As
if everyday life isn't enough of to make us emetophobics a nervous
wreck all the time....norovirus season makes me want to check myself
into a mental hospital. Not only because it makes me a crazy paranoid
basket case (even more than normal) but also because an isolated room
with minimal contact to the outside world and all it's germ carrying
people sounds incredibly appealing.
So
here's the thing...I wrote the above paragraph one morning before work,
saved it and left. I do that a lot. When an idea comes I'll just
start writing even if it's only a few sentences to get me going.
Anyway, I wrote that paragraph and went to work. When I got there I
found out our morning cook had gone home early because he was on the
verge of throwing up....again. Another one of our cooks had been out
the day before but had shown up that day. He he said that he too had
been throwing up yesterday and lost about 8lbs. My mind instantly raced
back to how 2 days prior my friend and coworker had complained of her
stomach hurting all day and the next day she told me she threw up once
when she got home. We had chalked up her stomach issues to some sort of
ulcer, caffeine fueled thing but now I knew that 3 people, 3 days in a
row could only mean one thing....norovirus!!
I
instantly went into survival mode. That doesn't mean breaking out a
gun or shank...or a cross bow if you're Daryl Dixon (I <3
him)....no.....in my world it means breaking out apple cider vinegar.
(I'll explain why later on in this post) Mind you I had only been at
work and clocked in for maybe 4 minutes and I was running to our store
room for the gallon jug of vinegar. I went and found and our little plastic dressing PC cups, lined them up and started pouring shots of it for anyone who wanted to partake. I was kind of a pusher....but I meant well. Who the hell wants the pukes...I mean really?
Everyone
was a champ....they downed it with sour looks on their face. One
person even said "Oh my god Whitney...it tastes like my mothers cucumber
salad." I thought that was pretty funny.
I
went on about my day only slightly anxious. I felt better that the
current culprit of the bug was gone and that I had at least done
SOMETHING to try and contribute to stopping its spread. I was a little
on edge but able to function pretty normally.
Through
the grapevine I heard that he was out the entire weekend as well. I
was just happy to be off work and out of the incubator of sickies for a
few days. Come Monday when I walked in I instantly surveyed the kitchen
as I opened my locker. I saw him at he sink washing his hands and
thought "Phew....he must be feeling better...we're all good" I was
wrong. He didn't feel better and he looked kinda rough too. I guess he
even told a supervisor he didn't think he should be there but they told
him they didn't have a replacement and that he needed to stay. Now I
wasn't there for that conversation...so I can't vouch for it but I
wouldn't doubt it for a second. Those are the kinds of things that
happen when you work for people who are terrified of ever having to do
more than just stand there and watch as the rest of us deal with
everything as they get paid 3-4x more than us....but that's another
post.
So
he stayed. And I was a flippin WRECK! I felt jittery nervous all day
long and tried to avoid him at all costs. Most days because I do prep
and I'm in my own little world I spend most of my day working by myself
in a corner in the back of the kitchen....and I like it that way. Of
course today of allllll days I had to use the deep fryer for hours on
end which meant working right next time him. Like literally....RIGHT
here. Shoot me.
I
kept anticipating his movements. Everytime he moved relatively quickly
I would back up and be ready to make a run for it. It sucks because
your stuck in this place where you are trying to avoid this person and
their inevitable sickness at all costs...but you CAN'T look away! I must
know whats going on with them at all times. It's not being able to
take your eyes off a card accident....it just sucks you in. He kept
putting his hands on the table, putting his head back, closing his
eyes, and breathing deeply. That is not a good sign at all!!! That is
the sign of someone holding back their yacks. He would look over and
say "I know I'm making you nervous." (no shit!) "But don't
worry....I'll run for it."
Here's
what people don't understand. Yes, by no means do I ever want to see,
hear, or smell you puke. EVER! But it's also way more than that. At
that point it was way past just the fear of him vomiting at any
moment....it was the fact that he was breathing my air. I know that
totally sounds like stuck up bitch....but I mean that he was breathing
his nastiness all day around me and all the people I surround myself
with 40 hours a week and touching all the same surfaces. It was more
than I could handle. I kept having to run over to my coworker Stacey
and vent. I probably went to her about 14 times saying " I can't take
this.....oh my god I can't take this."
That
very same day all this was happening at work a friend of mine posted on
Facebook that they went to work but they were still throwing up.
Dealing with it on my own end and knowing that there are other people
out there doing the same and just showing up to work with an incredibly
contagious sickness such as this honestly makes me angry. Yep. Angry.
Maybe what I'm about to say is rude. Honestly though.....I don't
care. In the first post I wrote about living with emetophobia
I talked about how the paralyzing fear that comes with having a phobia
can make you seem cold, uncompassionate, and down right mean sometimes.
While this is true and plays into my next statement....I also think my
thoughts have a lot of valid points to it.
I
want to scream at them....Get the fuck out of here! Nobody wants you
here! I think that knowingly showing up to work while throwing up from
the stomach flu is not only gross it is rude, inconsiderate, and frankly
irresponsible. It's not a small case of the sniffles....you're not
throwing up from a night of drinking...you're throwing up because you
have a very contagious virus that you are now exposing all your
coworkers too. Way to fuckin go!!! How am I not right here? Who is
going to say...yea sure.....show up to work....puke all over the
place....and spread it around.....we're all good with it. No biggie.
So gross.
Now
moving on from my tantrum...I wanted to share with you some facts on
norovirus. While they can be alarming at first I think it will
ultimately help you as it did me. Ignorance isn't always bliss.
*Norovirus can be in your system up to 2 days before you even begin to show symptoms. Therefore you are contagious before you even know it. Exactly why practicing proper hygiene is important all the time.
*You are most contagious while showing symptoms as well as for 3 fulls days after symptoms subside. Remain cautious around those who you know have been sick, including that coworker who is back at work feeling "just fine"
* Norovirus is spread orally. Meaning it takes "ingestion" for you to catch it. It's spread through coming in contact with fecal matter or vomit that you ingest by means of eating food prepared but dirty infected hands, touching an infected surface and then biting your nails etc. Basically, WASH THOSE HANDS! When you a person vomits violently, microscopic bits of vomit (or fecal matter for that matter when it is violently coming out the other end) spray everywhere. Then live on surfaces just waiting for you to touch and pick it up. Yummy!
*80% of Norovirus outbreaks occur between November and April.
This is exactly why it is called Norovirus season. It is believed to
be caused by the cooler weather forcing people into closer quarters
making its spread much quicker and easier. Keep your guard up during
these months
*It is resistant to disinfectants. While
I still promote the use of Lysol wipes and other similar products for
the disinfecting of all sorts of nastiness...unfortunately they are no
match for Norovirus. That pump of Purell won't do anything either. The
only way to get rid of it is with a mix of bleach and water or
physically washing it down the drain with soap and water. Wash those
hands!!
*It can live in fabrics for up to 12 days. That's
right folk....your blankies, couches, clothes, and any other fabrics
latch onto that yuckiness for 12 whole days making it super easy to keep
spreading to new victims. Wash any blankets, sheets, and clothes that
came in contact with anyone infected. This is just a tip of my own, but
if your sicky poo insists on laying on the couch consider covering it
in layers of shhets and blankets that can be thrown in the washing
machine since your couch can't be....yet. Invention idea??? ;)
So
while reading those things scared me at first and made me want to strip
naked and boil myself in bleach water....I realized it will only help
me. The more you know the more chances you have of avoiding it yourself
Now
for a few tips on prevention. Obviously you have probably picked up
that handwashing is a big one. It always is when it comes to staying
healthy but I have a few more for you. I haven't been sick with
ANYTHING the entire year of 2013. I don't even recall being sick in
2012 either. Sometimes I feel sort of crappy but I am never full blown
sick. I think I just feel crappy and tired because my body is fighting
it off...never actually succumbing to it.
*Coconut Oil-
Coconut oil is good for you for a variety of reasons. So many that it
would take a whole post to talk about. One thing though in particular
is that it boosts your immune system. I believe that the tablespoon of
coconut oil that I put in my bulletproof coffee every morning plays a big role in keeping me healthy
*Apple Cider Vinegar-
Apple cider vinegar is also one of the best things on the face of this
planet for your health. Even better is that it can specifically help
ward off Norovirus. Remember how earlier in the post I told you how I
had my coworkers doing shots of ACV? Well, that's because it changes
the PH levels in your stomach making it nearly impossible for the
norovirus to survive. Once you are already sick with the virus it's not
really effective but is great when used as a preventative measure.
I've heard how some mothers SWEAR by this method for their children but
use grape juice instead. They have their child drink a small glass
every morning especially during norovirus season. I don't need the
added sugar so the vinegar works just fine for me. Organic vinegar like
Braggs brand is the best way to go. My sister has mixed the vinegar
with a little crystal light for her kids and said it comes out tasting
sort of like a sour patch kid. Cheers to that!
*Lemon-
This last one isn't really about prevention of the virus, but about
helping with nausea. I'm the type of person you gets nauseated anytime
that I am anxious or overly tired....which has lead to many bouts of
nausea at work. A friend if mine told me to start sucking on lemon
wedges and whaddaya know....it works! I had to know why so I researched
it. Apparently the excess saliva that comes with feeling a little
nauseous only makes it worse. The natural tannins in the lemon have a
drying effect in your mouth (much like red wine) which in turns drys up
the excess saliva and helps ease the nausea. Pretty cool huh?
Well
there ya have it....everything you never wanted to know about the
stomach flu. I will always be trying my best to avoid this nasty
bug....but I have to admit. If I ever do get it I would rather piss out
my ass than throw up. So my plea to the universe is....If I have to
get it, please send it south and not north. I would be forever
grateful. K thanks.
