to be (literally) sick of this? (sorry long!)

[LifeIsButtercream]

I know this isn't really AIBU but I'm desperate for some opinions.

I have a DD (2), and am on my own. Last April I got a stomach bug, and even when it finished I had intermittant nausea, daily, randomly and its been taking over my life. I can be fine one minute and clinging to a bucket the next. I've only actually been sick a handful of times (since the bug), but my main problem is: I'm emetophobic - I'm cripplingly terrified of being sick/feeling sick - so nausea episodes come with panic attacks - which last for hours (literally, 4hrs was my record) and leave me exhaused.

I started on antidepressants in November, which made be 80% better, nausea was rare but still didn't feel right, I've been taking anti-emetics almost daily for the best part of a year. But in the past week its been happening more and more and I'm gutted that its back.

It's taking over my life, I can't do things with my daughter like I want to, making her dinner is an ordeal sometimes as I can't face food. My parents had to have her last night as I had one of my worst episodes in a while.

I went to the doctors, who did a thorough blood test and declared that there is nothing wrong with me and nothing they can do. I can't live like this though - at the risk of sounding like a drama queen.

The thing is, if its anxiety thats causing the nausea, I don't know whats causing the anxiety, I'm in a new relationship, some other issues last year have been resolved, my daughter is a wonderful little girl and I love being with her - wtf am I anxious about.

Seriously wtf is wrong with me?

AIBU to ask has anyone else experienced this? I don't know what to do!

If there is nothing physically wrong, then that doesnt mean that there isnt something psychologically wrong, which CAN be treated.

It is possible that the anti-depressants were not the right medication, because anxiety and depression are not necessarily hand in hand. I am not depressed, but I do have/had lots of anxiety attacks and panic attacks. These were treated very successfully with beta-blockers (propanolol), and also some therapy with a counsellor could really help you too.

You can have anxiety for no particular reason, but it can be treated.

I found this forum to be really helpful for me.

www.uncommonforum.com/viewforum.php?f=7

There is a thread halfway down the page which is by posters with a vomiting/anxiety phobia too which might be of interest to you. :)

Living with Emetophobia is written by Nicolette Heaton-Harris. In the book she recounts her experiences of emetophobia and some of the techniques she has tried.

You might want to Google it.

Good luck.

Labrynthitis is very very common. It is basically a disturbance of the balance mechanism in the ear and makes you feel sick and dizzy. It either goes away on its own or people learn to live with it. There is no test and no treatment. This may have been your initial problem.

But you say you are now terrified of being/feeling sick. This can be a phobia. Phobias often come with panic attacks/anxiety. And unfortunately, there can be no real reason why someone develops a phobia.

Maybe read the book mentioned above and if that doesn't help ask for help with tackling this phobia. Hypnotism and short term counselling e.g. 2-3 sessions (if a counsellor can't cure it in this time then they aren't up to the job) can help.

Also the worst thing you can do with a phobia is avoid the behaviour you are scared of. So if you avoid doing things that may make you feel sick, you need to very gradually try and do these things again.

Hi all, thanks for the advice and sorry for the delay.

Went to the docs yesterday and they insisted that it 'must' be acid related and have put me on antacids and told me to 'come back in a month'. I stressed to them that I have no heartburn/reflux and rarely have any other symptoms other than this clawing nausea. He also refused to repeat my prescription for anti-emetics, which has made me so upset because I feel like I rely on them.

Am now sobbing on sofa because I don't wanna live like this for the rest of my life and thinking that this will never go away (pathetic, I know).

I've had a phobia of being sick since I was a child, its always scared me, and I hate it so much. I've had counselling which was unsuccessfull. I feel like I could cope with ANYTHING else, but not nausea for the rest of my life. I'm scared to go out incase I get nausea/sick in public.

I know it sounds pathetic but I don't want this to be 'my lot' forever

I know I need to pull myself together

Please have a look at the link I posted, there are lots of people on there who have exactly the same problem and have found ways to get around it.

Do you think you could be in a loop . . . was sick, got anxious about being sick, made you feel more sick, got more anxious etc?

I have anxiety issues and have been stunned by the physical symptoms it can cause and some have been quite long term!

You poor thing.

Two years ago I had something very similar - initially thought to be labrynthitis (I still think this is how it all started) but then spiralled and I was ill for months. I couldn't take care of my DD, I nearly walked out on my marriage and I became very, very depressed.

Anti-depressents really, really helped me. Please go back to the doctor; perhaps see another one. It might be that you need to increase the dosage. Please don't worry about getting addicted or not being able to get off them: I found that I was able to take a step back and objectively look at where stuff was going wrong.