Tales of Norovirus
The other unexpected storm on our Ibiza vacation. Plus, advice from a health coach on how to manage this contagious virus
I’m finally back in LA after an epic albeit somewhat dramatic trip to Ibiza to celebrate a friend’s 50th birthday.
You may have read about the unusual thunderstorms that hit the island, capsizing sailboats and causing all sorts of damage. But there was another ruthless yet invisible force of nature brewing just below the surface.
That same week a highly contagious stomach virus ripped through the island, including our villa, taking down half of the house staff and most of our guests — thankfully sparing the birthday girl.
While it didn’t dampen our spirits or our sense of humor, it was a most unwelcome guest. Luckily our Canadian crew is resilient and hilarious — taking the piss out of each other and the ridiculous situation. We renamed our villa, The Black Lotus, and ended every evening guessing who would make it through the night. Spoiler: we fared better than Jennifer Coolidge.
All jokes aside though — the norovirus is intense and brutal so I’m sharing some valuable intel on how to treat and prevent it. Bookmark this substack in preparation for the upcoming winter flu season. May the odds be ever in your favor.
Norovirus is a very common, easily transmittable virus affecting about 20 million people each year in the U.S. Annoyingly, it also ended my longest winning streak of not getting sick, which had been going since December 2022.
With an incubation period of 12-48 hours, this virus means you can be contagious before showing symptoms and up to 48 hours afterwards making any environment, like a classroom, shared home or dance floor in Ibiza, the perfect place for the contagion to spread.
Norovirus: How to Identify It 🧐
Fast onset time: one minute you feel fine, the next you are very unwell
Symptoms: uncontrollable vomiting, diarrhea, stomach cramps, nausea, and low grade fever
Less common symptoms: headache, body aches and chills (which are sometimes brought on by dehydration)
Duration: Approx 1-3 days but usually vomiting stops within 24 hours
Misdiagnosis: Can appear to be food poisoning, but that only lasts a few hours
“Noroviruses are perhaps the perfect human pathogen.”
— Aron Hall, Center for Disease Control
How is it transmitted? 🦠
The virus infects the host by invading their body and infecting their cells in vast numbers. Once infected, the noroviruses rewire the digestive system by altering the intestinal lining to release their fluids triggering diarrhea and repeated vomiting.
Unlike food poisoning, where the body is trying to expel toxins and pathogens, this virus induces these involuntary actions in order to spread billions of noroviruses to new hosts. All I can think of is Sigourney Weaver in Alien.
The tiny undetectable droplets that are released from infected hosts can float through the air and live on surfaces, in food and even in swimming pools. Unfortunately, the virus is hard to kill as it can survive freezing, heating and even chemical disinfectants.1
How to treat it 🚑
The good news is that this virus is short-lived with the worst symptoms contained to a 24 hour cycle. Here’s how to deal with it.
Isolate: The infected person is contagious and needs rest
Hydrate: Fluids, especially electrolyte-infused water, take small sips (to keep it down) or suck on ice chips to prevent dehydration, especially with children
Nourish: once vomiting stops, eat small bites of bland, easy-to-digest food like crackers, bananas, rice, scrambled eggs, boiled chicken or bone broth
Treat: Tylenol (for pain), Dramamine (for nausea); Imodium (for diarrhea); IV drip (for hydration)
Avoid: Advil (irritates already inflamed gut lining) and other inflammatory food and drink (coffee, alcohol, dairy, sugar)
Prevent: wash hands frequently with soap (not Purell), bleach surfaces (doorknobs, bathroom and any shared areas), cook food thoroughly
Call a doctor if vomiting or diarrhea extend beyond 24 hours due to risk of dehydration, especially for young children or immunocompromised.
There might not be a study on peptides and viruses, but I’m convinced that my mini-protocol of BPC-157 before leaving for vacation gave my gut some protection. I was the only one who got sick without vomiting, though I did endure debilitating stomach cramps, a terrible headache, and hours of chills.
My temperature and heart rate were extremely elevated, with my resting heart rate reaching 139 beats per minute at one point. My Oura ring showed I was under siege — my immune system was in overdrive, mounting a defense against the infection.
It’s incredible to visualize the battle happening in my body through data from my bio-wearable.
Post-Virus Protocol 🍎
Norovirus is known to decimate your gut microbiome, reducing its diversity and disrupting the balance of good and bad bacteria. It may take weeks or even months to reduce inflammation, repair gut permeability ("leaky gut"), and lower your risk of secondary infections due to weakened immunity.
The post-virus protocol mirrors my pre-travel protocol. Boosting immunity requires a multifactorial approach, so strengthening your gut microbiome is always a smart move.
Eat polyphenol-rich foods, including a diversity of colorful plants
Incorporate prebiotics (garlic, onions, bananas, oats) and probiotics (yogurt, sauerkraut, miso) through daily fiber and fermented foods
Get consistent sleep to support immune system
Limit substances that damage gut bacteria such as alcohol or NSAIDs
Consider BPC-157 peptide to reduce inflammation and repair gut lining
The take-away: Viruses will take down the best of us but the severity of your symptoms and speed of your recovery can depend on the state of your gut health and overall immunity.
Related Posts:
Vacation Mode Activated - The essential travel supplements and products I pack to stay healthy
All writing is for informational and entertainment purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
Wow, I’m so sorry — but I love seeing your plan of attack for how to repair the gut post virus. I’m in awe of and inspired by your consistency in wellness efforts.