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!

Oh BB hope you are getting back together today. Nelly glad DH is back poor DShope you are all OK now. DD is OK spots scabed or fading, very mild dose might send her to school tomorrow

Hi everyone!

Schmoopoo - sounds like the worst is over for your dd. At least that wasn't too bad for you.

Nelly - How's things at yours? Hope everyone is well.

Notalone - How's you bud? E-mailed you late last night coz we had a bbq in the afternoon and it was a while before we got rid of everyone left.. Hope to hear from you later hun. Isn't this weather fab? Loving it!

Hi to everyone else on here. Hope all is well. xx

Hi Wiggleit - aka posh bird. Its the common pint swilling one here! Have sent a text to you. Please don't talk about the weather . I am stuck at work in a roasting hot office and am in a sulk!!!! xxx

Notalone-Ayup sulky pants! Posh bird here, how are you hun? Weather been beaut today, been out walking all afternoon with 2 of my friends and 3 dogs. Gorgeous! (awful aren't i?) Have texted you back hun. Will e-mail you in a mo too.

How is everyone this evening? Hope all is well. xx

Ok Wiggleit - well I have been in the office but this time with air conditioning on full pelt so have been freezing all day with goosebumps. If you carry on doing lovely things when I am not I may have to sulk even more

Seriously - thanks for your text. I will reply before the apprentice starts I promise (do you watch it?) xxx

Notalone - Hi hun, now stop your sulking girlie! You're never happy are you, one day your moaning coz you're stuck in a hot office, the next you're moaning coz the air con is giving you goosebumps!! What are you like eh? No pleasing some people Here's me having to sit in the garden in the stifling heat,trowelling through tonnes of magazines to get some ideas for my garden, gosh it's hard work! ....not to mention the tan i'm geting (how very dare i?)

No i haven't been watching the apprentice hun, but text me whenever you're free babes, be lovely to hear from you. xx

Evening everyone? how is everyone? It seems to have gone quiet on here again, hopefully that's a good sign! xx

Hello everyone,

Well, DS's d didn't last long, thank goodness - he was fine the following day. I think he was anxious more than ill... can't think where he gets that from

Now I'm in a panic because DD didn't want her tea. She was very peaky looking, and sat with her head in her hands (not normal behaviour - she's v lively normally). The last time she didn't want her tea (a year ago!!), she v-d later on. She did a burp and said it felt like sick, which made me hyperventilate. She seems cheerful now, but I am still in a total panic! Any reassurance, anyone?!

Plus one of the Dads in DS's class today stopped their class teacher in the cloakroom to tell her that his DS had d and v last night, but he'd brought him to school anyway "because he was desperate to come", and "could you please make sure he keeps his fluids up, as he can't eat anything." I ask you!!!

If we get d and v from this child, I shall be complaining to the school. The teacher looked very cross as well, so I don't know if they have a policy of sending children home if they turn up ill - if not, they certainly should have! I shall be quizzing the office about it on Monday. His mum is at home with her new baby, so they don't even have work as an "excuse". To add insult to injury, the boy's dad is a doctor...

Oh no Nelly. What a bloody mare! How selfish of that boys parents - especially if one is a DR as he really should know better.

How is your DD now? Perhaps she is just a bit listless because of the heat. Its the first proper hot week of the year so perhaps she just needs to get used to it. Also there should be less bugs around now it is warmer. I really hope you are all ok. Let us all know how you are when you can xxx

Wiggleit - am going downstairs to text ya now! I finished work, took DS to drama, did food shopping and put it all away. I am bloody knackered so am about to relax with a classy beer or two lol xxxx

Evening all!

Nelly - god, some parents!!!! They took him to school bacause he was 'desperate to come'...bloody hell! Who's the boss in that house! Just tell him he's not going to school, that's that! Honestly, i get soooo mad at stuff like that. Dr's are the worst i think, i had this debate on another thread not so long ago. I think because Drs aren't afraid of illness and come into contact with it everyday they just carry on regardless. Very maddening! Hope all is ok with you after that, and i would defintely complain should anything happen ie..someone gets ill. Gggrrr!
Good luck! xx

how is everyone else? Notalone, hope you're enjoying your beers..(how common?!! xx)

I've had a bit of a day..my friend who i knock about with quite a bit and our dd's do too, text me this morning to say she was off work with the dreaded!arrgh! So, being the good friend that i am I text her back and said i was on my way to tesco's, did she need anything? (letter box size of course!) ..anyway i parked up in tesco's car park and checked my phone and she'd replied saying she was at tesco's herself getting some lucozade..when i looked up and there she was walking out of tesco's!..so i ducked down in my car so she didn't see me coz the last thing i wanted was for her to come chatting to me! (How daft i must have looked but pretended to be looking for something in my car....) (i could easily be a detective me, Columbo has nothing on me!!)..God, close call or what! It was only an hour earlier she'd been texting me that she couldn't keep her toast down! I was supposed to be going round there this weekend coz it's her dd's birthday on wed but no way can i go now...told her that too, she says for me to go round mon or tues eve, but still too soon for me. Will have to give her dd's prezi to my dd for her to give to her at school.
Then....DD was playing with her friends after school and they went to call for another friend but were told she was ill but would be able to play tomorrow!! (not on your nelly! Sorry to use your name in vein Nelly! ) Told my DH about my concerns and luckily he agrees with me that she should stay away from her poorly friend but how we're actually going to put that into practise i don't know! (notalone, you know all this coz have text you so sorry to put you thru it again!)

Thought this summer weather meant less worry!!!!!

Anyway, sorry to go on everyone, but have had a fear filled friday!

Hope everyone else ok xx

Oh hell, ds v'd this morning - all over me. I had no idea it was coming, so no time to get really panicky (which is something to be grateful for)

Fortunately, DP was at home (working) so he instructed shellshocked little me to get in the bath with DS, whilst he cleaned up.

Why oh why is this bloody bug still around - hasn't the heat killed it off yet?

So I had a bit of a dodgy tum last weekend, and DD had 'D' a couple of mornings. DP also had 'D' yesterday. Please someone tell me we are all immune

Ohhhhhhh. How awful for you (and for your DS, of course). Are you as calm as you sound? It sounds as if the rest of you should be immune, surely?? I'd have thought it would be too much of a coincidence for your DP to have D yesterday and for there to be no connection...
Sending you big hugs!

Hi Nelly,

Yes, I am remarkably calm - in fact I've just eaten a curry (that must be a record, normally I'd be on starvation mode). I had full-blown noro in Feb, plus a 'D' & tummy pains bug last weekend. So there's no way I can get it again (touches every piece of wood in the house).

I'm more worried about DD getting it tbh. DS is only 21 months so I can still pretend he's a baby (baby puke not so traumatising) DD is three, so her v'ing will be the end of me.

How is your DD - didn't you have a scare last week?

Oh annoyingdevil - how awful for you! But at least DP was there! And you've eaten a curry!! how you managed that i don't know! Hope DD ok and survives it. There is definitely a bug going round, heard a few people complain of it. (when will the worry ever end?!) xx

Annoyingdevil - I am full of admiration. I'd be starving myself for a week in your position through sheer panic. I do know what you mean about baby v, though - you can somehow kid yourself it's not real v (my ds used to projectile v immediately after every feed when he was tiny - then I managed to convince myself that it was just the same milk that had gone in). I hope your DD is immune - if she had d recently, I'd have thought there's a good chance of her not getting it.
I have my fingers v firmly crossed that your ds is better soon, and that the rest of you remain v-free. Let us know when you can.
My DD is fine, thanks - her little funny turn seems to have been just a funny turn. I dare say I wouldn't even have noticed, had I not been phobic - but when you're a phobe, everything is such a big deal
Good luck, and keep on eating!!

LOL Nelly, you know, I really thought that dealing with baby puke would somehow 'cure' my phobia. Instead I've just become fixated on this 'noro' virus.

So last night DS started asking for toast and unny (honey). So DP make him a huge plate of beans on toast (fairly safe, I thought) Anyway, am happy to report, he kept it down, plus everything he's eaten today. So he seems better.

DD showing no signs either, so I'm feeling a bit calmer.

Wiggleit, how are you today?

Annoyingd - that is very good news on all fronts. I am always tempted to starve the dcs for about a year following a v episode, so you are v brave!!
Long may it last...

Hi everyone!
Annoying - I'm fine thank you hun. Had a few scary moments but i've survived! Glad all is ok at yours. You dealt with it great, i'm full of admiration for you. No way would i have been able to eat so soon after the event....especially a curry!!!!!! very brave of you. Also like Nelly i would have starved the kids too!

Nelly - how you doing?Hope all is well with you.

Hi to everyone else...where is everyone?

Notalone - hope it's not too hot or cold in your office today (you whingy whiny thing you! ) xx See you Sat! xx

Have I been deserted! Where is everyone?

Having a 'twitchy' day today. DD awoke complaining of tummy ache and barely ate her breakfast. I took her to softplay and she seemed happy enough (and demanded a dough nut afterwards - which she demolished).

She ate no lunch but has happily gone to pre-school (although definitely more subdued than usual). Of course, I'm thinking the worse.

Hope everyone else is ok.

Hi - have only just found this thread and am so relieved that I am not a freak!! I have a totally irrational fear of my children getting sick bugs to the point where I don't go to places cos I think there might be loads of bugs around - stupid I know but that is the way my head works. I have alwys been a bit scared of sicky things but since having prem babies (twins) and someone coming to visit with there ill child when my babies were 2 weeks home from the neonatal unit I have been so much worse. 6 years on and it is much better but still have massive panic attack if anyone ever cries in night etc. Compounded by fact that when my girls get a bug they get it so bad they end up in hospital si reality is mixed with irrational thoughts. What I would say is that reality is NEVER as bad as anticipation. If the worst were to happen you would cope really well and it would not be nearly as bad as you imagine it would. I have found this to be the case time and time again - it is always after the event that you have a wee wobble! Good luck anyway and I am sure your dd would not eat doughnut if there was anything wrong. Good to know I am not alone x

Hi annoying, where has everyone gone? Thinking it must be a good sign though coz people only tend to come on here in times of need! Hope your DD is ok..x

pop - Hi and welcome! I do hope it's true that the reality isn't as bad as we anticipate. Personally i find that hard to accept but most people do say that. You have good reason to be scared after what you went through with your twins. You are definitely not alone on here! x

Hi to everyone else! Hope all is well. bb where are you? Missing ya! Can't come on here without saying hi to my spesh mate Notalone..hi babe! Will see you soon. xx

Hello all, and welcome pop! You will find lots of support here...

I've been looking at this thread every day, and have had my fingers firmly crossed that no news is good news!!

I have had a really nasty throat infection for the last week, and was prescribed antibiotics. The GP said I could either have penicillin (which I am allergic to), or erythromycin - "the one that makes you sick", she airily said

I played down the penicillin allergy, and said I'd take that, thanks very much. I took it for a day, and the allergy was so bad I had to stop - so I went back to the GP and, I'm sorry to say, I told a big fib. I told her that I'd had erythromycin before, and that it had made me sick - so could I please have a different antibiotic that doesn't have sicky side-effects?

I did feel like a total fraud, but there is no way I could take that stuff and risk the dreaded v. I looked it up on the internet, and the side-effect stories are hideous (including on MN!!!!) So I now have something that makes me feel a bit queasy (to my complete horror), and have my fingers crossed that it causes d, if anything, rather than v... I've had two days of it so far, so face another five days of anxiety!!

Annoyingd - I hope your DD is okay. A doughnut sounds like a good sign, at any rate. Fingers crossed!!

Hi Nelly! I've been the same as you, kept looking on here and hoping no news was good news! Missed everyone though! Hope your throat gets better soon hun,you've been in the wars a bit lately haven't you? I've also had erythromycin and although it didn't make me sick i had the runs with it. Stopped taking it in after a day!Good luck with the tablets you're on now. Get well soon! xx

Wow! It has been quiet here. Thank god - it must all have died down for a bit.

Hello Wiggleit! How are you hon? I know I have said it before but it really is so nice to meet someone who is lovely and normal and yet just just as scared as me. I would highly recommend to those who live near each other to have an emet meet up like Wiggleit and I did. It was such a relief to talk to someone who "gets it" and doesn't look at me like I am a loon when I talk about how V makes me feel and to swap horror stories. You are fab!!!! Go on the rest of you - find out if anyone lives near ya and do it!

Welcome to you Pop. I am not surprised you are so worried if your DT's have ended up in hospital. How frightening for you. You are amongst kindered spirits here so post away!

Aw Nelly - you really have suffered lately haven't you? I am not surprised you didn't take the erythromycin. Doesn't it feel so alien when someone is so blase about V? I went to the Dr's for AD's a while ago and was prescribed Sertraline (or something) where the main symtom was nausea and V. They got binned funnily enough! How are you feeling now? Have you decided what you are going to do about the French holiday?

How is your DD now AD? I think the doughnut thing is a sure sign she is better lol. Am keeping my fingers crossed she is fine

I am ok apart from the fact that one of my mates "A" at work told me she had been feeling really sick the night before then without asking, sticks her hands in my newly opened huge bag of lovely sweets, eats one, licks sugar off her finger then sticks her hands in for another. Grrrrr!!! I told her I didn't like em and she got to keep them!!! I am sure most people would not have batted an eyelid but all I could think of was all those millions of germs all over my food. Apart from that, touch wood, everything is ok

Hey Notalone - how are you hun? i texted you earlier to see if it was safe to venture out as i know it's your driving lesson day!
Have to agree with you re the meeting up thing. It was absolutely lovely to meet you. It is just so comforting to know you are not alone with this awful fear. Can't wait to meet up again babe. You are lovely! xx
Close shave there with your colleague sticking her mucky germ ridden fingers all over your lovely sweets.. how very dare she?! x

Evening to everyone else! How are you all? Annoying - how's your DD today? ok i hope.
Nelly - how you feeling on those anti-biotics? Got finger's crossed that you'll not suffer any of the side effects. Hope you are feeling better hun.
bb - where are you? It's a good job i don't need any help from you, my mentor..you've deserted me haven't you? I know i'm a handful chick! Please come on and say hello! x