# For Those Who Live Alone--Dealing With Norovirus **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 8, 2018, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-those-who-live-alone-dealing-with-norovirus/810211 "2018-03-08T00:22:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanub/32/132_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUB)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2018, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-those-who-live-alone-dealing-with-norovirus/810211/21 "2018-03-08T19:19:54Z")
Is Norovirus what people used to refer to as “stomach flu” (which I thought was just an inaccurate name for gastroenteritis)? I’d never heard the term until the Chipotle incident(s) of last year. At the time I thought it was some rare, or at least new, illness and I wondered why it seemed to keep afflicting Chipotle workers / customers in different states. In any case, I’ve never had it or heard of anyone around here ever having suffered from it so I wonder if it’s more common these days. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2018, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-those-who-live-alone-dealing-with-norovirus/810211/22 "2018-03-08T19:29:08Z")
> [@WOOKINPANUB](#): > > > [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > > > A norovirus infection is only one circumstance that would be a problem for those of us who live alone. When I had my wisdom teeth extracted under general anesthesia, I needed to be taken home by someone else. (Fortunately, my parents were visiting at the time.) And now my physician wants me to schedule a colonoscopy, which is, I believe, another procedure for which you need someone to take you home (and ideally keep an eye on you). > > Where I live there are doctor affiliated car services where you make a reservation for the drop off and the office staff will call them when you’re for pick up. I don’t see how that’s any safer than an Uber but that’s the only way I’ve been able to get to and from my many, many dental surgeries. As far as colonoscopies, I can see why they wouldn’t want one to drive themselves home but it’s not as if you need someone to care for you. These days they’re really no big deal. Thank you for the information; that’s good to know. My general point was that a norovirus infection is just one example of a time when living alone can be a problem. And this is obviously something that affects people around the world. The New York Times ran an [article](https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/30/world/asia/japan-lonely-deaths-the-end.html) recently about how in Japan some elderly people who had been living alone were also dying alone and undiscovered, perhaps not until the smell reaches the neighbors. One guy had his rent and utilities paid automatically from his bank account and so he wasn’t discovered until the account was depleted and the landlord came to check. By that time, only the skeleton was left. Perhaps that’s an argument against automatically paying your bills. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2018, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-those-who-live-alone-dealing-with-norovirus/810211/23 "2018-03-08T19:33:17Z")
> [@WOOKINPANUB](#): > > Is Norovirus what people used to refer to as “stomach flu” (which I thought was just an inaccurate name for gastroenteritis)? > > I’d never heard the term until the Chipotle incident(s) of last year. At the time I thought it was some rare, or at least new, illness and I wondered why it seemed to keep afflicting Chipotle workers / customers in different states. > > In any case, I’ve never had it or heard of anyone around here ever having suffered from it so I wonder if it’s more common these days. I assume what I am getting every winter is gastroenteritis but I also assume that people use that, “stomach flu” and “Norovirus” interchangeably. ---
**Author:** ![peedin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peedin/32/14095_2.png) [@peedin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peedin)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2018, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-those-who-live-alone-dealing-with-norovirus/810211/24 "2018-03-08T20:47:15Z")
I live alone and a few years ago I had it. Sit on the toilet, puke in a bucket/bowl/garbage can. Cuz if you’re puking, you’re gonna have diarrhea. I was so sick for 48 hours that I couldn’t get off the couch except to make it to the bathroom. I was able to drink water after about 24 hours. I was indeed dehydrated and had I not improved, I would have gone to the hospital for fluids. This is easily managed if you live alone. I like the idea of the sick box. Gatorade and 7-UP are your friends. ---
**Author:** ![whitetho](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whitetho/32/1059_2.png) [@whitetho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whitetho)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2018, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-those-who-live-alone-dealing-with-norovirus/810211/25 "2018-03-08T21:07:04Z")
> [@chappachula](#): > > You may have have to hire somebody. > Where I live, there are companies that provide home-nursing aides. They usually work with elderly people, making daily visits to the home. But you can also pay for a single visit, or one-day service, say, to drive you home and stay with you for a couple hours. > Also, at hospitals, there are often nurses (often retirees) who you can hire informally to “babysit” you, just like parents hire a local teenager to watch their kids… At the nearest hospital, just go into one of the wards and ask at the nurse’s station if they know somebody who wants to make a few extra bucks for accompanying a colonoscopy patient home.They may give you the phone number of a co-worker. In my case, the hospital would only allow you to be driven by a friend or relative. However, my doctor eventually got permission to have me get a “virtual colonoscopy”, which uses a CT scan, so I did not have to be given anesthesia. Still an unpleasant experience, but at least I was able to drive myself home. ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2018, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-those-who-live-alone-dealing-with-norovirus/810211/26 "2018-03-08T21:37:07Z")
Had one earlier this week, the literature specified your escort must remain in the hospital the entire time. Underlined, all caps, in bold ! They continue, ‘otherwise your procedure may be cancelled.’ Hubby did the job, no worries. But I did wonder about singles managing such things. I have an eccentric artist friend who needed an escort, for a medical procedure, so I went with. Also kept him in my home overnight as the hospital insisted he have someone with him for the first 24 hrs. (Different procedure!) ---
**Author:** ![Sattua](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sattua/32/11906_2.png) [@Sattua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sattua)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2018, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-those-who-live-alone-dealing-with-norovirus/810211/27 "2018-03-08T21:47:41Z")
> [@WOOKINPANUB](#): > > Is Norovirus what people used to refer to as “stomach flu” (which I thought was just an inaccurate name for gastroenteritis)? > > I’d never heard the term until the Chipotle incident(s) of last year. At the time I thought it was some rare, or at least new, illness and I wondered why it seemed to keep afflicting Chipotle workers / customers in different states. > > In any case, I’ve never had it or heard of anyone around here ever having suffered from it so I wonder if it’s more common these days. It’s gastroenteritis times ten. I’ve had plenty of episodes with a painful stomach and diarrhea, but this was different. I was barely conscious, seeing spots, had to crawl instead of walk. It was the first time I’d vomited in 25 years. ---
**Author:** ![StGermain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stgermain/32/2868_2.png) [@StGermain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StGermain)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2018, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-those-who-live-alone-dealing-with-norovirus/810211/28 "2018-03-08T22:08:21Z")
I’ve lived alone most of my adult life. I maintain a good relationship with my neighbors, who would run to the store for me if I needed something. Mostly, I just manage. I’ve fed horses on crutches and pulled myself out from under my tractor when I rolled it. I do think it’s important to maintain regular contact with people as you age alone. Just a couple minute daily phone call, so someone will notice if you’re not answering. StG ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2018, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-those-who-live-alone-dealing-with-norovirus/810211/29 "2018-03-08T22:18:32Z")
> [@Dangerosa](#): > > I’ve done norovirus (or something similar - three days of not keeping much down) living alone. > > Put a bucket next to the bed. Put a case of Sprite next to the bed. And while you still have the strength, establish a clear and unobstructed path to the toilet. ---
**Author:** ![MareIt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ea666f/32.png) [@MareIt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MareIt)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2018, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-those-who-live-alone-dealing-with-norovirus/810211/30 "2018-03-09T00:46:41Z")
I’ve lived alone through a broken hip, an appendectomy and surgery on my face/neck. For me, most of the main issues have been resolved by technology and money so that I don’t have to burden my friends with more than walking my dogs or taking out the trash. Hell, with money, I could have those taken care of too 😃 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-those-who-live-alone-dealing-with-norovirus/810211.md?page=1)