Icky yucky flu: what to do?

First it was Sebastian, then it was Truman, and soon two whole families were felled with a stomach flu. I started throwing up on Wednesday night, a few hours after Everett laid waste to our family couch, and fortunately I had the wherewithal to email my co-workers letting them know I was sick because I didn't make it far from the bed, or bed on the living room floor, for the next 30-some hours.

While I was at my miserable-est, Truman had ceased throwing up and begun the icky, yucky diarrhea. It was obviously painful -- my usually happy-all-the-time guy was whining and wailing for what seemed like hours on end. I finally called my pediatrician, whose advice nurse told me brightly that all her phone calls this afternoon had been this very same thing! Her advice, in case you've been felled, too (I'm including parents in this, as the advice seemed to work for me): feed the "patients" nothing for two hours after throwing up to give the tummy a rest. For the next two hours, little sips of clear liquids (water, pedialite, jell-o, chicken broth, Gatorade for adults). After that, you can switch to carbs, but no fresh fruit (with the exception of bananas): toast, rice, Cheerios (no milk), pasta. She told us "no dairy" but breastmilk is ok once you get to the four-hour mark. As the diarrhea can last up to two weeks before my pediatrician will ask for extra measures, you could be in for a monstrous diaper bill.

She told me that there was no medical intervention to be done unless your child doesn't pee at least three times in each 24-hour period -- in that case, it's the emergency room for IV fluids.

For what it's worth, once we followed this advice our pattern was: one terrible night of throwing up, one day of feeling absolutely awful, and the next morning we very slowly began to get our appetite again (and I, thankfully, was able to return to my computer so I didn't totally leave my co-workers in the lurch). I'm just thankful that it's on its way out and I can return to my holiday festive-making. Off to write a letter to Santa!

Comments

[Joan]

My family was also sick with this bug. My 14 month old boy caught it first, then me, then my poor 70+ father who was visiting last weekend. We were all vomiting and suffering from diarrhea, and my poor husband was trying to tend to us all. We just bought a home in June, and the one bright spot: I was sure glad we held out for a 2-bath. Ha ha

[theboss]

Yikes, my sympathies...

[Virginia]

My 16 month old and husband both had this last week. My son got over it in 48 hours, my husband in about a day. It was a rough stretch. I seem to have escaped with a night of nausea...I hope...Same advice - jello, clear liquids, bananas. Hope everyone else escapes this!

[NoPo Mama]

Yep, we've had it this week too...first the vomiting on Tuesday, and then diarrhea city for 2-3 days. I didn't worry about it much until we got to a point where everything was going straight through Anders and then no wet diapers until the next round of diaper blow...it was ugly. I called our pediatrician and she gave us the same advice--BRAT diet--Bananas, Rice, Applesauce and Toast and keep pushing liquids.

She also recommended Vitabiotics which have really seemed to do the trick. You can buy them in the refridgerated section of the natural foods area, it's basically acidopholous (sp?) that helps to build up the healthy bacteria in the digestive system. They have one that's for kids, you give one tablet daily, between meals.

[Grrrlfriend Jess]

Ohhhh, I feel your pain. First, Lil E got this nastiness and then Bruce and I got it...together. Luckily, Bruce was well and I was on the way when we flew out of town for Thanksgiving. Needless to say, I barely ate Thanksgiving dinner (boo) and was grateful just to stop the family puking. Blergh. This bug made its way viciously through Lil E's co-op...must be a stubborn little sucker.

[Charlie]

Symptoms to the letter. One night of suffer, another day of blech, then slowly layering on foods. First cup of coffee: Day 4. Sad really. What a wicked little bug it was. At least it didn't linger.