Viruses

[Bandit_Driver]

As everyone may remember my wife was hospitalized and I nearly was with a nasty flu like virus over the last few days. We are all back to about 90 percent. The doc's didn't know what it was but said it wasn't the flu but maybe a Norwalk or Rota virus. Since the illness progressed so quickly with the majority of symptoms being gone in six hours.

First Six Hours

• Fever 102-104
• Severe Nausea and Vomiting for 6 hours
• Severe Diarrhea

Next 2 days

• Low grade fever 101 or less
• Moderate muscle ache
• Tiredness

Here are my questions for you Doc.

1. What is your general opinion on this illness. (The ER was pack with people having similar symptoms)
2. Do I need to report since I never saw a doc or hospital. I decided to ride it out at home living on water and Gatorade. Knowing the worst of it would be over in 6 hours
3. Is it possible to get this again this year or it like chicken pox once you get it your body now knows how to defend itself.
4. Is there more than one type of Norwalk or Rota virus strain?
5. Lastly my wife was treated by a D.O. What is the difference between a D.O. and a M.D.? Is one better than the other.

Thanks Doc

PS Amber, I hope your family is doing better. How is everything going on your end. Do they have the same thing that my wife and I had?

[My Flight Surgeon]

First, I am glad you are on the road to recovery. These things tend to run in epidemics in the community.

There is no need to report this on the next medical.

I am not sure. I think there are several strains of the viruses. I do know that we now have a rotovirus vaccine for infants that we give a 2, 4, and 6 months of age. So there probably is some immunity after an infection. This is probably true for the Norwalk virus also.

MD's and DO's are basically the same now. The DO's are trained in osteopathic manipulation but most of them don't do it any more. Their training is the same and they train with each other in the same residencies.

[MQAAord]

Originally Posted by Bandit_Driver

PS Amber, I hope your family is doing better. How is everything going on your end. Do they have the same thing that my wife and I had?

We're on day 7. I've never cleaned up so much vomit and diarrhea in my life. The vomiting only lasted about 12 hours per person, but the diarrhea is STILL going on. Bill had it bad, he was sick at a hotel and had to come home early from a trip. He finally started to improve yesterday morning and is now just weak from lack of food/dehydration. It really hit him the worst. I was ready to take him to the hospital yesterday morning if he hadn't improved, but thankfully he had. The kids are doing okay, they're asking for and drinking a lot of water, which is good. But the diarrhea is unrelenting. They show no signs of dehydration. There's nothing their ped will do for them, they said no medication allowed since they want the virus to get out of their bodies. By the grace of the good Lord above, I've not gotten it. I've been fine. Sick and tired of cleaning up bodily fluids, but fine.

I just want it to stop.

[My Flight Surgeon]

When you replace the fluids orally, do it in SMALL quantities every 30 minutes. Large volumes cause distention of the stomach which in turn produces a reflex emptying of the colon. At this late date, Bill could use some Immodium to control things.

I agree to nothing for the kiddo. One real problem with kids is gauging the level of dehydration. The only thing we really have to use is weights and if we try to stop the loss of fluids with medications, the fluid collects in the colon with a resultant loss of fluids in the blood vessels but no weight loss. I have actually seen 2 kids who died because they were given Immodium when they had diarrhea and subsequently went into shock.

[MQAAord]

I know. I understand the reason not to give them anything, and I will continue to just give them water. It's just hard after all these days of swimming in this crap (literally). It kills me to still see them suffering. Actually, the kids seem to be in very good spirits. They're still running around, playing, fighting, resting well & normally at night. They're just going through diapers like there's no tommorow! The ped recommended a product called Culturelle (sp?), it's a capsule of 'good' instestinal bacteria (I guess?) that they said might help them. I put it on their breakfast this morning. The little guy threw most of his breakfast on the floor (which is pretty normal for him) but the older guy ate most of his.

Is it normal for something like like to last so long?
Why haven't I gotten it? I've been swimming in this stuff since last Wednesday night?! I've been thrown up on, pooped on, coughed on, slept in the same bed with it! And I'm eating ALL the Christmas cookies in the house because every one else is too sick to eat them and I don't have the willpower to put them in the freezer
What is the window of them being contagious to others? I'm supposed to go up to the farm to see my family (first time in over a year) but I can't take this virus home with me and get everyone up there sick. Are they still contagious as long as they're experiencing symptoms?

[My Flight Surgeon]

Amber

The contagion window is 7-10 days. (GOOD LUCK)

Acidophilus containing milk works also and they will probably consume it.

You are probably not getting it because you are MOM and are stronger than the rest of the family

They are probably not contagious any more if it has been a week. By the time you go, they should be over the poops.

[Kristie]

Acidophilus

that dannon activia yogurt is actually pretty good and works great for intestinal problems!!

[Bandit_Driver]

Amber:

You guys must have gotten something worse. The diarrhea almost stopped here after 72 hours.

I hope you guys start feeling better soon. I can't imagine the amount of laundry you are doing. I must have done several loads by now after Tanya and I scrubbed and aired out the house.

I think the Doc is right about MOM's/Wives. They are superhuman and never get sick or if they do they just push right thru it. I can't thank God enough how well Tanya took care of me only hours after returning home from the hospital herself. I don't know how she did it.

Hope you guys feel better soon

[SteveC]

Originally Posted by My Flight Surgeon

...they should be over the poops.

Newfangled medical terminology?

[My Flight Surgeon]

If you've got kids it works

[TheShortOne]

what about giving the kiddos something like pediasure to keep the electrolytes in balance and that sort of thing?

[My Flight Surgeon]

It works well. Any of the electrolyte replacement solutions works.

[Old Pete]

Originally Posted by SteveC

Newfangled medical terminology?

My GP (general Practitioner) told me that he was reported to the state medical board for using the word "snot" for nasal mucus by one of his patients.
Of course the medical board took no action, but he was still irritated that he even had to respond.

[Kristie]

say what??? that's a bit over the top!

[My Flight Surgeon]

Unfortunately these days the medical boards are so PC it hurts. If a doc gets reported for wearing two diffent color socks they will hold an investigation and spend hundreds of dollars to "protect" the public from such irresponsible actions. That is why medical licenses are getting so expensive. California charges $805 for a two year license now. With about 60000 docs licensed and figure out how large an enterprise they have.