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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think i'm coming down with a stomach bug?

66 replies

2022IamHavingYa · 30/12/2021 18:31

I have reached the grand old age of 38 without ever having a nosebleed, until last week.

Tonight, I have a horrible feeling I am getting my first bout of norovirus.

Please can I have a handhold whilst I wait this out? I stomach ache that comes on in waves, really high up. A very ominous and audible gurgling from within and feeling generally ropey. Appetite is fine and I've eaten my dinner with no issues other than stomach ache and apologies, smelly trumps.

If this is a bug, how long before I know? I am about 2 hours with the pain and gurgling...

OP posts:
Justheretoaskaquestion91 · 30/12/2021 19:44

@Malbecandtoast

Sure - I think it doesn’t matter really if it’s Noro or another bug though in the context of OP wanting sympathy

Omicrone · 30/12/2021 19:45

I would have said though that if you were able to eat dinner, you are probably OK.

AutumnAlmanack · 30/12/2021 19:53

Don't worry OP - I had a horrendous gastric upset when I was 24 (I am ahem over 60 now) but my stomach has never been the same - all symptoms the same as yours. You just learn to live with it.

Temple29 · 30/12/2021 19:57

Currently in bed since I started getting sick an hour ago. Have felt as you described since this morning and felt very nauseous by dinner time and knew I would be sick soon after. Hope that helps.

anon12345678901 · 30/12/2021 19:58

Stomach bugs are awful, but norovirus is absolutely horrendous. Both ends for 12 hours every 20 minutes, I was in tears at one point Blush It's haunted me since and I dread it coming back. Hope you are okay OP and it's just a stomach gurgle.

Original poster
2022IamHavingYa · 30/12/2021 20:03

Thank you for the kind replies. I am not after sympathy, just some ideas what to expect if it is, a stomach bug.

My stomach is very tight and knotty but I don’t feel sick. I have had a very stressful day so maybe it’s just a reaction to that

OP posts:
TinyLittlePandaSneeze · 30/12/2021 20:09

Maybe a standard tummy bug?

gamerchick · 30/12/2021 20:14

Noro is pretty sudden. It works by paralysing the stomach, clever little bug really. Anything in it is evicted.

This new strain of covid can present with stomach upsets though I think.

chiefcha · 30/12/2021 20:23

Unusual nosebleeds you've never had before? Gastric symptoms you've never had before? Get a PCR.

Lolacat1234 · 30/12/2021 20:24

I have had Norovirus once a few years ago. I know some have said it just comes on violently with no warning but in my experience that was not the case, I remember coming home on the train from seeing my mum who was in hospital at the time feeling slightly ropey, like a feeling of indigestion and bubbling high up near my ribs and like I needed to burp but nothing was happening. The fact that you have said your appetite is fine is suggesting to me it's probably not Norovirus as for the couple of hours before anything happened I was definitely off colour and the thought of food turned my stomach. Now, when the eventual diarreah and vomiting starts, it is sudden and violent. I spent hours on the toilet vomiting into the bath both at same time. Wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy. I have had random tummy bugs since with maybe one or two episodes of vomiting but NOTHING like that ever since and i hope to god I never experience anything like it again! On the plus side it's over with pretty quick! Fingers crossed for you that it's just a touch of indigestion. Honestly indigestion can really feel like something so sinister and much worse sometimes - last week I was convinced I was having some sort of issue with my lungs as it hurt to breathe, but no it was just gas. Hope you feel better soon!x

Bagamoyo1 · 30/12/2021 20:24

Have you never had a stomach upset before? I didn’t know it was possible to get through childhood without a stomach upset.

Newyearnewme2022 · 30/12/2021 20:27

It could be stress, over indulgence, eating something a bit off, spicy food, sugary food, too much alcohol.
Regular tummy bugs can creep up on you slowly, when I’ve had one it’s started with burping then gradually feel sicker over a couple of hours.
When I had Noro November 26th 1999 (that date will never leave my memory) I was in Paris with a boyfriend for a romantic couple of days. It was utter misery and hell, at one point I wanted to die. He was lucky enough to come down with it in a taxi on the way to the Eurostar to come home. Our relationship didn’t last long after that.
For future reference
Bleach everything and isolate yourself in one bathroom.
Noro can stay in your poo for weeks afterwards so keep bleaching the bathroom including tap handles and light pulls.

Newyearnewme2022 · 30/12/2021 20:31

@gamerchick I’ve read that Noro is the ultimate virus, survives for weeks on surfaces and has a hard outer layer that’s difficult to break down.

Glitterblue · 30/12/2021 20:31

There are some mean and intolerant people on here! Nothing wrong with asking for a handhold - stomach bugs can be really horrible!!

I've had 3 as an adult, OP. The first one, I was absolutely fine, went to work then all of a sudden was running to the toilet to be sick. The second one, it felt as if my dinner was sitting really heavy in my stomach all evening and a few hours later, I started being sick, and the last one I just felt not right all afternoon, and I didn't know where to put myself to be comfy. I was at a friend's house and just felt like lying on the couch, had a panicky feeling and kept running to the toilet thinking I was going to have the runs but nothing happened. It was only after going home by car that I started being sick.

Hope you're OK, OP, and it's not a bug.

TheVanguardSix · 30/12/2021 20:36

I’d consider doing a PCR test.
My first Covid symptoms were gastric. For a couple of days, I was blowing trumpets and on the bog far more than usual.

chillidoritto · 30/12/2021 20:37

Even noro can have different symptoms in different people. We had an outbreak at work once. I was lucky enough to only have the wild shites (and feel very hungover). In all cases in our outbreak it lasted about 12 hours to be over the worst of it.

userisi2 · 30/12/2021 20:37

Wow OP 38 and never had a stomach bug before, I'm impressed!

In my experience nasty stomach bugs come on very quickly: tummy wants rid quickly! There's not much time to think about it and I'm better in about 24 hours.

I had a very strange bug recently that seemed more in my intestines which was much more slow burning, sore tummy, lots of trips to the toilet, bit of nausea but could still eat, took a few days to feel normal again.

gamerchick · 30/12/2021 20:43

[quote Newyearnewme2022]@gamerchick I’ve read that Noro is the ultimate virus, survives for weeks on surfaces and has a hard outer layer that’s difficult to break down.[/quote]
It's a fascinating bug definitely. Bleach has the closest chance of killing it and even then it might put it's dukes up at that Grin. The only thing you can do is wash it down the plug hole to make sure.

Gives me the horrors thinking of it in the house.

TheVolturi · 30/12/2021 20:51

Some people are just total dicks op. No one has to read or reply ffs.
I've had Noro twice and although it was pretty similar it wasn't identical. The last time I had it I felt a bit nauseous off and on but still managed to eat my tea, in fact I enjoyed it. Regretted it not long after though. Stomach felt really uncomfortably full and I felt unwell, heart rate shot up and I just felt bad. Tried to go to bed but couldn't sleep. Was sick a good few times after a few hours and instantly felt some relief. But couldn't sleep. In the morning had diarrhoea. Then fine after that just drained from not being able to sleep. It usually goes as quick as it comes. I believe you can actually have the virus with little or no symptoms though!
Hope you're OK.

Mylittlecoconuts · 30/12/2021 21:01

Hi OP..sorry you are feeling unwell.

My kids just got over this.

My youngest was first. There was no warning. She complained she wasn't feeling well and less than a minute later, she threw up everywhere and continued for the following few hours.

A couple of days later, my eldest started but unlike her sibling, she started much in the same way you described. First complained she didn't feel well and had a stomach ache. Then could hear tummy started gurgling and as time passed, she felt worse and worse. We guessed she had caught it off her sister so told her to stay near the bathroom and within the hour she too was throwing up (and proceeded to throw up all night through).

It took a few days before either child gained their appetite again. It wasn't pleasant.

I hope it's not what you have but if so, just make sure you keep well hydrated and I've been told small amounts of soft, boiled and liquidy rice is really good.

Mol1628 · 30/12/2021 21:16

We had norovirus last month. Had plenty of stomach bugs before. Nothing like we had recently!
Fine one minute then puking and diarrhoea every 15 minutes the next. Falling asleep on the toilet between episodes. It was awful. Whole house came down with it within the same 24 hours.

You could have any other sort of bug though but hopefully not as horrible as norovirus!

GinJeanie · 31/12/2021 00:06

@2022IamHavingYa - sorry you're feeling poorly. There's some weird bugs around. DH, DD and I have had persistent stomach cramps, gurgling and frequent toilet trips over the past few days. No nausea or sickness though. I've just started with a sore throat and feeling snotty/rough so think that's how the bug is progressing. All have negative LFTs but I think I'll do a PCR before going back to school (teacher). Hope you feel better soon!

liveforsummer · 31/12/2021 08:28

Sounds more like you've eaten something that disagrees with you. Agree that it's worth taking a covid test though. Lots of people reporting nausea atm.

TheVanguardSix · 31/12/2021 12:04

I’ve read that Noro is the ultimate virus, survives for weeks on surfaces and has a hard outer layer that’s difficult to break down.

They did this study... I'll find it somewhere online and post it if I can. But there was a group of girls, like girl guides or something, staying in a hotel room. They all got noro. Two weeks later, noro was still found living on the plastic shopping bags that were in the hotel room they'd been staying/sick in. Norovirus is an insanely smart virus.
Oh found it! This is the study. That damn plastic bag!

www.cidrap.umn.edu/news-perspective/2012/05/bathroom-stored-grocery-bag-fingered-norovirus-outbreak

It just goes to show, when you have noro in your home, you've got to bleach and hot water surfaces, remote controls, light switches, kettle buttons... bin the toothbrushes, etc, rewash the drying laundry. I spray coats and bags in the front halll with Sterizar.

liveforsummer · 31/12/2021 12:15

It just goes to show, when you have noro in your home, you've got to bleach and hot water surfaces, remote controls, light switches, kettle buttons... bin the toothbrushes, etc, rewash the drying laundry. I spray coats and bags in the front halll with Sterizar.

So can it just keep reinfecting you then? Not like a normal bug where once you've cleared it you're immune?