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Norovirus the aftermath......

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 1/31/2015 12:01 PM (GMT 0)
So its been just over a week since Norovirus struck me out of nowhere, there is nothing more scary then waking up randomly at 4 in the morning needing to puke and D. This especially worried me as ive been in remission for just over a year thanks to Azathioprine.

At the time i was at university and struggled with my housemates around, eventually i healed up at home and came back to university yesterday.

I have become increasingly concerned because my D has not stopped! I am going 4-8 times a day with no blood or mucus thank god.

I am just wondering what i can do to ease things back to normal, or if anyone has experienced a similar problem with stomach viruses.

Any help would be greatly appreciated as its my birthday in 2 days and i have much planned!
Posted 1/31/2015 12:23 PM (GMT 0)
Hi, you could try S. Boullardii, which is a probiotic yeast. Take two caps with a probiotic of your choice 2 hours after food or 30 mins before, twice a a day. This is a very natural way of putting an end to diarrhoea and has the added benefit of giving your good flora some food to eat!
Posted 1/31/2015 12:35 PM (GMT 0)
Take very high doses of a good probiotic totaling 50 billion CFU's or more. I had to burst your bubble but it is unlikely you will recover in two days. If you plan on drinking don't be surprised if you get even worse.
Posted 1/31/2015 12:47 PM (GMT 0)
Will get some probiotics as soon as possible. I do not expect to recover in two days, but i plan to go in to town and eat with some close friends. Would be nice to eat something other than rice or bananas. And you dont have to tell me about drinking lol, learnt that lesson many a time!
Posted 1/31/2015 2:19 PM (GMT 0)
Yes, probiotics! Also Reuteri might help. I had norovirus several years before I developed UC and it took at least 3 weeks to feel normal again. I am not surprised you are still struggling. Hope you feel better soon.
Posted 1/31/2015 2:44 PM (GMT 0)
Just ordered some 70 Billion CFU probiotics (expected tomorrow). What Reuteri brand would you recommend? Is it not a tad much to have both?
Posted 1/31/2015 4:21 PM (GMT 0)
Yep probiotics! I got the norovirus a month ago over Xmas and the diaherea didn't stop for about a week. And I was also getting some really gross burps! I also luckily didn't flare thanks to azathioprine!
Posted 1/31/2015 6:11 PM (GMT 0)
Nature's way sells it, also in drop form from biogaia.
Posted 1/31/2015 10:06 PM (GMT 0)
Lactobaccillus GG is also good for the colon. Be careful about roughage & spicing in food for a couple weeks; norovirus makes the gut tricky. A lot of prepared food has white pepper in it these days-- so it looks o.k., but can mess with UC intestines. Hope you have a happy birthday after all!!!!!! / Old Hat (34 yrs with left-sided UC; presently in remission taking brandname Colazal)
Posted 2/1/2015 1:10 PM (GMT 0)
Looks like its going to be a sucky birthday, still got D and had my first bloody BM this morning.

I suppose remission has run its course for me again, back to the drawing board.

Another week of banana , water and rice.

What fun and fantastic lives we have !
Posted 2/1/2015 2:08 PM (GMT 0)
I would also touch base with your doc, just in case you picked up something else along with norovirus. Maybe request a stool culture.
Posted 2/1/2015 4:04 PM (GMT 0)
My Doc is usually very thorough when it comes to my flares.

Having not been able to leave the house to meet him we spoke via phone call.

He just palmed off what i had to say and told me to go on steroid enemas for a month or until things subsided full well knowing i do no longer react to any more steroid treatments.

It was the first time i felt he could not be bothered with my case, and thats really disheartening when you trust in a professional to be there when sick.

I am just really concerned as my studies are insanely demanding and i am falling behind further with everyday i cant get my bloated, cramped, broken sack of crap organ to start working normally again.

colitis and deadlines do not work in tandem.
Posted 2/2/2015 6:46 PM (GMT 0)
I wouldn't go on steroid enemas....better to do mesalamine.

try to eat a more "normal balanced" diet. Add eggs if you can, meat, add fibre supplement to your meals (start with one capsule a day) and take the probiotics at BEDTIME on an empty stomach.

Do not share any communal towels with anyone, clean the toilet after you've used it, and wash hands often.

I sure hope you feel better soon, but do know that gastro bugs can still be active in stool after symptoms are gone. The goal is to sweep them out asap.

It doesn't help you're so busy at university...hang tough.

Please don't do steroid before the mesalamine enemas...please.........

q
Posted 2/3/2015 1:09 AM (GMT 0)
I went through something similar around Thanksgiving - sounded like norovirus when it started, but then was lingering. I too was worried - and sure enough a flare started. When I looked back, I wonder if I ever had the virus or if it was just the onset of the flare - no one else around me came down with it! Hmm.

Between my GI and the kind folks on this board, we were able to get it under control quickly - I went back on VSL, and also started doing canasa each day and rectal hydrocortisone each night. I also added in colostrum, which seemed to help as well. I ate lots of bananas, deli turkey, and sweet potatoes! Good luck - hope you feel better in time to celebrate. cool
Posted 2/3/2015 4:40 PM (GMT 0)
UPDATE -

Things are going pretty well as of this morning, Still have D but blood has gone and pain is nearly non existent. Bloating has also gone!

I am still being very liberal with my diet and getting plenty of rest, also sticking to my regime of probiotics and other supps/meds.

Quincy, as far as mesalamine enemas i have never heard of them, they certainly have never been offered to me.

I will bring this up with my GI in future, certainly sounds like something that can help future flares.

As far as my birthday it sucked lol.

But there is light at the end of the tunnel as my lovely housemates have a party waiting for me on my return, thank god things work out in the end, and thank god for you guys!
Posted 2/6/2015 6:33 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks for update, ooly! I hope you continue on the mend. Norovirus really freaked me out a few winters back & I was also lucky to get immediate advice here on the forum that led to full recovery. Now we know why the cruise ships have to return to port pronto when norovirus sweeps passengers on board! *** RE Quincy's advice: in UK one can also get scripts for mesalamine foam enemas to help rectal inflammation. / Old Hat (34 yrs with left-sided UC; presently in remission taking brandname Colazal)
Posted 2/6/2015 3:34 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks Old Hat!

Doing pretty good as it stands, everything is normal apart from the ongoing D, i can only assume this will level out in time.

Good to see another left sider in remission, hopefully be back there soon!
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