Is it EVER gonna slow down?!?!?!?

[madisonsmom]

GOSH! Every time I turn around someone is sick with this stupid stomach virus. It is in schools now BAD. My brothers family has is going around there.My brother started in with it tonight. I am SO thankful I have not been over there. They have 2 kids and the 3 year old had not had it. His mother actually let him sleep with my brother tonight and she knew he did not feel good. She said that he's gonna get it anyway so she is not going to obsess about it. Wish I could have that attitude! The last time it went around my brothers house, we had it like a month later! That was back in July. Dont want a repeat! I know this is usually a bad time...but why do I keep hearing about it. I dont wanna know. I dont wanna worry about 24-48-60 hours anymore (incubation). I am really tired of it. I have worried myself sick and I havent been sick yet because of being around my sister in law and her baby. Then someone at work says "Oh my daughter had it last week and my mom has it now." So I sit there and think...can I catch it? Of course not...the girl telling me doesnt have it. But then my emet mind says "what if she had the germs on her" Those ridiculous WHAT IF's. I guess it is typical. UGH UGH UGH UGH! Calgon...Take me away![img]smileys/smilies_02.gif[/img] I wish I could run from it. [img]smileys/smilies_01.gif[/img] Is there ANY place that has a decent winter and not filled with v* and d*. It seems SO MUCH worse this year than last year. What do yo think!?!?


Just so you know it makes me feel better when I post my problem situations like this. I know I am not crazy because there really are people out there who understand!

[madisonsmom]

Oh yea...I feel like I am going to get it no matter what. It seems like everyone else has it. I hope that my family and I can stay away from it.


Is it possible?[img]smileys/smilies_12.gif[/img]

[jennyleigh1975]

I hope that the "V" stays away from your house. I think that things have kinda died down here. Although the past 2-4 weeks were bad from what I heard. The big thing I am hearing now is influenza. Seems to be hitting here late in the season.

Spring is on the way, MAYBE this will be the last bad wave of "IT" in your area. I hope you and your family stay well!! You know I send you only good wishes!!!!

[donna1216]

I really hope it stays away!! My friend called me tonight (it's her daughter's birthday) and they were on their way to eat with their family, minus her husband because, as she put it, "I heard him talking on the phone downstairs and he said 'I have to go' then heard him "violently" v'ing." He had been complaining of not feeling well all day. Just hink, it's March now---3 weeks till SPRING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[2jo2]

Ugh... I feel bad for all you guys. It circulated around here really bad in early January, and I haven't heard about it since. Maybe it's better that it's super cold here. You'll get through this. Just because people you know have it, doesn't mean that you'll get it. Just practice good hygeine and you'll be doing the best you can!!!


I was really bad off earlier this winter when it was circulating here and it felt like everyone was falling ill with it. I know what you're going through and I think that's one of the worst aspects of the phobia is the worrying about it. You know, if you are afraid of cats, you can avoid cats, you can see them coming and go the other way, but germs are invisible and you have no idea! You can't escape the air! I hate this phobia so much....

[carmagnet]

I've heard that every 3 to 4 years we all get a BAD season of it. This isn't just a bad time at my house for stomaches either. Since our stomache thing in November, we've had strep throat, bronchitis, pneumonia, fifth disease, a little more strep throat, and a WIDE variety of colds that hasn't stopped. I can't wait til spring and I can trade in these cold symptoms for allergies.

[donna1216]

My kids have already started in with their allergies! I started giving Haley Claritin this morning! Not only do I have to worry about all these stomach viruses, they are already sneezing and have runny noses and watery eyes!

[shiva]

madisonsmom, geez, i know what you mean about the 'what if's' i think the what if's drive us more berzerk than the actual v* itself. i guess i say that because all day, every day we are doing the what if's and only are really faced with it here and there in life.


i am with you all. hurry spring. i know that the easter bunny doesn't kill the tummy bug monster, but it should die down a lot. not to mention this crappy weather... those of us who are affected by it will hopefully be in better spirits when we get some sunshine and warm weather.


we will all get through this

[rileyl]

Oh I know exactly how you guys feel. My kids are back in school and I am obsessing that they will catch an sv. I just HATE these viruses - other than that I am a relatively normal mother. 8) The only comfort I have is that I have gotten pretty good at NOT catching them from my kids. The handwashing etc. really works - even when in close contact with a v'g child. I just wish I could protect my kids from them. That's one of the hardest parts of being a parent - you can't protect them from all of life's bumps and bruises.

[madisonsmom]

It is just hitting close to home I guess. Where I work it went around 60 residents! Maybe 3 did not get it. I didnt cause I wasnt there. Now I have heard of it being in school which is actually typical this time of year. In a typical year...it should be dying out a little. I just hate hearing about outbreaks. My brothers household has it. Since Friday 5 people have had it. Everyone who was visiting on Sunday (I would not have visited...YUCK) has already had it. Incubation like 24-36 hours! WOW...I guess that is common though. I was around my sis in law Saturday afternooon, so I guess I am in the clear. My stomach has not been right today though. I dont feel sick...I think it is the Excedrin I took earlier.[img]smileys/smilies_12.gif[/img]Who knows.


I hate hearing about my brothers family having it because like I said...back in late June they had it and then SOMEHOW (I was not around them) we all got it. I dont want a replay. There was like 2 weeks in between. I HATE it as you can see. I will feel so much better when I quit hearing about outbreaks and people I know getting it. I know it goes around all year...but winter is BY FAR the worst!


[img]smileys/smilies_09.gif[/img]It is so embarrassing how obsessed I get. I just feel like I know for a fact that we will get and we havent yet. I guess I feel this way because I knowa lot of people with it. Anyone else think this way?

[pippi]

Of course we understand hun....
I become so obsessed with it when I hear about it going around.
My goodness I became worried this weekend over the stupidest thing. My dd told me her classroom was having its carpets cleaned due to head lice and because a child v before Christmas....I started my 20 questions even though it was 2 - 3 months ago! LOL! She told me the boy who V did it RIGHT next to HER!!! [img]smileys/smilies_11.gif[/img] [img]smileys/smilies_11.gif[/img] [img]smileys/smilies_11.gif[/img] I looked at her shocked and said! You didn't tell me this! Weren't you afraid you'd catch it? She just shrugged looked at me like I was a nut and said no. At lease I know she isn't emet!
I hope you don't catch it! Stay away from your family for a while [img]smileys/smilies_02.gif[/img]

[ontariogirl]

I was listening to the news last night and they were saying that this flu season hit early, now there is a new strain of influenza hitting hard in Toronto, they said it is the same flu that is hitting hard in Los Ang.& California. Anyone from Los Ang.? California? The health guy said that usually by March they are seeing a decline with the flu's but they are seeing an increase. I am glad I am an hour away, but still it could be going around here and I am not hearing about it, since I don't go out too much.

[emily7]

do you mean flu like influenza, upper respitory or flu like stomach flu?

[ontariogirl]

influenza, upper respitory. There have been 12 deaths caused by the this bug, I gather complications due to the flu.

[shiva]

Wow! I live in Ohio and my mom was just hit really bad with influenza. She ended up on antibiotics because of the startings of pneumonia. It has been about 12 days and she is still wheezing. Didn't the pope's pneumonia relapse due to complications of influenza? Scary stuff. It is really sad that people are dying. I wonder how many of these complications have to do with the lack of shots in the fall time?

[harmonygirl72]

There is a mom at the school where I teach who died last week because she had pneumonia and it turned into an infection in her bloodstream....septisemia, I think it is called. It was so sad; she was only 50 and had three kids, all of whom I have taught. Her son is in 6th grade and her two daughters are in high school. That family could sure use your prayers as well.

[ontariogirl]

That is so sad. An infection in her blood,that is so horrible.


When you have the flu you don't think of death.

[stella9]

We all think of influenza as harmless, but it can be deadly. The
Spanish flu Pandemic of 1918 killed 50+ million people. Right now the
WHO is worried about the Avian Flu which could kill between 50 and 100
million people worldwide. Flu is not a bad cold. It can be
really serious.



Stella

[rileyl]

This thread raises an interesting question that I have often wondered about - whether illnesses (especially stomach viruses) are more prevelant and virulent now or is it just that I am so much more aware (read, obsessive 8))??


As a kid, I just don't remember illness as being on my radar, and I am sure I was not as hygenic as I am now. And I certainly don't remember being as ill from a stomach virus as some of the stories I have heard of repeated v'g and lasting more than one day. I sometime wonder if the sv's nowadays are just stronger? Or have they always been there, but because of my physical makeup (or just dumb luck) they haven't affected me as much?


Any thoughts?

[stella9]

Many thoughts.



My mother is an RN and had three children. She and I remember
that sv would go around for a bout a week or two once a year.
They ususally consisted of a few hours of v*** and that was it.
According to my pediatrician, the viruses now have taken on a whole new
dimension and have so many more and violent symptoms than those of the
past.



So you are not imagining things. This is a real thing.



Stella

[shiva]

So, the viruses are mutating??? That's kinda what I had figured because I don't remember being sick like this as a kid, either. My sister has never had a stomach virus! Isn't that nuts! It was always a "24hour bug"when we were kids. Now you hear of it being like a week long in some cases. I wonder what is happening to make these viruses mutate? Is it because we are healthier? Hmmm..

[rileyl]

Thanks for your input, Stella. Bad news, but, frankly, that's what I suspected. It did come to me as a shock when my daughter's first "24-hour bug" lasted much longer.


Well, all the more reason to get the !@#$% vaccine in place!

[Babydoll]

i wouldnt blame it on the vaccine, but maybe all those anibacterial handwashes. we dont need them, we arnt getting sick as often, and I think when we do its a shock to our system?

[rileyl]

No - I meant that they NEED to develop a vaccine for noroviruses.

[stella9]

The reason it is hard to develop a vaccine is because the viruses DO
mutate. That is problem with the flu vaccines. The virus
mutates from year to year. Actually the vaccine covers tha Type A
and Type B. Sometimes they are right about which strain and
sometimes they miss. BUT - some protection is better than
none. A norovirus vaccine that have 75% efficacy would be better
than nothing in my view.



Stella

[Babydoll]

ohhh!!! i agree with that! they DO need a vaccine! if only, eh...

[madisonsmom]

I wish they would come out with a vaccine. [img]smileys/smilies_01.gif[/img] I would be scared to try it though. I would probably be scared it would make me sick![img]smileys/smilies_09.gif[/img]


I only remember having the flu 1 time. I have never gotten the flu shot...last year was my first year because I am a nurse and work around the elderly. I dont want to bring anything home to my kids. I had is about 4 yrs ago and MAN I WAS SICK. It was around Christmas...I could not help my husband wrap gifts.I was in bed or on the couch and did not want to move. I was in the emergency room on Christmas night. I was coughing so much I would gag. I had a high fever and could not move from body aches. I ended up with asthmatic bronchitis. I felt like I couldnt breathe...UGH terrible memories. I would not wish that on ANYONE! For some reason though I dont worry about the flu like I do a stomach virus which is silly because people do die from the flu. The sv is self limited and you get over with maybe some dehydration...[img]smileys/smilies_11.gif[/img][img]smileys/smilies_12.gif[/img] I still hate it.


I hope I can get over this (emet). I am so glad that March is here. Spring is around the corner (I hope). I still feel doomed that I will get a sv. I hate it. I want to be happy.


I am so sorry to ramble! Thanks for listening if you got this far!![img]smileys/smilies_03.gif[/img]

[ontariogirl]

I heard that now they are in the making of a vaccine for the bird flu! The bird flu that has hit overseas. To me this is scary stuff. All these virus's thatmay be coming. The SARS that killed people in Toronto scared the hell of out of me. These scientists have their work cut out for them!

[donna1216]

I am so glad that my theories about stomach bugs being worse these days has been confirmed!! WHen I was little, I NEVER had a sv!!! The most I ever v'ed w/ any illness, whether food related or illness related, was twice!! And now look at how much my kids do it when they get sick! Also, when I was growing up, my mother NEVER got sick (she was almost like an emet going 20+ years w/o v'ing), but in the past 10 years I know of her having 4 or 5 TERRIBLE stomach bugs! Why can't we go back to the '80's??

[ontariogirl]

Aww yes the 80's!! I wish I could turn back time.