Emetophobia - terrified of this sickness bug

[nellyraggbagg]

This sounds so stupid, but I'm completely terrified of the children (not to mention DH and me) catching this Norovirus that's doing the rounds. I've been emetophobic for as long as I can remember, and it has become even worse since having children. Every time they open their mouths, I'm terrified they're going to say they feel sick. When I go to bed at night, my last waking thought is: "Oh my God, what if they're sick in the night?" My DH is working away a lot at the moment, which makes matters even worse (he is good at dealing with sick, thank goodness!!) I have dealt with both children being sick (I have found that manic cleaning helps very slightly to take my mind off the blind panic), but am rigid with fear following newspaper reports of this current bug. How will I pick DS up from school if DD and/or I get it? My Mum is miles away, unfortunately. And what if DH gets it? I don't know how I'd cope if he were sick. Please, please help, someone - even if just by saying that I'm not the only person who feels like this!

hello, only just seen this thread. Joining you as a fellow emetophobe. Soo glad other people feel the same (not in a nasty way!.

I have to keep reminding myself that we still have to go out and do things despite this bug. And hoping we don't have to go anywhere near a hospital... I have a feeling of dread whenever I drop the DSs (3 and 1) off at nursery/pre school.. Yesterday I spoke to a friend who'd had it last week (and DH and her baby). Her baby had last been sick on Monday morning. We didn't meet up yesterday afternoon as we'd initially planned! No point in deliberate risk...

But it really is my worst nightmare, and the thought of all of us having it at once... just don't go there...

A big hurrah for notalone's DP. If only everyone was this thoughtful, these bugs wouldn't spread around anywhere near as much.

Lemonadegirl, glad to hear that your DS is on the mend and have got everything crossed that you and DH don't get anything. As you have been so thorough with the handwashing, hopefully you will be ok. When you had the tummy bugs last year, were you actually sick and, if so, how did you cope? (sorry for the direct question, feel free to not answer if you'd rather not). I have caught one or two bugs from the DCs over the years and have somehow managed not to V, but just had the D. I have no problem with D on its own, but whenever I get it, I always panic that V is going to follow!!

Hi Henrietta, know what you mean about being glad to find out that you are not the only one with this problem - I was so pleased to find this thread (obviously would rather that no-one had to suffer emet), it has made me feel so much better.

Hello all,

I'm with you on the worst nightmare scenario, HenriettaHippo. I can't even bring myself to think about that one...

I rang the GP to make an appointment to discuss CBT today. However, I forgot why I'd rung, so ended up making an appointment for the children to have pre-school booster vaccines instead (rather belatedly in DS's case). As soon as I put the phone down, I remembered what I actually rang them for!

I shall try again tomorrow.

DS's school librarian has noro. According to him, Years 1 and 6 are the only ones currently unaffected. Oh fab. It is only a matter of time until it's our turn, then...

Good luck, Lemonadegirl. I hope your DS is getting better. Hang on in there!! It sounds very much like my DD's last sick episode following a horrible snotty cough/cold - so with a bit of luck it's not contagious. Fingers crossed for both of you.

Good morning all

Am feeling very on edge and tired today. Went to MILs yesterday for dinner. DS 4 suddenly started complaining of a really bad tummy ache right in the middle of dinner. For a little boy that loves his food this is very out of character. He went an awful colour and you can imagine my thoughts at this point. Anyway he was back to normal after 15 minutes, so must have been wind!

He's now forgotten all about it but as for me, well I'm still panic stricken.

Notalone do the anti emetics actually work. I'm beginning to think that if I had some a least I would have a little bit of peace of mind.

Oh, funnybunny ... what a bad moment that must have been. I expect your diagnosis is right, though. Hope you're back to normal soon!

Hi all, I had a sudden thought last nite and hope someone may be able to help me out... if you v and then wash your hands surely you have contaminated the taps so when you turn the taps off you must end contaiminating your hands again!! the only answer are the taps where you wave your hands under to start them etc!!! DS has had a tummy ache all day he has been to school fine and is eating ok but of course I am now on tenderhooks if it was wind it should have gone by now, hes not doubled over, is this a good sign?? AAAAAARRGH!!!!

niggynaggynoo: remember the sudden onset thing!! If he's not suddenly started v-ing, he can't have that. With a bit of luck, it'll be just "one of those things" and will pass off quickly. Let us know!

The tap thing has bothered me, too. How on earth are you supposed to avoid this pesky bug??? I'm now obsessed with washing hand towels as well as hands - no point washing them, then drying them on a used towel...

BB - you are quite right. I shall carry on touching the taps!! (Though I have to confess I do use my coat sleeve to open the door in our local library loos - they are particularly horrid...)

I am the same with tap handles and door handles and rails on buses and bannisters and cashpoint machine buttons and chip and pin machines and ...... eeek -may have a problem actually.

Funnybunny - that must have been awful. I know that heart pounding desperate to get away feeling all too well. So glad he was ok.

Nellyraggbagg - any news on the progression of the virus in the school? Have got everything crossed that you all escape. Good luck with the Dr's appointment too.

Lemonadegirl - thank god its not noro. Am sure the rest of you will be fine - it sounds as though it is just the cold that is causing the v'ing.

Welcome Henriettahippo - there are so many of us with this so you really are not alone. I have only met one person with this (or at least one person who has admitted to having this phobia) before. Do any of you know of anyone else in RL sufferingtoo?

Hi everyone, hope you are all ok.

Funnybunny - hope you are feeling better today and that DS is ok.

BB - I agree that it's not good to be too anxious about touching things. Since reading the article you cut and pasted further down the thread, I've been a bit more relaxed about this but am still manically hand washing and making sure not to touch mouth, nose or eyes.

Well, we went to a wedding yesterday ... yes I know ... Thursday ... strange day for a wedding. It was such a wonderful day, stunning location, etc. and we stayed there overnight -had a lovely room. But, as soon as I got to bed the worrying began - have I eaten something that might make me sick?, have I had one too many glasses of wine?, what if one of the guests has a virus? I got so worried that I actually did start to feel sick and spent at least two hours wide awake, panicking. Am so with myself. This often happens when we have been to a party, or other social function. The alternative would be not to go to any social functions and I would hate that - then I would feel totally controlled by the phobia.

To top it all off, DD came home from school today and told me that four girls in her class were off today because they'd been sick, and two of them are her close friends .

I am normally panicked about DC being sick. DD woke this morning at 2am complaining of a head ache, DH was quick off the mark and noticed she had a temp. Got bowl, so when she was sick she had something to be sick in - this made me realise where a lot of my fear was! In the actual mess that sometimes can be made!

DD has, every 4 hrs or so been sick, I asked for a home visit as DD was complaining of a sore throat and had a bad temp! He recond tonsillitus! and has given her antibiotics!

I really and truly hate DDs being sick in fact I feel so helpless!

He reckoned! Crumbs I need to go back to school or get an early night! esp after being awake more or less after 2 am!

BB - you're quite right about not winding ourselves up into a panic - that can make it (even) worse. At the same time, I do sometimes feel the need to 'talk' to other people who will understand my fears (such as DD going to a party on Sunday), as I can't tell anyone in real life (well, I can and do tell DH, but he's only sympathetic up to a point - understandably enough). It's a fine balance to strike between supporting one another and unwittingly encouraging one another's anxieties!

I am still grateful to you for my internal "don't-put-your-fingers-in-your-mouth-and-nose" mantra (not that I was planning to put my fingers in my nose, I hasten to add!!) At least that's something practical that can reduce our risk of catching this bug.

My only consolation at the moment (not great, I admit, but ...) is that if we catch it, we won't have to worry about catching it!!

Hope your DD is better soon, pinkbubble. Fingers crossed for you!

I can see both points of view BB and Nellyraggbagg. I think we are all whipping ourselves up into a frenzy and fueling the flames. However it is also very cathartic to actually say what we are thinking to others who don't think we are completely barking mad. My DP is understanding to an extent but doesn't really get the sheer hysteria about "something so simple"

Good news is I have not heard anything in the media for a while now about noro so maybe it is dying down now and has already peaked

I was wondering about that, too, notalone. Was it only reported so widely a month ago because there was no other news? (Reminds me of the tootache epidemic article!!)

For me, one good thing about being able to witter on about it is that it helps me to see the relatively funny side of it all - there has to be a funny side to us all wiping doorknobs and sending probably-not-dodgy food back in cafes. It is nice to be able to sort of indulge your anxieties whilst also sort of laughing at the bizarre lengths they take you to! It certainly helps me to put my behaviour into perspective, and the fact that you are all so understanding is sooooo helpful!

With a bit of luck, we'll all stay noro-free and will have worried for nothing! (She says, about to take dd to a party...) xx

I did of course mean toothache. Toot-ache is what ds gives me when he plays Christmas carols on his new recorder!!

BB - oh, I do sympathise. I would have done just the same. Maybe all winter parties should be outdoors...

BB, I feel for you! I think I have discovered what my actual fear is and that is the mess, if you are not expecting it etc! I hate DDs or even anyone else for that matter being sick, but the way that I have handled it in the last few months(well 12 mths) I honestly think I have a point! Crumbs that is scarey! I think as long as its contained in something then I am ok!

SO

Do you think, If I keep a kind of sick bowl under my bed, would I be doing my DDs any kind of injustice?

Obviously they need not know it was there!

I would think that whatever makes you feel better is a good idea!! I keep a spare quilt and pillow all made up under the bed, just in case of nocturnal events.

I also always have an old towel somewhere about my person. I can't bear to use bowls, as I don't want to see it at all - so would go for hiding it in a towel and then throwing the entire thing away.

Your DDs would need never know why a bowl was under your bed, fishpie. A bowl would certainly not be noticed in our house, amidst all the other sundry junk under the beds!!

Nelly is right fish pue - whatever makes you feel reassured is fine. I have to have water and anti emets by my bed and a hairband round my wrist in case I suddenly need to tie my hair back in the night. Think its these little rituals that help keep us sane.

BB - good thinking re the park!!

Well, I am now panicking because DS has had a slight sore throat and when I took him to school this morning I mentioned to his teacher that he was slightly under the weather but should be ok. She then happily informed me that there are all sorts of viruses going around at the moment. In particular D & V which has struck teachers and kids. She told me that a girl in his class has already had it and the brother of another girl has it too. I am hoping and praying it won't get us but what hope do we realistically have?

Nelly - has it died down in your DS's school yet?