Live from Vegas, but not feeling so hot...
Sterling Buffet BummerI hit the Sterling Buffet this morning on a whim. I%26#39;m solo right now, and after checking out of the Golden Nugget, and getting ready for a fabulous stay at Wynn, I decided to play a little at Bally%26#39;s just for kicks this morning. Well, the good news was, I won a bunch playing blackjack, and figured I would treat myself to the buffet. I%26#39;d never been, but always been curious.
The room is very nice, and the service is phenomenal. The buffet itself is good. Perhaps very good. But it really didn%26#39;t blow me away. Nothing about it was particularly poor, but I think it%26#39;s just hard for soemething to live up to that kind of hype (and price tag).
So, I tried the filet, the lamb, the pork, the lobster, crab legs, a little sushi, and of course, an obligatory serving of caviar. I had a bite size piece of tiramisu, and a small eclair for desert.
All was well, except for the fact that I was quite full. So, I headed over to Wynn to check in (about 11am) room wasn%26#39;t ready (I didn%26#39;t expect it to be). So I went to play some video poker. As time went on, I thought, ';wow, I ate way too much! I%26#39;m almost uncomfortable';. That then turned into ';uh-oh, I AM unconfortable'; It%26#39;s an awful feeling to be sitting at a video poker maching in the middle of a casino, and know you are about to throw up. By some miracle, I made it to a rest room, and absolutely destroyed the stall (sorry for the imagery, but imagine how I FEEL). After a few minutes, I washed my face and did my best to get myself back together. Thinking all was well, I went back out, got a glass of water, and continued to wait for my room. I can now testify that the only thing worse than having horrible vomitting and diarrhea, is to have them when you don%26#39;t have access to a private bathroom.
Over the next 90 minutes, there were three more trips to various facilities (I really feel bad for the staff!), as I continued to experience gastronomical pyrotechnics from both ends.
It%26#39;s now a little after five, and I am settled into my beautiful room, sipping ginger ale and ice chips, as I continue to have things pass through me with great speed and urgency.
This, my friends, is an unfortunate example of food poisoning! And it%26#39;s not fun.
Now, before people light me up for this, I am not trying to disparage Sterling Buffet of Bally%26#39;s. This can, and does, happen anywhere. It%26#39;s bad luck and it stinks. I guess I just figured I would share my unfortunate adventures with all of you.
And before someone comes along and says, ';if it%26#39;s food poisoning, there will be other reports, and you should call the restaurant and let them know';. I say, it%26#39;s not worth it. Besides, have you ever tried to actually reach one of the restaurants at these hotels? The best you can usually do by phone is to get the reservations center, and for Bally%26#39;s, that%26#39;s and HET office somewhere.
So, again, I am not telling you to avoid Sterling. Go and enjoy it (however, for a better brunch, if you find yourself in Washington DC, check out the Mandarin Oriental Sunday Brunch- $60 per person and far superior). I just wanted to relay an unfortunate experience.
You may commence flaming me now.
MGG
Sterling Buffet BummerI guess I should clarify. I didn%26#39;t have full servings of all those foods. That would be enough to make anyone sick! I had small servings, and basically sampled. And yes, there were some side items as well.
no flames from me, get better soon
there are plenty of us here who have said the buffet isn%26#39;t worth it - to many it is
if it is food poinsoning you don%26#39;t call the restaurant - you contact the local health dept/agency (whatever they call it in LV.)
The responsible thing for you to do is report it in case it is from the buffet it can be handled properly - why let others get sick? Pick up the phone and tell the operator your situation - someone at The wynn will know who you should contact.
It could also be a stomach bug, the flu - you have no way to know if it food poisoning without securing medical advice, or if you got it at Bally%26#39;s - it is irresponsible to say so. If you don%26#39;t want to call go to the ER or an urgent med type place.
I hope you feel better
My condolences and a speedy recovery wish for you!
You can get that from just about anything, anywhere. It just seems somehow less fair after a $60 meal. After a greasy foot long super dog in a dive casino you might feel like you half way deserved it....
that is unlucky. i hope you feel better soon, so you can get your luck back on the machines and or tables. so sorry for your troubles..
melissa
Full disclosure: although this is an anonymous board and this can%26#39;t be confirmed, I am a physician.
To Bridge: This wasn%26#39;t ';the flu';, as there have yet to be any reported cases of influenza in greater Las Vegas (or just about anywhere yet). Also, influenze presents with fever and chills, leading to progressively worsening upper respiratory symptoms and myalgias (muscle pain) over several days. Isolate GI symptoms are rarely if ever a presentation of influenza.
To the poster who mentioned that you thought food poisoning takes longer. Very good! It usually does. But, it is dependent on what type of food poisoning it is. Campylobacter, Listeria, Clostridium, Salmonella, and E.coli are common culprits with presentation times varying from 8 hours to 2 days or more.
However, Staph Aureus releases a toxin that can result in rapid symptoms of vomitting, sever watery (non bloody) diarrhea, and abdominal pain with 1-2 hours of ingestion. Symptoms usually last less than two days, and rarely if ever result in serious sequelae. It frequently occurs at buffets, as it can be associated with prolonged warming or room temperature maintenance of room temperature for perishable food products, notably meat, poultry, eggs, custard, cream filled deserts, and even salads.
As for going to the ER or obtaining medical attention, that would be merited if the symptoms persisted or worsened to the point where dehydration became a real issue. But at this point, I am dining on a delectable combination of sips of water, ginger ale, and powerade (Thank You honor bar!!!). There is nothing more to do.
As for reporting it to the health department. This is of concern when the culprit is something with real public health concerns (the three most relevant being Listeria, E.coli, and Salmonella). When it%26#39;s staph toxin, there isn%26#39;t much to do. And this can frequently affect only one or two people because it%26#39;s not the actual bacteria, but a toxin by product, that may very well contaminate only one item.
Did anything at all taste ';off'; to you? I often can say ';uh, oh, I wish I hadn%26#39;t eaten that';.
';As for reporting it to the health department. This is of concern when the culprit is something with real public health concerns (the three most relevant being Listeria, E.coli, and Salmonella). When it%26#39;s staph toxin, there isn%26#39;t much to do. And this can frequently affect only one or two people because it%26#39;s not the actual bacteria, but a toxin by product, that may very well contaminate only one item.';
if you are a physician you know that the only way for the source to be determined is by reporting it to the health dept and having them determine the course of action. why did you even say the ';restaurant'; in your original post and make an excuse for not calling? why be so irresponsible as to not report it in case it is something that can affect others. selfish and irresponsible. instead of posting gross stuff here be a resposnible adult.
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