How common are stomach bugs?

How long do stomach bugs last?

• There is a stomach bug going around our family. It isnt the stomach flu like vomiting and diarreah but there is occasional diarreah and we're all really bloated and gassy and cramping. We can barely eat anything either or we get nauseas and urpy. Ive been randomly waking up and having to rush to the bathroom only half the time do I have diarreah. It feels like we got to go NOW but nothing happens! Its been in the house for almost two weeks. How long do these bugs last? Are we on the tail end hopefully? Should we do some sanitation? I figured maybe since everyone in the house has it as soon as we get over it we pick it up again. Also are there any vitamins that are good with overcoming stomach bugs? Its got my IBS in an uproar! Please help

• Answer:

  I've had a similar thing with myself and my daughter, the discomfort is only occasional though for me, and my daughter (who is 3) almost never complains of tummy pain. When there is pain though, it's very intense, and you get the sensation to go to the loo urgently but don't always need to. These kind of things almost always pass, and it's unlikely you are passing it back to each other unless you are spitting in each others food/mouths on a regular basis, or handling each others faecal matter without washing your hands or wearing gloves. Just try to avoid anything that would upset your tummies any more, and cross your fingers! If any of you stop being able to eat or drink completely, call the doctor.