FML undercooked chicken

[Nogodsnomasters]

My son & I had gluten free frozen chicken dippers tonight cooked in the air fryer, I've made them before for the exact same time and temperature so I'm not sure if the air fryer is maybe on the blink. Anyway they were warm but not piping hot, tasted a bit different, I ate two and gave the other two to the dog. My son ate 1 full one and half an another before saying to me that it tasted different - I pulled his apart and they were slightly pale pink 😭

I am a severe emetophobe. I've spent the last 2hrs shaking like a leaf and have had a panic attack. Neither of us have ever had food poisoning before. I don't care about diarrhea, cramps etc I only care about throwing up.

What are the chances we won't throw up? I'm crying writing this.

You don’t get sick with food poisoning that long after you have eaten it. Couple hours at the most. If it’s been 11 hours you won’t get sick now

I have a digital thermometer to check things are cooked through properly
It stops the guessing if anything is properly cooked

Well according to Google it can be up to 72hrs for salmonella and up to a week for camylobacter.

I too have emetophobia I developed it early on as a child after mum died- {Probably psychological distress} and Dad would panic.

His panicking put the fear into me- even if I see a pavement pizza I feel nauseated and have to get away asap.

I fear both vomiting myself- and others vomiting, but haven't had therapy or drugs for it.

It does affect my life , as I avoid places where people might vomit {Rough ferries, nightclubs [when younger] - It's a disgusting thing, and we are programmed to find it gross.

I too panic about food.

Ironically I can cope with the dog vomiting better than I can cope with a human doing it.

Hope you are ok!

Now THAT is gross...another of my phobias.

A friend moved to a rural part of the World and had to get a job- any job- and got a job as a ''Candler'' in a fish factory.

It turns out Fish candling is looking at cuts of fish with a light behind, and cutting out encysted worms.

I couldn't eat fish for about 2 yrs, then though ''I've probably been eating worms for years as long as the fish is cooked well, It's probably safe''.

Radio 4 once had a fascinating horror story years ago of an older lady who had serious weight loss and no reason could be found.

A stool sample found she was the host of a Russian SturgeonTapeworm, the egg of which that she had eaten AS A CHILD- she had coexisted with this thing for over 75 years.

She had been a child in Russia.

A worming tablet made her pass it, and she was fine.

You don’t sound ridiculous but do you just want to think about the language of My emetophobia will not allow me to eat if there's a risk I could get sick soon.
You are speaking of the illness you suffer as something external to you who is your master. You aren’t a slave.

Can you rephrase it to show your own dominance over the intrusive thoughts?

@Nogodsnomasters My son {Now an adult} definitely hasn't got emetophobia.

It doesn't bother him if others are sick, and he can even clear it up! {His partner was sick} - now that's BRAVE.

Drunks terrify me for this reason. {I don't drink!}

It's a horrible thing to suffer from.

Someone had done a nasty sick near here a few months back, and I avoided walking over that place for many weeks, despite rain having washed it away.

I'd cross the road.

Norovirus is my great fear, and THE fear of all emetophobes.

It certainly feels like it's the dominant one over me. I still won't eat but I can reframe the language "I won't eat until I feel like the time frame of danger has passed"

Many typos in my post last night without contact lenses in. Mine too were free from air fryer goujon things.
I second the meat thermometer as a check for things to reassure you.
I know it can take time to kick in but I truly don't think you'll be poorly. Or your son if nothing by now. Also I hope you feel reassured by the type of potential illness being the other end and not that which you fear. I hope you're ok

I’m the exact same - Emetophobe and too anxious to eat for days if I have a close contact with a stomach bug, have had countless CBT therapists and on venlafaxine. Thinking of you OP, I hope you all remain well. My understanding is that the alive chicken itself had to have salmonella for you to get it as food poisoning (someone correct me if I’m wrong - I may well be!) so it’s not a given that you would get poorly. Let us know how you get on x

Thank you so much. I'm 13hrs in now and no sickness yet. I've taken some reassurance from the comment on here which has been really nice.

Thank you for understanding. It's just so disappointing that I won't be eating for days because I'd just regained some much needed weight and I lose it so easily, I know I will drop a few lb's again, it's harder for me to put it back on. But the alternative is too much to risk in my mind.

Yes I believe you're correct that the chicken must have the bacteria of salmonella or campylobacter (sp?) in order for it to make you sick, so there is just no way of knowing for sure. At least with a stomach bug then incubation period is usually 24-48hrs but with this it could be a full week!

I know it’s easier said than done but do try to eat some food (can be plain and boring!), take vitamins and keep hydrated to maintain your immune system so you don’t get run down. When my DS had a bug I barely ate or drank as so anxious but that in itself made me feel unwell and so more anxious etc!!! It’s so hard isn’t it, but sounds like there’s lots of mumsnetters who understand how you feel 💐

I've taken my meds and vitamin, had a cup of tea and will drink plenty of water as I always do anyway but no way will I eat, especially not for the first 24hrs, I MAY risk some food tomorrow. Thank you for understanding, it's nice to have support.

Sounds so much better, doesn’t it? Good luck OP.
These are only thoughts and the can’t harm you.

Thank you for your kindness, I really appreciate it. Currently trying not to cry every 5 mins.

Hey op just wishing you the best this morning.

Something else that helps me is to think what I'd say to a friend suffering in the same way and. Myself what I'd tell them, if I meant it and how I'd want to feel. Sometimes the reassurance works on yourself. It will pass and hopefully the learning and positive experience you will have this time of it being ok will help build for the future

Hi, thank you. It's been 16hrs. I'm still terrified.

As an aside, I bought these recently for my dd and she loves them! She is 27 btw 🤣 but she loves some beige dinner every now and then when she can
When you cook them again, wait until you can hear them sizzle and you can smell them. I don't have an air fryer but do use a George Foreman cheapy grill and it takes approx 8 mins on there.
You won't get food poisoning from those either, so please try not to stress too much. I also fear being sick, and will much rather have diarrhoea so I do slightly understand how you are feeling about that💐

Just seen your recent post. As you are still ok 16 hours on I really do think you will both be ok. Do you have any calming methods you could try that you were taught during your cbt?

Yes they are usually delicious and my ds is only recently diagnosed with coeliacs disease and he has autism so we're coming to terms with the change of diet and trying to keep things as close to his old normal diet as possible (mostly beige!). I did them for 15 mins, then flipped them over, then did then did another 10 mins which is what I always do! I really should have known when they were only warm and not piping hot fs.

Yes I've done box breathing and I have an app called unstuck where you can challenge your thoughts which I've done but neither have helped, also tried to keep busy with cleaning but I just cannot stop shaking and my face is burning with anxiety (have checked temp, normal!) I will not believe I am safe for at least 72hrs which is going to be long and slow.

@Nogodsnomasters 25 mins they really would have been very well cooked. I wonder if the pinky bit you saw was from the more dark meat of the chicken? These dippers are reformed not from whole chicken breast so that might be what you saw?
I really do think you will both be ok based on how long you cooked them for, but me saying that I doubt will help you. I'm glad you've tried your various calming methods and I am sorry they haven't helped. Kindly, it might be time to seek more help for this💐

That's why I'm thinking the air fryer might be on the blink because I know I cooked them for enough time for sure, but the fact that they were not piping hot is what's throwing me the most.

I honestly don't know where else to turn but I will definitely look into EMDR as that's the one thing I haven't tried. I've done havening, Hypno, CBT and meds.

And the closer I get to the 24hr mark the more petrified I get as I know 24hrs later is a common time for symptoms to start.

I've had good poisoning a few times, always from seafood and it's always started way way before 24hrs.

You're not going to get ill. Honestly.