OMG.....They shoot horses don't they ?? Pass me the Gun now ! Three little words....Winter Vomiting Virus.

[xandii]

Today I can move again without the general fear of exploding from both ends with this 'Devils spawn from Hell' virus that decended on me 3 days ago. I am passing on this information for what ever good it does anyone that gets it. I woke about 4.00am, my usual sort of time. I felt a bit nauseas and shaky, not unusual. I took my morning daily dose of poisons that supposedly keep me going including painkillers and anti-inflammatories and diabetic stuff. ( I take 14 tabs in the morning to start the day). Within 20 mins the rumbling started with a venegence and the first bout of projectile vomiting ensured my medication was out for the day. This was followed by a similar proceedure every half hour for about 14 hrs along side projectile substances from my other end and this went on for about 24 hrs in total. I will leave it to your imagination as to the state of my house as I am normally bed bound or in a wheelchair so getting to the bathroom was nigh on impossible during this scenario. The reason I am tellng you this, is that for anyone who gets this demon virus, there is NOTHING you can get to help you stop being sick or other wise. I tried, I pleaded, I cried.You just have to go with the flow (and you will understand that only too well) until it decides to subside. I feel as if I have been kicked by a mule and today I have managed to take my meds again and the screaming joint pains are generally dulling. I have managed a small yoghurt and one slice of toast but couldn't stand another mouthful. Just when you think life has chucked you enough low balls huh ? If you get it....you really do feel as if you are going to die. I certainly am very relieved to be out the other side. God bless you all, I am delighted to be speaking to you all again LOL. Big hugs XX

[Sunset]

Hello xandii;

Analgesics and anti-inflammatory drugs (Enteric capsule), and histamine-2 containing not nausea and vomiting in conjunction with stomach drugs.You use a wheelchair, suppressed immune system, depending on the drugs used have to be very careful in terms of infections.

to discuss

[xandii in reply to Sunset]

You are absoloutely right there Sunset. I am meticulous with my cleanliness and so precautious about picking up infections like you wouldn't believe. I am diagnosed as a bacilliphobic/agrophobic. That means that basically I have a fear of contact with the outside world because I fear bacteria will make me sick. Guess what ? ..... from my experience they do and nothing is going to convince me otherwise. I live life generally in my 8 foot square prison cell (downstairs bedroom which was part of my garage) and my only contact is usually with the odd fleeting postman at my window who all know me well. I go out in my car but my OH drives and he does the shopping etc.. On the rare occasions I get brave enough to go outside of the car and into a shop on my scooter, the first sign of a sneeze or someone poking around the fruit and veg sends me scurrying out at top speed. Any signs of a crowd of school kids in the near vacinity that unintentionaly herd around me reduces me to blind panic and my OH fends them off and gets me out of there asap. I very rarely see my GP, we send each other notes or talk on the phone and I only see consultants/medics when there really is no alternative. There are sick people in doctors waiting rooms ! (bring on the skype appointment !). That's why I believe this 'virus thing' must be airbourne and my OH carried it in 'cause he was unwell a couple of days earlier. It makes me so mad when people are so ignorant and senseless as to go out in public spewing germs all over everyone and everything they touch. I sometimes think the mental health side of BD is as bad as the physical problems. It is a side we rarely talk openly about.This cruel disease sure has a lot to answer to. big hugsXX

[lesleyg]

Sounds terrible Xandii!

Speaking of which if anyone is on immunosuppresants Steamboat just reminded me of being careful of different foods - processed mainly - because of food poisoning.

Lesley

[xandii in reply to lesleyg]

Thanks Lesley, the message I was trying to get across (not very sucessfully) was that it incited in me a rare and blind panic that something had gone seriously wrong somewhere and I truly was dying ! LOL. After it was explained to me what it was and that it would pass and there was nothing to help but just to go with the flow I was somewhat reassured that I would at least see the next morning. It sounds so very trivial now, but hundreds of people apparantly die of this evil virus each year and it blocks up hospital wards and I can certainly see why!! big hugs xx

[lesleyg in reply to xandii]

No worries - I didn't think you were dying - just wanted sympathy. I had something extremely similar several years ago and am fairly sure it was from food poisoning.

And yes it does annoy you with these people walking around coughing and carrying bugs etc.

Cheers

Lesley

[andreafm]

Hi xandi

Sounds pretty hellish and is all over great britain at the moment. Hopefully the bonus of sub freezing tempetures and snow is that germs and virus's are killed.....bring it on I say.

The mental side of this is really quite hard to deal with at times and I fight a lot to try and stay on top of it, but recently over the last year it has become quite irrational and difficult to deal with. I also have noticed my memory, and word finding, spelling and recently maths ability has gone even more downhill.

Keeping in touch and joining in with the forum really helps with this. No-one here minds if my spelling or grammar isn't correct

I also have email and telephone consults with my G.P as my surgery is a walkin clinic and so has all and sundry people walking in off the street, They themselves have told me not to come to the surgery unless really necesary because of this. But on the possitive side I also recently had telephone appointments with my Rheumatologist and Neurologist and it works great for me. I only have to go into see them if they really think they need to see something.

Is this something perhaps that you can have or have you already got it?

Hoping you pick up quickly and keep in touch

Andrea

[xandii in reply to andreafm]

Hi Andrea,

I am going to see my consultant at Aintree next month so will ask him about the facilites for telephone/skype appointments. I am still waiting to hear if I can go to the centre of excellence as such as I live in Wales and they have elected NOT to join like Scotland. However, since Prof Moots was already my consultant I'm hoping I can be accepted. Fingers crossed. Big hugs XX

[andreafm in reply to xandii]

Hoping it will help you

Pretty rotten for those in Scotland and Wales, not to have access to the COE.

[Steamboat]

Hi Xandi,

You poor thing, it sounds just awful. In Australia we have visiting docs that will visit your home and give you some IV medication to stop the vomiting at least. Be careful not to get dehydrated.

My gp asks me to check in and then go elsewhere and they will contact me via mobile phone.

When I was first diagnosed I was visited by a nurse that gave me the list of dos and donts. There is a big lists of foods not to eat. Also not to uses public transport firing peak hr, no movies,no shopping malls,no elevators.

Somehow our lonely lives are forced to become more so even when we are feeling ok.

Let me know if you would like more about the foods not to eat.

Keep fighting,

Felicity

[xandii in reply to Steamboat]

Hi Felicity,

I would be very grateful if you could PM me with the information you have about food. When i joined this site a few weeks ago you guys were the first people (fellow sufferers and familys) I have ever talked to about BD and I have been diagnosed for well over 10 years now. I have never received any information or guidance along these lines and I'm finding this site so reassuring and helpful...I just wish I had found you earlier. I don't feel so totally alone and isolated any more. Thanks so much to everyone on here for being so caring and sharing your knowledge with me....as a very reclusive soul, it is appreciated beyond what any words can express. TTFN, big hugs XX

[devonshiredumpling]

Do you know what? I have never received one word of caution or information about being immunosuppressed, which I have been for over 5 years now. What's that all about then! Is it because they think I should know, being one of them so to speak, or are those that get all the information just lucky with their medical teams?

I'm a bit angry to tell the truth.

[SuenMike in reply to devonshiredumpling]

I have not had any information either. I would hate it if things got as neurotic over here in the UK as in the US. Personally I am a little cautious in taking this scare-mongering too seriously.

We all know about WVV. You only (as all of us on this blog-site do regularly) have to go into a doctor's surgery or a hospital to see warnings about it. Common sense tells us to keep away from people with this or heavy colds or anything similar.

I think we can all scare ourselves stupid about germs in the air.

There will always be scare mongers about not eating certain foods, and if you look at any lists, and there are many, they contain things that we only eat occasionally. I mean, who wants to eat uncooked eggs, brie or camenbert cheese every meal? Do you remember the information given to pregnant women about not eating these things. It was well after I presented my children to the world, I ate these things during pregnancy, and guess what, I had two healthy babies!!!!

I wouldn't get too angry, my dear. xxxxx

[devonshiredumpling in reply to SuenMike]

Words of wisdom, as usual. Along similar lines, do you remember the sleep babes on their tummies campaign? Well, it never seemed natural to me, so I didn't.

One day when the HV came around she said, 'ooh, I can see you've been sleeping baby on her tummy, look at her strong back.' I wish I'd had the courage to let on but I just stayed quiet

[Charms1]

Wow, phone consults? i would love that! i dont believe they have those in the US and i am amazed (steamboat) about Austrialia and drs coming to your home. i am not on immunesuppressants but that is definately something to consider/think about if/when i might need to take those... i work in an office environment with tons of folks coughing/sneeezing etc, also have a kindergarten age son and a preschool age daughter.... so i am trying to avoid taking immunesuppressants since having to be exposed to all different sorts of "crud".

.

In the US there is a nasty bug going around too, my family ended up with the high fever, throwing up / sitting on the potty end also, for days! thankfully i did not end up with this (not sure how as i was cleaning up behind everyone & washing linens/sheets & also wiping all down with Lysol, washing my hands a zillion times....

my best to all!

have a good day today

[SuenMike in reply to Charms1]

What a positive post! Thank you.

It would seem that you are very sensible in your outlook to your condition. It is not easy when you are working, and have small people who are developing their own immunity systems and catch everything that is going round in the playground!

You hygiene regime will keep you and the family healthy.

I was immuno-suppressed, a commuter (British Rail and London Underground). My job entailed visiting several countries who's public hygiene standards left much to be desired, and am still alive!!!

With your stiff upper lip, you could almost be British! xxxxx

[xandii]

I want to say thanks to everyone who has contributed to this blog. It has been enlightening in quite a few ways for me. I just want to add one more minor thought on the matter before I shut up on the subject. Clearly I have severe mental health issues which have been identified by the medical profession since being diagnosed with BD. (I was never like this before, in fact , dare i admit it, with a raging 24/7 career and no kids to care for I was quite 'relaxed' in the tidyness stakes) I fight everyday internally with the fact that I know I am being irrational and I agree strongly that things can be hyped up and scare us all at times unnecessarily. This internal torment is so confusing and makes me so frustrated and angry with myself. But Ya Know what ? I have talked about having this problem with the meds but have NEVER been offered any attempt at doing anything about it ! (Lightbulb moment !) Shouldn't I be offered some sort of councelling or something ?? Has anyone else ever had or been offered any ? Hey Di......I agree with you Hun. I'm bloody angry !! (now in floods of tears so signing off.) big hugs xx

[devonshiredumpling in reply to xandii]

pm'd you my lovely xxx

[Steamboat]

Dear Di and Xandi,

Di,I do think it is if you are lucky with your medical teams and don't fall through the cracks of the medical system.

I feel those who feel because they never caught anything it isn't really necessary. I usually sit with a neutrophil count less than 1, usually around .4and an arrangement with my rheumatologist that if it gets to .2 I come into hospital for a full septic work up. For me it is necessary to be careful.

Xandi, I will send through the guidelines. We are moving house so I may have packed them but will check.

Best wishes,

Felicity