I have the dreaded stomach flu that is going around. I have NEVER felt this horrible in my life. It started yesterday. It hit full force last night, I was vomitting and had diarrhea at the same time. I finally stopped vomiting early this morning, but still have severe diarrhea. I am able to keep down sprite, but it goes right through me. I know, TMI. I have NO desire to eat, I still have stomach cramps. I also have aches, and generally feel like I have been in a knock down, drag out fight.

I called my doctor, she said there is nothing I can do, just wait it out.

Urgg...I am not one to get sick to my stomach. Isn't there anything over the counter I can take?

I just pray the kids and dh don't get this.

By Dawnk777 on Tuesday, February 19, 2008 - 03:28 pm:

Just immodium for the diarrhea. It's horrible being that sick.

By Dandjmom on Tuesday, February 19, 2008 - 03:31 pm:

Yes immodium for the diarreha, home remedy flour and water for the diarreha. have you tried drinking some warm salt and water for your stomach.

By Nicki on Tuesday, February 19, 2008 - 03:37 pm:

Debbie, is there a way someone can run to your local pharmacy and talk to the pharmacist for you? My DH did that for me last time I had the stomach flu. He came home with Dramamine (for the awful nausea) and Imodium Advanced as well as some great advice how to cope with the aches and pains. It all helped me so much.
I hope you are feeling better soon. I don't know about you, but as an adult the flu has felt SO much worse than I remember feeling as a kid. And not to mention it's hard for a mom to be ill and get enough rest.
((Hugs))

By Wandilu on Tuesday, February 19, 2008 - 03:37 pm:

Oh,Debbie, I know how you feel! DH and I are just now getting over the flu. But ours wasn't a stomach flu, with the throwing up,etc. It was in our chest/lungs,horribly achy all over; chills; cold sweats; fever; sore throat,etc.We are still very weak. You could try Imodium AD for the diarrhea. It works really good. Also, Pepto Bismol is good for your stomach, but the Imodium will stop the diarrhea quicker. Hope you get to feeling better soon

By Mom2three1968 on Tuesday, February 19, 2008 - 03:59 pm:

I feel for you Debbie!! I hope it passes by and doesn't affect your dh and kids!!

By Yjja123 on Tuesday, February 19, 2008 - 03:59 pm:

Imodium helps.
Ginger Ale is great for nausea.
My mom used to give me watered jello mix. I do not know why but it helped settle my stomach. My kids prefer the Ginger Ale.
(((hugs)))
I hope you are over the worst of it!

By Vicki on Tuesday, February 19, 2008 - 04:03 pm:

Imodium will help, but I always thought you didn't want to completely stop it. I was always under the impression that is how the "bug" got out?

I hope your feeling better soon!!

By Yjja123 on Tuesday, February 19, 2008 - 04:06 pm:

The last time Addison got extremely ill with a flu like virus the doctor insisted he go on the brat diet. I can't say if it worked or if it was at the end of the flu but he was able to keep it down and the diarrhea stopped.
BRAT is the mnemonic acronym for Bananas, Rice, Applesauce and Toast, the staples of the diet.[1] Alternative BRAT diet formulas include BRATT (Bananas, Rice, Applesauce, Tea, and Toast) and BRATY (Bananas, Rice, Applesauce, Toast, and Yogurt).

By Debbie on Tuesday, February 19, 2008 - 05:45 pm:

Dh is going up to the pharmacy in a little while. Oldest ds has baseball practice, so he loaded up both kids, is getting them something to eat, and then going to practice. On the way home he is going to stop at the store and talk to the pharmacist. I can't keep anything down but sprite, anything else, water, toast, etc, gives me cramps and uncontrollable diarrhea. I had such horrible chills, I had to take a hot bath to get them to stop. This is just the pits! Then dh comes home and says one of his managers was out all last week with this! That didn't make me feel any better. I am so weak, I can barely get up to the bathroom. Dh, jokingly told me he would get me some Depends. I told him not to laugh, I might just take him up on it!

By Rayelle on Tuesday, February 19, 2008 - 06:55 pm:

Oh I'm sorry! It's going around really bad in my neck of the woods too. My mil who works in an after school child care said one class had 17 out of 21 kids out. I know the flu shot doesn't protect against all strains but I'm hoping we'll make out ok. I'm sorry you are so sick and hope no one else gets it.

By Chai~latte on Tuesday, February 19, 2008 - 07:20 pm:

Once you are feeling a bit better you may want to pick up some Probiotics as all that good bacteria in your tum will be messed up for awhile. Make sure you get a quality brand from a health food store that is kept in the refridgerator.

Hope you're feeling better soon.

By Karen~admin on Tuesday, February 19, 2008 - 08:00 pm:

UGH! Hope you feel better soon! If you still can't keep anything down in the morning, call your doc & ask for an Rx for something for nausea.

By Imamommyx4 on Tuesday, February 19, 2008 - 08:05 pm:

The doctor could have given you phenergan or promethazine for the nausea and vomiting. Ginger root capsules and ginger ale are the 2 best things over the counter. Emetrol is good, too if you can stomach it. It's got a very sweet, tangy taste.

Keep hydrated with a couple of tablespoons at a time about every 10 minutes of some clear fluid. Gatorade or Powerade are good. Pedialyte is good for children. Pedialyte popsicles are good. But just a couple of tablespoons at a time until you can start to keep it down. Clear chicken broth and jello (not sugar free right now) for some nutrition.
After you can keep down clears, add dry bland things like the BRAT diet, or crackers or baked potato. No milk products until diarrhea has stopped, too.

Unless you need for the diarrhea to stop for some urgent reason, do NOT take the Imodium. The sooner you get it out of your system, the better. Get some baby wipes or Tucks wipes to clean your bottom. And something like Aquaphor or Balmex for your sore bottom.

I wish you well.

By Imamommyx4 on Tuesday, February 19, 2008 - 08:07 pm:

BTW, my 7 yo dd had the flu shot in October but was diagnosed with the flu this morning. Her biggest ailment has been fever. It went to 105.2 this afternoon and scared me to death.

By Bobbie~moderatr on Tuesday, February 19, 2008 - 09:14 pm:

Agreed, my understanding is you don't want it to "stop" because it is the bodies way of trying to expel the virus. Hope you feel better quickly.

By Ginny~moderator on Wednesday, February 20, 2008 - 05:06 am:

Debbie, that high a fever is very frightening. Tepid baths or sponge baths will help bring the fever down. But my recommendation is to always call the doctor when a fever goes over 103.5.

Oh, and I've read this year's flu vaccine didn't have the antibodies for some versions of the flu going around. In Philadelphia there's been a very high number of ER visits and hospitalizations for flu this year.

By Debbie on Wednesday, February 20, 2008 - 08:42 am:

Dh talked to the pharmacist last night, and he said the same thing...you don't want to stop the diarrhea because that is what is taking the virus out of your body. I did have the flu shot, but this is a different strand of flu. I was able to keep down some ginger ale, and a piece of toast late last night. The diarrhea has finally stopped. My fever broke early this morning. I am still a little nauseous, but it is tolerable. I am just completly worn out.

Debbie, that would scare me to death too, 105.2 is really high!! A friend of my ds had the flu last week, and his mom said he had a 105 temp. also.

By Colette on Wednesday, February 20, 2008 - 08:50 am:

I hope you are able to get some rest today and are feeling better. I read that the flu shot this year is only about 40% effective on the strains that are out and about this year.

By Karen~admin on Wednesday, February 20, 2008 - 10:52 am:

UGH Colette! NOT what I need to hear about the flu shot. :-( I live in fear of catching the flu right now.

Debbie, I hope you start feeling better quickly.

By Dawnk777 on Wednesday, February 20, 2008 - 10:54 am:

The flu shot wouldn't have helped for a gastroenteritis anyway, though. It only helps for influenza, but I have heard that too, that it wasn't the right mix this year.

By Imamommyx4 on Wednesday, February 20, 2008 - 11:28 am:

The flu has nothing to do with the stomach bug except maybe getting one while your immunity is down from the first. Sorry, it was just what was on my mind while I was trying to give advice. I should have started a new thread.
Ginny--as far as calling the dr, I DID!!!. And I'm so dumb. I have worked in the medical field and in hospitals for 30 years and been a pharmacist for 22. But when MY BABY spiked a fever that high, my brain turned to mush and I started to cry. And I called the dr and asked her how freaked I should be and what to do. She said cool bath but I did cool sponge bath and ibuprofen. It came down a degree in 20 minutes. I kept up the sponge bath for an hour until it was down to 102 and she said she was hungry. Also cool fluids going inside, too. When she was better, I called dh to tell him her fever went so high and he was amazed at how freaked I got and couldn't think to do the same advice I give everybody else. It's just different when it is your own baby.

By Debbie on Wednesday, February 20, 2008 - 12:56 pm:

I probably messed things up by calling it a stomach flu. I know this is totally different then the regular flu. They are just calling it the stomach flu around here?? There was a private school that closed for 2 days a few weeks ago because over 1/2 the kids had this.

And Debbie, I completely understand. It is totally different when it is your child that is that sick.

By Ginny~moderator on Wednesday, February 20, 2008 - 01:12 pm:

I'm so glad the sponging worked. I remember when my youngest would spike 104+ a couple of times a year, for a couple of days. Lots and lots of tests and no known reason discovered. This was when he was from about 3 to about 5, and then it stopped. But oh boy, it was scary. I remember sponging him like crazy, aspirin, pushing fluids. I would put him at one end of the couch to sleep and I'd sleep at the other end, because I didn't want him far from me.

By Bellajoe on Wednesday, February 20, 2008 - 01:22 pm:

A girl I work with had this bug a week ago. She stayed home from work from m-w. She was back and fine by Thursday.

I hope you feel better soon! It sounds so awful!