# I have Norwalk virus **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [June 18, 2012, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-norwalk-virus/625542 "2012-06-18T17:12:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![antonio107](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7ea924/32.png) [@antonio107](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/antonio107)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2012, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-norwalk-virus/625542/1 "2012-06-18T17:12:19Z")
I thought my girlfriend’s lactose intolerance was getting worse. Well, lactose intolerance isn’t contagious. At the hospital last night and this morning. I generally have a low threshold for pain, but right now I’m about as miserable and dehydrated as I’ve ever been in my life. I really hope I can keep some of this Gatorade down…☹ ---
**Author:** ![Encinitas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@Encinitas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Encinitas)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2012, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-norwalk-virus/625542/2 "2012-06-18T17:38:05Z")
Been on any cruise ships lately? Sorry for your misery. ---
**Author:** ![antonio107](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7ea924/32.png) [@antonio107](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/antonio107)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2012, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-norwalk-virus/625542/3 "2012-06-18T18:06:06Z")
> [@Encinitas](#): > > Been on any cruise ships lately? > Sorry for your misery. I’ve never been on a cruise ship! And if this is a common occurrence, you can bet yer ass I never will. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2012, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-norwalk-virus/625542/4 "2012-06-18T18:12:15Z")
Between the total body aches and pains (including hair hurting), not knowing which orifice to place over the commode first, the constant headache, and finally considering death to be a reasonable and desired resolution of my symptoms, I can hardly wait for my next bout of it. ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2012, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-norwalk-virus/625542/5 "2012-06-18T19:53:47Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > Between the total body aches and pains (including hair hurting), not knowing which orifice to place over the commode first, the constant headache, and finally considering death to be a reasonable and desired resolution of my symptoms, I can hardly wait for my next bout of it. Redecorate your bathroom, placing the bathtub directly across from and close to the front of the toilet? ---
**Author:** ![antonio107](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7ea924/32.png) [@antonio107](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/antonio107)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2012, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-norwalk-virus/625542/6 "2012-06-18T20:01:38Z")
My trick has been to get in the shower, and just let it fly out of both orifices… ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2012, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-norwalk-virus/625542/7 "2012-06-18T20:07:56Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > Between the total body aches and pains (including hair hurting), not knowing which orifice to place over the commode first, the constant headache, and finally considering death to be a reasonable and desired resolution of my symptoms, I can hardly wait for my next bout of it. My father used to say if you were very sick you would be afraid you would die, but you would know when you were really really sick, because you would be afraid you would get better. When you are that sick death just seems so much easier than fighting to get better. Hope you feel better soon! ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2012, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-norwalk-virus/625542/8 "2012-06-18T20:08:24Z")
> [@antonio107](#): > > My trick has been to get in the shower, and just let it fly out of both orifices… Yeah, I’ve resorted to that. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2012, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-norwalk-virus/625542/9 "2012-06-18T21:28:35Z")
Well, now I guess I don’t feel _quite_ as bad. I have a virus, but nothing like what you guys describe. I ache all over and have nausea, but that is about it. Oh and a runny nose. Sending out a wish for a speedy recovery! ---
**Author:** ![chizzuk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e36b37/32.png) [@chizzuk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chizzuk)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2012, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-norwalk-virus/625542/10 "2012-06-18T22:11:17Z")
My cousin had this over Christmas a few years ago while visiting his folks and they had to rush him to the ER because he was so miserable and had so much abdominal pain that they were afraid it might be appendicitis. In other words, I’ve heard it sucks royally. Feel better! ---
**Author:** ![Battle\_Pope](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@Battle\_Pope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Battle_Pope)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2012, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-norwalk-virus/625542/11 "2012-06-18T22:19:11Z")
> [@Rick](#): > > My father used to say if you were very sick you would be afraid you would die, but you would know when you were really really sick, because you would be afraid you would get better. When you are that sick death just seems so much easier than fighting to get better. > Hope you feel better soon! Sound like the end of my trip to India. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Zabali\_Clawbane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/ecd19e/32.png) [@Zabali\_Clawbane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zabali_Clawbane)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2012, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-norwalk-virus/625542/12 "2012-06-19T04:20:05Z")
> [@aruvqan](#): > > Redecorate your bathroom, placing the bathtub directly across from and close to the front of the toilet? This is why I keep a large mop bucket in the bathroom! Head over bucket, butt on toilet. ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2012, 6:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-norwalk-virus/625542/13 "2012-06-19T06:39:33Z")
> [@Zabali\_Clawbane](#): > > This is why I keep a large mop bucket in the bathroom! Head over bucket, butt on toilet. I mentioned on a message board about 5 or 6 years ago that I occasionally hosed off my [at the time very young goddaughter] after a diaper incident in the kitchen sink and kept a 5 gallon stock pot in the bedroom in case I upchucked and didn’t think I could make it to the bathroom, and had several people totally grossed out at the thought. I don’t know about anybody else, but a stainless steel kitchen sink and a stainless steel cook pot are immenently sterilisable :dubious::rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Zabali\_Clawbane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/ecd19e/32.png) [@Zabali\_Clawbane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zabali_Clawbane)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2012, 6:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-norwalk-virus/625542/14 "2012-06-19T06:45:58Z")
> [@aruvqan](#): > > I mentioned on a message board about 5 or 6 years ago that I occasionally hosed off my [at the time very young goddaughter] after a diaper incident in the kitchen sink and kept a 5 gallon stock pot in the bedroom in case I upchucked and didn’t think I could make it to the bathroom, and had several people totally grossed out at the thought. I don’t know about anybody else, but a stainless steel kitchen sink and a stainless steel cook pot are immenently sterilisable :dubious::rolleyes: The mop bucket is easily emptied, and bleach water sterilizes it nicely. I personally wouldn’t bath anything but hands in a kitchen sink, given that food is washed in it, but that is me. I’d rather have a bucket than a stock pot for puking. Larger opening, less chances of missing. Well, and I don’t want to remember the last time I puked while making a tastey stew either. :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2012, 9:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-norwalk-virus/625542/15 "2012-06-19T09:21:51Z")
> [@Rick](#): > > My father used to say if you were very sick you would be afraid you would die, but you would know when you were really really sick, because you would be afraid you would get better. When you are that sick death just seems so much easier than fighting to get better. > Hope you feel better soon! One time my father remarked that he’d have to rally (get better) to die. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2012, 9:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-norwalk-virus/625542/16 "2012-06-19T09:30:14Z")
My God, you guys are making gastrenteritis sound like a walk down Main Street! ---
**Author:** ![antonio107](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7ea924/32.png) [@antonio107](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/antonio107)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2012, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-norwalk-virus/625542/17 "2012-06-19T14:21:30Z")
> [@Nava](#): > > My God, you guys are making gastrenteritis sound like a walk down Main Street! Lol, oh yeah, for sure…😉 Feeling mostly better as of last evening and this morning. If I can make one interesting observation, it’s that you shouldn’t take Imodium on an empty stomach. Unless you’re curious what _Seppuku_ feels like, then by all means go for it! ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2012, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-norwalk-virus/625542/18 "2012-06-19T14:36:09Z")
> [@aruvqan](#): > > Redecorate your bathroom, placing the bathtub directly across from and close to the front of the toilet? Nah - a trash can with a plastic liner does the job for a lot less money. Oh - and my sympathies. I’ve only ever once had a “north AND south” stomach bug - a result, I think, of a bad meatball sub vs. a virus, and I was lucky in that things happened serially rather than concurrently. It was not a fun day, in any event. ---
**Author:** ![PlainJain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5daacb/32.png) [@PlainJain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PlainJain)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2012, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-norwalk-virus/625542/19 "2012-06-19T14:56:54Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > Between the total body aches and pains (including hair hurting), not knowing which orifice to place over the commode first, the constant headache, and finally considering death to be a reasonable and desired resolution of my symptoms, I can hardly wait for my next bout of it. Yikes! I’ve never even herd of this disease. How do I NOT get it? ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2012, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-norwalk-virus/625542/20 "2012-06-19T15:16:01Z")
\*\*I have Norwalk virus \*\* Yeah okay. You live in Connecticut and you get snobby diseases. We get it. Couldn’t just have a common stomach flu like the rest of us right? What’s the next designer disease going to be, Scarsdale Dysentery? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-norwalk-virus/625542.md?page=2)