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!

I agree with Eek and Souvenir. The virus is highly evolved and has some pretty damn clever tricks up its sleeve.

I'm positive that back in Feb during my noro/red wine incident, I contracted it from a friend whose dc's had it, but not her (in fact she didn't go down with it for another week). So the clever bugger incubates, whilst doing its worst - infecting people - before you show any symptoms.

This also happend the first (horrendous) time that DD had it. Dad came to stay and went down with the virus on Sunday (two days after he'd left), followed by DD on the Monday.

I'm also convinced that that you can display mild symptoms (eg 'd' only), eat the wrong thing (again, my red wine experience) and get the full blown version.

Eek - it's sort of terrifying and sort of comforting! In a way, it's worse to think there's nothing you can really do to prevent infection (beyond things like not eating undercooked chicken!!) - but in another way, it's sort of a relief to know that you can actually relax a tiny bit on the safety behaviours front. It does scare the life out of me that our turn is coming at some point - but if there's nothing I can do about it, that's just the way it is. The times my dcs have had v and d, they've not been in contact with anyone infected (not that I've been aware of, anyway) - it's just come out of the blue. Noro is particularly evil (I remember my cousins coming to stay for Christmas 1979. They were just getting over noro, and within 24 hours, my parents and sister had come down with a severe dose of it - to my total horror, as I had to share a bedroom with my sister that Christmas!!! As you see, I have not yet got over it...

I shall be re-reading bb's posts every day for the coming week!!! (will probably be up all night, waiting to hear noises from the dc's bedrooms...)

oh can really sympathise Nelly - I am always more on edge when dh is away (which is often)

on the other hand - I think I am getting a bit more resigned to these viruses striking out of blue - it is a comfort to know that there isn't much rhyme or reason to it ...

on a different subject: do any of you feel more anxious as holiday season approaches and you have to travel on planes, boats, coaches etc? I always am more anxious during summer and it annoys dh no end ....

OMG!! The very thought of boats is enough to put me off ever going on holiday. Not to mention strange food, etc, etc, etc, etc...

what do you all do then?

(a) refuse to go away?

(b) grin and bear it?

(c) avoid certain forms of transport?

I do a mixture of (b) and (c) ...

Mine's a mixture of (b) and (c), too. I will do planes and cars (despite fears of others becoming plane or car-sick), but never, ever boats of any description. The one time I went on a sailing boat, I felt sick for about a week afterwards! (I've never been car-sick or anything - touch multiple bits of wood!!! - so it's obviously just a boat-thing).

If I could get away with it, I'd probably refuse to go away - but DH would have something to say about that!

Fortunately the problem doesn't arise that often, as we only go away once a year (if that!), and we've never been outside the UK for as long as I can remember (but see earlier my horror at DH suggesting we go to France!! Fortunately it looks as if the "cheap" (ho ho) air fares are prohibitively expensive...!!)

Same here NellyB. It's cars and planes for me in the main (although I'm terrified of flying so every trip is a trial for my family.)

I suffer from bad motion sickness in cars and on coaches and boats of course if it's rough.

(I often wonder if a tendency to suffer from motion sickness is one of the early factors in emetophobia - it's such an unpleasant feeling - and usually starts at a young age.)

We live abroad though so we have to do alot of travelling back to UK to see family and on various other trips. There's no getting around it but fortunately dd is a little trooper when it comes to travel and not like me thank God.

Evening all! Just tuning in and catching up before i go to bed.

Interesting stuff you've been discussing, especially the bit about no matter what safety precautions we take, these bugs can just strike without warning from nowhere. It is very scary, I hate that. .and i know our time will come, probably when we least expect it. I still find it hard to break my habits though.

Nelly, had a great night out last night thanks. I actually felt quite relaxed (might have had something to do with the double whiskies i was downing though!!) The germ thing was always there in the back of my mind but i am desperately trying not to be a prisoner of this damned thing any more! Very hard though. Hope you cope ok while DH is away. I don't think i'd manage without my DH. I don't like him being very far away in case the dreaded happens!

Counting, I too am not keen on holidaying. Hate being on any kind of public transport. I wish we were rich then i'd have my own private jet! My friend has just returned from a holiday, and 2 days into the holiday she came down with a virus which lasted the whole holiday and went through most of the family, but she said that on the flight back all she did was throw up!!aarrrgggh! All i could think was 'thank god i wasn't on that plane' I would have died. It is one of my big fears when holidaying.I'm not scared of the plane crashing, just someone vomiting on it! Where do you go?? Nowhere! Breathing in all that recycled air, yuk!! Boats, totally out of the question! Would rather just stay at home to be honest, like to be in my own house when feeling ill.

How is everyone else this evening, bb is out on a birthday bash so hi to bb! Have a good night chick, tell us all about it when you return on mn.

Notalone - how are you hun? (knowing you i'll get a reply in about 4 days so i won't hold me breath...(i'll be dead!) ...you are a bit crap of late at replying but i only give you grief coz i miss yer! ) xx

Hope everyone is well and having a fab weekend! xxxxx

Hello all,

I'm sure I heard a noise in the night (cue pounding heart, shivering, hyperventilation), but I listened for another hour or so (!) and didn't hear anything further. I'm probably so anxious with DH being away that I am hearing imaginary noises!

Glad you had a good night out, Wiggle. I'm with you on the plane-fear (having no escape from v-ers would scare the pants off me).

I did a brave thing this weekend. I hired a car for two days so I can take the children swimming etc. This is brave, because my first thought was: I can't do it, because one of them might v in the hire-car. I consulted DH as to whether this was a "normal" train of thought, and he assured me that it isn't. So I have done it!

Is anyone else as crazy as me?!

yes Nelly, i'm crazier than a crazy thing thats crazy!! I have all sorts of thoughts which my DH has to rationalise for me, poor DH, he has something to put up with living with me!

I worry about the car sickness thing with DD. She doesn't get travel sick (she says touching everything thats wooden!) but i'm still aware that it may happen. I was driving back from her gran's the other day and gran had given her some books, so on the way home she insisted on wanting to read this particular book to me but no way would i let her read it! Bless her, she'd have probably been ok but i wasn't taking any chances!

How is everyone else this weekend? hope you're all well. xx

Hi all! how is everyone? Hey bb, glad you had a good night too chick..you dirty stop out x
Thanks for all the info you keep feeding us, you are so lucky to be in touch with all those top people. I'd love to be able to interrogate speak to someone in the know about contagion and stuff...but i've got you now so hey, brill or what!! You are most fab bb! xx

Hey Everyone!!!

How are you all? The only news I have is that I have been traumatised by Hollyoaks!!!! Ok, its a bit crap and I must stress I am a highly intellectual being who rarely watches it , but seriously, I was a bit traumatised on Sunday by that programme! I got up with DS and cooked a lovely late brekkie of scrambled eggs and bacon, sat down, put the telly on and was greeted by a closeup of Sasha in hospital throwing up after an overdose. Lovely brekkie went in the bin and I felt bleurghh!! Why do programmes have to do this?!! Did anyone witness this lovely spectacle for themselves? (I won't tell anyone you watch Hollyoaks I promise lol)

Hello lovely Wiggleit - I am so so so crap!!!! Sorry Hon! Glad you enjoyed your evening out. Where did you go? Don't know how your mate could be so blase about being ill on a plane. That for me would be horrendous - at least with a car you can stop, with a train you get off at the next stop etc. with a plane you are well and truly trapped. Horrid horrid horrid!!! Glad your DD doesn't get car sick. My Ds doesn't but we want to take one of his friends to Gullivers Kingdom for his birthday in August and I have just found out she gets car sick.... I reckon the one thing worse than cleaning up your childs V is cleaning up someone elses childs V!! xxxxx

BB - your posts are a godsend. Thanks so much. I really didn't like the v thread though as everyone on there said they had V'd at least once a year. Has everyone on hear V'd once a year too? I am so scared of a random v attack, it freaks me out completely. I would rather have flu for a year than V just once. How are you getting on without the handwashing now?

Nelly - how are you getting on without your DH? Do you have anyone you can call if the worst did happen? Think the hire car thing was very brave considering your fear. Well done you!!! Are you going away in the UK instead now then?

AD - your noro post scared me as I have always used the 72 hours and you are safe theory. Did anyone come down with it after 72 hours and was it definitely noro?

CTGH - you are the opposite to me! I worry more in the winter as there seem to be more bugs around. I also find it less reassuring that there is no ryhme or reason to it as you just can't anticipate it and that, for me, is what makes it so scary. It just goes to show how varied this phobia is and how different it is from sufferer to sufferer. Are you going away this year?

Apologise to anyone I have missed on this essay of mine. Hope you are all ok xxx

Hey Notalone!!! Have missed yer babe! You've replied early, are you trying to catch me off guard? x
Went round Sheffield on Friday, enjoyed it actually...until later when we were walking from one pub to another and (tmi alert!!) there was loads of v all aver the street! aaarrrggghhh! Stepped over it gracefully but it made me feel ill and can still picture it now! Held my breath as we walked past! You are v brave to take someone elses child out when you know they get car sick! That would be a no for me! Also like you i would rather have flu for a year than v once. Scary how it strikes out of the blue..not happy about that at all.
And isn't bb just ace? love love love her!! She really does help me along. Thanx bb xx

All fine here so far, despite lack of DH!!
And nobody v-d in the hire car, which goes back tomorrow. Hurrah! Fingers crossed that good health continues until DH's return at the weekend...
Notalone - I'm with you on the other-child's-v thing. I just couldn't do it. Can you find an excuse not to take him?!
BB - I'll join in the "we love BB" campaign as well!!
Hope everyone else is ok! x

Lol Wiggleit - thought I would surprise you. Hope you haven't fallen off your chair in shock - 2 posts 12 hours apart - most unlike me!!!
Did you go around West St? I was nearly there myself on Sat night but sadly didn't have the funds. I probably would have spotted you a mile off. We would have been the ones walking in front of buses in the road to get away from the v lol! xxxx

Glad you are ok Nelly. I will keep my fingers crossed too. Am sure you will be fine though. The other childs mother is very protective and I am secretly hoping she will not allow her DD to come to Gullivers so I can invite well travelled boy B instead

Just picked DS up from school, and he has told me the great news that a girl in his class was sick at school today. Oh fab. Apparently it happened in the office (yes, couldn't resist quizzing him), and he hadn't been sitting next to her - but I am now v gloomy and anxious. I keep trying to remind myself of BB's advice (sick-bugs are only transmitted via contact with actual d or v), but am finding it difficult now I'm put to the test!!!

Typical that it happens when I have no DH to pester with my fears...

Hope everyone else is healthy, and that your dcs and their classmates are too!

Hi everyone!

Notalone - what is with you, posting within hours of me? Are you trying to lull me into a false sense of (in)security . Yes, we went around West St., was good. Yes you're right, you probably would have spoted me a mile off, I would be the one with the bright red face from holding my breathe so long and be jay-walking!

As for the Gulliver's trip, hope it all works out ok, think you are very stupid brave to ask the sicky child in the first place. x

Nelly - glad you are coping well while DH away and that the weekend was a success and v free! (phew!!)

Hi to everyone else! Hope all is well with everyone. xx

Oh Nelly, have just read your last post! We must have crossed in the post. I'm sure all will be fine, as bb says your DS would've had to have direct contact with the v and as she v'd in the office then he was well away from it. Plus he didn't even sit near her..(feel like i'm turning into bb ...I WISH!!) I'm thinking of you though coz know exactly how i would be! Got everything crossed for you hun. Keep us informed. Your DH has lousy timing btw xx

Nelly hope you are OK in my experience these bugs turn up out of the blue

Deep breaths Nelly. Maybe she was sick because she had eaten something bad or because of a headache. It may not have been a bug. Sending virtual reassurances. Keep posting!

Wiggleit - am aiming for a nice even three. I will probably bugger off for a year or so after this one knowing me so make the most of my words of wisdom lol. Glad you had a good night at West St. The last time I was there I was starving and had the most gorgeous kebab from the chippy that smells lovely. (Yes I am one classy lady after a few drinks!!!) I then spent the next 3 days worrying about dodgy chicken. Did you drink / eat much? xx

Hey Schmoopoo - ow are you?

Notalone - you have me worried now, this is soooo not like you! Are you ok? Am enjoying our little chats though but like you say,i'll not get too used to it coz knowing you, you'll go into hiding for a fotnight then i'll feel deserted again!

ooooh i'm much classier than you Notalone.. I don't do kebabs ever! I might do chips or pizza but nothing with meat in it. Maybe we should meet up and have a few drinks and you can try and lead me astray or maybe i'm just too posh for you eh, what d'ya think hun?

On a serious note (very unlike me) we could meet up some time if you fancy, (no pressure though, won't take offence if you don't want to) seeing as we live fairly close to each other and i like you . Up to you chick. But saying that if you're as good at meeting up as you are at posting then maybe i should just forget the whole thing

Nelly - how you doing mate? stay strong, we're all here if you need any support or just a chat.

Anyone else around this evening? I'm making the most of the computer coz my DD has been hogging it until bedtime!xx

Thanks, Wiggle and notalone. We Sheffielders are certainly doing our bit for moral support! (I may not live there now, but that's where I spent my whole pre-university life, and where I am still from so far as I'm concerned).

Still anxious about DS and the buggy girl (this is the one bad thing about tiny classes - if there were 30 in the class, one throwing up would be sort of remote, but when there are only 11 of them, it seems far too close for comfort!!) I just hope she's not at school tomorrow, but fear she will be - her mum has a busy social life, and I'm not sure she'll be happy to give it up for a day

Fingers crossed!

DH will be back on Sunday am, so I am counting the hours! (Yes, his timing is truly crapulous - though I'm not sure it would ever be great for my phobia...)

It's not forced to be a bug Nelly..but i know what you're feeling and i would be exactly the same! xx