Also, MIL is on the mend enough that we think it's best that she and FIL spend the night an airport hotel (with shuttle to the terminal) before their flight out tomorrow.

As I understand it, DH is highly contagious for the next few days.

I might even board our 2 dogs for a couple days. Not sure on that one.

I personally would use Clorox wipes on anything that you can't clean with bleach or Lysol, especially bathrooms and kitchen. Washing the bedding in hot water should be good, I wouldn't bleach those unless they are white. Pitch any food that he or she touched that cannot be cooked to a high temp. I don't believe the virus can survive for long without a host, but I'd err on the side of caution.

We got a stomach bug from the grands at Thanksgiving, you all have my empathy.

Everything PK said, I would also get disinfectant spray and spray it around. Replace all toothbrushes too.

Don't rely on those hand disinfectant solutions. Soap and water. Remember to sing the happy birthday song for as long as you wash your hands. Paper towels to dry your hands, not a shared towel. Masks and such won't do anything. Generally it is a hand to mouth transfer of the bad guys.

Bleach water does wonders (be sure to wear gloves), mostly in the kitchen and possibly the bath. Once those places have been cleaned you should be in good shape, although wiping door handles that are used (bathroom ya know), will help. Change the bed linens and wash as usual. We use a dish cloth in the kitchen, if you do too, then change it daily (in with the bed linens).

For you and the hubby - stay hydrated. Generally these bouts of illness last less than 5-6 days. If anyone has it longer, then a visit to a health care professional is in order.

Thanks you all. So far, have done everything mentioned (even got chucks and diapers for MIL-yes, it was that bad) but get new toothbrushes. We'll be getting those shortly when we go out for more supplies.

Thankfully, our roads are pretty clear.

I just wonder if I need to get Service Master. Hopefully not, and we can be extra careful for the next week or three.

Any and all thoughts and experiences appreciated!

Another thing is to keep well rested.

I usually use paper towels and bleach and water dilute to clean all my counters, door knobs, bathrooms, run all bedding through a hot wash with bleach, same with clothes and animal bedding. I use the paper towels because to me cleaning with a rag and moving from one place to the other just seems to be spreading the germs rather than cleaning them up.

I have a terrible immune system, so I am extra cautious. You make think animal bedding? But even when I am ill I pet and cuddle on my animals and fear they transfer that stuff to their beds. I let the bleach spray sit for 30 seconds on each surface before I wipe it up. I also spray the bathroom walls with lysol you know what they say about the spray from the toilet ewww! and wash all pillows including throw pillows on bed and couch. I also wipe down dresser and closet knobs because I know I handle those alot when I am sick due to changing clothes a lot because of fever or other issues.

all of the above and if possible, open up the windows and let some fresh air in!

Hope you don't get it!

In addition to everything else mentioned, remember to clean the phones, remote controls and kitchen handles (cabinet knobs, appliance doors). Hope everyone is well soon!

Every place you put your hands. Door knobs and light switch covers. Keyboards. Everything! Bleach cleaning a surface works best if you let it air dry and not wipe it off. If you can.

There are some nurses and a doc or two who read this forum, I hope they can happen by and offer expert advice.

I don't think you need a hazmat suit. You've already been in close contact with those who are sick. A simple cleanup of surfaces that have been touched (and you being careful to wash hands frequently, especially before eating or touching your mouth) should serve you well.

I hope all recover and feel better soon.

Thanks for your input. Great suggestions to augment what I'm doing now. Really important since DH is now in the throws of the GI virus with a low-grade fever.

The in-laws are well enough to leave and we're taking them to an airport hotel so that I can focus on DH (who needs bed rest) and they can not get re-infected.

Did she happen to have a C. difficile infection? Or just a bad stomach bug?

If so that is extremely contagious and definitely does require some pretty extreme measures in cleaning and disinfection.

Using bleach and hot water on everything is the general rule. But even if it was not c. diff you can gain some great knowledge and tips on doing through cleaning by looking up on Google how to clean up from c.diff. The process would be the same.

FAQ for c. diff

Also for those who are sick. Eat the BRAT diet bananas, rice, applesauce and toast.

Kick up the probiotics intake. Eat live culture yogurt and drink kefir to keep the healthy bacteria built up for your gut support. So much diarrhea can literally flush out the good bacteria so you must keep them supplemented. Stay very hydrated.

Google the BRAT diet. You can get more information about how to eat the proper food.

Put MIL on BRAT diet. Bananas did not agree with her and gave her gas pains. Poor thing. She's tolerating the apple sauce and toast. She's pretty much on the mend, but poor DH is feeling like crap, pun intended.

We don't know exactly what she had (she was pretty much treated and streeted at the ER), but sure do know it's contagious. I'm treating this situation as Def Con 1.

If it was C-diff you'd know. As suggested I would use sanitizer in the bathrooms and so on. For your husband can I suggest some lipton chicken noodle soup and Saltines? It works like a charm every time.

How would one know if it was C-diff?

We all had some turkey noodle soup tonight ;-)

The missus is a geriatric nurse practitioner. I asked her to characterize the difference between c. diff and a stomach virus. Immediate answer: with c. diff there is significant abdominal pain and the stools have a distinctive odor.

Unfortunately, c. diff is a problem that is usually acquired in a hospital setting, not from casual cross contamination as might be from food and it really is bad in elders who might have other health issues. Unless treated, c. diff can last for months (and longer). A viral stomach issue will generally be gone within one week.

Her last comment was for the hubby, if no change in the next 24 hours - seek medical assistance. Typically, a convenient care situation would suffice. However, a blood test will probably be necessary to help eliminate things.

I hope they are completely over it before they get on the plane....not only for their comfort, but for the other passengers as well.

In-laws are both feeling better. DH's episode is so far, not as bad as MIL.

I just want to get them out of here before they get infected again.

I'm not a germophobe. I have worked in a drugstore off and on for 25 years. I think it's why I'm so healthy. I do not use hand sanitizer. Just soap and water and I don't worry about germs. I want to build my immunities, not tear them apart. I did have a stomach bug 2 weeks ago. My husband has known me for 34 years and only once saw me throw up (I ate an orange, then had some yogurt which turned in my stomach). Well, he saw me dry heaving and finally six hours later, I tossed my cookies and just like that I felt so much better. Whatever it was lasted less than a day. I rarely get colds. Can't remember the last time I had the flu.

If you're really worried about germs: bleach. Wipe everything down with water that has a little bleach in it. Done.

And...once you get it clean, invite all of us over for a party. We'll feel safe coming to your place.

With all of the dissinfecting, don't for get the flush lever on the toilet! Everything else that I can think of has already been mentioned. Sending healing thoughts for all. Hoping you don't get it also.

Yes, the flush lever! I'm always a stickler about keeping the lid down when flushing(and at all times). So gross!

Alas, trying to get everyone on board with precautions and proper sanitation has been like trying to herd cats.

C-diff is very severe. Here's an article from the Mayo Clinic on symptoms. It requires some really heavy duty antibiotics and if I'm not mistaken it's mostly caught when exposed long term to a hospital environment (but I could be wrong on that).

symptoms of C-Diff

I had C-diff years ago. In my case the antibiotics I was taking killed the "good" bacteria in my gut and the "bad bacteria" (C-diff) grew in my intestines instead. I understand some people have a really hard time getting their gut back to normal.

I think must stomach bugs are some type of Noro virus. I don't think a mask would help

http://www.cdc.gov/norovirus/about/overview.html

OP-I hope your family is all better

I've been operating under the assumption that it's norovirus, but of course I can't be sure.

My in-laws flew out yesterday and looked a darn sight better than DH and I.

DH is improving; fever broke (no fever for me so far) and not hitting the bathroom all the time. We're both exhausted.

I wish this nausea would go away!

We're both staying hydrated, first and foremost.

I am not shy in these cases about asking my doctor for some phenergan. It will not help with the virus itself -but helps with nausea and makes you sleep!

I bought Clorox Clean Up Foaming cleanser and am disinfecting surfaces, remotes, knobs etc.

We're working on the mounds of laundry today, using bleach when we can and the hottest cycle for everything.

I think we can get away with not hiring Service Master.

Thanks for all your help and suggestions. It's really been great support as we get through this.

Thank you all for your help and support!

DH and I are on the mend. We cleaned and did laundry for 2 days, and the house is finally in order. I don't think we need Service Master, and just had our cleaners do their normal job yesterday.

The upshot is that we lost weight. DH looks like he lost about 7-8 lbs!
I know, that type of weight loss comes back, but I'm just trying to find a silver lining from the Week From Hell.

Glad that you all are feeling better.