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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

If you don't fear (or struggle with) sickness bugs, how do you feel about/deal with them?

121 replies

707smile · 07/04/2022 22:35

Hi,

I have very severe Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (contamination and other obsessions) and vomit phobia. I'm constantly terrified of contracting stomach bugs to the extent that I'm agoraphobic and unable to do the vast majority normal activities. I particularly struggle with eating as I'm terrified of catching Norovirus (which is often caught from someone handling your food with the infection) or bacterial food poisoning.

If you don't have Emetophobia or any particular anxiety around stomach bugs- how do you feel about and deal with bugs?

Thanks!

OP posts:
caulkheaded · 07/04/2022 22:37

Genuine indifference. I rationalise that sometimes I get get unwell, that’s normal, move on.

Bluetowelsandflannels · 07/04/2022 22:39

Don't even think about it other than practicing normal food hygiene. It must be really awful, I do sympathise. Have you tried NLP or hypnosis?

GregBrawlsInDogJail · 07/04/2022 22:41

I can't remember the last time I got one. But I don't really think about it anyway. It's a few days of not fun, you get over it, end of story. You drink plenty and it passes.

luxxlisbon · 07/04/2022 22:41

If you don't have Emetophobia or any particular anxiety around stomach bugs- how do you feel about and deal with bugs?

It just isn’t something I think about at all really.

Tee20x · 07/04/2022 22:41

Don't give it a second thought. Obviously I won't go licking my hands after handling raw meat & wash my hands at the normal times, e.g. after toilet but not out of fear of catching a sickness bug, more just out of normal cleanliness.

gogohm · 07/04/2022 22:42

Don't even think about it, I've never had norovirus and had food poisoning twice in nearly 50 years. It's simply not a concern. I have been sick but it was self inflicted Grin. Toilets are excellent receptacles

FloraPostePosts · 07/04/2022 22:43

I am 50, and I can say honestly say I’ve not had a stomach bug since I was about 10. I enjoy eating out, and take reasonable precautions, especially regular hand washing, when I am out and about, and always before preparing or handling food, or eating. I hate being sick, but because I have confidence that I am taking reasonable precautions against getting ill, I genuinely don’t think about it.

Unfortunately, with your illness, you aren’t going to be able to rationalise this for yourself in the same way. Have you had any treatment for your OCD compulsions? I believe you can self-refer for CBT now.

colouringindoors · 07/04/2022 22:44

I don't think about them. I follow good enough hygiene, but nothing obsessive. I make sure meat is cooked thoroughly. I keep rehydration salts in my medicene cupboard. If I am sick I take these immediately. They always help reduce severity and longevity. I'd take multiple sachets over a 24 hour period.

Original poster
707smile · 07/04/2022 22:47

@Bluetowelsandflannels

Don't even think about it other than practicing normal food hygiene. It must be really awful, I do sympathise. Have you tried NLP or hypnosis?
Thanks Bluetowelsandflannels. I've had loads of treatment but haven't tried hypnosis or Neurolinguistic programming yet, I'm considering hypnosis for my phobia, although I don't think it would work for the OCD.
OP posts:
Eupraxia · 07/04/2022 22:48

I very rarely vomit. When I do, its rarely due to stomach bugs anyway.

  • I've had one genuine bout of gastro infection in 47 years. So not something to give much thought to on a day to day basis. It wasnt nice, but I got through it.
  • About 80% of the times Ive vomited are when I cough too much. Nothing to do with a stomach bug, just a physical response
  • only other reason I've ever vomited is self inflicted - ie, alcohol

So in a nutshell - it happens so rarely that I don't give it a thought.

HotPenguin · 07/04/2022 22:50

I've had very few stomach bugs as an adult, and since I've had kids I've only had bugs caught from them. I've had bad food poisoning twice, but both were the result of my stupidity - one was making an unwise food choice while in a developing country, the other was eating sushi that had been out of the fridge quite a while. Those two episodes were truly miserable but I won't make those mistakes again!

Original poster
707smile · 07/04/2022 22:50

Thanks all. It might sound silly but it just really helps to read other peoples' healthy perspective on this. Quite a lot of other posters discuss sickness bugs using quite dramatic language and although I avoid these threads if I know from the title, that the topic is stomach bug related, it's not always obvious until you start reading them!

OP posts:
IJoinedJustForThisThread · 07/04/2022 22:52

OP, I haven’t admitted to anyone that one of the main reasons I turned veggie 15 years ago is my theory that meat is a major source of food poisoning, so if I didn’t eat meat I would be less likely to get food poisoning and thus less likely to vomit.

Skelligsfeathers · 07/04/2022 22:52

Don't think about it at all. Have had food poisoning twice and had horrendous diarrhoea rather than the other thing.
Nobody LIKES being ill but it is rare and usua dhirt lived so...xhrug

WhatTheWhoTheWhatThe · 07/04/2022 22:53

I hate the feeling of nausea far more than actually being sick. To being sick equals some (maybe only temporary) relief from the nausea. It’s not fun being sick but I feel the same way I do about having a headache or a fever I guess miserable but not afraid.

It’s difficult to describe feelings about something you don’t have a phobia of tbh. I suppose it’s like for me having a fear of flying I’m guessing not having a fear of it feels like I do when I get in my car i.e I just don’t think twice about it.

Caterina99 · 07/04/2022 22:54

Its honestly not something that I really think about too much. I have 2 children at school, and obviously no one likes feeling unwell or dealing with sick, but same as previous posters, other than basic hygiene I don’t give it much thought day to day. If it happens then it happens. I have supplies such as buckets, spare bedding, rehydration stuff, carpet cleaner and I just get on with it.

JoanOgden · 07/04/2022 22:55

I've had maybe 3 sickness bugs in the last 10 years. Each time I've started feeling peaky, then puked a few times, then spent the next day feeling weak and tired, then been absolutely fine. It's not enjoyable but nor is it a big deal.

CliveThighs · 07/04/2022 22:58

I can't actually remember the last time i was sick, probably a good few years ago during a hangover from hell. I made it to the toilet in time and the sheer relief i felt after i vomited, honestly felt so much better than that queasy do i/dont i need to vomit....

I eat out often, go to friends houses for food theyve prepared and have never had anything that made my stomach dodgy.

Im fine when the dc are sick with usual child related bugs. I give them the designated sick bowl, its not pleasant rinsing it out but its just something you deal with.

saltandvinegar33 · 07/04/2022 22:59

OP I totally sympathise, I'm also suffer with emetophobia and although I have no advice.. I just want you to know you're not alone. It's truly awful I wish it didn't bother me & I could feel the same as most do about tummy bugs!

Luredbyapomegranate · 07/04/2022 23:02

@IJoinedJustForThisThread

OP, I haven’t admitted to anyone that one of the main reasons I turned veggie 15 years ago is my theory that meat is a major source of food poisoning, so if I didn’t eat meat I would be less likely to get food poisoning and thus less likely to vomit.
I’ve been veggie and not veggie and have never noticed an iota of difference.

I never think about it OP. They are pretty rare, and nasty when you have them, but they usually pass pretty quickly. And I say this as someone who has brought back a couple of really nasty stomach things from abroad.. but not even they hang around long.

Bintohellandback · 07/04/2022 23:12

I have struggled badly with emetophobia, although perhaps not to the extent that you do. Things like feeling very panicked if someone around is feeling/being sick aso that I will literally turn and run and stress about it for a good while afterwards. I remember hearing someone in the next hotel room being sick and I felt trapped in the room in a cold sweat because they would be using the same corridor, eating area etc (husband persuaded me they were drunk and not a risk in the end). Just thinking about cruise ships made me feel ill and I struggled to read about vomiting. Watching it or hearing it on TV was an absolute no.

Rather unexpectedly covid has flicked a switch. I think it's because while noro is utterly grim, it is (generally) not really dangerous. At the beginning of the pandemic when everyone was terrified I found myself thinking noro is nothing compared to this new awful illness, give me noro any day. My feelings haven't gone back to how they were even as the covid danger has lessened. Now I can see it more how everyone else can, a few days of yuck, some extra cleaning, then back to normal. But I remember the absolute fear still so you have my sympathies.

Original poster
707smile · 07/04/2022 23:14

@saltandvinegar33

OP I totally sympathise, I'm also suffer with emetophobia and although I have no advice.. I just want you to know you're not alone. It's truly awful I wish it didn't bother me & I could feel the same as most do about tummy bugs!
Thanks saltandvinegar33, it totally sucks doesn't it! I'm really not living a normal life with it and want to be able to! I hope you're okay and can recover from it :-) .
OP posts:
AHungryCaterpillar · 07/04/2022 23:15

I’m not bothered by them at all, yes they are unpleasant but they don’t bother me, are you the same poster who was asking why more people don’t have a phobia of vomit? Sure there was an identical thread the other day.

Claireshh · 07/04/2022 23:17

I’m 45 and i’ve only had a fee vomiting bugs. I don’t mind them. Yes you feel horrendous but it passes as quickly as it starts. No way would I limit my life experience because of worry about catching one. I’m not having a go. I had a pretty severe fear of flying but i’m much better now. X

Wandamakesporridge · 07/04/2022 23:17

I don’t worry about it - I guess I just see it as a sign that your body is doing what it is supposed to (expelling something that’s not good for you).
I read an article a few years ago about how we shouldn’t see minor illnesses (colds, bugs etc) as a bad thing, as they are our body doing it’s job! And actually our body needs minor illnesses to keep the immune system functioning properly. I think that’s helped me to keep it in perspective.

I’ve had a few stomach bugs in my life (thanks to working in a school…) and it usually involves: feeling dodgy, throwing up a few times, feeling a bit weak for a couple of days, then feeling better and eating crisps and lemonade!

With 3 kids in the house you get used to dealing with it. We have a special bucket designated as the ‘sick bucket’, old towels, antibacterial spray. That’s all you can do really.

I don’t remember myself ever having food poisoning though, and we do eat out regularly.

However I do appreciate that phobias are something different altogether and not an easy thing to overcome.