curing someone with a possible stomach flu and preventing it for myself?

[shutyoureyes]

i'm visiting my boyfriend this weekend (we're long-distance) and he thinks he may have caught the stomach flu that someone else has/had at his workplace (feels 'bleh', loss of appetite, needing to go to the bathroom frequently). i fly up saturday night. and assuming the worst, that he does indeed have the stomach flu, what can i do to help him

Comments

[oxymoron02]

Personally, I'd cancel the visit. Having someone with the stomach flu breathing on me all night, when I just don't have to, is worth avoiding. There are days I wish I could be somewhere else when people are sick, but by the time they're sick I've been exposed, so there's not point heading for the hills, even if I could. You don't have to see him this weekend. There will be other weekends, weekends where you don't have to risk illness and where you can enjoy each other's time.

Honestly, if you were my other (I've done long distance, across state lines), I'd ask you not to come. I would expect anyone who truly cares for you to do the same.

[shutyoureyes]

I would be too! That didn't even cross my mind until the commenter above mentioned it.

Ah, forgot about garlic! I'll have to stock up on the Vitamin C.

[mirhanda]

Maybe it'll be one of those 24 hour things and he'll be over it by the time you get there. As horrible as this sounds, you may want to avoid kissing, just in case it could be spread that way (which, intestinal virus, probably is.) Wash your hands frequently and don't touch your eyes, nose or (most especially) your mouth.

[shutyoureyes]

yeah i'm really hoping he'll be feeling better tomorrow! will be really hard to avoid kissing, especially being long-distance, it's nice to be as intimate as possible :\
i'll see what i can do, though.

[hugh_mannity]

Both of you wash your hands before and after going to the bathroom, doing any food prep, or just as a general good idea. With hot water and soap (doesn't need to be antibacterial). Use a nailbrush to get all the gunk out from under your nails.

Proper hand washing is the best preventive measure you can take. Hand sanitizers are better than nothing, but don't come close in the effectiveness dept.

[shutyoureyes]

now how to convince him to wash his hands that frequently? :\ hard to convince someone who's a bit stubborn! :P

i'll be doing my fair share of handwashing this weekend, that's for sure!

[rocza]

If you have to convince him to wash his hands during normal times when one should wash their hands, then he probably doesn't have stomach flu. o.0

Ew.

[noveldevice]

Yeah. I mean, hand washing aside, I would suspect mild food poisoning. Given this info, possibly E. coli. Washing one's hands is important.

[leatherfemme]

For you (and possibly him): echinacea and/or reishi mushrooms and / or elderflower/elderberry (all immune boosters)

To help with flu: lots of fluids - coconut water if he can tolerate it is wonderfully hydrating and contains lots of electrolytes. Ginger or mint tea is a good tummy soother. Remember when recovering to replenish the system with some good probiotics.

[shutyoureyes]

cocounut water would be great! i suggested it to him, so hopefully he gets some.

i haven't heard of reishi mushrooms for immunity, but have definitely heard about echinacea. i'll look into those herbs and see if i can get some tomorrow.

[shalora]

Echinacea takes 2 weeks to start building up your immune system - the mushrooms and/or elderberry/elder flower would have a much faster effect (and thus be far more useful in this case).

[inertiaflux]

I don't like coconut water :p but it had more to do with pulp in it. Lol