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To think of stomach bugs daily

4 replies

Rollonspring89 · 21/12/2019 18:43

I am going to sound nuts to many. But this is a reality for me. I think of sickness bugs every single day. Norovirus is on my mind massively at the moment. People around me have had it. I need to go near them for Christmas when they only had it a few days ago. I'm constantly worried my child will pick it up at school. I've just booked my son a treat at a role play center for his second birthday next week. All I'm thinking is I hope we don't pick a stomach bug up. Winter is not the best time for going to these places is it.

The reasons I'm anxious about it are. I'm terrified of getting it when I have the kids to look after. If my kids get it the only reason I freak out is its contagious. It's not so much the mess or seeing it happen. I just don't want it.

My feelings were triggered when my child was 18 months old. We got out a taxi and 2 minutes later she threw up all over my mum's sofa. We'd been to playgroup two days before. Then she carried on for hours. Then 6 weeks later we got it again from playgroup as 48 hours later she started throwing up allover the house. Then six months later it happened again 3 days before Christmas. I spent all Christmas Eve worried we would start with it and Christmas would be ruined.

I don't know how to stop worrying. As a kid I probably had two bugs. None as a teenager and then 2 in my early twenties. Since having my DD ive had three stomach bugs. It wiped us out for a week.

I sometimes think will we get it every year without fail or will we avoid it some years. I'm so sick of having to worry about norovirus striking and ruining birthdays and Christmas. I feel like i can't plan things in winter. I'm so worried it will start when we are out. I know how irrational this all is. Please me nice to me. Any helpful advice. As I've already said I'm not phobic of the sick or dealing with it. It's the thought of me getting it or the kids starting in public with it.

OP posts:
Wolfiefan · 21/12/2019 18:44

It sounds like a form of health anxiety. You can get help.

Nogodsnomasters · 22/12/2019 10:27

It is health anxiety and I have the exact same problem. I completely understand how it's taken over your life because its taken over mine too. I am religious with hand washing, don't touch anything in public toilets, use elbows the flush loo's, open the door etc. The level of control I try to exert over catching illnesses (mostly noro, but pretty much any illness) is ridiculous and emotionally draining. I just want to sit down and cry and switch my brain off. It's really hard, you're not alone.

Thewayforward · 23/12/2019 08:50

I have this too and like you find it emotionally draining. I am neurotic about hand washing at moment particularly after having been to shops etc. Every night when I go to bed, I worry that the kids will wake in the night with vomiting (I think this stems from the fact it always seems to be at night that the kids are sick if they have a bug).

You are really not being irrational at all, I totally get it as I am sure do many others.

I do not really have any advice but wanted to offer my support to you as this issue is ruling my life to at present. X x x

lilyrayne · 23/12/2019 09:05

If u think about it all day everyday also sounds like OCD x

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