Please help - sickness bug & emetephohia

[LilyPad2468]

I have had emetephobia most of my life and had some therapy but still really struggle. Have come down with D&V, started about 10:30am this morning and still going now. D is like water (sorry TMI) and i had only been sick once but last time I went to the toilet I was retching into a bag at the same time and now feels so sick.

Avoiding my young baby as I really dont want her to get this. Mum has dropped off dioralyte so going to try sipping that. Any other tips please??? I really need this to be over 😭😭😭

I hope you're feeling a little better this morning OP? Miserable, to be sure, especially on the top of Emetophobia.
It WILL be over, soon x

I had this last week. I had the nausea and no appetite for 3 days, was sick once and had diarrhoea for 2 days. Then just left with a gripey stomach for another couple of days.

Take regular small sips of water - not too much at a time. And carry on with the Dioralyte to replenish your electrolytes, again taking small sips of it. For food, try dry bland things like plain crackers or dry toast. Don't have anything like dairy or anything fatty.

And rest. Your body will be exhausted trying to deal with the virus so let it do its thing and don't try to do too much.

Oh and I found sleeping with my head propped up made me feel a little less nauseous.

Hope you get better soon.

@Oneearringlost thank you so much for your reply 💗 feeling a lot more human this morning! Haven't been sick for 12 hours now so hoping it's over and I can drink something, I'm SO thirsty but scared to over do it🫣

@TheseAreDarkTimesHarry oh no I'm sorry to hear that you had it too!! That sounds exactly like me, was only sick the one time (but quite sick, then later was almost sick again but nothing came up) but mostly the other way. Do you think I'd be ok to drink normally this morning (12 hours since being sick) or would you still take it slow? The thirst is the worst part! Hope you're feeling much better now 💗

Hi OP glad you are on the mend. Depends what you mean by drink normally, I think. I wouldn’t down half a pint of water (like if you were thirsty normally) but I would drink a cup of tea slowly. Really glad you are better x

Yes I agree with Tupperwarefan. Don't down drinks but keeping sipping regularly.

Glad you're getting a bit better. It's awful isn't it!

Thank you both!! Was feeling a lot better yesterday but today I feel sickly again...think it might be hunger as I've still barely eaten ☹️ definitely is awful! X

You just have to power through. Every time it happens stare at the sick and acknowledge that its presence has not made anything worse.

I get that it’s hard. I have a blood phobia and have to have 4 blood draws a year… the more I get through without fainting the more powerful I am over my phobia. Courage is not lack of fear but being afraid and handling it anyway. You can do this! You can face it! You will survive it!

I’m so sorry. Also emetephobic and had was hospitalised in early pregnancy for extreme sickness. I couldn’t even keep water down. The nausea lasted my entire pregnancy . I coped by mentally disassociating myself from my body. When my daughter was sick as a child, the same. I mentally disconnected myself from the situation and did what needed to be done.
I still struggle with emetephobia. I think I always will.
in practical terms , ice chips .

Thank you for the replies and understanding ❤️❤️ I've been able to eat and drink normally today so thankfully seems to be over!

So sorry you were hospitalised for sickness @bellinisurge , that would be my worst nightmare to be that poorly with vomiting😭 well done for getting through it!! I have a young baby who's had one vomiting bug so far, like you I managed to just get on with it and my mum instincts took over, I was more worried about her in that moment than me! Amazing what us mamas can do when we need to 🥰 was always worried that I wouldnt be able to be around when she was sick but thankfully now I know I can do it even though it's scary! X

@Sunbringer ah I used to be similar to you re. blood, used to faint every time but also feeling faint used to give me panic attacks! I ended up needing lots of blood draws for an autoimmune condition I developed (hereditary) and that helped me to completely get over it, I'm fine with getting my bloods done now. Hopefully you having multiple blood draws a year will really help you too...it's like free exposure therapy! X

Was a bit miffed though as I had a dentist appointment this morning, rang up as soon as they opened and explained I'd had a vomiting bug on the weekend and wasn't 48 hours clear yet, so I didn't want to risk infecting my lovely dentist who would be working in my mouth! So very likely to catch if it's anything airborne. I asked to reschedule for another day and the receptionist said today will still account as a failure to attend, and if I have one more I'll be deregistered from the dentist as the maximum you can have is 2! I understand that it's policy, but I couldn't let them know 24-48hrs in advance as they are shut on weekends and surely it would be more irresponsible to attend today and risk passing a bug on to my dentist and potentually immunocompromised people in the waiting room? Hope I'm not ill for any more appointments, terrified now in case I can't make the rescheduled date for any reason! 🫣 have never missed one before today but it's worried me now 😕