Stomach Flu vs. Food Poisoning

[Mr. Bloom]

I'm sick as a dog. Without being too graphic, suffice it to say that I'm fully engaged 'stem to stern'.

How does one discern the difference between stomach flu (contagious) and food poisoning (unlucky)?

I've not knowingly been exposed to the stomach flu...but if that's what it is, I don't want to spread it around the family.

[Aggie_Ama]

I think food poisoning will usually occur with fever. I am not sure. My husband and I both got a stomach flu last summer. Talk about miserable when you live in an apartment with one bathroom!

Here is WebMd's run down of stomach flu:
http://www.webmd.com/content/article/5/1680_51287.htm

Can you call you doctor? The only thing that helped me was to take phenegran. It calms the stomach and has a nice sedative effect. He also said to avoid too cold water, sip room temp water. Hold off the gatorade unless it is diluted until your stomach settles.

I think food poisoning runs its course quicker. Hope you feel better soon!

[mimitabby]

welcome to the wonderful world of having to go to the toilet, but not sure how to point!

we just went through that. If you know ANYONE else that you've been in contact with that has it; it is likely the norovirus that has them quarantining prisons in California, closing schools in Seattle, and which knocked out 3 generations of our family in 4 days.

The norovirus (which antibiotics do not even annoy) usually comes with a fever, but not always, and is infectious for 3 days after the first "outbreak"
I had it; the good news for you is that you will probably lose weight. It took me 3 days to be able to eat a normal meal and feel hungry. Part of that was the fever. But I am still weak, and i was hit on wednesday morning. DH is not going on his 50 mile ride today because he's still weak too and he got it on monday.
PLENTY of liquids and take something for the fever.

And if it's foodpoisoning, drink plenty of liquids.

for either one, take imodium for diarrhea if it continues too long.

and of course, call your doctor. I did.

[mimitabby]

ps i just read an interesting thing about this bug, it says that people with type O blood (like my mother and I) get hit harder than the others. My husband and son resumed their normal life more or less after 24 hours. It took me almost 3 days.

[Running Mommy]

I was at the Dr. last week for an unrelated matter, and she mentioned that it's spreading like wildfire around the country.
Her advice to me was "if you don't want to lose training days then you need to stay away from public places". And of course the grocery store is one of the biggies! The shopping carts...uhhh yeah... Not so pretty.
So I told my husband that he needs to do the grocery shopping for the next 8 weeks!
Yeah, that went over well!!
But yeah, prolly just the stomach thing that everyone has been getting. And if it is noro then it's NASTY! My son and I had it last thanksgiving. Knocked us both out for a week!
Good luck all!
And feel better soon mr. silver.
Denise

[Bikingmomof3]

I am sorry to welcome you to the sick club Mr. Silver.

[Meaux]

for either one, take imodium for diarrhea if it continues too long.

DH got bacterial gastroenteritis (basically the WORST food poisoning I have ever seen in my life, he was vomiting and passing blood every hour, yikes!!) last Memorial Day weekend. The ER doctor told him NOT to take Imodium because it would plug him up and keep him from passing the virus out. Not necessarily a pleasant thing to have diarrhea without end, but I could see the guy's point. So beware.

[light_sabe_r]

yikes poor mr Silver (and the rest of you suffering from bouts of the stomach flu)

The last time I had the stomach flu was in 2004. there was a nasty one floating around brisbane. I'd just quit my job as a Medical secretary to begin my job as a researcher.

WELL I got a lovely present of a COLD from the patients I saw on the last day.

I had also booked to go to sydney that weekend. I sinus headaches coming into land in Sydney and felt like I was going to faint the entire way to the hotel.

The next day I had breakfast... thengot on the manly ferry. I don't USUALLY get sea sick.

Mum was worried. i was knocked for six totally and even walked around manly harbour with the fly of my jeans open because my stomach hurt so much.

We were visiting my Aunt when it hit me like a freight train. i was vomitting for an hour in the waiting room of the doctors surgery. I got one of those anti-vomitting injections. I couldn't walk and my parents carried to my aunt's car to take me home from the surgery.

Even though I could barely walk I still forced myself to see the Lion King that night. and fly home two days later... same sinus headache. Worst Holiday ever.

The White and pasty look is not so good when starting a new job either.

[Mr. Bloom]

When I see some of these other stories, I'm counting my blessings. Although it was miserable while it lasted, for me, it was still brief.

I do feel immuno-compromised right now. Feel a sty coming on in my eye (this never happens to me), skin seems very unhealthy (not to mention pale), and weak. Plus, I'm time-zone challenged right now!

I wonder, will a detox at the hotel spa help?