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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask if I should call in sick tomorrow (TMI)

56 replies

Katrose · 08/02/2015 20:17

I threw up about four times this morning- I felt nauseous and tried to be sick but didn't, then I had some water and threw up everywhere. I also had some diarrhoea. But I feel so much better now- I ate some crackers which helped a lot. But as I've technically had D&V, should I go to work tomorrow? I'm worried if I phone and say 'oh I'm feeling fine but think I should wait' I'll get laughed at by our office manager...

OP posts:
toddlerwrangling · 08/02/2015 20:38

From the NHS information page on noro:

Outbreaks of norovirus in public places, such as hospitals, nursing homes and schools, are common because the virus can survive for several days on surfaces or objects touched by an infected person.
If you have norovirus, you may continue to be infectious for a short period after your symptoms stop. You should therefore avoid preparing food and direct contact with others for at least 48 hours after your symptoms disappear.

helensburgh · 08/02/2015 20:39

Link re 48 hour rule from nhs website

Scroll down to bottom. This really applies to any vomiting / diarrhoea

www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Norovirus/Pages/Introduction.aspx

helensburgh · 08/02/2015 20:40

Crossed with toddler!

SardineQueen · 08/02/2015 20:41

I would go in.

Wouldn't occur to me not to so interesting thread.

Different if you work in eg a hosp or a school obv.

Runningupthathill82 · 08/02/2015 20:42

Eh? It wouldn't even occur to me to call in sick if I felt fine, and hadn't vomited for so long. As a pp said, the 48hr rule, I always thought, was for schools - not for adults.
If a colleague stayed off in these circs I'd think it was a bit pathetic, tbh.

RonnieRat · 08/02/2015 20:45

Hope you fell better soon.

For those mentioning norovirus - no way would anyone with even "mild" noro be sick a few times and have mild squits before feeling fine the same day. Noro is evil.

Pastamancer · 08/02/2015 20:45

I had d&v which lasted longer than a week so went to the Dr as I couldn't self certify for that long and he signed me off saying I had to stay off until I had been symptom free for 48 hours. I worked in an office but he said that it was really important for everyone to follow this rule to avoid spreading it around.

Original poster
Katrose · 08/02/2015 20:47

I really don't think it's Norovirus! I'm a bit anxious about whether to go in/stay off because this is my first ever proper job and this is the first time I've been ill since starting so I'm not sure what the done thing is. Will ring in the morning and ask what I should do. Thanks all :)

OP posts:
helensburgh · 08/02/2015 20:47

Yes ronnie Noro usually is longer lasting but these viruses mutate all the time, it could be a mild form of Noro, and anyway even if it isn't Noro 1) the same rules of infectiousness apply 2) who wants to catchit? Not me!

DakotaFanny · 08/02/2015 20:49

I would go, unless you don't actually WANT to, in which case you have a perfectly reasonable and handy excuse!

Glad you feel better. X

JeanSeberg · 08/02/2015 20:50

I'd take a dim view of someone staying off till Wednesday who felt fine on Sunday but threw up once and had a one-off runny shit.

toddlerwrangling · 08/02/2015 20:51

Ronnie there are lots of different strains of noro with a variety of symptoms - also some people are less susceptible than others and experience it more mildly (or in some cases are infectious though a symptomatic). Basically most infectious D&V bugs in adults tend to be one or other strain of noro.

IKnewYou · 08/02/2015 20:53

I would go in but I'd be careful to wash my hands and not get too close to people. It wouldn't cross my mind to stay home.

Marmiteandjamislush · 08/02/2015 20:56

As someone who works in a university from time to time, and is pg, please stay at home! Bugs spread amongst students like wildfire. Some of them have appalling hygiene standards, you only need to look at their laptops, books from libraries are also very germy. You may not have much contact, but you have enough esp. if you work on the service counter, to spread it out around a large amount of people. When I am working I have sustained contact with them. I definitely don't want norovirus when pg, and wish people would be more thoughtful tbh.

IKnewYou · 08/02/2015 20:56

I don't think the NHS advice is saying you should stay home. It says avoid preparing food or direct contact with others - surely that means if you are actually touching other people?

helensburgh · 08/02/2015 20:59

Jean so would I, but vomiting 4 times with diarrhoea sounds like a virus.

Direct contact refers to talking to people, touching things others touch etc.

ShowMeTheWonder · 08/02/2015 21:01

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Stealthpolarbear · 08/02/2015 21:05

" touching things others touch etc."
Surely by definition that's indirect

Lloydcolestilldoesitforme · 08/02/2015 21:05

I would stay off. Have 24 hours of feeling and being ok to be on safe side. It just not fair to risk
Passing it on to people who might not get off as lightly with it as you did. If you were my colleague I would appreciate the fact you weren't sharing your germs as and as others have said if everyone did a bit more of this there could be less outbreaks overall. Glad you are feeling better though.

TheFairyCaravan · 08/02/2015 21:06

Please stay at home.

Anti-bacterial hand gel does not kill these viruses and they can live on surfaces for long after the symptoms have disappeared. If you go in you could be responsible for a D&V outbreak across the university.

The 48 hour rule is not just for schools, it's for everywhere. In fact at our local hospital it is 72 hours. No wonder there are so many outbreaks of D&V all the time when people are so ignorant about it.

londonrach · 08/02/2015 21:07

Stay at home! Your colleagues will thank you. Hope you feeling better soon x

TongueBiter · 08/02/2015 21:11

ShowMe - I wonder if we work at the same place! You've got to be dead before you can take a day off Shock

helensburgh · 08/02/2015 21:32

Stealth I'm not particularly clever so I have no idea what you mean.

I guess you are trying to be smart.

Ho hum.

You know what I mean!

wannabestressfree · 08/02/2015 21:37

I would thank you for it as have Crohn's and d&v with a stoma is horrendous. I agree lots don't observe rule though and am also a teacher!

Stealthpolarbear · 09/02/2015 08:42

Helen apologies if that came across as me trying to be clever. I just meant that direct contact means touching another person, indirect means touching something other people touch. I assumed that would be clear from the names.