Yet another tummy bug. I’m so, so fed up.

[Ohcrap1]

On the verge of a panic attack and trying very hard not to let myself go down that route so hope you don’t mind me coming on for a bit of ‘early hours support’.

I have two DS’s (aged 4 & 2). 4 year old goes to nursery x2 days per week. We largely avoid softplays and playgrounds, I used to do more of them but DS1 and I went through an awful stage of contracting violent tummy bugs during 2022 (think we had 3 vomiting/diarrhoea bugs in that year alone). I got a lot of Gastroenteritis as a child and think he is following suit unfortunately.

Back in October last year (which wasn’t that long ago) we had a bug (and the one before that was during the summertime), I was actually really quite ill with it (diarrhoea - dehydration, the usual awful symptoms). That bug somewhat scarred me and my bowels have never quite returned to normal. I have an issue now with cramps and urgency (sorry for the tmi), almost as though it’s had a long lasting impact on my intestines/bowels?

Any way, this week we are dealing with a similar bug to last October’s. DS1 had tummy pains and threw up last Tuesday. DS2 has a gurgling tummy and awful diarrhoea, i’ve had to change his nappy twice within the space of 5-10 mins tonight). He is unsettled and probably feels rubbish.

And i’ve had diarrhoea for the past couple of days (on top of tonsillitis which caused high fever) and just went to the toilet again, starting to get dehydrated and honestly feel battered.

I am so tired.

Is it just a case of having young children and catching everything that they catch? Is it normal for us to get so so many bugs/illnesses? I wash their hands, I antibac their hands out and about. I keep everything clean. They never wear the same outfit twice. I do my best but it’s like we can never go beyond 4 months (at most) without getting a bug…

Any advice?!

No advice but right there with you. Sat in the toilet as I type. Contemplating taking my son out of nursery

@robinhope took the words right out of my mouth. My thoughts precisely. I know it probably wouldn’t help, but then again slowly starting to go back on all this ‘building immunity’. So far, nor him or I are showing any bloody signs of immunity!

I’m so sorry you are up too, but selfishly feel better already knowing another mum is out there going through it.

Thank you!

@Ohcrap1 yes makes you feel better when you know you're not alone. It's really rough, I can sympathise. I just keep saying in my head 'it will pass'. But when you're feeling so rough it doesn't help much :(

@Ohcrap1 - Sounds a bit like you contracted post-infectious IBS OP. I got it after a bug in 2020 and it looks 4 years and a round of antibiotics followed quickly by Enterogermina and spore probiotics to fix it. The first year after the bug was hell. Diarrhea, urgency, gurgling tummy, cramps, constant burping, naseau...I really do sympathise.

@PumpkinPieAlibi thank you, that is actually really helpful. I didn’t even know that was possible!

I feel you. I’m awake listening to my husband vomiting after the latest plague brought home by my kids. I had it earlier in the week. Such joy 🤢

@TapToSkip Ugh, isn’t it just awful? DS2 bless him is really struggling. I’ve changed him about 7 times so far tonight. 4am and still haven’t slept/still running to the toilet so today will be interesting!

everyone is sick atm with this stuff and also nursery phase is just constant illness. Like constant. i can’t even stress constant enough. When you have a baby they should have a little disclaimer on them saying I’m cute but will make you sick for the next four years. It does get better after 4 but still pretty regular. But I will also say that my kid went to a nursery where when I visited again and got a good look round I realised was just really filthy. I moved them and the next one, though still typical kid grubby, was just much better with their practices including health and safety stuff like cleaning. So maybe get into the nursery and really see what the cleanliness looks like and visit some other nurseries to compare. The illnesses were much less frequent once we moved - though again, still regular!

How's everyone holding up? I'm currently shivering like im having some kind of exorcism!

@robinhope aw! It's pretty nasty when you have it.

I have only just recovered from norovirus so stomach really hurts but no D&V, fever anymore.

Oh my goodness I feel disastrous and genuinely do not know how I am going to get through the day with 2 children?!

DS1 seems fine, he threw up last Tuesday and seemed to clear his that way.

DS2 and I are really suffering…. I am on the toilet shaking like a leaf. Just changed him again too. This is awful.

Sounds awful! Not sure how normal it is to answer your question. I have 2 kids, both teens now. I think across their lives I have only caught one stomach bug from them. I hardly ever get ill though with anything, even colds. They have had no more than 3 between them. We’re not particularly careful beyond the usual standard hygiene practices.

Dare I say it, but 3 stomach bugs since October is not much at all in my house. we are lucky to survive a week without some illness. My sons got everything going at nursery and rarely gets sick at school. My daughter goes nursery and if we need her healthy at the weekend, we don't send her the Friday as we know she will bring the plague home

@Ohcrap1 try to get fluids and rest when you can. Is there a partner there to help?

@CalicoPusscat there is but typically he has a work related annual training course today (typical and it HAS to land on a Sunday doesn’t it…)

I do think the hardest part of being a parent to little ones is when we get sick. There is just no opportunity to rest up, one bad night sends shivers down my spine - the thought of running around after everybody for the next 13 or so hours is giving me anxiety!

I have nurovirus. I've got three children to look after and typically my partner has had to go into work today and can't get anyone to cover.

I don't know how I'm going to manage the day. I'm in so much pain. I was up all night on the toilet.

Virtual hand hold. It's horrendous.

Oh @MightyGoldBear only just seen your message. I hope you are feeling better tonight and hope today wasn’t too stressful. It really is so hard looking after children when you are the one needing looking after!

@MightyGoldBear hope you're feeling okay. ❤️

Thank you everyone. I'm still alive just so exhausted and weak. The trips to the toilet have slowed down its just the intense nausea that's got me. Thankfully, my husband came home earlier than planned yesterday as they had finished the work. My children were really good but it's not exactly safe leaving them with one parent who can't really stand up unless it's to run to the toilet. 😬

How is everyone else holding up?

Hope everyone is feeling better soon - D&V with little ones is the absolute worst. Sorry you’re feeling rubbish.

Wash hands with soap and water before eating/when returning home from activities - alcohol hand gel doesn’t kill all the D&V bugs.

I was just going to suggest this. Consider use of probiotics, looking at improving your gut flora with fermentable foods (kefir, kombucha) for example), eating regularly, 5 a day etc. Look up BDA IBS food facts for some dietary recommendations in more detail.

are you sure your kids are having “tummy bugs”? And you have ruled our dietary intolerances. I know kids get bugs all the time but it seems suspicious to be a repeated pattern. I would look deeper. Speak to GP.

I feel for you. I don't get stomach bugs much but seem to get recurrent chest infections from the kids. Constant!!!

I take loads of vitamins now. Elderberry syrup everyday in winter, high strength vit D, pre and pro biotics, even the teens on them too. Seems to help
Just so shit when you can't get the rest you need to heal!

We can improve things for everyone by doing things differently.
In Finland they cut nursery illnesses by a third using air filters:
yle.fi/a/74-20062381