Help?

[oyceter]

Okay, so, I am still down with the stomach flu. I started throwing up midnight and commenced to do so every hour, which means I've had no sleep. My back hurts because I can't find a comfy position in bed. Right now, I'm no longer horrifically nauseous, but that's probably because I just threw up again.

I was hoping that my aunty bringing over Pedialyte (like Gatorade, but apparently specifically for replenishing electrolytes and whatnot lost in kids for stomach flu) would help, but I had some an hour ago and promptly threw it all up a few minutes ago. Drinking water was doing the same as well. What am I supposed to do? Do I keep drinking miniscule quantities of Pedialyte and hope I don't throw up? Apparently three ice cubes worth of water ingested over two hours will make me nauseous but not throw up. About half a cup of Pedialyte will make me throw up. I've just had two small mouthfuls but am scared to drink more.

Do I just keep drinking and never mind the throwing up? Drink wee bits and be nauseous but not throw up? Not drink stuff? Flu has been active for about 14 hours now; how much longer is it going to run? And at what point do I see a doctor?

Thankfully (?) throwing up is the main problem, but dude, it's GROSS! I hate it! My stomach hurts from not eating and from heaving up everything! Help?

ETA: so far, have not thrown up in two and a half hours, though feel extremely nauseous. The ice cube Pedialyte and small sips seems to be working so far...

Comments

[yhlee.livejournal.com]

You're probably going to be throwing up for a while, based on the other reports I've seen; but you still have to replenish fluids. One of my roommates relied on fizzy water (soda water? club soda? what is it called), which apparently helped a little. Is there anyone with you who can get some for you?

[laurashapiro.livejournal.com]

Try to take small sips of anything you're drinking. One sip, then wait two or three minutes, then another sip. Sucking ice chips is another way to get fluids in, but if you can't keep anything down, you need to go to the emergency room. Dehydration is a serious risk with this sort of illness, and they can put you on IV fluids if necessary.

[coffeeandink.livejournal.com]

Seconded. In fact, the first time I was in the ER was because I was scared by nonstop vomiting/diarrhea and they put me on an IV drip and then gave me a shot of compazine.

To check for dangerous dehydration, hold a pinch of skin/fat on your forearm for a second or two and then let go. If you're properly hydrated, the flesh will snap back to usual right away; if you're dehydrated, it will hold up in the wrinkle-shape of your pinch before going flat.

[vonnie-k.livejournal.com]

An excellent advice above re. checking for the degree of dehydration. But you probably don't want to let it get this far.

Small sips of ice cubes/pedialyte/Gatorade is a good idea. In hospitals, ginger ale is the one we use for those with severe nausea & vomiting -- it seems the gentlest on the stomach. Try that if you can't keep down pedialyte or Gatorade. And keep that doctor's appt in the morning if you're not better then.

Poor Oyce! Hope you feel better soon!

[coffeeandink.livejournal.com]

Right. I just meant, if Oyce is that dehydrated, she should go to the ER *now*.

[vonnie-k.livejournal.com]

Right, right. Wrinkly skin after pinging = ER time, pronto!

Most people with 24-48 stomach flu don't get that bad, so hopefully Oyce is OK.

[minim_calibre]

If you're having a hard time holding down fluids, I'd call your doctor now.

(I'd also try Gatorade over Pedialyte: when Lillian went to the Children's ER with vomiting ages ago, they gave her Gatorade instead.)

[buymeaclue.livejournal.com]

It is always okay to call your doctor and ask if you should come in.

::patpat:: Hope you're feeling better ASAP.

[(Anonymous)]

I second this recommendation. Plus, you can always call and ask if you can get a prescription for an anti-nausea med if you can't keep anything down. I've done that for my migraines, when one made me throw up everything but small sips of water for 18 hours.

[takumashii.livejournal.com]

Drink wee wee bits, just a sip or two at a time, because the liquid won't actually do you any good if you throw it up again.

If my own timeline helps, I was able to keep down small sips of apple juice and ginger ale after about 15 hours; I was feeling weak but no longer very nauseous after about 36 hours; ate some toast and applesauce and kept it down a little while later; at 45 hours or so, am feeling almost okay again (but still weak and tired).

If it's tomorrow and you still are not keeping down liquids, I would go see a doctor, because at that point you start to run a risk of serious dehydration.

[desdenova.livejournal.com]

*am suddenly very glad I didn't go to Wiscon*

If you can't even keep water down, it might be a good idea to call your doctor now. Or, at least, make sure you have somebody local to check on you regularly--dehydration is a real danger if it keeps up for long.

I remember when I was little and had bad barfy-flu, my mom would give me sugar-pop (like, Coke or 7-up); she claimed the carbonation would "settle my stomach." I have no idea if that's a scientifically valid approach, but maybe worth trying? Cutting the pedialyte or gatorade w/ soda water might be more nutritionally sound...

I really hope you feel better soon.

[delux-vivens.livejournal.com]

*am suddenly very glad I didn't go to Wiscon*

me too! those folks seem to be laid out on stretchers!

[delux-vivens.livejournal.com]

At this point, I cosign a trip to the doctor/er.

[chomiji]

I'll have to vote for going in to the doctor (or even the emergency room) if you can't keep liquids down at all. As others have said, you may need intravenous re-hydration and some sort of anti-nausea medication.

You can try cutting the Pedialyte with plain water as well. And drink it in tiny sips, too.

(I have vivid memories of accompanying a colleague to the hospital with this some 20 years ago ... she lived alone and called me because she knew I lived nearby. They gave her a shot of anti-nausea stuff and one bag of intravenous re-hydration stuff, and sent her home about two hours later when she had stabilized, with a prescription for more anti-nausea stuff and a sheet of dietary instructions. I don't know whether the treatment has changed any since then - I suspect not.)

[magicnoire.livejournal.com]

I definitely agree that if you cannot keep down any liquid at all, that it might be a good idea to call your doctor (at least). Staying hydrated is imperative and if that situation doesn't improve soon, you might need to go to the ER.

[vom-marlowe.livejournal.com]

You can freeze the pedialyte or gatorade in ice cube trays or dixie cups. I believe some drugstores have freezer pop versions of something like that, too. Sometimes sucking on popsickle sticks helps. I find the sugar really does make it easier to keep down. If you want to add a touch of salt, try sucking on, but not swallowing a plain saltine. Jello is good, too, to suck on and slowly allow to melt. It is a common folk remedy in my neck of the woods, as the gelatin is soothing to very sore throats.

Ginger ale is another awesome choice--get them to bring the gingeriest they've got. Sprite and saltines is a main stay for flu relief.

I agree with the others--at least call and ask your doctor's office about when they'd like to see you, now or later. They should have a nurse on hand who can at least ballpark whether you might need to come in asap.

[lady-ganesh.livejournal.com]

And unlike the ER, a phone call should be free. Hang in there, ugh.

[sartorias.livejournal.com]

Can you suck ice? If you are not running a high fever or hallucinating, you're probably all right. Little tiny bits of liquid are better than huge swallows. Your stomach lining is incredibly tender right now, and it doesn't need heavy hits of =anything=. So tiny tiny tiny, and COLD might help.

Can you freeze tiny bits of pedialyte?

[oyceter]

Yeah, I just froze little bits of Pedialyte, so will see how that is. And so far, the tiny sips from an hour ago are still in my stomach, though I made an appt. for tomorrow afternoon just in case.

[sartorias.livejournal.com]

Excellent in both cases.

Also if pedialyte or gatorade are gross (gatorade makes me nauseous) we used to use 7 up in the old days, and I believe it has what's necessary.

[yhlee.livejournal.com]

I'm glad you got an appt. Hope things get better for you soon.

[kate_nepveu]

Good on both counts; feel better soon and don't hesitate to call/go to ER if you can't get properly hydrated--not something to mess with, seriously.

[rilina.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry to hear you are feeling so rotten, and am glad to hear you have an appointment.

(I also have good luck with 7-up or ginger ale when my stomach is upset.)

*hugs*

[littlebutfierce]

Ditto the ginger ale recommendation. Although occasionally when I've been sick & have drunk carbonated stuff, the, um, burp factor doesn't help w/the nausea/tendency to vomit.

I hope you feel better soon!! And better to be safe than sorry re: going to doctor/ER.

I did notice I stopped running into you after a while @ the con, which happens sometimes, but this year had a more ominous meaning.

[rachelmanija.livejournal.com]

Oh, you poor thing! I have no advice, because I agree with what everyone else said. Feel better soon!

[minnow1212.livejournal.com]

:hugs you in gentle way: Oh dear.

[cofax7]

Oh, poor honey!

::hairpats::

Coke and ginger ale are my sovereign remedies for tummy upset, but it's awful to be by yourself at home when you're this sick.

[cicer.livejournal.com]

Everyone seems to have already given you advice, but I thought I might as well toss in my two cents worth. Try drinking small amounts, ice chips or frozen bits of Pedialyte are good way to get some fluids without getting nauseated. Ginger ale or other carbonated drinks might help, and ginger capsules or ground ginger are good too. You should definitely call your doctor, just to see what he or she thinks (sounds like you've already done this anyway). If you go another eight hours or so without being able to hold down any fluids, I'd go to an immediate care center, or the ER. They may need to put you on an IV. Feel better!

[troubleinchina.livejournal.com]

Do you think you could take an anti-nausea medication, like Gravol?

:( Good luck.

[ginny-t.livejournal.com]

I didn't read others' suggestions, so please forgive any repeats. Keep hydrating as much as you can, even if you end up throwing up some or most of it.

Ginger is good for settling the tummy and for the immune system. Maybe a bit of ginger infused in hot water sipped in small quantities? Also, mint is good for the tummy.

Definitely hydrate as much as you can. Do you have a hotline or something you can call to get advice? I don't mean to sound alarmist, but if it continues too long, you could end up needing IV hydration.

I hope you're already feeling better!

[sutures1.livejournal.com]

So sorry to hear you're sick. I hit your LJ based purely upon your awesome rant published in the Wiscon Chronicle 2, and was looking forward to meeting you at Wiscon this year (my first). Hopefully, next year. Popsicles are a good thing to suck on as well; I agree with whoever said ice chips. And, if that isn't working after 48 hours, yeah call your doc and get some anti-nausea medicine, Compazine or something similar. It *will* make you sleepy though, so make sure you aren't driving on it.

In solidarity,

Ellen

[heavenscalyx.livejournal.com]

OH NO not another one!

Wife went down with it this morning ca 3 am (still in the hotel in Madison). She had the severe stomach pain and the tossing of cookies. Fortunately, her last toss of the cookies occurred ca 6:30 am, and we were able to drive to Cleveland. Now I'm washing my hands raw and hoping not to have gotten this thing...

I hope you feel MUCH better VERY soon.

[veejane.livejournal.com]

Yikes. I think I've mentioned before that I would gladly have my pinky finger amputated in exchange for the right never to throw up again in my life. See, I've thought this out: maybe not any other finger, but definitely my pinky.

In my worst bouts of that kind of illness, I've never ended up in the hospital, even when I can't keep anything down; but my worst bouts have tended to last no more than 12-18 hours.

[hysteriachan.livejournal.com]

*shudders* Oh, that sounds just miserable. ;_; No advice, but I hope by now you've started to feel somewhat better. *sympathies*

[jinian.livejournal.com]

It sounds like you have all the hydration advice you need, and your mention of an aunty is promising. I will add only that Elise had to go to the ER to get IV fluids due to the Wiscon doom virus, so please be careful! And if you wouldn't mind continuing to post regularly so we can see you're surviving, that would be nice.

[oyceter]

Aiiiee, ER. Um, right now I've thrown up three more times since 2:30, so that's less than before, but I'm not sure if it's because I'm drinking less. Also, two of the times have been dry heaves? Is this good or bad? I mean, at least no more liquid is coming up, but I've mostly been sucking on ice cubes...

[jinian.livejournal.com]

Throwing up less is probably good, and you don't seem to be too out of it. Have you checked your temperature at all?

(The only thing that worries me is if you do manage to get sleep and get worse during that time, but I guess I can call you if I feel too concerned. Most people seem to recover pretty well.)

[oyceter]

I haven't checked temp., but when my aunty was here, she said I didn't seem to have a fever via hand-to-head measuring. I feel a little achey and tingly at times, but not hot. Also, so far, I seem to be waking up fairly regularly every hour or so, and have another aunty lined up to take me to the doctor tomorrow afternoon and current aunty to call if I need to go to the ER suddenly. I do feel better right now, but that may be because I threw up about forty min. ago.

[jinian.livejournal.com]

Okay. You seem well-supported. I send ethereal hugs that don't compress any actual organs.

[oyceter]

I hope so... though just in case, what are symptoms that scream ER?

[jinian.livejournal.com]

Well, honestly, Elise's looked like "person is loopy and can't seem to form complete sentences in LJ posts, in addition to sounding completely wretched." (Some people may also have a history of putting up with chronic pain and underestimating illnesses, which made that scarier.) The dehydration pinch test would definitely do it too.

[marzipan-pig.livejournal.com]

Oyce, do you have any kind of on-call nurse to call? They can ask specific questions and gauge how you sound, and they might be able to advise you better. The last time I got REALLY sick and couldn't keep anything down was scary but it did eventually stop.

[oyceter]

I asked the person scheduling appointments about emergency room stuff and whatnot, and she mentioned nothing specific, but just said if things kept going or got worse... Right now, I haven't thrown up for four hours! Yay! Uh, small steps....

And the nausea seems to be going away more without me throwing up, so I've been able to take in more liquid. And I even slept for two hours this time before waking up, so I am hoping the worst is over....

[marzipan-pig.livejournal.com]

Oh good, that definitely sounds like an improvement. It's usually children that are at risk, but adults tend to sort of not tell anyone HOW SICK THEY REALLY ARE until someone else notices. You have someone coming over tomorrow, right? The pedialyte has electrolytes that should help, it will get better. Jeez.

[ktempest.livejournal.com]

the last time I had stomach flu that bad, painkillers oddly stopped me from throwing up. but i have no clue if that will work for you, so uh... doctor, yes. but the sipping and ice, also yes. and big hugs and much sadness that you got the really bad version of this :(

[lavendertook.livejournal.com]

I came down with it (or up with it as the case may be) at exactly the same time you did! (3am EST!)--we are plague twins! Glad that's done with.

It was lovely to meet you last weekend!

(typo edit)