Boyfriend randomly ill last night?

[morningstress]

I'm thinking it's not a bug (as A he's only had 3 bouts of diarrhoea- though I do understand it's painful) and B no vomiting.

I've given him Imodium and hopefully that'll work- he seems to think it's alcohol withdrawal symptoms? He was only drinking 1-2 ciders a night for a while (I don't drink myself but he wasn't ever drunk so I wouldn't say he has alcohol withdrawal?).

I'm a literal germaphobe so this is my worst nightmare, we all get random diarrhoea every now and again and his mood is fine/laughing etc but I'm so scared he'll start vomiting and I'll get it!

@Luckingfovely did you not see that o have health anxiety? It's really scary and crippling for me, so I do tend to over focus on things that probably aren't an issue but really scare me.

@BertieBotts I'm not no, but he's convinced it's alcohol withdrawal. He's never drunk when he drinks and only had 2 ciders a night regularly for a few months.

@viques good plan, he seemed to think he could just eat whatever afterwards, I said it'll just make him worse. Probably best to fast until dinner time then try some dry toast.

His stomach is making weird noises. How is he sleeping peacefully and I'm freaking out? I'm on the verge of a bloody anxiety attack, scared he's going to get worse and start vomiting.

Everyone gets diarrhoea from time to time. It could be a bug, could be stress related, could be something he's eaten. You'll probably never know. Are you getting any support for your Health Anxiety?

He doesn't need to "fast". The current advice with stomach bugs is to eat small meals or snacks if you feel like it.

@MinisterforCheekyFuckery True, no, I used to be on Prozac but the doctor took me off as it wasn't really doing anything (just reduced anxiety slightly).

I've tried a emetophobia programme (fear of vomiting) that I ordered online and that helped a little, I'm always anxious even when I'm out that I'll get sick or food poisoning. Rarely eat out and try not to use public bathrooms.

You seem to be making an incredible drama about a minor gut upset that may or may not be an infection but obviously isn't very bad and will probably resolve in a few days if not sooner. As PPs have said practise good hygiene, and get on with your life.

@MinisterforCheekyFuckery ah, I just assumed fast to give him stomach a break. I never feel like eating when I've had diarrhoea.

Honestly I'd rather it's me ill right now as then I don't have to lay here and worry.

@morningstress - ok, calm down. This is just a bug working it's way through his system, don't take Imodium as it needs flushing out. Weird noises probably cramping or water flushing out the system.
Our bodies are literally inundated with bugs and viruses all day long, almost all are dealt with, some sneak through - it's a fact of life

Re the boyfriend, washing hands well, flush with the lid completely down and air the room after an episode, don't keep your toothbrushes exposed. If possible get him to use a different loo. Bleach loo every time til it's gone and perhaps even flush twice, open lid, bleach, close lid and wash hands thoroughly, open window and don't go in for a bit whilst the aspirated bugs are dealt with by air flow

@Coronapop I don't think you understand, I have an anxiety disorder and getting sick is my worst fear, I have nightly panic attacks over it!

I've cancelled all my plans today (no work but did have a meeting) as I don't want to go out and get ill incase it is a bug, also I want to make sure he doesn't get worse as I'll need to disinfect everything.

@flumpybear I'm going to clean the bathroom now as he hasn't gone for an hour so that's a good sign?

My toothbrush is charging thankfully in the lounge but we only have 1 bathroom :( (1 bed open plan flat)

In the nicest possible way, you need to get some help for your anxiety. This is not healthy. Perhaps see if your doc could organise some CBT, or see a therapist privately if you can.

I can't see this being anything to do with alcohol withdrawal. As people say, it's just a bug and the noises are simply his guts sorting themselves out. If he's sleeping it can't be too bad otherwise the pain would keep him awake.

I second the view that you need to ask for a referral for your anxiety. If you are getting nightly panic attacks and have seriously cancelled everything for today, you need to be sorted out.

@morningstress I did - and sometimes it helps to have a clear voice of reason telling you that you are completely overreacting, to help get it back in perspective.

You know that you have health anxiety. Every poster on this thread has told you that you are way overreacting.

Nobody can actually make you take that on board if you don't want to, or if you're not prepared to put the effort into trying to calm down and accept that you are overreacting.

This is an entirely mundane situation, and the only drama, worry, or risk is in your mind, because of your anxiety. Take a deep breath and try and understand and accept that, and then you might be able to get it back into perspective a little.

For reassurance i used to feel extremely anxious about my kids being ill. We went on an all inclusive holiday when they were little (i had packed bleach, dettol, toilet wipes and hand gel!! in the suitcase) They both got noroviris and were the illest they'd ever been. We were sharing a room, and i was sharing a bed with DD but i DIDN'T get it.

He may just have the two Bob bits. Don’t panic

OP, I've got dreadful health anxiety, everything I see or hear that someone has is a trigger. It's awful and I do sympathise, but I do really think you are making a mountain out of a molehill with this. There are an awful lot of bugs doing the rounds at the moment so he's probably just picked something up. Clean hands, plenty of water to flush his system through, and light meals and he'll be fine. DH has stayed off work in bed this morning with much the same thing with a headache and sore throat as well. I left him in bed with a bottle of water and some Rich Tea biscuits in case he feels peckish when he wakes up.

I agree that some help for your anxiety sounds as though it is needed. I had to have it - I was on Sertraline and had CBT/therapy after a particularly awful episode a few years ago. It will never go away, but I do have techniques to try and ease things through when it hits.

@morningstress poor you, I completely empathise - I'm a screaming emetophobe myself, I'd be anxious too. In fact my DH came over green and sweaty one day recently at the shops and asked me through gritted teeth if we could go home, like NOW as his innards were suddenly in turmoil.

He's never poorly like that so the old familiar panic gripped me...he's got a bug, he's going to start vomiting, etc etc. It was nothing, he'd scoffed a whole pack of those Aldi sugar free sweets which are, essentially, laxatives.

If he's had just the three episodes and hasn't been again for over an hour, it's probably over - that much chocolate would have the same effect on me (IBS here too).

His bowel is making noise because there's only air travelling through. I'm no doctor but I would confidently say that if he was going to start vomiting, he would be feeling much sicker and wouldn't be acting/laughing normally! Just give the bathroom the once over with bleach - toilet, flush handle, tap handles, light switch/pull cord, door handle etc), and use your own clean towel for your own hands and face etc. I don't think it's a bug personally, it's probably a one off. Immodium is fine for that.

Anyway, my boss called when I was in the middle of typing that post so things might have moved on in the last 15 minutes, how are things now?

Oh sorry meant to say - I've been on medication for 20 years to help my phobic anxiety. It keeps me on the straight and narrow, but doesn't stop me getting a bit tense when there is talk of "bugs going around".

I particularly loathe Christmas, all anyone talks about is vomiting.

That description of sound and movements coming from his stomach sounds to me as if it could be a chestburster (xenomorph XX121). The Imodium will do little I am afraid. Don’t take him to A&E either as there are a few nasty coughs and sniffles going around. Ring up your local agricultural machinery supplier and ask to see their range of hardware.

"He did eat an entire galaxy bar last night + maltezers "

That is enough to give someone the shits, especially if he's washed it down with cider. Cider is extremely acidic on the stomach. The first thing to think of, if you're trying to reassure yourself when you get a stomach issue is, "have I eaten anything stupid?"

But no it 100% isn't "alcohol withdrawal". That's something related to physical alcohol dependency/alcoholism.

The website "No more panic" www.nomorepanic.co.uk has a good health anxiety section, but only if you use it for the right reasons - to work on your anxiety, not to compare symptoms. Reassurance seeking, like you're doing on this thread, just won't work with health anxiety as I'm sure you know already.

I know this probably won't help your anxiety, but it is possible its a bug. I rarely vomit when I get those bugs, its all diarrhoea sorry TMI. Even when everyone else around me is going through the whole hog, still no vomiting. My mother is the same too.

It could also be stress or something he's eaten.

@Al2O3 thank you! That's cheered me up

I suggested Imodium as he was complaining of feeling dehydrated as he'd already been 3 times

Is he prone to being a drama queen? I can understand you being a bit wobbly sort of but seriously, 3 loose stools and he's lying in bed complaining he's feeling dehydrated?

Don't take imodium unless you're sure it's not a tummy bug.