To ask how often you get sickness bugs

[Takemebackto]

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?

Once in the last 10 years or so.

A couple of times as a child.

One every 2-3 years. I’m fairly young so this probably equates to no more than 15 in my lifetime.

I last had one about a year ago. They’re absolutely brutal when I do get them and floor me for a good three days.

I vaguely remember having one as a kid, think I was maybe 9 or 10.

We had an xmas about 6 years ago where all 3 kids got sick, my eldest it lasted a few days but my younger two it was literally over within 48 hours.

I must admit, I always wonder about those households who always seem to have sick bugs. Is their house too clean? Too dirty? Do they wash too little? Too much?

I'm 52. I think 3times. Twice when my kids got and once a couple of years ago when it was doing rounds at work. Maybe when l was a kid but l don't really remember it being a yearly thing then.

I'm 58 and have had a sickness bug twice - and nothing in the last 30 years.

I was 46 when I got my first D&V illness, which later turned out to be campylobacter.

Until that point, I'd thought that diarrhoea was just having a runny poo. No-one had told me how agonising the stomach cramps could be, how total the loss of control, how high the fever could get, how you could be so weak you couldn't stand and how it could make you welcome the prospect of death, because you felt so shit that death was preferable.

In the end, I started self-medicating with codeine, which helped. I figured that if it made you constipated, it might stop the constant eruptions. My GP found this amusing, for some reason.

He gave me this envelope with the container for a stool sample so it could be tested. When I got it home and opened it, I was astonished to see this small vial, less than an inch in diameter. Even though I was shitting through the eye of a needle, I was mystified as to how I was supposed to poo into this tiny tube and said as much to my ex.

I felt very foolish when I opened it and found the little spatula thingy inside.

Mine was caused by a dodgy meal (boeuf bourguignon) in a pub.

Before I had my son I hadn’t had one since I was a child myself. But he’s 2 and I’ve had vomiting/diarrhoea three times since he was born, all caught from him. Babies/toddlers are germ spreaders! The first two he was still breastfed and got off much lighter than I did!

As an adult I have had one (caught off my kids) - the kids get one every 18 months or so I think and I don’t usually catch them (thankfully).

As an adult, I've had norovirus twice: once in 2009 and once in 2016, both times after vising families with primary age children, who do tend to be superspreaders.

I can't remember having any as a child, but I probably did.

1 in the last 12 years, probably 3 times as a child

I don't think I've ever had one (and I'm 41), my kids had a pretty bad one about 10 years ago and thats all they've had

Never, hopefully I haven't just jinxed myself!

I have never had one. I am in my 40s.

@Ilovewheelychairs my dd was recently diagnosed with PFAPA. Your childhood symptoms were hers to a constant vomiting. Constant tonsillitis

Check it out.

A couple of times (I am over 60) once was due to eating duck which has put me off duck for life and another time when I probably had too much too drink .

My DS (19j has only ever had one sickness big, that was due to eating mussels.

I can’t recall my DH being ill either (apart from a hangover ) .

I do think some people are clearly more susceptible to sickness bugs than others. I know when my DS started school everyone said he would get bugs ... actually he didn’t.

I am NOT neurotic about hygiene, and I honestly believe that builds up some anti immunity.

Once from eating out and I'm over half a century old. I only catch a cold every 1-2 years but I don't/won't ever take medication.
I prefer natural remedies that work more with the body.

Wow! We have 2 kids (6 and 9) and there'll usually be at least two D&V bugs in the household each year.

Feel cheated now!!

I've only had 2 in my life.

Oh and just to add, not due to poor hygiene!! We just seem susceptible to them.

In my adult life (15+ years) i think ive had one

I've had 6 or so in my life ( I am nearkky 60). Most of those were in exotic far flung places where sanitation was not great.

At one point we were averaging every 6 weeks. 😳 we’re definitely a family of pukers though.
It’s been nearly a year since the last but and I can’t quite believe it!

Proper vomiting type bug... think I've had two in the past 15 years??

@ShowOfHands, how does that tally with people who say 'You'd know if it was flu?' I've always thought there are horrible colds and not so bad colds, so it would make sense that flu is similar. Look at the variety of seriousness of Covid-19 symptoms.

Have had 2 sickness bugs in 53 years. DD11 has never had a sickness bug.