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Since becoming a mother more than 13 years ago, I have had very few brushes with the dreaded stomach flu. Usually we would just get the runs and it would last at most 2 days. I recall only one or two incidents where just one child threw up.

Stomach flu does its round

Well on Sunday midnight, I was introduced to the nightmare of having child after child throw up. And all in the wee hours of the morning, but of course! It all started with Child #3. Then slowly, but surely, #1 and #4 followed the day after (Tuesday). Tailing very closely was #2, #5 and #7. Then the last child standing fell. 🙁

It’s just horrible

It was a horrible experience for all – them puking their guts out and us having to clean up after them. Then we had to bring them to the 24-hr clinic at Mount Alvernia Hospital. Henson brought #3 there twice – on Sunday and Tuesday – both past midnight! I brought #2, #5 and #7, by myself at around 2 am! Talk about being a tag team!

In the end, five of them got jabbed, five got a suppository inserted (no, I didn’t count wrongly. Three had both the suppository and the injection!)

Now either the jab given to #2 and #5 was lousy or their brush with the virus was just bad. Because, even after the suppository and injection, they were still throwing up like crazy. And I had to insist loudly to get them the jabs because the doctor insisted that the suppository alone would do the job. But thanks be to God, they are all on their way to recovery. Still weak, but well enough to start bickering and hollering at the top of their voices. 🙂

An angel sent by God

While I was at the clinic with the 3 sick girls, God sent an angel to lend a helping hand. As I was waiting for the suppository to take effect, Uncle Gabriel, an acquaintance from our previous Church, Full Gospel Assembly, stepped in. His adult son, whom I also know from our previous Church. was also suffering from gastric flu. Uncle Gabriel had accompanied him and his wife to the same 24-hour clinic for a check up. The doctor (yes, the same one!) insisted that he be put on a drip for 2 hours!

In the meantime, Uncle Gabriel was just hanging around, waiting for his son. He was the angel God sent to me. He was so sweet, helping to hold the gag bag for the girls when needed, cleaning up after them when they did not get the bag up in time. Then, he got us  blankets, tissues and water. He even stood guard at our car while I waited in the clinic to pay and collect our medication. I felt so blessed.

Thank you Lord for your Hand upon us!

Tips on preventing stomach flu

*Do note that I am not a doctor. I am only sharing our experience with treating stomach flu. Check with your own medical doctor for dosage and appropriateness of treatment shared.

Since that drama episode I have learnt a few more things. I usually do not freak out and head for the doctor’s clinic at the slightest sign of illness. But when one (adult or child) throws up over and over, even without any food or water ingested, it is time to head for medical help. I always ask for a jab when vomiting occurs because it is pointless to take any medication orally when one is only going to throw up almost immediately.

Diligent handwashing

Stomach flu is very, very contagious. Insist on thorough handwashing diligently. Keep the sick child away from the rest of the family as much as possible (which I know is not practical at all, but we try).

BE CONSIDERATE. Keep away from crowded places. In fact, just stay home even if vomiting and diarrhoea has been greatly reduced.

Activated charcoal pills

Activated charcoal pills work for us, so far. The tablets dissolve easily with some water/liquid. It is easy for a young child to take it. Otherwise, take it with as little water as possible. so as to not trigger another bout of vomiting or diarrhoea. For diarrhoea, lacteol-fort, available OTC from Unity, Guardian and Watsons help as well. But sometimes a jab is necessary. Puts one out of one’s misery fast!

Activated charcoal pills work almost immediately, binding the toxins produced by the virus. Don’t worry if the child or you pass out dark-coloured stools the next few times you go to the toilet. Once diarrhoea and/or vomiting has stopped or is greatly reduced, taper off the charcoal. Charcoal is constipating so do not take it on a long-term basis. Do not take activated charcoal pills with food either. Take it in-between meals and just before bedtime so that it won’t bind with the nutrients of the food and eliminate it from your body.

I learnt recently that activated charcoal can also be taken to prevent stomach flu from felling the rest of the family! Apparently it works by slowing down the progress of the virus into your intestinal tract, thereby allowing our immune system to attack it first.

The BRAT diet?

I know traditional advice is to stick to a BRAT diet (bananas, rice, applesauce, toast). But since we are trying to avoid wheat and gluten, I just do chicken broth/soup and some rice/vermicelli (bee hoon) with a an egg. Just easily digestible foods and small meals to not overwhelm the digestive tract. Once one is no longer going to the toilet with each drink/meal, I will add some protein to the soup. And obviously no spicy or oily food for the next 2-3 days.

Taking probiotics help too but that takes time to take effect. So I don’t take that on its own but as a supplement.

* You can read Henson’s experience of the same story here 🙂

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