Hi Friends,
I cannot thank you ladies enough for your support and words of encouragement during this Viral nightmare. I am now going on 48 hours since I caught this narly vomit/diarhea virus.
Day one was horrible because I couldn't stop vomiting and loosing control of my bladder so that I could have really cared less if I died. In theory of course. I have tried to sleep most of the day but still have incredible nausea and stomach pain with diarhea. But even so I am feeling better than I did in the hospital. Now the real fun has started. Cold waves of panic.
Cold hard fear. I was doing so good for the past 3 weeks until this. In fact I was feeling almost normal again.
I heard this flu can kill you. Now I am freaking out wondering which part will kill. I thought the flu killed people because it goes into pneumonia. I am truly freaked out. I am keeping fluids down and the diarhea has started to subside. I am weak as all get out and that alone is freaking me out. Do you think they would have let me out of the hospital if this was really serious? Here I go, off the deep end into the toilet of anxiety and panic. How does one snap out of this thought pattern. I just hate this part of who I am. I sound like such a psycho case. Has anyone else let their mind run away with them during a sickness like this? You know, it's as if my danger sensor is all messed up. I have fought so long and hard with this peri/meno panic and weird symptoms thing in my 40's that I feel like I can't tell whether or not something is seriously wrong with me or is it just this meno head trip. I am scared that the mixed up meno thing has cried wolf one too many times and that I might ignore the wrong symptoms at the wrong time..........HELP!!!!!! Again forgive me for rambling and not spell checking. I am wiped out.

Anxiety & WORRYING is the worse! Shoot I can get a hang nail and think my arm will fall off!

Really crazy since my kids where always breaking something or bleeding but I never freak!

Nice and calm as I drove them to the ER!

Now there’s the new crazy>>ME! I freak if there snow because I'm afraid I can not get to the ER.
Even if I feel wonderful> if it snow I worry> just in case!

Deb> stay in bed with hot chicken soup-tea and good movies! Drink lots of fluid>>If you have no fever and able to keep food down you will be fine!

Here I read this>> The flu is unlikely to kill young, healthy individuals.
It attacks and weakens the elderly and the ill – people with heart and lung conditions, diabetes, kidney disease, HIV and cancer are at a greater risk!

Deb: I can understand the fear....feeling sick is a frightening experience. But you are young and extremely unlikely to die of the flu. People who are immuno-comprimised (because of severe illness..like cancer, or aids) are at risk. Also the very old or very young. Even then, with proper medical care, they usually pull through. Dehydration is a major cause of flu deaths in the elderly...and also they don't get the medical help they need in time.

And you are correct; usually influenza refers to a respiratory illness. This is a stomach virus, not really the flu.

I promise you...this bad time will be over soon. Be gentle with yourself...go slowly..and every day you will feel a little better. I'll say a prayer for you tonight.

Hugs,

Robin

Thank you Snowmoon,
I am so glad you wrote back. Is 48 still considered young? lol

Robin, thank you so much , your always a wealth of good information. I recall you talking about your blood sugar being a little high a while back. Wasn't it something like 123? When the nurse gave me a copy of my blood work she stated my glucose was on the high side. She said mine was high at
123 and it was probably due to the stress of being ill like I was, but over the past several weeks I have been concerned about my blood sugar because diabetes runs in the family. Not to mention the copious amounts of candy and crap I have been consuming. Geeze, just something else. I am now thinking about getting one of those blood sugar metors. I have always had low blood sugar so it was a bit of a shock when she told me my sugar was high. That does not seem high to me. I heard the levels run between 70-110. I am sick of all of this health preocupation. I am a walking hypochondriac...........the only reason I have not purchased a blood pressure cuff and medical dictionary is because I live down the street from a pharmacy that has all of that. In fact, since I had that blood pressure scare last year this time (182/90) I stop in regularly and take my blood pressure. I feel stupid and try to do it when no one is looking.

Hi - I am truly sorry that you are feeling anxiety ridden regarding your illness. When you feel weak in body, it stands to reason that it affects you mentally as well. Just keep taking in liquids and stay warm and comfortable. If you can, do not rush back to your reguilar routine but rest. This is what your body needs right now. This will take your body a while to recover fully - so cut yourself some slack if you feel weak for a while.

Hang in there,
Suzanne

Thanks Suzanne,
This is day 3 and I am still having bad stomach cramp and diarhea. I am at least taking in a tiny bit of food. I am going back to bed when my son goes off to school.

Keep hydrated. That's the key. You can live weeks without food. The weakness is certainly from the illness, but most likey compounded by losing fluids. Drink, drink, drink! Water and gingerale (good for nausea)

Try to watch a funny movie. Laughter really is the best medicine.

Take care. ((hugs))

Dear Debra

So sorry you are not feeling so good still.These stomach viruses can be hell on both mind and body.You are not rambling nor or you going crazy but you are probably quite dehydrated and anxious.

Now take some deep breaths,a warm bath and a slice of dry toast.Sip ginger ale or warm water with lemon and ginger as it will still the nausea.

They let you out of Hospital because they felt no more cause for alarm but Menopause is the trickiest little Devil in town.He messes with our minds something awful but we are all here to support you and offer any help we can.

Keep Posting
We are listening
Warm Hugs
Elizabeth
P.S. What about a nice hot bottle on your tummy.I always find it gives great comfort?

Deb: Did your doctor give you any instructions or meds to take home? You might benefit from an anti-diarrheal, and also from an anti-nausea drug. Are you going to follow up with him/her?

Don't worry about your blood sugar for now. 123 isn't high for random testing. The standards for normal keep changing. A fasting blood sugar between 90-100 used to be considered healthy, but now it is called 'pre-diabetic.' My doctor told me that 2 hours after a meal, my level should be under 160.

I've been on a very low carb diet for several months now and my blood sugar levels came WAY down. My fasting number is in the eighties and 2 hours after a meal, I'm usually about 110. I'm really liking this new way of eating. Actually, I get so sick and bloated whenever I cheat and eat carbs that I'm wondering if I have an allergy to wheat.

But I digress...the other ladies here have given you great advice....keep warm, push the fluids, and rest, rest, rest. A nice hot bath might help relieve some of the cramping too. Or a heating pad on your tummy.

I really hope you feel better soon....hang in there, Deb..you have a lot of people who care!

Hugs,
RR

Thanks Robin,
I filled a prescription for anti nausea drugs and have imodium. Today I feel so much better. I have made a vow to clean up my diet. The nurse at the hospital told me it was normal to have elevated blood sugar with so much stress on the body when sick. Of course, I start thinking about the 2.5 years of horrendous stress and now my home is in forclosure and this lawsuit is still pending over my head. All from a man whom I refused to marry because I found out A: He was still married and B: He was cheating on me with other women! Anymore, I don't know what is worse, loosing every dime and my home defending myself in a frivolous lawsuit, or I could have just looked the other way and married the guy, knowing what an animal he was, but marrying a millionaire. At least I could have used his money to fight him in court. I am so depressed.

Thanks Bookworm!!

Debra,

I am so glad to hear you are feeling better. You must be glad also!!