Norwalk Virus: No cruise needed

[budwmn]

We're booked on the Dec. 31 Wonder and have been a little nervous about being on a cruise ship during peak flu and norwalk virus season.

Well, on Christmas Eve my son starts with a bad stomach bug. He couldn't keep anything down. Our doctor finally sent us to the ER because he was so dehydrated. Turns out, they think he had a strain of the Norwalk virus. He's finally doing better and they think he should be 100% well before we leave for the trip.

Christmas was a non-event and I'd like to forget it ever happened this year. I guess it just makes me realize that you can get sick anywhere, at any time.

Disney Wonder here we come!

 

[QueenTrident]

Hope your DS feels better soon and that no one else in your family catches it!

Good Luck!

 

[Jaklackus]

DH and I both had Norwalk at home last year..I hope never again! My 5 month old son at the time didn't catch it..THANK GOD! It was the worst 4 days of my entire life...would have given anything to keep down a half sip of water...

 

[plutospup]

On Friday our ER was the busiest I've ever seen. They expanded our waiting room down both ends of the hallway. Extra beds were even brought down from the nursing floors.

Please remember wash your hands, and stay away from those who have the flu!

 

[Jeanny]

I'm actually at the paranoid point now... if I'm out and someone is sick, I take off running the other way...I don't want to take any chances of getting sick now!!

I was at my hairdressers shop yesterday (where I also go tanning) and one of "the regulars" came in all sick!!! Geeesssh, STAY HOME if you're sick! Another girl called, she wanted to go tanning, but she too was sick, so Flo asked her to please stay home as she didn't want any germs in the tanning bed/room, even though it's disinfected before and after each use... Plus she saw the look of panic on my face when she mentioned the girl was sick.

I'm one of the lucky ones, I just have allergies, I very rarely get a cold, etc (Zicam!!!) ... but I just don't want to get quarantined on my first ever cruise!!!!

 

[poopie]

why don't sick people just stay home!!!! It's so irritating.

I have caught a bacterial infection on my last 3 AIRLINE flights, one putting me in the hospital with pnuemonia.

I have do have a medical condition that causes my immune system to be weak BUT I work in a hospital and wash my hands frequently and NEVER have a problem at home.

When I get on a plane and see people sick as dogs it makes me so upset, Cruise lines won't let you on board but you can be almost dead and still get on a plane. This last time one guys was SOO sick he almost passed out getting on to the airplane and his nose was running so bad he had a hand towel to the snot. YUCK!! he kept touching everything since he was so weak he could barley stand up.

This trip next week I am wearing a bacteria filtering mask on the plane, I don't care how stupid I look I am NOT risking getting sick on another trip.

And yes Norwalk is very common off cruise ships, which is why I never undrestood why the media made it such a big deal.

 

[Grumpy's Mom]

This past week, there were signs all over the Magic, in front of every restaurant entrance, every public restroom, and every cabin of the necessity to wash your hands and HOW to wash your hands.

I was told by a guest on the GC tender that his middle daughter was at "home" with the flu -- in their cabin. I asked if this was at the "request" of Disney, and he said no, but told me that the Ship's MD had said there were 700 cases of flu onboard -- that would be have been 25% of the crew+guests! I saw him the next day walking to Cozumel from the ship. His dd was with him and was feeling better. I asked if the Ship's MD had done nasal brushings (only way to diagnose flu) or put her on Tamiflu, and he said no to both questions.

We didn't see anyone who appeared to be ill, even a cold, and he is the only person I spoke with who had a sick child.

I had one dd who was sick several times in the early AM's, but I think she just had too much of too rich food for her system!!

 

[rae519]

We deal with illness all the time but still reading those two little word gave me shivers AGAIN.

I politely refuse to shake hands (sign of peace) and drink from the Eucharist cup at Mass - no sense in pushing my already compromised health state (bronchitis/pneumonia/asthma for a few weeks now).

We do what we can to stay healthy and sometimes those little germies just sneak up on us and bite us when we aren't looking!

Rae

 

[poopie]

I politely refuse to shake hands (sign of peace) and drink from the Eucharist cup at Mass - no sense in pushing my already compromised health state (bronchitis/pneumonia/asthma for a few weeks now).

I wonder how many germs are passed at mass. I have a friend who is very religous and I know that she has gone sick as dog and drank from the cup anyway. YUCK!!

 

[rae519]

A young teenager behind me was sick and I got it from her way back when. People who talk about "how religious they are" generally aren't and if they are, then they wouldn't be going sick anywhere (Church, shopping, work) and infect others.

Mom refused to shake hands with the man in front of her (Eucharistic Minister) and he said, "Why not?" She said, "Because of the sickness going around." And he grabs her hand and says, "God doesn't let us get germs in Church." OHHHHH, I hadn't heard about that one - have you?!!

She was upset because she is old school and back then we didn't talk or touch people in Church (except for the "shhhhh" and occassional tap on the kid's tushie to be quiet).

I know that when I am sick and unable to go to Mass, I will not go to hell for it and that when I am okay and at Mass, I can bow and make my "Peace" with my neighbor and pass up the Eucharistic cup without fear of going to hell. AND I don't hold hands during the Our Father either!!!!

"Touch me not!"
Rae (avoiding people, places and most of all, GERMS, right now!)

 

[budwmn]

Just an update:

My DS is back to normal. Looking at him, you would never know how sick he was last week. We have two days before the cruise and I am planning on keeping away from public places as much as possible. I don't want to risk any more exposure to germs!

I am comforted reading all of the above posts. I go out of my way to keep my son healthy (he has a poor immune system). I get a little crazy when I see sick people out and about spreading their illness with no care or concern for the rest of society. I'm glad to see that I'm not alone.

 

[rae519]

Hurrah on that news about your son! Always good to have a child well again. AND now relax and enjoy the last two frantic days of packing for that cruise!!!

I'm headed back to my MD this afternoon - still want to choke that teen who gave this to me.....AGGGHHHH!

Rae