Winter vomiting bug

[sadsong]

So last Thursday the onslaught began with the dreaded bug. I don't think I've ever been so sick. The stomach cramps and waves of pain were awful. It's left me on Monday, half a stone lighter which I'm not moaning about. But I feel constantly nauseous. I can only stomach thin fluids and tiny amounts of food. I managed half a bread roll at lunchtime yesterday and then a v meagre amount for dinner. Have woken up and just feel I could heave at everything. Is this psychological? I do still feel really yuck. I know nobody likes being sick but I think I'm particularly pathetic at it.

[Dancergirl]

This sounds awful! I really wish everyone well ASAP.

Does anyone know - are some people more susceptible to these bugs than others? Apart from a diarrhoea bug a few years ago, I've never had anything too nasty and I've never known dh to have a stomach bug in 15 years. Have we just been lucky?

[HeartsTrumpDiamonds]

A school near us had to shut down due to the number of staff and pupils affected. I heard they had to get folks in from the HSE to do an assessment and a specialist cleaning firm to debug the place.

DDs school nurse sent an email about it and, like so many other things, good hand hygiene is essential to try to avoid the virus. It's like the old adage, "how many times a day should you wash your hands?" The answer is, every time you pass a sink.

Also, the email said to stay home / keep DCs home until you have 48 hours completely symptom-free

I really, really hope we don't get it.

[Cherylkerl]

I've got it at the moment. I've shit myself, Barely slept or ate and been sick while on the toilet. Glamour.

[wasabipeanut]

DS1 & DD both had what I assume was Norovirus, puked once and were fine. I got it about 5 days later and was ill for 11 days. Fucking horrendous stomach cramps, lost nearly a stone. Not much actual vomiting or diarrhoea - GP says I would have got better quicker if I had. DS2 didn't get it thank God, prob because I continued to breast feed. DH also skipped it which was lucky as he was off on hol for half term so could look after the kids while I hugged a hot water bottle and cried.

If they can vaccinate against this fucker I'll be first in line.

[BoakFace]

Oh you poor lot

I have never ever had anything like this! Very glad of it, sounds awful.

[NotQuintAtAllOhNo]

I cannot believe that the UK is only now considering a vaccination program.

I guess we are the only country in Europe left that is spending the winter puking our guts out.

[Banderchang]

I have this right now! Hadn't realised that the aches and pains were also part of the D&V bug - I thought I had 2 things at the same time. I feel truly horrendous. But it makes me feel a little better to see how many others have it (sorry folks)! And it's only me so far that's got it in our house (DS had one vomit 2 weeks ago which may or may not have been the same thing) so soon I have to brace myself to cook DS some dinner because DH is home late. Not sure how I will manage to look at food tbh - I've only had water for the last 24 hours and even that is a struggle!

[4nomore]

There is no vaccine against norovirus - you can't retain immunity to it anyway! Hygeine and a big helping of luck is all that will save you. Once you don't have small children you're unlikely to get it frequently (depending, of course, on whether your job brings you into contact)

[NotQuintAtAllOhNo]

bbc news article about the vaccination initiative starting soon

[4nomore]

Yes, that's Rotavirus, which most people suffer from only once before the age of 5. That's a surprisingly poor article which doesn't make it very clear what it's talking about (it is buried in there though)

[zonedout]

Quint, that's a vaccination against rotavirus rather than norovirus. Two totally separate viruses. Rotavirus tends to affect babies and young children who then (in theory) develop an immunity to it (although I did, admittedly manage to get it twice ). Norovirus is the one sweeping the country and causing most of the aforementioned symptoms and which we can get time and again

Heartstrumps, I think that's our school you are talking about!

[zonedout]

Oops, x-posts

[DiamondDoris]

Starting to feel sick just reading the thread. Had it when I was pregnant 6 years ago - just after I stopped having morning sickness. I couldn't keep anything down, but I didn't want to go to hospital. They gave me anti-nausea pills which helped stop the vomiting - they worked instantly. Had it again about 2 years ago, vomiting all day (no D), fever at night and disappeared by morning. The DC had it mildly. I really don't want it here as my DD is diabetic and needs to eat. Luckily, she rarely gets anything as she washes her hands all the time before testing her blood sugar. I think washing hands is key.

[NotQuintAtAllOhNo]

I did not say noro virus. The article refers to the winter vomiting bug, and this my kids have brought home from nursery/school every year we lived in England, and not even once when we lived in Norway for 3 years.

[4nomore]

Norovirus is (generally) "winter vomiting bug" and although occasionally some unlucky people may get Rotavirus more than once, if something is giving you D&V, year upon year, then it's almost certainly norovirus

[zonedout]

Oh sorry, I didn't even read the article properly. But winter vomiting virus is actually norovirus. So I wonder why that is? Are our levels of hygiene just v poor?

[zonedout]

X-posts again!

[beginnings]

I got it five years ago. Oh. My. Good. God. Was horrific. I caught it from a five month old who had been a "bit sick" the day before I saw her. The following day, her parents came down with it and the day after that I did. So the version I had had about a 48 hour incubation period. I felt awful from Monday until Saturday. I cooked mushroom risotto the night before I came down with it and didn't eat it again until a couple of months ago - thank goodness the basin in our bathroom is right next to the loo.

I'm now on maternity leave with a six month old DD. I'e made poor DH change his clothes and wash his hands as soon as he comes in the door since I heard the norovirus is back for the winter - I do not want any Tube and train germs in my house thankyouverymuch.

[4nomore]

It's not a very clear article. I read research on colds and flu which suggests that yes, Britain is not good on personal hygeine. Also people try to return to work too soon, while not symptomatic but still infectious

[NotQuintAtAllOhNo]

I thought being ill all the time, and for the kids to contract sickie bugs several times per year was normal, until we moved to Norway, and we had three fantastic years with NO sickie bugs, no antibiotics, no temperature, and hardly any colds or even a snotty nose. Then we came back. And the boys have been on antibiotics three times in one year (me more than 7) and ds1 has had 4 sickie bugs, ds2 1 and I 1.

[4nomore]

The climate in Norway may also make a difference but it does seem that we're poor at keeping out germs to ourselves here

[NotQuintAtAllOhNo]

Norwegian schools and nurseries have antibac dispensers next to the soap dispensers in every toilet and next to every sink. Single use paper towels.

[zonedout]

There really can only be one explanation then... We are a bunch of unhygienic germ sharers. Yuck.

[NotQuintAtAllOhNo]

Ds1 tells me the boys in his class are boasting about never washing their hands, and especially not after toilet visits. He says it is rare to see another boy wash hands in the toilet.

[zonedout]

I must say that all the infection control I have witnessed in schools and nurseries here has been shockingly bad.