Hi Everyone

I'm doing a bit of a panic. 2 of my kids have had a gastro bug and they vomited quite violently for about 12 hours. What happens if I get it? How will this affect my band? Any suggestions please?

I feel your panic. I am normally a sensible, sane and calm person who can deal with a crisis. But ONE hint of gastro and I go to water. I panic so badly I convince myself I have it, every twinge I'm thinking "what's that, am I going to vomit?". Its ridiculous, I honestly cause symptoms when I am completely well.

I dont know why, chundering cannot be half as bad as the mental anguish I put myself though. I'd honestly face surgery without anaesthetic with less fear than I have of catching gastro.

of course, having 3 kids, it seems like the last 10 years someone or other has chucked in the middle of the night at least 3 times a week. However, the last time I actually caught it was the week from hell known as the Hutchinson Family Vomit Fest at the end of which was left only five weak humans and a pile of sodden, stinking laundry. No bed linen, no towels, no pyjamas left in the house.

Since then (4 years ago) we've had maybe 2 bouts of it, but I've been OBSESSIVE about cleaning, not touching anything without gloves, and following the offenders round with a can of Glen 20 - even spraying the couch after I've sat down. Cans in the bathroom with STRICT instructions to spray taps, door handles, toilet lid and button, seat etc after every use. Spray the washing machine and dryer. Bleach everything, hot wash everything non bleachable. Disposable gloves (you'll go through about 500 pairs). Honestly, its hard work but it WORKS. I've managed to not catch it.

I'm not a pig but generally not the most obsessively clean person either. This is the exception. That and the classroom. When I've done my teaching practicum, I keep that hand sanitiser in my bag and use it like 25 times a day - how many things do you catch off a classroom of kids? When its my classroom, the trusty Glen 20 will be coming with me.

Thankfully too we seem to have past this stage of life in my family and I've had everythign known to modern man and rarely catch anything anymore, but gastro is horribly contageous.

If you do get it and you have time before vomiting starts, unfill if possible. I keep some anti nausea medication to hand too - I just explained to my doc the situation, and got a script which I filled and the tablets are always there. Probably should replace them now,they'll be expired. But its still probably MOST likely if you get sick and you vomit you'll be fine. Its a risk factor, not a death sentence to your band. Many people dry retch and cant bring anything up, others vomit quite normally, and only a few have band problems as a result. But best to avoid it if possible.

Thanks I'm off to get some Glen 20 - just hope its not too late. I don't tend to be a vomiter. If I get gastro its usually the other end for me and as horrible as that is its a much better thought than vomiting. I haven't vomited with my band at all and really don't want to try it out.

Yes,it tends to be the rear end for me too, I have a stomach of cast iron it seems.

Its weird - pbing doesnt worry me in the least. I'm not afraid of that.