🤢 72 Hours of Hell: My Food Poisoning Story & 7 Ways to Avoid It
“I ate one slightly warm tuna kimbap and paid for it for three whole days.”
Food poisoning isn't just a stomach ache—it's a full-body betrayal. I've lived through it: three days of vomiting, cramps, and dizziness after one carelessly stored lunch. Here’s what happened, what I wish I had done, and how you can avoid the same fate.
📊 Food Poisoning in Numbers
| Category | Data |
|---|---|
| Annual Cases in Korea | Over 80,000 |
| Peak Season | June to September |
| Top Cause | Norovirus |
| Second | Salmonella |
1️⃣ My 3-Day Breakdown
| Time | Symptoms | What I Did |
|---|---|---|
| 3 hrs after eating | Nausea started | Tried cold compress |
| 6 hrs | Vomited twice, abdominal cramps | Visited clinic |
| 12 hrs | High fever (38.6°C), watery diarrhea | IV hydration at ER |
| 72 hrs | Gradual recovery | Rice porridge + probiotics |
2️⃣ Real-Life Triggers to Watch For
- 🍱 Leaving packed lunch in a warm room for 3+ hours
- 🧊 Thawing frozen meat at room temperature overnight
- 🥩 Cooking meat rare, especially chicken and pork
- 🥗 Using the same knife for raw chicken and vegetables
3️⃣ 7 Prevention Habits That Now Save Me
- ⏲ Refrigerate leftovers within 2 hours
- 🔪 Use separate boards for raw meat and vegetables
- 🔥 Cook meat to at least 75°C internally
- 🫙 Discard anything with odd smell or slime
- 🧼 Wash hands thoroughly, especially after touching eggs or raw meat
- 🚿 Sanitize kitchen sponges and cloths regularly
- 🧊 Don’t rely on smell alone—check storage times
4️⃣ What Helped Me Recover Faster
- 💧 ORS (Oral Rehydration Solution) instead of just water
- 🥣 Rice porridge with a pinch of salt
- 🦠 Taking probiotics for gut recovery
- 😴 Sleep—don’t underestimate rest!
✍ Final Thoughts
Food poisoning isn’t rare—it’s just under-discussed. A few bad hours can turn into days of regret. The good news? You can prevent 90% of it by following a few golden rules.
When in doubt, throw it out. And trust me—it's worth it.
