Help - sickness bug!

[Emetmum]

Currently in the trenches of a *sb with my youngest (4). Hoping for some advice if anyone has been in the same situation. I have emetophobia and OCD, I’ve done cbt and hypnotherapy (I have abbreviated some words that may be triggering for others with emetophobia)

Son (4yrs) was s 5 times between 4pm-11pm on Thursday 20th, no more s on 21st or 22nd. This morning, 23rd, he was been s again over 56hrs from last v. He kept needing to go to the toilet and got very upset screaming that his tummy hurt.

I am spiralling today, and I’m so frustrated with myself because I coped so well over the last 56hrs. I woke this morning feeling relieved that myself, husband and 8yr old had been spared and now I’m back to square one.

Has anyone else had this or their children? Any advice or words of wisdom would be very much appreciated.

Fellow emetophobe here. Went through norovirus last month. Horrific, so feel your pain and mental torment. It's very common for little ones to relapse on the V a few days after everything appearing to settle down, it's happened to my DS before especially when younger. Stick to very plain foods for at least 72hrs.

Thanks for the solidarity, it genuinely feels like torture at the moment and anyone without emet just doesn’t understand. At the moment he doesn’t want to eat, but is sipping water ok. Just praying none of us here get it from him!

Dealing with sickness bugs is horrible for those without emetophobia, never mind those with.

I'm better than I used to be but I've really drilled in the belief that it might happen, I can't 100% prevent it, and we'll cope and get through it if it does.

It's unlikely you'll catch it if you keep your hands washed, but if you do, you'll cope and get through it, however unpleasant it might be, and then life goes on.

I followed the Thrive programme for a while which helped, and alot of principles in that have stuck with me, especially the bit about control. Worth looking into if you haven't - just get the workbook and work through it. Helped me with all aspects of my life.

@Showercap22 thank you so much! It’s more the anxiety around “if” we get it. So hard to think rationally which frustrates me even more because I know I’m being irrational!

im Looking into the thrive programme now! Thanks

You can't think rationally when you're so anxious about it though. The emotions just get in the way of any 'sensible' thinking around it. Thankfully I've managed to calm down the emotions side of things which has allowed me to look at it differently.
I worked through Thrive with a coach but that was very pricey and not essential being honest. The biggest thing for me was changing my beliefs around it. It's your beliefs causing the worrying thoughts/what ifs.

Another fellow emet here, my son also has it, was up sick seven time from midnight last night. I'm so exhausted, afraid to sleep, and a single parent too.
Just here for solidarity, if he's recovered just a couple of days ago, it's unlikely to be a fresh bug, and likely he will now just sleep it off, more likely his tummy is just extra sensitive, if he's not hungry don't offer him food, maybe just an ice block as the sugar will help him feel better.
I hope you're ok, lean on your husband for support and try to go outside, I find a walk in the fresh air away from it all helps calm me.

Thank you, sending you so much strength as well. I know I’m very lucky to have an extremely understanding husband who will always deal with it but it’s the out of control feeling that triggers me so bad. He’s already up and running around again, begging for toast!

I’m not an emetophobe but my DS recently had a sickness bug, vomited for a day then was fine for 48 hours so went back to school then vomited at school! So 3 days after the initial vomiting started! Then spent all day vomiting again. These bugs have no rule sometimes! Then it spread to everyone but me. 🤦🏻‍♀️

Update again, he’s been sick again tonight. Exactly 1 week after this all started. Has anyone else had this?

I have once when my DS was little, he was about 4. We took him to the cinema about a week after stomach bug, he had chocolate and popcorn and slushie, threw up that night again. I think it was just food to heavy on a sensitive stomach.

Yes I think it’s just the tummy bug lingering, he hasn’t had any dairy or “adventurous” food though, he’s still on a plain diet and isn’t eating much due to low appetite.

Bless him, it sounds like his stomach is still really struggling with what's hit it. Not good for your anxiety though.

No it’s not, I coped well last week and funnily enough, this evening I had a huge panic attack and wobble. Just hoping we make it through the rest of the night without any more sickness

How did the rest of the night go?

So far so good. No more sickness and still asleep 🤞🏻

Thank god