Noro-virus Blues

There's a lot of dumb stuff nurses think and say. Especially when they get sick. It is oh so not funny at the time. However, looking back one wonders where the heck this stuff comes from. I could apparently do a movie on "When nurses think they are dying. Here's a look at one nurse's story of "when suggestive behavior goes wild..." (and not in a good way). Nurses Humor Article

Noro-virus Blues

OK, so the old joke "The Postman Always Rings Twice" can be easily converted to "The Noro-virus CAN Ring Twice". And once is enough. And never is better. And it helps when one washes their hands raw, but even then sometimes we end up with the nasty little bug anyways.

And then, as nurses, we are just smart enough to convince ourselves that we are about to die. For real. Is is really feasible to throw up 15 times in 24 hours?! I didn't think so. Until it happened.

I literally couldn't get out of bed, but had to. Numerous times. I groaned, a LOT. I think at one point I was crying. I made the best dinner ever. Went to bed just in the BEST mood. Woke up with a start because, well, something was not right.

And then, it began. And continued. And for every whining mess of a patient I have ever dealt with in my many years, no was was worse than me. For real. I blush at how I became a fluid leaking, gagging, crying demon.

My dh says "do you think you want to go to the ER?" Me: "Uhm, Nooooooo (gag,spit,burp) I don't get sick, I am never sick long and I will....excuse me....(gag, spit, burp). And crying.....I took a temporary leave of my senses.

I didn't leave the bed unless I needed to. Thought my end had come. Was funeral planning. Thought I would get decubitus if I didn't move. Swore up and down that I had aspirated and would now have a secondary pneumonia. Seriously. I said that out loud.

"Do you HEAR this wheeze?!?!?!" (There was no wheeze).

I was sure that I must now have an arrythmia from the lack of potassium in my body. "FEEL my PULSE.....I think I have put myself in A-Fib or something." Truly, said that. Out loud.

"I am HOTTTTT, I have a FEVER......I am BURNING"....and yes, to my credit, I did have a low grade fever. However, I was not delusionally into the 103-104 range (which at least could have explained my very poor behavior).

"Great. Now I have turned septic. I am going into SHOCK or something. Where is my blood pressure cuff? What is my B/P to pulse ratio?!?!?!"

My dh got the kids off, got himself to work, so he left me. Alone. So what that I said "I just vant to be alonnneeee" like I was a 30's movie starlet. So, I called my mother. She was not very sympathetic. She told me that I was over-reacting because I am hardly ever ill. That I needed to lay off my poor husband, shut my eyes and get some rest. Humph. Like SHE knows anything.

Coming from a nurse who's cure all is "take a shower, have a cup of tea, and I am sure you will feel soooo much better" this was a very, very poor performance. The more we know, the more suggestive we become. And I am somehow a big whiny baby with attitude. Not my best day.

Like all horrible but swift moving viruses, the next day I was markedly better. I could open both eyes, sit up, and take nourishment. (And I was really, really careful to advance my diet with the slowness of a snail. Who the heck does this?! Uhm, me.)

I am a hand washing fanatic. I bleach everything. My house smells like the laud-ro-mat. What I couldn't bleach, I disinfectant sprayed. Who knew that it said to "saturate" and let sit. Everyone reeks of lysol. But there has been no barfing now for a few days.

Such as life, and life goes on...and if you can't laugh at yourself, who can you laugh at....especially when my dh and kids are saying "I vannnnt to be aloneeeeee" like they are making fun of me. IMAGINE. Humph. I was circling the DRAIN for heaven sakes......

(Disclaimer: The norovirus, stomach flu, bug, whatever you want to call it, it does stink. And this is certainly just my experience, I would never give anyone advice on when to seek treatment, and I don't make light of this sickness...which can be dangerous...only my reaction to it.)

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jadelpn

About jadelpn, LPN, EMT-B

jadelpn, LPN, EMT-B

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Years ago, when I had Norovirus, I felt so miserable that I thought to myself "I would rather be dead than feel this way." Three days later, I was better. I still reflect on how misery can cause such irrationality.

Specializes in LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych.

I am laughing so hard the tears are about to run down my leg!! :roflmao: Not at your plight but your description of it. Last year I got Norovirus after half my assisted living facility got it.....I was the last to get sick, and I went down like a sack of rocks. I actually threw up on Interstate 5 as I was trying to get home (I started feeling the symptoms at work). And wouldn't you know, the ONE time I don't want someone to stop to help......well, let's just say he got back in his car in a big hurry as soon as he saw what was happening. LOL!

Specializes in Med-Surg.
I am laughing so hard the tears are about to run down my leg!! :roflmao: Not at your plight but your description of it. Last year I got Norovirus after half my assisted living facility got it.....I was the last to get sick, and I went down like a sack of rocks. I actually threw up on Interstate 5 as I was trying to get home (I started feeling the symptoms at work). And wouldn't you know, the ONE time I don't want someone to stop to help......well, let's just say he got back in his car in a big hurry as soon as he saw what was happening. LOL!

Viva, if it's running down your legs, it might not be tears!

Unless that was implied, in which case I wish to let you all know that I really suck at getting those jokes. Ahem.

Really funny article OP. Kinda brings me back to nursing school where I managed to give myself a panic attack because I thought my panic attack was a PE. I know, how does that even happen, right?! Well, it does.

And then I thought every headache I got must be some brain tumor, God forbid any kind of tingling or numbness happened with it (like when you curl up in bed cuz your head hurts and you lay on your arm and suddenly, panic, hyperventilation, chest pain, oh crap, PE AND a brain tumor!!)

Specializes in Psych.

I am wearing a mask and gloves here at home because both my children have it. My oldest keeps saying he would rather be dead. I just hope they get over it without getting me sick. I know that's terrible but I have new home care clients and do not want to gift them this terrible virus. Can someone just make it go away already!!!

Norovirus is a very contagious virus that can infect anyone. You can get it from an infected person, contaminated food or water, or by touching contaminated surfaces. The virus causes your stomach or intestines or both to get inflamed.

Source :http://www.cdc.gov/norovirus/index.Html

Specializes in LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych.

......and makes you throw up everything you've ever eaten in your entire life!

Specializes in Operating Room.

This is almost exactly how I felt when I had the norovirus (or as my family calls it, the devil virus). I clearly remember telling my husband through tears that I was dying. I've never felt more awful in my life. My husband got it first, after we got home from an awesome barbeque dinner on Valentine's Day! He was on the toilet and had to lean over and throw up in the sink! Haha poor thing. My turn came a few hours after that. We were living in a house of vomit, diarrhea, and death. I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy!

This really had me laughing hysterically OP! I had the privilege of having this nasty virus in March twice! 4 weeks apart... Needless to say It was beyond disgusting and I handled it with the same grace you did;) I have no idea how my three kids and husband escaped it. I was locked in my bedroom for days surrounded by dirty towels, Lysol and a puke bucket.

Specializes in Pediatrics, Emergency, Trauma.

I dodged the bullet this year...but it was sooo worth it to read it...I had sympathy pains when you were left alone; I was left alone puking my guts once on a nice sunny day when I had the swine flu; the conversation went like this:

"Are you coming?"

Me: BARRRRRRFFF!!!!

Door closed.

I got the norovirus when my mother's NH gave it to me. I woke up @ 2AMon Tuesday feeling kind of "funny"- that's the last time I thought ANYTHING was funny for a week! My DH finally convinced me to let him take me to the ER on Thursday, after I puked about every hour- I couldn't hold anything down. I continued to puke LOUDLY in the ER waiting room bathroom, and I heard a woman say "Lord Jesus Christ" and I apologized for grossing her out. She replied," Oh no, honey I am praying for Jesus to help you.".

I was so dehydrated that I was in a-fib. Luckily I responded to meds, although I spent 2 days in the hospital and have not had any more heart problems. I had lost 10 pounds and was out of work for a week.

PS The reason my DH wanted me to go to the ER was that he was starting to "feel funny" himself, although he didn't get as sick as I was.

......and makes you throw up everything you've ever eaten in your entire life!

This tells it all! We had it for four days and were so thankful by the 5th day that we actually wanted to eat anything!

That had to be the most horrible virus I have ever had in all my life!

We all have an awesome sense of humor about it after the fact but when we were sick aka barfing we all said "kill me now please!" Lol!

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