruses.

[u4ic]

35. Plenty of times

Sorry that you're feeling so lousy, Blue_Roses. I hope you feel better soon. :hug:

The last time I had it was in 2000 - I remember because we had just moved and I had some people over for supper (I had been feeling off for a couple of days prior). Later that evening...ugh...it was the worst stomach flu I've ever had. :scared:

I haven't had it since, and I hope never to have it again. There have been outbreaks around the city here since the summer...fingers crossed...

[Blue_Roses]

36. Feeling MUCH better today!

I am starting to feel like my self again. Finally! This thing was brutal. Unfortunately, now my child is coming down with it:crazy:

I sure do appreciate all the kind thoughts:) Thanks so much!

[ncrainbowgrrl]

38. Glad that YOU are feeling better.

It'll make it easier for you to take care and help your child out with the nasty yucky bug.

[Jokerman]

39. I think I'm finally on the mend as well.

I gave up on beating it alone and saw the doctor yesterday. He gave me something for the nausea. It knocked me out and gave me some of the strangest dreams I've ever had but it seems to have calmed my stomach.

I hope your little one gets past this quickly. I sure wouldn't wish this on anyone else.

Take care!

[Broken_Hero]

40. Yep, sure have

who hasn't? The worst, was Valentines day of 2005...the night before, my wife and I ate the same pizza...the next day, I woke up not feeling so hot, and by 2pm, I was messed up beyond belief...about 2:30pm, I was in bed...and my wife came home(early I might add)...first thing I heard her do was go to the bathroom and take care of business...

She comes to the bedroom, and she's like..."you too?" I'm like shut up, and get me another 5 blankets, and grab a heater, I'm freezing!...we spent Valentines day sicker than dogs...

[TheFriendlyAnarchist]

41. In my short life, I've had it 5 times probably. It usually passess anywhere from

1-3 days.