SHUT UP ABOUT NOROVIRUS

It's that time of the year again. The time when the press runs out of things to report and just rams down our throats that norovirus is on the rise and that at least 3/4 of us will catch it. While this is true in that the news rarely get their facts right and they do only report it when they've nothing else to talk about, the irrational part of my mind is tearing me up by saying "if it's newsworthy, it MUST be bad" - that was my logic before, as long as it's not in the news, it's fine. This week it was "as long as it doesn't hit BBC news, it's fine." And lo and behold, today it hit BBC news.

So, my aim for this blog is to hopefully get everything out regarding norovirus, and then I'm going to hopefully shut up. The press won't do the same, obviously, but I'm hoping this will help me calm down if nothing else, as my family and BF are getting very pissed off with my constant panic. Please note, some of the things I say may frighten fellow emets, but that is absolutely not my intention. I apologise if I upset or scare anyone from this post, I really don't mean to upset anyone.

I feel I can't escape it, I really REALLY can't. I've learned a few things about it and while they've helped ease my anxiety in one sense, they've also made me crap myself even more. The good things about norovirus (if you can call them that) that I've learned are:

- You can't catch it from being near someone with it, the only way you can is if they v* in front of you or you somehow inhale particles of it. Eugh.
- You can't catch it just by walking past a pool of v* on the street
- You can't catch it by kissing someone who has it but isn't showing symptoms (unfortunately this is not the same if they HAVE been showing symptoms)
- It's NOT airbourne, despite what the news say. You can only catch it from the air if someone v*s in front of you.

Unfortunately:
- Many hand sanitisers don't kill norovirus. "Antibacterial" hand gels may not be effective in killing it as it's a virus. There is a certain ingredient that is apparently effective against norovirus: benzalkonium chloride and benzethonium chloride.
- Norovirus is mainly spread via surfaces. In my experience, there are only so many times you can wash your hands after touching something.
- Washing your hands is the best way to get rid of the bug - it doesn't kill it, but washes it down the drain. HOWEVER, to me and you, washing your hands is quick, easy and something you always do, but for some dirty bastards, this is not the case.

And this is where I get pissed off. Before things kick off, it's not the people who go into work sick or send their kids to school when they're sick that I'm having a go at, it's the filthy members of the general public that don't wash their hands after going to the toilet that I'm having a go at.

So, we all know norovirus is spread through poor hygiene, i.e. people not washing their hands after using the toilet when suffering from the bug. My first problem with this is: who doesn't wash their hands after going to the toilet? It was the first thing I was taught when I was potty trained and I even feel filthy if I don't use soap if I wash my hands in a public toilet. Secondly: we all know aside from v*ing with norovirus, you get v*ing's BFF with it, d*. Who the hell doesn't wash their hands after having D*?! If this is you, you are a disgusting human being.

I feel like I can't escape it, given that its always on surfaces. It makes me angry that a sure-fire way of stopping norovirus from spreading is by washing your hands properly, and it can stop so many people coming down with this horrible illness - yes, there are so many more illnesses that are worse than having an upset tummy for a few days, but to an emetophobia sufferer, there is nothing worse than suffering from norovirus or any kind of gastric illness - but PEOPLE STILL DON'T DO IT! It's disgusting.

It's so hard to make people do things, particularly with hand washing. Some people I've spoken to have said do on the spot fines for people who don't do it, particularly in schools and hospitals, but it's so difficult, if impossible to police that kind of thing, as much as I think it's a good idea. Hell, I'd go round spraying neat bleach in peoples' faces if I could. Not everyone, just the dirty ones.  An idea I had was for hospitals particularly. On entrances to wards there's usually hand sanitiser, I think somehow it should be linked to the doors, and they will only open (automatically) if you use the hand gel provided. Honestly, how much time does it add onto your trip to visiting a relative or attending an outpatient appointment? It takes 10 seconds if that to pump out some of the stuff and rub it in. Just like it takes less than a minute to properly wash your hands. But still, people are lazy shits and refuse to do it.

It does annoy me to an extent that people go into work and send their kids to school when they're not very well. But, I understand it. I understand that a lot of people have that 'just get on with it' attitude and can't afford to have a day off work and that they can't always afford to stay home and take care of their kids, so it's easier to send them to school, and that a lot of the time kids have tummy aches and what not, and in most cases it's nothing. In most of these cases, especially the people who go to work do (as far as I'm aware from experience with my colleagues who've suffered it) wash their hands regularly and use the hand sanitisers. As kids are more vulnerable and younger ones especially don't always understand the importance of hygiene it becomes more difficult and it's unfair on the child who has the symptoms (no one likes v*ing, but it's even worse if you're in a public place) and unfair on the other children. It creates a cycle in a sense, more kids get it, a number of parents do keep their kids at home if they can, others send them to school, ergo it spreads again and so on. Again, I'm not having a go, all I'm saying is, try and think of others. Especially considering norovirus can be dangerous to young children in terms of dehydration.

Around this time of year, us emets are always on edge. Although now I know most hand gels don't work, I'm even more of a mess than usual. And being away from home at Christmas, visiting relatives and my mum working with children until Friday, and the fact a few Christmasses ago I suffered norovirus myself which resulted in me eating nothing but ginger biscuits and mints for 2 weeks and going through bouts of compulsive handwashing several times a day - really do not help matters. I have been given anti-emetics from the doctor recently, however I'm unsure as to whether its a good idea to take them if I'm suffering from norovirus. The pharmacist advised that it's best to get the bug out in whatever way your body chooses, and let it happen at least once or twice, but if I really can't handle it, then it should be fine. However, I'm still unsure of this, so maybe a call to NHS direct is in order if I do get sick. Rest assured, I will not be leaving the house until 48 hours after my symptoms have gone and I will be washing my hands all the fricking time if I'm horribly unlucky enough to catch this god-awful bug.

I've been reading about how grape-seed extract is good for prevention of the bug in that it destroys the coating of it, thus deactiviating it. I've also heard grape juice is good too, but only as a preventative measure, and it has to be 100% grape juice, no 'cocktail' or low calorie options. While I brought a over-night sized bag full of my "emet survival kit" - rescue remedy, peppermint oil, Colpermin, Immodium,  Buscopan, Mebeverine, vitamin C and zinc, mints, and my most recent addition: Metaclopramide tablets, I have not equipped it with grapeseed extract or grape juice. While I've heard grapeseed extract in high doses may cause nausea, I'm more than tempted to make a trip to Asda to buy me a carton of Welch's.

Wishing all my emet friends a healthy and noro-free Christmas. And to all those idiots that would rather get to where your going quicker or not miss any of that crappy TV show you're watching than spend an extra minute washing your hands: don't be a dickhead. WASH YOUR GODDAMN HANDS.