Page 3 | If you don't fear (or struggle with) sickness bugs, how do you feel about/deal with them?

707smile · 2022-04-07T21:35:28+00:00

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!

DrSbaitso · 08/04/2022 08:32

They're horrible, but they don't tend to last long. Sometimes you get ill, what can you do.

I'm much more scared of missing out on my life for fear of the occasional stomach bug. How often do most people get them? Obviously it might be different if you're immuno-compromised, but I don't think most people get them often. I've had a vomiting bug twice in my adult life and one was probably food poisoning. Vomiting part lasted about 12 hours for both. Horrible while it's happening but hardly worth holing up in fear over.

SoItWas · 08/04/2022 08:32

I've also been sick more times from alcohol than from sickness bugs. I don't drink very often any more, (and have accepted that even one beer will make me want to retch).

SilverHairedCat · 08/04/2022 08:33

I'm a very vomity person unfortunately. I get a LOT of migraines and they make me very unwell at times. I now have patches for sickness and nausea which help enormously.

I also suffer very badly with hangovers and if I have one, I usually vomit.

I've had three bugs like you're worried about, ever. One aged 7 which was a virus sound the rounds, an unexplained one in my teens and one from river mud which must have been linked with mussel beds. I've had food poisoning once and it's my own fault.

My teeth are so bad I've been asked if I'm bulimic by dentists. No, just chronically ill!

I'm fairly pragmatic about it. It's the body trying to help itself and remove bad things from your system, or it's preparing you to survive an illness. I usually feel a bit better afterwards, so it's a necessary evil. I usually shower and brush my teeth gently each time to try and keep the feeling of getting better going.

TomatoCultivator · 08/04/2022 08:37

Have you noticed how often vomiting is used to signal distress in films/series these days? It has taken the place of other acting

Tell me about it, liesdonot!
As an emetophobe I have to get films and series vetted before I can watch them and it’s amazing how many have gratuitous vomiting scenes.

Anoisagusaris · 08/04/2022 08:44

I’ve never had a vomiting bug, I’ve only ever vomited from alcohol and after my c-section. 3 kids from teens to age 8, and I think we’ve had one bug in the house where 2 had it, and once when one had it. House is not immaculate (far from it!!!), we’ve a dog, they played as little kids in muck/in the forest/on the beach, were breastfed, went to daycare from 11 months old. I think all those things have given them a good immune system to bugs.

MotherOfCrocodiles · 08/04/2022 08:46

I suppose the point of a phobia is that it's disproportionate. It's never nice being sick but when it's not happening I wouldn't think about it.

I'm sorry if this is insensitive, but the few times I've had a really awful one (all whilst backpacking in places with questionable water) I always lost loads of weight... silver lining?!

StrawberrySquash · 08/04/2022 08:49

@SilverHairedCat That's a good point. I don't vomit much, but when I do I'm actually pleased because some of the badness is out of my body and it generally makes you feel a bit better.
The actual vomiting isn't a huge deal for me. Worse is the sense of malaise I get when feeling sick.
I'm less good with other people's vomit,. It'll make my stomach flip over and more. But I still rationally know it's just a reaction. It's doesn't distress me.

Livpool · 08/04/2022 10:14

I don't think about it at all to be honest. We all wash our hands etc. but that is just common sense.

If we get a big just deal with it really. I am terrified of spiders and can't believe some people are indifferent to it like them so the same I suppose

Etinoxaurus · 08/04/2022 10:19

@WhatTheWhoTheWhatThe

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.

Good point, I hadn’t thought of it, but yes I don’t mind puking but feeling queasy is so draining. OP can you frame it that your body will look after itself. You can play your part by practising food safety but ultimately if you’re sick it’s just your body ensuring you stay safe by not digesting bad stuff.

Original poster

707smile · 08/04/2022 11:56

@Anoisagusaris

I’ve never had a vomiting bug, I’ve only ever vomited from alcohol and after my c-section. 3 kids from teens to age 8, and I think we’ve had one bug in the house where 2 had it, and once when one had it. House is not immaculate (far from it!!!), we’ve a dog, they played as little kids in muck/in the forest/on the beach, were breastfed, went to daycare from 11 months old. I think all those things have given them a good immune system to bugs.

That's interesting. Do you know your blood type? Apparently type B tend to be resistant to all strains of Norovirus (which causes 90% of viral sickness bugs) due an antigen in their blood.

I'm type O and very susceptible so despite perfect hygiene and an otherwise strong immune system (loads of exposure to pets growing up, allowed to play in mud/beach, not bottle fed etc. so perfect as far as the 'hygiene hypothesis' is concerned) I do tend to get sickness bugs.

OP posts:

Notjustanymum · 08/04/2022 12:22

I feel for you, OP, as I have a dear friend that suffers from emetophobia.
I have had some sickness bugs, and whilst they aren’t pleasant, I tend to use the mantra “better out than in“ to keep me from getting too upset by the experience.
As for hygiene, I think a grounding in food preparation in a restaurant at an early age helped me to practise good hygiene unconsciously. Maybe you could take a food hygiene course: getting a pass might jog your consciousness into being a bit more relaxed about it, both for yourself and when you’re out and about, as you’ll know when proper practices are being followed…

HedgehogToes · 08/04/2022 13:33

@707smile

Thanks all, it's really helpful to hear that people just don't think they're worthy of worrying about!

Weirdly, I have (diagnosed) OCD and anxiety (and PTSD for good measure!), I'm a bit overzealous about handwashing, especially since covid hit, but am not arsed about actually having or dealing with illness/sick/poo.

I don't know if it's something to do with my brain clicking over to a sort of "well it's here now so we'll deal with it" type mindset.

My DS has had one episode of a sickness bug so far, he was 3 and it really set off a germphobic chain reaction in him. 5 now, he won't share straws or food at all and is a thorough hand washer without being prompted.

DontWiltMySpinachPlease · 08/04/2022 13:38

As others have said, largely I'm indifferent towards it. Would a stomach bug be unpleasant? Yes of course and I wouldn't want one, but catching one wouldn't kill me and is only short term. Not worth worrying about really.

museumum · 08/04/2022 14:02

Never think about it tbh. It’s not nice but for our family it’s very rare (even in dc). If any of us do get sick we have a big bowl by the bed and rarely get sick elsewhere so it’s not messy.

Orangelover · 08/04/2022 16:01

I used to strongly dislike the sound/visual of anyone being sick (not to the point of phobia though) but then I became a nurse and watched people vomit probably every day. And then cleaned it up I'm kind of de-sensitised to it now.

In terms of being sick myself I've had a couple of sickness bugs over the last few years. For me the actually vomiting doesn't actually bother me, it's more the nausea, diarrhoea and awful tummy ache that comes with it that's worse. And generally only goes on for 12 hours or so. Then afterwards feel very thin and cleaned out

camelfinger · 08/04/2022 16:13

It’s pretty rare. Even with the DC. I’m really embarrassed about being sick in front of anyone (and find it embarrassing to see an adult being sick) but now always manage to find a toilet in time, so don’t tend to worry about it. The cleaning up is pretty hideous too, but I get through it.

TheGlitterati · 08/04/2022 16:15

I have ocd but not severe. I wash my hands before handling food, after cleaning, toilet etc. and won’t eat food past it’s sell by date.

Throckmorton · 08/04/2022 16:25

have you tried medication for this? I ask because I used to have a fear of needles/blood, and medication really helped.

As regard sickness bugs, I think I've had noro once, and food poisoning twice (both times not involving anything I cooked), in about 40-odd years. I am really lax with cooking hygiene, so trust me it's not that I activity sanitize things I eat! I felt a bit grim each time I was ill, but not dramatically dreadful. I mean yeah, I don't love hanging around the loo just in case, but it's over in a few days and then you feel ok.

mathanxiety · 08/04/2022 16:36

I've had one horrible episode of food poisoning, from a McDonalds burger and fries meal.

I have never eaten a McDs burger since.

I eat out elsewhere without thinking about the possibility of catching something. In fact, the day after the horrible burger episode I had some lovely soup and home made bread rolls in a restaurant. I had no choice but to eat out since I was on a long road trip across the northern great plains in the US, but I felt no trepidation about restaurant fare. What are the chances of being exposed to food poisoning two days in a row? Not enough to worry about.

I take normal hygiene measures at home to ensure food safety and kitchen cleanliness. Since I began to cook family meals back in 1988 I haven't made anyone sick.

There comes a point where you have to trust that everything is ok and the food is safe.

Want2beme · 08/04/2022 16:37

I've had 2 dreadful episodes of vomiting and a few minor. One was a result of food poisoning and the other, I have no idea what caused it. I wasn't concerned, I just accepted that these things happen in life and it could always be worse, and all that. Worrying about stomach bugs doesn't occur to me.

HardyBuckette · 08/04/2022 16:42

@WhatTheWhoTheWhatThe

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.

Agree, I usually feel better for a bit once I've actually chucked up.

But basically OP, I feel sorry for myself when I've got or am looking after someone with one, then feel better and forget about it. I don't enjoy feeling ill and I know D and V isn't good for me, so I take precautions like handwashing, being careful around raw meat and I wouldn't eat something that I thought smelled or tasted wrong.

Hostaswordwoman · 08/04/2022 20:15

I honestly never think about it.

ThankyouwithacapitalR · 08/04/2022 22:07

I have health anxiety which has come about since my mother's death and a few other factors. I panic to the point of diarreah if i think my husband or daughter say they feel unwell or start vomiting. I have been prescribed propanalol for the anxiety and i keep buccastem close by if i feel very nauseated. I have to talk myself into taking my daughter so softplay or going to similar places. I also use hand gel regularly and moderate what i eat when at restaurants.

Personally, feeling sick is worse than being sick, and once it's started i just get on with it and its fine although i like being left alone to get on with it.

I hope you manage to get some useful help and are able to overcome such a debilitating phobia xx

user1471538283 · 08/04/2022 22:18

I have a sensitive tummy and I get bugs occasionally. I've had norovirus, gastroenteritis and food poisoning once each. Those three were horrible but they passed.

I imagine it is very hard for you.

stairgates · 08/04/2022 22:27

When you feel that bellyache sip a tablespoon of vinegar, teaspoon for kids, followed by a mouthful of water and sit still for about 20 minutes, the vinegar kills the bug in your belly. Do this before you vomit for the first time. Me and my house full of children have done this for yeeears and we literally do not bat an eye lid when the bug is in school. It also works if I have over eaten on fatty food and have that pain.