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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

How would you have reacted? WIBU?

41 replies

WoburnSands · 23/08/2016 18:24

A few weeks ago I was in a supermarket café when a boy sitting in a trolley - aged about 3 just suddenly threw up on the floor. Now I'm emetophobic...

I was just frozen to the spot, like a statue, not knowing whether to carry on with my order or what to do (I've been emetophobic since around the age of 3) and then he threw up for the second time!!
I didn't have an immediate reaction there and then, just calmly walked out of the shop - but it really affected me quite deeply for the rest of the day.

With hindsight, I think the poor mum dealt with it really well, and I really felt for the little boy and his slightly younger brother (who was screaming - can't blame him - it affected me and I'm over 21 - just !! ) - no seriously though - I think the mum dealt with it great (sorry for bad grammar) - she took the little boy's hand and was going "Come on!" as she was doing her best to usher him into the toilets nearby - with the younger toddler screaming, sat in the shopping trolley.
I felt really sorry for all 3 of them - and it effected me too - aargh - this is the sort of situation I hate!! Luckily, I haven't seen it happen very often at all!!!

OP posts:
Original poster
WoburnSands · 23/08/2016 19:36

Yes I know what you mean HornyTortoise - there's all the difference in the world between babysick and normal puke!!

OP posts:
eightbluebirds · 23/08/2016 19:42

Of course YANBU. You did well to calmly walk away. I don't love vomit (obviously!) but I'd of offered baby wipes or to entertain her other child. But there is nothing more you could have done here OP, you did fine. Don't stress yourself with it now.

RaspberryOverload · 23/08/2016 19:42

I strongly suspect that I'm on the way tp being emetophobic.

When DCs were small, DP sorted out them being sick, while I'd strip sheets, clean up, etc. I found it much, much easier not dealing with pople actually being sick, to the point of feeling a little panicky if I was on my own with poorly DCs.

The last time I actually vomitted was during a sickness bug around 20+ years ago, and I'm now 47. And I've rarely ever been sick. Just thinking about it, well, I can't, don't want to.

And DP used to get horrendous migraines involving him puking. He didn't want me around for that and I used to make sure I was out of earshot, or if in bed, that I had the pillow over my head blocking the noise out. Thank goodness he doesn't get them much now.

HornyTortoise · 23/08/2016 19:45

Even scenes on movies and such I close my eyes and even have to block my ears if someone pukes...or it plays round and round in my head for ages, making me feel..not ill as such...but really weird and fuzzy. Its really hard to explain.

VioletBlue101 · 23/08/2016 19:58

CalmYourTits I have a panic attack, I cry, I spend a lot of time begging the universe not to let it happen, then panicking that it's inevitable, then sobbing that it did. I had HG with ds and was sick 6-30 times a day for 33weeks and it never got any easier. I was signed off work as I was unable to control the panic attacks and was basically a bit useless.
when the kids are sick I become almost robotic, I know the motion of how to clean it up it etc but in my head I'm totally somewhere else. I don't worry too much about catching anything from them which is odd since they gave me norovirus 3 times in 2years...

VioletBlue101 · 23/08/2016 19:59

CalmYourTits I have a panic attack, I cry, I spend a lot of time begging the universe not to let it happen, then panicking that it's inevitable, then sobbing that it did. I had HG with ds and was sick 6-30 times a day for 33weeks and it never got any easier. I was signed off work as I was unable to control the panic attacks and was basically a bit useless.
when the kids are sick I become almost robotic, I know the motion of how to clean it up it etc but in my head I'm totally somewhere else. I don't worry too much about catching anything from them which is odd since they gave me norovirus 3 times in 2years...

Titflaps · 23/08/2016 20:05

How have you lot managed to not be sick for so long?! I tend to get sick once or twice per year (now feeling nervous because it has been a while and I've tempted fate by talking about it). I use a byotrol hand foam which kills norovirus but would welcome any other top tips!!

HornyTortoise · 23/08/2016 20:30

I have had bugs and such and once you know how its quite easy (though awful) to stave off most vomiting bouts. This for me seems to equal more diarrhea but I can deal with that easily enough. Stopping yourself being sick is bloody horrible though, it literally goes on for hours and hours and you know deep down you should just let it come but you can't physically allow yourself to do it :S

Original poster
WoburnSands · 23/08/2016 20:30

I've often asked myself the same question Titflaps - tbh I think I'm hardly ever sick because - when I was7 - 2 days before my 8th birthday in fact I had such a horrible bout of sickness that I think something in my brain must've shut down and since that time I've never really been sick unless through drink!! Or at least that's how I rationalise it anyway !!!

OP posts:
HornyTortoise · 23/08/2016 20:31

I also have copious amounts of cyclizine round the house..and a bunch of domperidone left over from breastfeeding days. both of these help you to not be sick.

Crunchymum · 23/08/2016 20:37

God I'd have legged it. Yes I'm an emetophobe!!!

I rarely get ill (to the poster who asked how we deal with being sick ourselves) and my phobia is all about other people being ill. I don't worry too much for germs some emetophobes do unless someone I have been around is ill. I am also fine with eating out.

My kids sick I need DP's help with but I can hold myself together until I have th opportunity to go off and cry and shudder and get the antibac wipes out!!!

Sara107 · 23/08/2016 20:38

Titflaps, I think maybe some people are just more prone to throwing up than others. I don't get sick often, apart from pregnancy sickness I guess I throw about every decade or so but I don't do anything special beyond normal hand washing and my house is not particularly clean. But I know other people who would get vomitting bugs pretty regularly. I am not phobic, but I do really struggle with vomit and always avoid people / situations where it has happened. Not possible with a dD and I find cleaning her up ( although she luckily is rarely ill) makes me start gagging. Which she then finds distressing.
In the op's situation, I wouldn't have helped, beyond maybe alerting the cafe staff. And tbh, I wouldn't expect somebody else to stop and help me as I know that sick does distress a lot of people.

Original poster
WoburnSands · 23/08/2016 20:46

The cafe staff were (thankfully) closer than I was in this situational could get a handle on it. Thankfully it's the first time (and hopefully last ) I've seen this happen in s public place!

OP posts:
ladyjadey · 23/08/2016 20:58

When I was a kid I had a mega phobia. As a teenager and young adult if someone was sick I would literally turn and run in the opposite direction. Now I'm a nurse. Go figure! When I put on a uniform, a pair of gloves, an apron, somehow it's not me anymore that has to deal with it, it's the nurse me! She is fantastic. I still hate it though Grin

Original poster
WoburnSands · 23/08/2016 21:00

ladyjadey - I know what you mean - you sort of go on autopilot!!

OP posts:
Titflaps · 23/08/2016 22:37

God I'd rather have diarrhoea for 10 years than be sick even once. I've never loved it (obvs Grin) but my phobia was triggered by having HG when pregnant with ds. I had cyclizine for my HG and that was a life saver. I wish you could just get it from boots!

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