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Original poster

How often do you catch a stomach bug/vomit?

132 replies

User1110 · 20/07/2021 20:34

Hi, I have emetophobia and would like to just see how common my biggest fear is!

As an emetophobe (fear of vomit) I don’t tend to let myself be ill very often. I think I had a stomach bug of some sort over last summer, but was not sick but probably needed to be as I felt really unwell.

Everyday I wake up and am paranoid that it will be the day I vomit/come down with a bug.

I am veggie (I think this means I’m lower risk of food poisoning, at least). I drink kefir everyday and am keep my house hygienic. Plus am fastidious about hand washing!

I don’t have kids (yet) so would also like to see how much more likely it is to catch bugs if you have kids bringing them home from nursery and school vs no kids.

With norovirus doing the rounds apparently, I’m getting in a bit of a flap thinking it’s everywhere and on every surface I touch. When realistically, it’s probably less than 1% of the population that get it in a year, I believe.

So basically - when did you last vomit, what was it from? And when was the last time you had a stomach bug?

Thank you!

OP posts:
Halloweenrainbow · 20/07/2021 21:14

3 times between the ages of 12 and 34! DC only threw up once as a baby (I believe this is unusual) and not again until age 5. No idea why and I didn't catch it.

Chicchicchicchiclana · 20/07/2021 21:15

Last time I vomited was January 2004. I've thrown up 4 times as an adult - 1 x drink, 1 x food poisoning, 2 x bugs picked up from my kids. As an emetophobe they are all etched on my mind.

RuthW · 20/07/2021 21:16

It's been at least 8.5 years for me and dd. I know we haven't had one since I've been with my partner.

BarberQueue · 20/07/2021 21:17

Last time I had a tummy bug was as a child. Have two DC primary and secondary age. Eldest has never had a tummy bug, youngest has had one.

Fruityfriday · 20/07/2021 21:18

Me was when I was carrying ds. Ds has never been sick in his life, 10 yrs

Angel2702 · 20/07/2021 21:19

Can’t remember years ago. The kids tend to get it once every year / every other year. My eldest is never sick with a bug usually just has upset stomach but usually escapes all illnesses for some reason. When kids get it now I tend to not have symptoms other than feeling dizzy.

LemonRoses · 20/07/2021 21:25

About 32 years ago, but I was in clinical practice then. I don’t ever recall my husband having a bug despite a career working with children for many years.
Hand washing is key to avoiding bugs.

katsounds · 20/07/2021 21:27

Not since I was a small child.

I also work in a hospital with noro virus etc outbreaks. Never had it still.

I do wonder why, perhaps good hand hygiene? Perhaps luck?

alsonotmyname · 20/07/2021 21:28

I can't remember the last time - kids are rarely sick either, some of them have never vomited, I've only known my husband to vomit once and that was over 20 years ago

Wallabyone · 20/07/2021 21:30

We seem to get it every few years. I am a teacher and now have three of my own children so that erm, helps 😭 I'm slightly sensitive to this topic as I am recovering from last week, when it swept through the household one by one and finally got me on Friday. It was horrific. I feel like I've paid my dues for another five years now #prayforme

SupermanWithTheGreyHair · 20/07/2021 21:30

I think I’ve only ever had a couple of stomach bugs in my whole life. The last one was when my daughter was a baby so 12 years ago which my older child got from school. I get migraines though and occasionally I’m sick with those.

Not sure if diet helps with you being vegetarian. I’m vegan, was vegetarian before that. My partner and one of my kids eat meat and they don’t really get stomach bugs either.

steelseries · 20/07/2021 21:32

I'm so jealous of all these people who have only been sick once or so in 20+ years! I must have such a weak stomach!! I'm also a fastidious hand washer... maybe I just have germy children?! 🥴

ImbarbaraB · 20/07/2021 21:33

Once
My parents bought us up on the belief that use by dates were as unimportant as sell by dates and would often scrape the mould off things

We also had lots of dogs and the cleanliness was not what modern day people expect

I think that’s given me a stomach of steel

Terrazzo · 20/07/2021 21:33

My kids are 6 and 3 and I think we’ve had one stomach bug. I rarely vomit. I think the last time was about 5 years ago and then another 4 years before that (for 2 weeks through my honeymoon!!)

roses2 · 20/07/2021 21:35

I usually get a stomach bug once per year.

Almost never get fever or other illness that requires time off work.

StepladderToHeaven · 20/07/2021 21:37

I've only had food poisoning once in my adult life (approx 20 years ago). And I'm very relaxed about eating things that are past their sell by date!

I've never had a vomiting bug.

I have vomited several times from too much alcohol Blush

GiantToadstool · 20/07/2021 21:37

I think some of it is luck. We've certainly had bugs affect us all differently eith some being sick and others just a headache and slight diarrhea.

wjg65ka · 20/07/2021 21:42

From age 10-27 probably twice. Throughout my pregnancy I caught two bugs. DS is in nursery and we catch everything

stoneysongs · 20/07/2021 21:43

Last vomited about 10 years ago after some dodgy mussels.

I've had nausea a few times (including when pregnant) and have been sick after alcohol in my younger days, but never vomited through illness. Kids are the same, they vomit maybe once every 5 years but only ever a one-off, maybe travel sickness or too much sun - they've never had even a 24hr bug.

LockdownCheeseToastie · 20/07/2021 21:43

I’m hardly ever sick, maybe four times in 25 years? Dh has a delicate stomach as us sick every couple of months. Dkids hardly ever sick- three or four bugs each maybe. However- you can’t leave a vomiting baby or child and they can’t clean it up themselves so if you want to be a parent you need to accept that you’ll have to clean up their vomit be it twice ever or twice a day. If you can’t then don’t have kids.

daisypond · 20/07/2021 21:45

I’ve never vomited in my life - as far back as I can remember. I’m in my 50s. I’ve definitely never had any sort of stomach bug or virus. I’m not too fussy about cleaning things, sell by dates etc.

Floralnomad · 20/07/2021 21:49

I was sick throughout 2 pregnancies and in 2017 when I was being diagnosed with Addisons I was sick several times a day . I never catch bugs even when my children were at school and I was a nurse , I think I’m immune

Wallywobbles · 20/07/2021 21:50

I think I've had D&V once in my life.

RubyGoat · 20/07/2021 21:50

I was nauseous 24/7 for about the first 6 months when I was pregnant, but only sick about half a dozen times.
I get really severe migraines which sometimes make me vomit.

I've never had a stomach bug or norovirus AFAIK. DH & DD have had a few, I don't seem to catch them. DH definitely had norovirus about 13 years ago. I wash my hands a lot, maybe I'm just lucky?

Passthecake30 · 20/07/2021 21:52

Dd and I both had food poisoning on our last holiday in 2019. Before that, I caught norovirus twice from the gym in close succession about 6 years ago. Also caught a couple of the kids bugs about 8-9 years ago.

I faint when I’m sick, so I’m terrified too…