Well, I strongly suggest that the faint of heart stop reading at this point because this is not going to be a pleasant journal entry. First, I hope everyone had a good Christmas. Mine was enjoyable up to a point. The day after Christmas, we gathered at my grandparents’ house to open gifts as my out-of-town relatives had finally made it into town. After opening presents, my brother complained he wasn't feeling well. Of course, he never feels well. So we headed back home around 10:30 PM.

I was working in the basement and had just finished a bowl of my dad's famous tomato soup and rice when noticed a little after midnight that I had the runs. I was thrilled to say the least. Around 1:00 AM, I headed upstairs to go to bed and was still feeling pretty well other than the runs. I ran into my mother who was cleaning the bathroom because my brother had thrown up. I was relieved that I only had the runs because he apparently had both, ick. Between 1:00 and 3:00, I ended up having the runs every 30 minutes or so. I went downstairs because I wanted to lie on the couch near the bathroom. The last two times were really bad as I felt really lightheaded and had a strange sensation that I was holding back. At the time, I didn't realize what it was, although I had a bowl near my bed in case I needed to vomit.

Around 3:15, my mother came down and told me she was taking my brother to urgent care because his diarrhea was coming out bloody. I began to panic because I was getting similar symptoms and was worried I was getting the same thing. As I was getting dressed to go along with them, the sensation returned. Ok, folks, I suggest you stop reading at this point. So I motioned to my mother to bring me the bucket because I "thought" I might need to vomit. Now, I've always thought those skits on Saturday Night Live were funny where the vomit comes spraying out because it was so "unrealistic". I learned that night that there was indeed such a thing as "projectile vomit." After dumping a bowl of tomato soup and rice on the floor (my mother wasn't fast enough), I felt much better. My brother assured me the sensation would pass and I would feel like crap again. Great. We left immediately and my father was stuck cleaning up the mess. Poor dad.

So we made it to urgent care where we were admitted immediately, my brother going in first, of course. While I was waiting in the next "cubicle", the nurse began to give my brother and IV and was concerned that he was dehydrated. Oh, yes he was. The nurse (male) let out a yell as he and my brother both fell to the floor. It took the nurse, me, and another man to haul my brother back onto his bed. He was so dehydrated that he ended up fainting and fell right on the nurse. We both ended up getting IVs to battle the dehydration. My brother needed a lot more than me, but it was kind of freaky. I vomited again around 6:00 AM as I needed to dispose of the rest of the tomato soup...yuck. I was released around 7:30 AM and Nick got out around 8:15 AM.

The rest of the day involved drinking fluids (water, juices, and popsicles). Unfortunately, I didn't pace myself well and ended up having more than I could tolerate. Apple juice sucks in the opposite direction. However, I followed the suggestions and was feeling better by the evening. Nick slept most of the day.

The next day I was up to full strength although I was only able to eat basic solids (water, soups, rice, Jell-O, toast, etc). I actually went out that day and visited with my family who had begun to catch what we had. My grandfather, aunt, and uncle ended up getting it, but no one else did, including my parents. We assume it was some kind of virus since it wasn't food poisoning and the doctors never said anything about a bacterium. Several people thought it was that Norwalk virus (from the cruise ships) that had been spreading around.

This was my first real visit to an "emergency room" and I had never had an IV before. They are both events I would NOT like to repeat in the near future. By the way, if you think this was a totally gross thing to write in an online journal, I agree with you. However, I did warn you... :)

Posted by Curt at December 30, 2002 02:56 PM