Gastro and first day of school - what to do . . .

***Efjay*** · February 3rd, 2013, 04:13 PM

Sorry it came across that way. I just don't understand why it would even be a question of taking her at all. The idea of my kids getting a tummy bug is horrible. With a family of seven you could imagine how long it would hang around.

**LuluHB** · February 3rd, 2013, 04:24 PM

thanks Efjay. Its more that the Dr at the hospital on Friday said to the odd chuck might still happen, and said school should be ok because kids bounce back so quick and once its gone, its gone. What I hadn't asked him and should have was the incubation sort of period. If it were DD1 we were talking about then I wouldn't have even considered sending her - I'd have played it safe and kept her home. DD2 has some significant issues and its not exaggerating to say that if her school year gets off to a bad start then it can have a massive impact that could take months to rectify, so while I am very mindful of other people, its more than just a kid missing school in her case.

Sorry too if I offended. I'm running on empty. In the past 8 days two of my three children have been hospitalised and I doubt I've had more than 20 hours sleep so I'm not thinking very clearly about anything just now

**LizLemon** · February 3rd, 2013, 04:28 PM

Lulu. I hope all is better soon x

**Doing my best** · February 3rd, 2013, 04:39 PM

I doubt I've had more than 20 hours sleep so I'm not thinking very clearly about anything just now

With that quote alone, I don't think 'you' should be taking any child to school, unless you are within walking distance from school.. I would be arranging for DH to take them if you do send them. (If I am reading correctly that this is the estimated sleep in 8 days)

Hope you all get better soon though..

**Floweryfields** · February 3rd, 2013, 05:10 PM

I would be furious if another child who had been sick like that was sent to school with people still uncertain of how well they are.

You'd be furious at alot of people then, I know of alot of times where parents have tried to sneak children back early at work with excuses or just not telling us they were even sick to begin with (as in the older sibling letting the cat out of the bag about johnnie vomited this morning). I imagine this happens an awful lot in the school system. I know at the local prep, children sent home vomiting are permitted back the next day - not even 24 hours later. Sadly not all parents even think twice about it.

**Jewel** · February 3rd, 2013, 06:55 PM

I wouldn't send her. I hope you're all feeling better soon and you get some decent sleep. big hugs. :hug"

**LuluHB** · February 3rd, 2013, 07:06 PM

Its all become a moot point unfortunately

I'm guessing now maybe school on Wednesday. Maybe

**Floweryfields** · February 3rd, 2013, 07:16 PM

Oh no! More poo/vomit?

**sangie** · February 3rd, 2013, 07:19 PM

Oh no

**Catastrophic** · February 3rd, 2013, 07:48 PM

Oh poor your poor DD I hope she feels better soon!
If it was me I wouldn't be sending her for a few days after the vomit just so she couldn't pass it on to anyone else. My DD last year missed the first week of school she handled it pretty well - I hope your DD does too. Again lots of hugs (from afar as I don't want to catch it through the screen ;-p)

***Efjay*** · February 3rd, 2013, 07:56 PM

You'd be furious at alot of people then, I know of alot of times where parents have tried to sneak children back early at work with excuses or just not telling us they were even sick to begin with (as in the older sibling letting the cat out of the bag about johnnie vomited this morning). I imagine this happens an awful lot in the school system. I know at the local prep, children sent home vomiting are permitted back the next day - not even 24 hours later. Sadly not all parents even think twice about it.

Yup! I suspect I would!
Even on Friday sitting with Iain at Kindy, A dad asked his little boy who was next to me at the table if his tummy was feeling better? I sat there & thought WTF?! Then he went up & told the teacher that his son had complained of a upset set tummy, but no vomit or poos. I still sat there thinking are you serious! BUT in my defense it is the domino effect that concerns me that if one of the kids brings home something from a child who was known to be unwell & still sent to school then Im in for at least 2 weeks of it with my kids. Plus DH is a real germ freak so if one of the kids is sick then he is a mess!

I hope your school week gets off to an ok start as best as it can. I know what its like to have kids with issues & school. My oldest is starting off by doing a week of only an hour & half in the afternoons at school & had to have the 2nd day off with a "sore throat".

**Peekaboo** · February 3rd, 2013, 08:30 PM

I personally would keep them both home until you all are feeling 100%. I always think of the domino effect with these sort of things - say she is still contagious and she infects 5 friends, who then infect a further 5 kids when they return to school, and the families of those kids etc etc. It's part of the reason these things seem never ending!

Granted I have emetophobia (extreme irrational phobia of vomit), so my view is probably in the minority

***Efjay*** · February 3rd, 2013, 08:43 PM

I personally would keep them both home until you all are feeling 100%. I always think of the domino effect with these sort of things - say she is still contagious and she infects 5 friends, who then infect a further 5 kids when they return to school, and the families of those kids etc etc. It's part of the reason these things seem never ending!

Granted I have emetophobia (extreme irrational phobia of vomit), so my view is probably in the minority

No its exactly how I see it.
We didnt go to MIL's 60th which was on a Sunday because they had been vomiting on the wednesday. That was slightly different though because we know how careless they are with food prep etc so it really was too big a risk that someone would still be a carrier of the vomit bug (which had apparently had them down for 5 days!). Had we been exposed it would have been a month of vomiting here!

**LuluHB** · February 3rd, 2013, 09:23 PM

E now has diarrhea. I think I'm just going to have to write off this first week for both of them and cross everything that's the last of it.

I really hope I won lotto last night. I could do with a washer woman . . .

**Rouge** · February 3rd, 2013, 10:14 PM

Oh no

I'm so sorry Lulu

Gastro is the absolute worst. I hope you get some relief as do your little ones, and next week is a great week for them at school

Sending all the get well vibes I can.

Some tips are if you can keep those who are sick to one bathroom/toilet. Try and wipe down door handles/taps/light switches etc often just with disinfecant wipes are fine. Keep some sanitiser gel handy and if you have to clean up any spills try and use gloves. This will stop you from getting it and it going further. I have a huge paranoia about gastro. And with a few handy tips we've managed to keep the spread to a minimum when it hits by doing these things. People think I'm crazy... but I'll do anything to stop it from going through the whole family.

And unfortunately this is why there is a 48 hour period, and it's usually 24 hours for house occupants after the onset too. Just due to the fact it incubates and hits when you don't realise, and that's why it spreads. It's a horrible horrible virus. I hate it with a passion. But the more educated people become, the less chance it will to pass on so quickly.

Again I hope you all get some relief

**Taurean** · February 3rd, 2013, 10:41 PM

Big hugs Lulu, what an awful week! I've got a phobia of vomit too so gastro is literally a nightmare to me. When it has hit (3 times last year but DD1 was 2.5 yrs before she caught it!), I do as Rouge suggested. It may seem OTT to some but so far it's worked besides the first bout when DH caught it (both ends, terribly!) and I got the runs for 6 hours. DD2 hasn't caught it yet and both DH and I haven't had it again.

I use the Pine O Clean wipes to wipe down surfaces, doors and door handles and any toys I suspect may be infected. I also use the Glen 20 spray and go nuts with that. DD1 still vomits in a bucket (not the toilet) so after it's washed out, I spray the bucket inside and out with Glen 20. I also wash towels as soon as they've copped any mess and I put hand gel in every room and use it A LOT! I put it on DD and myself and spread it right up our arms and even our legs if its been a bit messy

Yep, I'm totally anal about it but like I said, vomit scares the day lights out of me so if I can avoid it spreading I will do anything I can.

Hope you guys are better soon