Stomach Virus? (Any Help is Appreciated!)

eelyme · Newbie Joined: 02 Mar 2006 Posts: 1

There's been a stomach virus going around my school. Personally, I'm very afraid of getting one, because I really can't deal with all the spontaneous sickness and not knowing when a bout of, let's say diarrhea or vomit will come.
Therefore, I'm very aware of how my stomach feels and I pay a lot of attention to it. Last night, before going to bed, I was on the computer and I felt and heard popping noises in my stomach, and gurgling, and feelings that are similar to when you're hungry (but trust me, I wasn't hungry.) These are signs that usually send up a red flag for me.
When I actually went to bed, I started to feel this pain in my upper abdomen, where the stomach actually is I guess, as opposed to the intestines or something like that. Then the dull pain travels throughout my whole abdominal area.
I wake up at 3 AM with really excrutiating pain. I've had stomach viruses before, and the popping and growling just indicates that I must make a trip to the bathroom. I went to the bathroom and everything, and that would calm it down for a few seconds, but then it would come back. It wasn't really too sharp, but it was just as if someone was in there grabbing at my insides, and it was really, really unbearable, to the point where I was moaning and shaking my legs in an attempt to massage the area. The pain became so nauseating that I ended up vomiting.
Around two hours later the pain subsided, and I was able to go back to bed (5:30 AM) and sleep until 11 or so. I haven't had any issues since...but then again I haven't eaten anything just yet.
My question is, do these symptoms sound typical of a stomach virus, or is the terrible cramping pain in my stomach differ from what actually happens during a stomach virus? I'm slowly going to introduce clear liquids to my body, and I'll see what happens. Once again, any help is very appreciated.

Jannie · Gold Member Joined: 03 Mar 2006 Posts: 424

Hi! This was not necessarily a virus, you could have just eaten something that was contaminated with bacteria. It is usually salmonella or E. coli or other bacteria.

How are you feeling today? If you vomited like you say you did, it is quite possible that you have expelled the bacteria and that you won’t have anymore problems. If bacteria were still present in your body, it is self-limiting, which means it will do what ever it does in the body and go away.
In case, you continue to have symptoms, they would usually last for 3-4 days.
During those four days, make sure you eat just light food like toasts, cooked potatoes, soups, etc and make sure you don’t get dehydrated. Now, it is important that you don’t drink too much water because you can irritate your stomach, which is already irritated. You were right when you said that you were going to introduce fluids gradually.

If this were a stomach virus, you would also have a diarrhea.
If your symptoms don’t clear in 3-4 days time or if they become severe, you should see a doc.

If you are so sensitive about stomach viruses like you say you are, make sure you maintain proper hygiene: wash your hands after every bathroom visit, don’t share your glasses and utensils, etc

Guest · Guest

My wife just experienced the same thing but she was throwing up every hour for the entire night with diahrea. With the research that I ihave done I have learned that it is important to STAY HIDRATED! You don't want to end up in the hospital in nedd of an iv. That's all I got. Hope you feel better!

Guest · Guest

My dad, whom lives with me, had this about 4 days ago.. my roomate had it 2 days ago in the morning and then I got it that afternoon. First 12 hours were incredibly painful with non-stop trips to the bathroom with diarrhea and vomiting..... the next 24 hours were more of the same but less frequent...... I've been keeping hydrated by drinking some water and soda but only gulps at a time since anything more seems to upset my stomach. Don't care for food much but toast alone or with jelly seems to be o.k.... tried a couple of tablespoons of rice and soup but, just like the liquids, could only do a little at a time and then it starts upsetting my stomach... does eventually go away without vomiting or diarrhea... gingerale helps with this.... my dad and roomate are o.k. now.. hope this helps some and you feel better

Stomach Virus? (Any Help is Appreciated!)

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