Sickness bugs - fear of.

[BeckyBendyLegs]

Hi there, I have a fear of sickness (and balloons as it happens), not uncommon, but I need someone to reassure me. My three DSs and I met up with a load of friends today at one of those play places with plastic balls and slides and one of the boys who was there went home and threw up everywhere (I've just seen it posted on facebook) so now I am trying not to panic about getting it over Christmas, and / or getting it at all. I'm in that on the edge place of anxiety at the moment. I know it's pointless worrying about it as, for one, it might not even be a bug, for two, my children might not have picked it up today, and even if they do, I might not get it, and for three even if I do, I might not actually throw up. I thought that since school ended last week I could relax now but now this happens :(

Hi, I'm exactly the same as you - I have a sickness phobia too. I just wanted to try and reassure you that if it is a tummy bug that they are not thought to be contagious before symptoms start (unlike colds etc). I won't go into the logistics of how to catch them (or not catch them ) but form what ou've said I don't think you or your DSs could have caught anything from this child. This time of year is horrible for me worrying about bugs, tbh I've barely been out of the house in a couple of weeks as I'm so scared . To me you did amazingly just by going to the indoor play place. HTH.

i too am inpressed you made in to indoor play area.todays a ba day for me as we went see santa yesterday and had wait in a marquee full kids.didnt think id find anyone else here with this(such a bad day cant even mention the words).im just starting cbt for this as it brings mine and my childrens life to a standstill in the winter.anyone got any any experience of this?

liveinazoo I had CBT earlier this year for it. I think it's actually more common than you'd think. I used to think I was the only one but I'm not! It just limits and stresses your life so much doesn't it

mid november til end april im a nervous wreck.ev time ione the kids goes off food a bit or has a temp i go into panic mode.im hoping the cbt will at least take the edge of it cos im no use to anyone when theyre ill...dad has to come and take care of them and i feel like the worst mum in the entire galaxy.a few people have even asked me why i had kids with such an acute phobia(alledged professionals)it definately controls my entire life

live my dd is only 10mo - I'm scared stiff how I'll cope when (and it is when) she has a tummy bug. I never thought I could have a child and told myself I would never have one until I was cured as it was unfair on the child as well as me to go through the stress and anxiety. I was marginally better before I got pg but I had an awful pgfeeling really badly sick throughout and now I feel like I could never ever do it again. When I was pg someone on mn gave me the link to this site. I hope the link works. It's a forum for people who have sickness phobia. It was a complete lifeline for me, and still is, and makes me realise I'm not the only one with this and just a general understanding and reassurance.

Thanks guys, it is very 'reassuring' to know I'm not the only one. I'm so sorry that other people are suffering though with this fear. DH is so nice to me about this but I can see that he's thinking what a waste of worry. I have had some CBT about this and I know all the theory, and it makes sense, but I can't stop the worry still. I try not to let the DSs sense my worries so I do take them out and about and my friends don't know the extent of my fears so if I'd said that we couldn't come to the play place yesterday they'd have needed an excuse and I am rubbish at lying, even white ones.

My tummy is funny today, mostly due to anxiety, and I had awful dreams last night about bugs. I must admit I thought you could catch it from someone before they started being sick. He was sick just an hour after he got home too. Is that really true that you can't? If so, that helps a bit. He's still ill today, poor thing, I feel so sorry for him. And my friend too, it's two days before Christmas and she's expecting all the parents and in-laws to come.

just been and registered.thanks for that.its only been since i had the kids ive been able to admit i have this problem without the total fear of telling will somehow make me ill.shouldve chosen nutcase as username!have you got a partner,supportive family to help in the even tof disaster or are you on your own?i simply cannot function without some support and i hate having to rely on others.it has kept me in miserable relationships.thats why i asked for the cbt.had to wait a long time for it mind

I have a DH who tries to be supportive but he doesn't fully understand. He gets cross when I give him 20 questions when he says he feels a bit off colour even if it's nothing to do with a sick bug (just incase...). I got to the point where I could cope with daily life fine, I just went to pieces when I was in direct contact IYKWIM, now I'm worried all the time. I think having dd has made it worse as I have to worry about her too.

becky to my knowledge you can only get tummy bugs from someone who has them if they haven't washed their hands properly after going to the loo or from particles in the actual vomit (sorry to be yucky), so if he hadn't yet been sick I think you should be fine. I've had CBT too and same as you I know all the theory and it all makes perfect sense yet I just can't apply it to my life - I can't break the habit as it were in the things I do and think. I think for some people it works really well though.

and and live if you want post a hello message in the forum - everyone is really friendly and will say hello to you. My nn is angels1

thanks.will look out for you when i get a minute to sidle across there

maybe we should set up camp here for tortured mn mums esp during the winter months

Sounds like a good idea live - shall we use this thread?

I have Health Anxiety and this time of year is dreadful for it.

Keeping our fears from our DCs is such hard work, isn't it? Especially around Xmas with all the bugs around.

CBT has done wonders for my self awareness - I spent all last Xmas Eve evening in bed sobbing with fear as I thought DS1 had a temperature; today I had a horrible, gut wrenching panic when I got home from the shops as he was really flushed and hot again. The trapped feeling set in and I just wanted to cry and felt as though my chest were being squeezed. I just went upstairs and banged my head on the wall (no one knows I do this .) At least if I were focussing on the pain it took my mind away from the fear, iykwim.

So that all sounds grim. BUT I knew what was happening to me. And I knew I was scared and having an anxious reaction - not that it was something I should be scared of. Last year I was in the middle of it. This year I was still feeling it, but one step removed in a way. I could have given a commentary on my behaviour. Progress, I think...

Becky, if it helps at all it seems unlikely your DS will have caught it. I think being in a very confined space, like a bedroom for eg. for long periods of time makes it more likely, but not a great big soft play. And a big GOOD on YOU for taking them out.

Chestnuts mine got much worse after having DCs. But I don't think I was ready for help before I had them. I remember a doctor telling me to seek help about 12 years ago when I lived in Manchester and I just didn't know what she was talking about. She actually explained that I was suffering anxiety and that when I had children it would get much worse unless I sought help. I didn't believe her.

we shall take up residence here for a few days.set up our own space when the new year{and kids back in contact lots ppl again.hope you all had a good(and healthy xmas day)be around again to talk tonight.x

We're still all fine here, so I think we are now safe. DS2 woke up this am complaining his legs were poorly and his hands were tingly but he was fine, I told him he had Boxingdayitus and he laughed at that.

I'm just so glad we had a lovey Christmas with no illness. Ho hum. Battle on.

glad to here xmas went well bbl.we too survived!pop in and out and let us know how you doing

Hi, i suffer with this horrid phobia too, have had CBT, hypnotherapy etc.., this time of year is the worst, i'm scared to go out (wont go out unless i have to, will shop online as much as i can). I was brave the week before x-mas, dd2 had a hospital appointment and when i went to put a ticket on the car i saw a sign saying that they have a D&V outbreak and please make sure you wash your hands, i was tempted to load dd2 back into the car and drive off but i managed to take her in and we did not catch anything. I have to take the dd's to get shoes this week but really dont want to drag them around the shops and risk catching something , this phobia takes over everything and effects me every day, my gp is going to change my medication next week in hope it will help.

marne what medication are you on? I've been given seroxat but have been too scared as yet to take it. I've also had hypnotherapy and CBT and other therapy but nothing has helped. I think it's one of the toughest phobias to cope with as it's so complex and affects so much of your life people just don't realise. You did really well to go in that hospital with a d&v outbreak. I remember this time last year I was in late pg and had to go to mw/hospital alot for appointments (I was a complicated case!) and hated every minute of it - I was so scared I'd get something. I also get most stuff online - thank goodness for online shopping!

I'm returning to work in a couple of weeks from mat leave to work in a school and I'm so so scared - my immune system isn't what it used to be as I hardly go out for a year and a half and I've lost alot of resistance I have - I know I'll get everything and anything going around school initially and I'm so worried it will be a tummy bug

i take citalopram for mine.its only on the days i forget to take it i realise how it damps down the anxiety....well done marne for coping with the hospital.i have to admit id have scuttled back to the safety of home and rebooked

I've taken citalopram in the past live but it was actually prescribed for IBS (long story!). Am thinking of taking DD swimming for the first time with DH next week (it's the only time we'll be able to go together aside from busy week ends as DH is off work next week) - do you think I'm mad or will it be OK? I worry about the water being dirty - you can never tell how clean they have it...

i personlly wouldnt..i heard they just scoop unsavoury substances out with a net

this is the type of thing that worries me, but, I can't never take her surely . The things I'm trying to tell myself are:
1 - it's a separate small toddler pool not the main one
2 - it's a week day when the state schools are back so quieter
3 - I need to try and do 'normal' things so this doesn't continue to take over my life all the time

I don't know if I'm just trying to make it sound fine when it isn't though - it's the week before I return to work from mat leave - can you imagine how bad anxiety wise it would be if she caught a bug (or I did) and I had to go through all that worry just before starting work.....maybe I shouldn't.. I feel like this

im in this quandry all the tine myself...should i do tis cos its "normal" or will i go to pieces and things will be much worse than if we dont!.why does it have te be so complicated?

p.s on the plus side she might love it!