Day 18: A Smooth Criminal (and how I fought back.)

As most of you probably read on Instagram or Facebook, my household was struck by a a smooth criminal on Tuesday morning. A smooth, habitual, stomach virus criminal. (Andy was not okay, not okay, not okay Andy.)

When Andy woke up he said is tummy felt weird. I gave him some Pepto and let him rest a little while longer. It didn't take long for the belching, gagging, and very smelly, nasty symptoms to occur. At first I thought "Ok, he ate too much lasagna last night."

But then my husband got up, looking very very pale, and let out a nasty, sulfur smelling belch. That's when I knew we had a bug.

Anthony was okay, so I quickly got him dressed, hands washed, hand sanitizer applied, and out of the house away from the sick people. Once he was on the bus, I came back and started my game plan. I had intended on quarantining the guys to one room of the house, but each one was passed out with a bucket on either couch.

When something falls through, you gotta regroup and move on. So I adjusted my game plan accordingly and got to work. The first thing I did was to open my doors (finally got a cool front!!) to air out the house and bring in some fresh air. The house got VERY smelly, VERY FAST. I also put on my Tummy Trouble simmer pot :) Lemons and Limes, Ginger, and Mint. Also threw some chamomile and a little bit of rosemary in. All these ingredients are known to help with stomach cramps and nausea. My house smelled much better, too ;)

IMPORTANT INFO IN THIS PARAGRAPH:

There are 2 main viruses that most commonly cause Acute Gastroenteritis. They are the Rotavirus and the Norovirus. Rotavirus is more common and is spread by contact. Norovirus can also be spread this way, but is mainly spread by contaminated food, (like when your food handler is infected and doesn't wash their hands.... -_-)

The difference between the two are the symptoms and how they are treated, and the age group they affect. Rotavirus is more common in babies and young children. This does not mean that it cannot infect adults, but the younger age groups are more susceptible to it, and it can be very dangerous in infants. Because of this, a vaccine is available for Rotavirus.

WHY THIS IS IMPORTANT:

When it comes to cleaning and disinfecting your home, you need to know that not all cleaning products kill these viruses. In fact, few home disinfectant products actually do get rid of Norovirus. Therefore you need to have an idea of what you are fighting against, and you need to read your product labels! Since most folks don't go to the doctor for a stomach virus, it is best to have cleaning products on hand that are labeled to kill both types. If it is not on the the label, you are not covered!

Here's what I know for sure. Clorox has a new line of products called Healthcare. It has a hydrogen peroxide formula, and it is labeled to kill Norovirus and Rotavirus. There are wipes and sprays available. REGULAR CLOROX OR LYSOL WIPES ARE NOT LABELED FOR NOROVIRUS. They are only labeled for Rotavirus. It is great to still have these on hand, but they will not cover you for both types. Lysol sprays are also labeled for Rotavirus but I am not sure about Norovirus. I know for sure than the dollar brand of Lysol spray is not labeled for Norovirus. Also, common household bleach is not labeled for Norovirus, but different sources say that it is effective at killing the virus at a surface level.

PLEASE READ YOUR LABELS!!! Pay attention to what you are using, proper mixing/usage directions, and contact times, and wear gloves. Also keep in mind that Lysol is a type of disinfectant called a Phenol. Phenols can be toxic to cats if not used properly. Lysol is a FANTASTIC product, but please read the directions carefully and keep kitties away from the area for a while.

As moms, we all know the right way to take care of our kiddos when they are sick. However, here are some helpful tips that seem to work for me and my home when we have a bout of the stomach bug.

• ALWAYS wear gloves when cleaning, disinfecting, etc.

• Air out your house during and after a bout of the bug, if the weather permits.

• For kiddos, keep a pull up on in case of accidents. *I like to throw away whatever underwear they may wear when they have had diarrhea. These viruses also spread through fecal matter, and while bleach and hot water is effective when washing the clothes, if not done properly you can spread it through the laundry!*

• Change trash liners in bathroom often. Take the trash OUT.

• Sickies wash hands AND apply sanitizer before leaving the bathroom.

• After a sickie visits the bathroom, put on new gloves and a mask if you prefer, and disinfect the toilet, sinks, faucet, mirror, toilet paper holder, and doorknobs. I also mop each time, and spray Lysol on the way out. Just my preference.

• Buy new toothbrushes after an episode of the bug for EVERYONE, even if they weren't sick.

• CHANGE YOUR AIR FILTER!! Most filters are designed to remove bacterial spores and such from the air, but they still sit trapped in the filter in your home. It is important to change them frequently, especially after a round of the bug, even if you just did recently.

• Remember to wash your own hands and apply sanitizer often. Try to stay away from sickies. (This is hard to accomplish when the kiddos are sick. They tend to get clingy.)

• Once symptoms have gone away, make the sickies take a warm shower or bath. Wash those germs away! In the meantime, wash bedding and couch covers in hot water. After sickes are clean, disinfect the tub/shower.

• Once symtoms have stopped, follow the B.R.A.T diet for at least 12 hours!! While sickies have symptoms, NO FOOD on the tummy and only small sips of water or ice chips. TRUST ME!!

• Once you have made it through combat, you take a hot bath or shower too!!

I hope all this information is helpful to you!! Having sickies is hard, especially when dealing with contagious viruses.

I'd love to hear from my readers! Pitch in some advice, knowledge, or personal experiences!!

Positive Vibes,

Stacy (WW)