Is this Norovirus, or 'flu, or something else?

[ohreindeerwhatamessysleigh]

Felt perfectly fine yesterday, then all of a sudden in the evening I felt really nauseous and was very sick a few minutes later. Was then sick at half hourly intervals for much of the night (heaven knows where it all came from). Not projectile vomiting though. Also diarrhoea started a few hours after that.

Felt (and still feel) 'fluey though - shivering and fever, aching limbs, etc.

And if it is norovirus is there anything I can do to reduce the chances of the dcs getting it?

That's how I was when I had norovirus 2 years ago - same symptoms, then achey for 24hrs after. Felt OK after that.

Keep washing hands, at least every hour. We usually manage to limit puking bugs spreading to rest of family by doing this. Got to be fastidious though!

sounds like noro to me!
lots and lots of hand washing, separate towel cleaning door handles. Don't handle their food for 48 hours if you can help it.

It went through our family in four days (til we were all feeling better) so you can console yourself that at least its not next week. I have to say it was really fab not to have to run the other way in town this morning when I heard a lady saying she felt sick!

I hope you recover nice and quickly.

Noro.

Flu is surprisingly rare. Genuine flu wipes you out completely to the point of not having the strength to get out of bed.

Get well soon.

I think noro, chiefelf is right, you wouldn't even be posting if you had flu. I had proper flu in 1990 and it was worse than the pneumonia I got ten years later - it took me 6 weeks after flu to be able to go up the stairs in one go without getting puffed, and I ended up with really nasty secondary sinus infections that needed surgery. I think I was ill for about 3-4 months in all, and I was a very healthy 20-something up until that point.

If you do have norovirus, remember to wipe door knobs, toilet handles and so on with anti-bug stuff as well. That can make a big difference.

Thanks all. Especially for tips on minimising effects on dcs. Feeling a little better now, and have managed to keep some water down.

Does anyone know offhand the incubation period? I'm guessing that I should throw away shepherd's pie and mince pies I made yesterday afternoon (as yet untouched)? What about Xmas presents I wrapped 24 hours before?

Chuck the food, don't fret about the presents would be my view.

Don't worry about Christmas presents, the virus only lives a few hours on surfaces (I think) (although I did have the same dilemma about Christmas cards - I wondered if it was a bit like posting out the plague!) Incubation period is 1-2 days but I don't think you are contagious until you are showing symptoms.
Am glad you are feeling a little better, hopefully you are through the worst of it now.

WE have had the norovirus twice in the last year and each time lasted around 2 days in total. Hellish days as everyone had it at the same time but am hoping it means we wont be unlicky enough to get it a 3rd time..she says as dd2 has a high temp and has been vomitting in the night

dd1 started thursday night and it went through all us (dd2,dh and me) by the following tuesday.

Everyone was ill for 24hour before it moved to the next one.

I have to say my dh was great i'm sick phobic and he looked after dd1 (4.10) and dd2 (15 mths) while they were being sick. Then he had it and i got it sunday night. He then took 2 days off work to look after me and the girls as i was to ill took look after them myself.