I Have Been Personally Victimized by Noro Virus

It seems like everyone and their mother are being victimized by Norovirus. Norovirus is the bug most commonly known as the stomach flu. Last week was Thanksgiving week and we had a total of 12 family members come over to our house either just for Thanksgiving or overnight. Of the 12 of us, 4 of us were struck down with stomach flu, myself included. This year's round of stomach flu must be really strong because this was the worst round of stomach flu I've ever had in my 22.5 years of life. To put it lightly, I was bound to the bathroom for almost 3 hours and was so dehydrated that I almost fainted a few times.

Anyway, here are my tips for recovering from the stomach flu.

1. The most common symptoms of stomach flu are diarrhea, vomiting, fever, and headache. These symptoms can cause dehydration, so you want to monitor your fluid loss and watch for signs of dehydration. These include

• dry mouth
• thirst
• decreased urine output
• headache
• being dizzy or lightheaded, especially upon standing

2. While the diarrhea and vomiting are present, focus on replacing your fluids. This doesn't mean drinking water. Yes, you are losing water but you are also losing salts in the form of electrolytes. The best drink on the market that you can get over the counter is Pedialyte. Pedialyte is essentially pure electrolyte. Try to drink at least one bottle per day. If your symptoms do not improve or worsen after 2 days, it would be wise to go see your doctor.

3. Once your symptoms start to improve, keep a simple diet of bland carbohydrates and lean proteins. Foods that are easy to digest are things like bread, saltine crackers, and rice for carbohydrates and turkey and chicken for lean protein.

4. Slowly add more fruits and vegetables into your diet as your appetite improves. Once you have a normal bowel movement, you should be okay to continue your normal diet.

I hope this helps those stricken by the stomach flu feel better. Please be advised that I am in no way a medical expert. I am just going off of what has worked for me. If you have any concerns, please consult your doctor or other medical professional.