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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask how often you get sickness bugs

141 replies

Takemebackto · 16/04/2020 22:51

We’ve had a stomach bug twice within the last year. I’ve just googled this and apparently the average person only gets one five times in a lifetime. Aibu to have thought it was common to catch it more often than that as it’s so contagious?

OP posts:
DefConOne · 17/04/2020 11:39

3-4 times in the last 20 years. I work in a hospital, although non-clinical, so there is plenty about. I’m pretty relaxed about hygiene but we are veggie so don’t pick up anything from food. I reckon my immune system is in good condition because I don’t use any antibacterial products.

Diyhaircutgonewrong · 17/04/2020 11:42

I am mid 40s and had about it iirc 4 times.

I only moved to the UK in my very late 20s and had all episodes since moving over to the UK in the last 15 years.

Fifthtimelucky · 17/04/2020 11:44

I'm in my late 50s and I don't remember ever having had one, though I may have done as a child of course.

I do remember once getting food poisoning once in my early teens. The only other vomiting I remember was due to alcohol, in my student years, and period pain, for much of my twenties.

DaisyDreaming · 17/04/2020 11:46

A friend of a friend has them all the time, during winter at least monthly. Their school doesn’t have a 24/48 hour rule (if I’m honest I looked it up as I didn’t believe them and thought they were just excusing ignoring it). It’s no wonders they are always ill when everyone at the school constantly is reinfecting each other.

It disgusts me how people don’t respect the rule and are happy to spread it, especially when it comes to days out or holidays planned as they don’t want to miss out so push on through and don’t think of those they are infecting

LakieLady · 17/04/2020 11:50

When people say oh I had to rush to the loo like 20 times. More like 120

When I had campylobacter, I sat on the bog for hours on end, because it was just constant. It wasn't even like poo by that stage, it was just mucus, as though my arse had a runny nose. I was so weak, if the bathroom had been more than 3 paces from my bed, I wouldn't have made it.

My ex actually stayed off work to look after me. This is the same ex that went to work when I slipped on ice and broke my wrist, and wouldn't even drop me off at minor injuries when he was driving past the building anyway.

SerenDippitty · 17/04/2020 11:51

Not often, Last one I had must have been over 10 years ago.

AuntieMarys · 17/04/2020 11:53

Never.
My adult dcs never had them as children...no idea why. They did get tonsillitis though.

Porcupineinwaiting · 17/04/2020 11:53

Frequently as a child, and regularly when my children were small. As an adult not around small children, pretty much never.

Hoggleludo · 17/04/2020 11:54

I've had 5 in the last 3 years. I also have a Condition where a sickness bug can kill me. So I've been incredibly unwell.

My kids are always getting them! Bloody schools.

yikesanotherbooboo · 17/04/2020 12:02

2 and I'm nearly 60. 3 DC are all adults now but in total only 5 sickness bugs and only once did 1 pass it on to one of the others. I'm not a cleanliness guru of any sort; just luck and genes I think.

Shahlalala · 17/04/2020 12:04

I’m dreadfully prone to stomach bugs and get them badly, but only since having the children.
I don’t recall having any pre-children but since having DD 5 years ago I have had at least 10, possibly a couple more. The most recent once I ended up being IV rehydrated.

I wash my hands and none of the rest of the family have had them (except two which DD passed to me from school), so I’m not sure why really. Kitchen is clean, bathroom is clean and like I say it’s only me and only since having children. Always worse when they are between 0-2, maybe breastfeeding protects them and weakens my immunity to them?

MrsMonkeyBear · 17/04/2020 12:35

Probably had noro 3/4 times in my life and food poisoning about the same. Probably a bit more than some but less than others.

bumblenbean · 17/04/2020 12:49

Only once (as a child) and very mildly - never since, which is a good thing since I’m a major emetophobe (or maybe I’m phobic because it never actually happens so I’ve built it up into a massive thing). I live in fear of the kids getting them but we’ve only had a couple so far (though they’re still toddlers!)

I’m a ‘non-secretor’ and it’s thought us lucky bunch have an inbuilt immunity to most strands of noro

StrawberrySquash · 17/04/2020 15:24

I get multiple colds a year, never had flu, two vomity bugs in my life

I8toys · 17/04/2020 15:38

2 bad bouts of camplyobatcher over last 20 years. 2 weeks of vomit/diarhoea the first time, second time just constant diarhoea. Horrendous.

AlpacaGoodnight · 17/04/2020 15:51

Around 3-5 a year so it seems I am well above average! I am a teacher though and seem to catch things most holidays!

ABingThing · 17/04/2020 16:26

I was about 7 years old the last time I was sick. I'm in my 40s now. I've had stomach flu or similar twice as an adult, but with no sickness.

mindutopia · 17/04/2020 16:27

We’ve had it twice since having dc (eldest is 7) and before that, last time was about 20 years ago when I was a teenager. Any other nausea and vomiting in the years in between was definitely not caused by a virus. Blush Wine

venusandmars · 17/04/2020 16:35

My recollections: (I'm quite old so maybe I don't remember everything)

As a child - once (or once that I remember strongly) although I was terribly travel sick so actually vomited about twice a week on average!

As an adult:
in 1988 from food poisoning never eating Sainsbury's prawn cocktail again
in 2001 from food poisoning never eating British Airways duck wrap again
in 2012 - campylobacter from a swimming pool in Costa Rica
in 2019 - norovirus from a family party, 26 out of 30 people got it

But I think I live in a quite 'relaxed' household when it comes to cleaning, and I have the constitution of an ox!

Ilovewheelychairs · 17/04/2020 16:39

Gosh! I feel like a hypochondriac or something now. I was sick every Sunday night for about 2 years as a kid (now we think might have been anxiety related). Also had tonsillitis frequently until I had them out at 18, and was sick multiple times with that. Was sick every time I had a cold. Had norovirus every year for the first 5 years of teaching, then once again after another 3. Thankfully (touch wood) I don't seem to have had any bugs of that sort for about 5 years now but I assume my immune system has been well and truly boosted by years of being in contact with kids.

I was a very very sicky child and have a tendency to being a sicky adult too. However, never had ear infections or chest infections or anything else. I just assumed everyone has something they are more prone to and mine was tonsillitis and tummy bugs! Am B+ blood group too, so not even the most susceptible group! Blush

ShowOfHands · 17/04/2020 17:35

@StrawberrySquash you probably have had flu. 75% of cases are completely without symptoms and sometimes it presents like a mild cold.

hotstepper4 · 17/04/2020 18:15

When I was a child I had about one a year. Then nothing between about 13 and 29. Had one in 2012 and one in 2013, catching both from my then toddler ds. None since. I'd say I've had 12 or 13 in my lifetime and I'm 37.

oohnicevase · 17/04/2020 18:19

About once in my life .. I'm 46 this year .. I never understand how people get so many .

Mintjulia · 17/04/2020 18:24

Three times so far. I’m 56.

Once from an Italian in Harrogate that landed me in hospital, and twice at home when I also had flu-like symptoms and I just went to bed for a couple of days.

Ds has had one (not at the same time). He’s 11.

moveandmove · 17/04/2020 18:24

I've never had one!