struggling with bad temper over nothing after a week of norovirus - is this a neurological symptom

[GiantBears]

Hi,

I wondered if I could ask a question about mood problems after a week of norovirus?

I'm not very good with gut viruses and they always last ages for me. Since I had covid, I've not managed to shake of a gut virus in less than 3 months.

I got norovirus last week and I just had diarrhoea. I was able to keep eating and drinking throughout, though less than usual.

Now after a week I'm finding that my temper is fraying very badly and I'm having to go and sit in bed away from the family because I feel like I've got epic PMT (like really angry about things that would normally be water off a duck's back for me.)

I just wondered if anybody else gets that? I googled and apparently neurological symptoms are a well known part of norovirus infection, but normally things like seizures. I'm not sure if PMT-like symptoms counts.

I'm also getting palpitations which register on my Oura ring as 150 beats per minute. My temperature is up, but I think that is mostly because my period is due. It's always high at the end of my reproductive cycle. My oura ring also registered that I am mega-crabby, which really surprised me.

fwiw my period is due but I don't normally get PMT and certainly not like this or for three days.

I would be glad to know if anyone else has the same this year. DS had the bug very badly and I'm wondering if it might just be a bad one.

DS has SEND and I want to sort myself out so as to be there for him while he recovers, but this is something I've not experienced before.

Thanks!

Kindly OP, there is no way on earth you’ve had norovirus if you were able to eat and drink without projectile vomiting. DD had it last month - our house was like a scene from the exorcist. I’ve never seen her more ill.

Kindly don't talk rubbish. It affects people differently.

Don’t talk rubbish. Norovirus is not just diarrhoea no matter how lucky you get.

This is nonsense. There have been studies where people have been deliberately infected with norovirus and of the ones who develop symptoms (which isn't all of them), something like a third only vomited once. Some people definitely only get diarrhoea with it.

People use faulty logic "I know it wasn't norovirus because norovirus is bad, and I know norovirus is bad because the time that I was ill and it was bad I assumed it was norovirus and therefore anytime I'm ill and it's not that bad it cannot be norovirus"

PMSL hope to hell you aren't involved anywhere within medicine.

Sorry OP, didn't answer your question.

Is it maybe a combination of PMS, plus tiredness & general rundown-ness from the bug exacerbating it?

I feel like this, I was keeping cheerful dispite the chill, getting on top of a bit of a burnout and getting a few jobs finished but since norovirus it's all feeling a big struggle again, but feeling frustrated a lot more than depressed or burned out. I was sick only for a day, but have had so many stomach aches since despite having live yogurts.

Being furious is not a neurological symptom. It’s a symptom of being knackered, not very well and potentially annoyed by real life issues. Have the other members of your household stepped up while you’ve been ill?

Loose bowels cause the body to lose electrolytes. An inbalance of those while you get over it could well cause mood imbalance. Make sure of drinking plenty water, eating well and perhaps some dioralyte to help bring them back to where they should be might help.

What food have you been eating?

Thank you very much, this is really helpful.

I'll work on the electrolytes. I've found a lovely MH support thread else where on MN which is helping no end. Life is very challenging at the moment so it could just be being knackered.

Thank you all for commenting though, I really appreciate it.

Thanks, this is very reassuring. I'm a scientist but not a neurologist, so wasn't sure.

The other members of my family have been fantastic btw. DH took over DS while I needed to go and sit. They are doing a splendid job. DH has been phenomenal all week as DS was ill too. Just fantastic.

I've had norovirus since Sunday night and vomited ELEVEN times, all projectile vomit. And diarrhea about the same within the first 24hrs. Completely bed ridden for 2 days, just about had a shower this morning. Still feeling ropey. It's probably the worst illness I've had in 49 years and I've had COVID. Be warned stay safe, keep masks on around ill family and wash hands regularly with soap and water.

You’re wrong. Some people just get diarrhoea with norovirus. Perhaps check your facts before posting.

@ConstanceM I'm really sorry to hear that. My DS had it really badly like that. Just grim, honestly. I wore an n95 mask throughout and still caught it. I think it's a tough one this year. I read up about it and it seems the vaccine went into third stage clinical trials this month. I'll be forming an orderly queue when it's brought out in the GP surgeries.