Norovirus

[Evo25]

Hi there

I'm recovering from a bout of norovirus at the moment. Sitting on the loo with a basin on my knee was an experience I'm not going to forget anytime soon.

Projectile vomiting at least 2 to 4 times per hour for a full day was a nightmare. Reading all the advice on avoiding attending the doctor was difficult as I started to experience agonising back pain and I was panting like a dog.

I called 111 to see if there was any advise they could give me. They were really helpful but it was scary when I was told to attend A&E, not because of the norovirus,(confirmed once in hospital), but because of the fast breathing and sore back. Turns out that as I could not keep any fluids down, I was suffering from severe dehydration and had damaged my kidneys.

2 days of IV fluids improved my kidney function and I was allowed to go home. Having read everywhere that you should stay at home to avoid spreading the virus, I would have been in a worse condition had it not been for my back pain as I would not have considered asking for help for fear of passing this awful illness on to anyone else.

Now I am home, 2 days after being discharged, and I still have very soft stools. I have no idea of this is still the virus or if my IBS has been triggered due to everything else. Still fatigued and back is still sore but nothing close to what it has been. No appetite at all either.

Sorry that went on for a bit but I can't thank NHS24 enough. If not for them I may have had much more serious kidney issues. Dehydration is often mentioned as a concern of norovirus but backache is not commonly referred to as a symptom of this.

Can anyone advise whether I could still be contagious? I don't want to take it in to work as I work in a contact centre and would hate to pass this on to my co-workers but as per lots of employers these days, if you're not on your last legs you're expected to be at your desk.

Any help would be much appreciated.

Thanks in advance

[Evo25]

Thanks for the advice. I bought bottled water just to be safe although I'm having difficulty with the food side of things. Everything ive tried just passes straight through me. No vomiting since Thursday evening so that's a plus.

I'm not sure if it's maybe a subconscious thing that's affecting my appetite or if I'm genuinely not hungry yet.

Good tip with the toothbrush, I'll definitely be doing that.

My IBS isn't debilitating but it's rare for me to go a week without having a few bad days.

The hospital signed me off work up to today but did advise me to contact my doctor if I was still unwell to ask for more time. My work has this ability to make you feel guilty for being sick. Trigger point system that leads to disciplinary action once reached but ignore the fact that I don't want half my workplace ill and passing this on to their families.

I am going to try food in small amounts as you have suggested. This is my 6th day without really eating. I've tried a small piece of toast today but it made me feel sick so I've been trying to avoid that feeling.

[Pickles999]

I've suffered with really bad stomach cramps and toilet problems for years after trying almost everything going I decided to give colloidal silver a go it has made a massive impact on my stomach and digestive system if I take half a glass a day morning and night I very rarely get any bother. Hope this helps.

[Evo25 in reply to Pickles999]

Thanks for that. I'll give it a go.

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I always find nhs direct very good when I have rung them for things.

[Evo25]

I'm feeling a lot better than I was. Still have diarrhoea every time I eat but my appetite is slowly returning, so that's a good sign.

My doctor signed me off for the rest of the week so that lifts the worry of work and lets me concentrate on getting my strength back.

Thanks for asking ☺