Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

Can’t keep water down!! Any hints

53 replies

Bellyblueboy · 03/12/2023 20:28

i have been struck down with a horrible vomiting bug. I have a very sore head and a very sore ear (just one) and my stomach really hurts. I am really really thirsty but I vomit up any water I drink. I have been sucking icecubes but even that comes back up with bile (sorry 🤢)

my head is throbbing but I can’t keep painkillers down and I’m not sure if any are being absorbed at all so I don’t want to keep taking more.

any mumsnetters know any hacks? I know I am being a drama queen but I do feel really miserable but it’s the thirst that is the worst. My lips are already cracking.

OP posts:
ConspiracyFeary · 03/12/2023 21:17

It may not be a stomach bug. Ear problems can cause extreme sickness. Personally I'd call 111 if moving even slightly is making you sick with pain and dizziness

steppemum · 03/12/2023 21:19

Timer desert spoon and a glass of water.
Take spoon of water, hold it in your mouth, rinse it round your mouth and let it trickle down your throat. Much will be absorbed before it even reaches your stomach.
Set timer for 5 minutes and repeat.
Don't be tempted to take more. You shoudl get through a glas sof water in an hour.
Wait half an hour, then start on next glass.

This really works.

If this does not stay down, then you will dangeroulsy dehydrate, so ring 111

You don't need dioralyte unless you have been sick for longer than a day.

Werewolfnotswearwolf · 03/12/2023 21:21

Oh god no advice but sympathy - we’ve all been struck down hours apart! Toddler started it, I swiftly followed, husband hogging the bathroom right now. Up there with the worst weekends I’ve ever had.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

General health
ApintofwhatFarageishaving · 03/12/2023 21:25

Bellyblueboy · 03/12/2023 20:37

It’s only been since this morning! The ear ache was bad yesterday - the vomiting started today - so not long at all. I know - I am a wimp.

live alone so no one to run to the shops.

thank you all. I am taking small sips - might just have to put up with the heaving. It’s at the stage that it really hurts and I can feel every muscle!

Can you get a food delivery?? Co-op do a 15 minute one. You can get Lucozade sport which will hydrate you and other fluids.

watchingtheworldwithwoe · 03/12/2023 21:26

Sips of water and add lemon/ginger to it if you can. It will settle your stomach x

wudubelieveit · 03/12/2023 21:28

you shouldn't be eating anything if you have a vomiting bug and taking analgesia on an empty stomach is not a good plan. You dont need to drink if its just been a day and you are in otherwise good health, just use ice cubes and keep your mouth moist.

AlltheFs · 03/12/2023 21:31

Original lucozade (tiny sips) works better for me than water to start with. I try and get a small glass of lucozade to stay down before I go on to water.

Onionsmadeofglass · 03/12/2023 21:36

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/diarrhoea-and-vomiting/

I’m not sure that the ´don’t eat anything’ while sick with a vomiting bug is current advice. NHS says eat when you feel you want to, and no specific foods must avoided. They also say it’s ok to take paracetamol.
From experience I’ve found I’d rather vomit up a sweet drink every half hour or hour rather than suffer through dry heaving and vomiting undiluted bile. But if the small sips thing works to prevent being sick in the first place then that sounds best.

nhs.uk

Diarrhoea and vomiting

Diarrhoea and vomiting are common in adults, children and babies. Find out how to treat and avoid spreading them, and when to get medical help.

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/diarrhoea-and-vomiting/

ConspiracyFeary · 03/12/2023 21:36

The advice to starve out a stomach bug is outdated. Current thinking is to eat and drink whatever your body will let you but in small quantities.

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/diarrhoea-and-vomiting/

nhs.uk

Diarrhoea and vomiting

Diarrhoea and vomiting are common in adults, children and babies. Find out how to treat and avoid spreading them, and when to get medical help.

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/diarrhoea-and-vomiting

DancingWithYouInTheSummerRain · 03/12/2023 21:38

Try full sugar vimto, sip slowly every 20-30 mins.

My little one had the same issue last week and it took a while to keep something in him, but the Dr advised full sugar vimto as an alternative to dioralyte.

Hope you feel better soon.

fishfingersandchipsagain · 03/12/2023 21:46

The pain in your ear isn’t in any way normal for a vomiting bug. I would suggest you seek out of hours advice.

miniegg3 · 03/12/2023 21:47

Do you have diarrhoea as well?

If not it could be linked to a bed ear infection rather than a bug

miniegg3 · 03/12/2023 21:48

Bad

Original poster
Bellyblueboy · 03/12/2023 21:49

miniegg3 · 03/12/2023 21:47

Do you have diarrhoea as well?

If not it could be linked to a bed ear infection rather than a bug

No - just the sharp pain in one ear and intense vomiting. Headache and a bit of a sore throat. No diarrhoea at all.

OP posts:
ConspiracyFeary · 03/12/2023 21:50

Bellyblueboy · 03/12/2023 21:49

No - just the sharp pain in one ear and intense vomiting. Headache and a bit of a sore throat. No diarrhoea at all.

Show quote history

Call 111

QuestionableMouse · 03/12/2023 21:52

Bellyblueboy · 03/12/2023 21:49

No - just the sharp pain in one ear and intense vomiting. Headache and a bit of a sore throat. No diarrhoea at all.

Show quote history

Mate you need proper medical advice. Ring 111.

SgtBilko · 03/12/2023 22:06

I agree about calling 111.

miniegg3 · 03/12/2023 22:10

Yeah I would call 111, sounds like it could be a bad infection in your ear. Or possibly covid as others have said, but would say not a stomach bug x

familyissues12345 · 03/12/2023 22:38

Ah sounds the pits Sad, no further advice but please do consider contacting 111

wudubelieveit · 04/12/2023 08:53

Onionsmadeofglass · 03/12/2023 21:36

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/diarrhoea-and-vomiting/

I’m not sure that the ´don’t eat anything’ while sick with a vomiting bug is current advice. NHS says eat when you feel you want to, and no specific foods must avoided. They also say it’s ok to take paracetamol.
From experience I’ve found I’d rather vomit up a sweet drink every half hour or hour rather than suffer through dry heaving and vomiting undiluted bile. But if the small sips thing works to prevent being sick in the first place then that sounds best.

it might be but nhs advice pages have to be applicable to ALL who read them, this includes people with other conditions, the elderly and the very young, for whom advice may be different. For an OTHERWISE HEALTHY adult who has been constantly vomiting for a day the quickest way to see if it is JUST a vomiting bug is to avoid food for that day...acute vomiting would be very unusual to last more than 24-48 hrs so if a day of not eating doesn't start to improve things then you can look at other causes. having analgesia on an empty stomach that you then just repeatedly bring back up is also going to give you more problems than it helps.

allnewname · 04/12/2023 09:24

How are you feeling today OP?

Onionsmadeofglass · 04/12/2023 09:24

wudubelieveit · 04/12/2023 08:53

it might be but nhs advice pages have to be applicable to ALL who read them, this includes people with other conditions, the elderly and the very young, for whom advice may be different. For an OTHERWISE HEALTHY adult who has been constantly vomiting for a day the quickest way to see if it is JUST a vomiting bug is to avoid food for that day...acute vomiting would be very unusual to last more than 24-48 hrs so if a day of not eating doesn't start to improve things then you can look at other causes. having analgesia on an empty stomach that you then just repeatedly bring back up is also going to give you more problems than it helps.

Show quote history

See the assumption here is that not eating will help cure the disease, but I think the jury is out on that one. It might be more that your body just can’t really deal with food very effectively while your immune system gets rid of the virus/bacteria in your digestive system. But if your system is causing you to vomit/have diarrhea in order to flush out the virus/bacteria, then whether or not there’s a small amount of food or liquid in your system might have little effect on that. And if that theory is correct then it might just hurt less to vomit when there’s something in your stomach.
When I get sick like this I mostly don’t want food for a day or so but keep drinking water or squash even if I find I’m throwing up half an hour later because the time I stopped drinking too I found it very painful and unpleasant to be vomiting on an empty stomach.

Greenshake · 04/12/2023 09:27

Echoing other posters - are you sure it’s a stomach bug? The ear pain sounds linked but unusual!

LaurieStrode · 04/12/2023 09:55

This might sound weird but can you eat some prepared mustard? A couple of spoonsful always settles my stomach.

Daisydoor12 · 04/12/2023 10:02

Always swear by Lemonade with a teaspoon of sugar to get rid of fizz sipped very slowly. Sugar gives the energy too.