Emetophobia - any fellow sufferers? What do you do to cope?

1
Kalesmoothie said:
Sooo glad i stumbled across this thread 😭

I’m diagnosed with asd, adhd, ocd & emetophobia… Currently in the countdown zone, my little one had V no D yesterday at 3am… Seems ok today. He’s neurologically complex with other disabilities so often with him it’s a “who knows” thing but naturally i am BESIDE myself with anxiety.

I hate hate hate this so much, it consumes me. My husband is so patient and tolerant but i know im extremely annoying and paranoid and hypervigilant. You’d think id be more concerned about the possibility hes having migraines than a run of the mill N infection!?

Anyway, just wanted to say hello and thank you for this thread, i’ve just read through the whole thing and feel much better knowing im not the only one out there struggling!

Does anyone else do a 72 hour countdown? or just 48?
Click to expand...
Welcome! you're safe here with us lol.

Oh I remember my little one (hes 3 now) about a year ago did some sick hiccups after thumping his head and 111 said to watch out for vomiting and I went into a mental breakdown worrying it was a stomach bug, I didn't even care about the head injury. what sort of mother am I!!

I am going away for a very short trip this weekend by plane with my son and I haven't flown since covid and hes never flown before and I'm on my own and I'm just so scared my stomach is literally doing flips like a washing machine I can't calm down and now I'm even more nervous because a friend of mine (who lives 150 miles away ffs!!) has a little boy who's been sick 8 times since 3am so its the dreaded and just because she's texting me asking advice I have got it in my head I'm going to catch it via text message.

I fear this level of phobia on my behalf is turning into some sort of mental illness and it scares me so much. I'm in my 30's with my parents as my only support system child care and they don't get it, it's so isolating. I live alone with my little one so in a way I can control hygiene better than a large household but its so lonely when I just want to message my parents and because they aren't scared of it, I get belittled. its so juvenile of me but I know you guys will get it

and also, I would say if your son was only sick once, and seems fine then he will be okay. just keep on top of the hand washing and maybe purchase some of the brands above we mentioned. Clinell is my fave.
 
I do a 72 hour countdown but relax a little bit once 36-48 hours have passed because that seems to be the prime time for Moro to start after exposure. But I’m never entirely happy because I worry that I’ve missed particles when cleaning and they can hang around for a couple of weeks.
 
Can anyone enlighten me by sharing their safe foods?

im honestly so scared about going on a plane Sunday i wont eat much between now and past that date.

im going to have a crispy (burnt) bacon sandwich for dinner tonight, and all day if im hungry today im just sipping Sprite Zero (lemon and lime settles the tummy), and ready salted crisps.

im also taking buscopan and cyclizine (prescription anti sickness pills) every 8 hours.

those are my comfort blankets
 
Welcome @Kalesmoothie, I'm glad you found us! This is a great little support and advice bubble full of people who actually understand exactly how you feel! 🥰 Totally with you on the being annoying to the husband thing, I'm always apologising to mine for being like this! He's like your husband, very supportive and as understanding as he can be, but I'm sure I drive him bonkers really!

@swimming do you mean safe foods for when you're in panic mode? I don't really have any safe foods! And to be fair my decisions change depending on where my head is.

On the countdown, I tend to do 48hrs as that's what the NHS states for kids to return to school.

I wish I had some anti sickness tablets!! They'd be great for not feeling well! I might ask my doctor about them. What does buscopan do? I thought that was for constipation?! 🤭
 
PennyPop said:
Welcome @Kalesmoothie, I'm glad you found us! This is a great little support and advice bubble full of people who actually understand exactly how you feel! 🥰 Totally with you on the being annoying to the husband thing, I'm always apologising to mine for being like this! He's like your husband, very supportive and as understanding as he can be, but I'm sure I drive him bonkers really!

@swimming do you mean safe foods for when you're in panic mode? I don't really have any safe foods! And to be fair my decisions change depending on where my head is.

On the countdown, I tend to do 48hrs as that's what the NHS states for kids to return to school.

I wish I had some anti sickness tablets!! They'd be great for not feeling well! I might ask my doctor about them. What does buscopan do? I thought that was for constipation?! 🤭
Click to expand...
Buscopan is an anti-spasmodic so it eases stomach pains, wind etc. I'm prescribed it for my IBS. I get Stemetil (Proclorperazine) on prescription which is anti-sickness but before I met my lovely Doctor (the first person who ever understood this mess I am) I used to take Kwells.
 
I’ve got cyclizine anti sickness they are amazing. I’ve got them on repeat prescription due to a medical condition I’ve got that means I’m in a lot of pain at times and the pain gives me nausea - not remotely proud to admit I take those tablets like sweets when I get anxious around this phobia. Not proud of that at all.
 
PennyPop said:
Welcome @Kalesmoothie, I'm glad you found us! This is a great little support and advice bubble full of people who actually understand exactly how you feel! 🥰 Totally with you on the being annoying to the husband thing, I'm always apologising to mine for being like this! He's like your husband, very supportive and as understanding as he can be, but I'm sure I drive him bonkers really!

@swimming do you mean safe foods for when you're in panic mode? I don't really have any safe foods! And to be fair my decisions change depending on where my head is.

On the countdown, I tend to do 48hrs as that's what the NHS states for kids to return to school.

I wish I had some anti sickness tablets!! They'd be great for not feeling well! I might ask my doctor about them. What does buscopan do? I thought that was for constipation?! 🤭
Click to expand...

Ask for Avomine over the counter. It’s what I was prescribed for pregnancy nausea and it really helps (makes you sleepy though, as do most anti-emetics). Other than that, diphenhydramine (Nytol) is also anti-emetic and available over the counter. Again, it works well but makes you sleepy. Independent chemists stock Avomine but Boots doesn’t, and Nytol is available everywhere.
 
swimming said:
I’ve got cyclizine anti sickness they are amazing. I’ve got them on repeat prescription due to a medical condition I’ve got that means I’m in a lot of pain at times and the pain gives me nausea - not remotely proud to admit I take those tablets like sweets when I get anxious around this phobia. Not proud of that at all.
Click to expand...
I do the same. Whatever works I say!
 
I’ve decided to come off social media! I just tried to go onto TikTok for some escape moments and every second video was people saying they’ve got D&V.

duck off. Why do people have to pick up the camera and broadcast it to the world.

honestly my stomach is in flight or fight right now it feels like I’ve got a million butterflies in there
 
Ladeepfriedmarsbar said:
Buscopan is an anti-spasmodic so it eases stomach pains, wind etc. I'm prescribed it for my IBS. I get Stemetil (Proclorperazine) on prescription which is anti-sickness but before I met my lovely Doctor (the first person who ever understood this mess I am) I used to take Kwells.
Click to expand...
Thank you, I might have to get some of that. So glad to hear you have an understanding GP, mine has been ever so good with me too. It's half the battle isn't it.
---
Scubasf said:
Ask for Avomine over the counter. It’s what I was prescribed for pregnancy nausea and it really helps (makes you sleepy though, as do most anti-emetics). Other than that, diphenhydramine (Nytol) is also anti-emetic and available over the counter. Again, it works well but makes you sleepy. Independent chemists stock Avomine but Boots doesn’t, and Nytol is available everywhere.
Click to expand...
Thank you so much, I'll be out to shops today!
 
So we all avoided getting sick from my son, we are just shy of 96 hours so well in the clear… now my husband is up and sick 😭😭😭😭 i’m actually so done, i am beside myself, i can’t live like this! i hate it so much, now im going to be absolutely obsessing over the hours again and back to being crippled with anxiety 😭😭💔💔💔
 
Kalesmoothie said:
So we all avoided getting sick from my son, we are just shy of 96 hours so well in the clear… now my husband is up and sick 😭😭😭😭 i’m actually so done, i am beside myself, i can’t live like this! i hate it so much, now im going to be absolutely obsessing over the hours again and back to being crippled with anxiety 😭😭💔💔💔
Click to expand...
stay in seperate rooms from him and hand wash as much as possible. 96 hours tho 😔
 
Ok guys. Trigger warning on this post.

I don’t know where to start 😩 today, my 3 year old went on his first flight. Only a 3 hour flight. My mum was with us. He’s full of a cold, refuses to yet blow his nose and was extremely tired after a 3am start.

Was absolutely fine all day, all fine the flight, didn’t like landing as it was so bumpy.

as soon as we hit the tarmac I heard my mum said “oohp he’s just been sick” (I was window, son was middle, mum was isle). And yep he had been sick all in his lap, all on the seat and floor. On a bleeping aircraft. Luckily at landing.

I am now the worlds worst mother because I just went into shut down mode. My child was crying hysterically with fear, my mum was trying to grab tissues and I just went dizzy and stared out and window not getting involved. I was shaking, my eyes went funny like I was about to faint, I couldn’t breathe properly. Everything!

First time since being a mother I’ve come into contact with sick. My mind was racing and I’m still shaking now 3 hours after the event.

Long and short of it - he’s ok. My mum has calmed me down and convinced me it’s not a bug because he was fine immediately after, has been running around like a looney and eaten and drank water - plus it’s 3 hours past the initial event.

We think it might be some air sickness, coupled with being full of a cold so swallowing mucus, and very tired.

TMI trigger- it wasn’t projectile. It just landed on his lap and seat. That’s not a bug is it? And because he’s now acting fine that also means he’s ok right? And all through the flight he had been grazing on crisps and none of that came up. If it was a bug it would have, right? Please give me some solid

my mum is a god send and has kept me calm because I explained my fear and she took it on board and I mentioned I am waiting for therapy. She’s with us tonight so I feel safe.

I also feel like a big baby who’s scared of her own child which is what happened.

thanks for reading I know you guys will get this
 
swimming said:
Ok guys. Trigger warning on this post.

I don’t know where to start 😩 today, my 3 year old went on his first flight. Only a 3 hour flight. My mum was with us. He’s full of a cold, refuses to yet blow his nose and was extremely tired after a 3am start.

Was absolutely fine all day, all fine the flight, didn’t like landing as it was so bumpy.

as soon as we hit the tarmac I heard my mum said “oohp he’s just been sick” (I was window, son was middle, mum was isle). And yep he had been sick all in his lap, all on the seat and floor. On a bleeping aircraft. Luckily at landing.

I am now the worlds worst mother because I just went into shut down mode. My child was crying hysterically with fear, my mum was trying to grab tissues and I just went dizzy and stared out and window not getting involved. I was shaking, my eyes went funny like I was about to faint, I couldn’t breathe properly. Everything!

First time since being a mother I’ve come into contact with sick. My mind was racing and I’m still shaking now 3 hours after the event.

Long and short of it - he’s ok. My mum has calmed me down and convinced me it’s not a bug because he was fine immediately after, has been running around like a looney and eaten and drank water - plus it’s 3 hours past the initial event.

We think it might be some air sickness, coupled with being full of a cold so swallowing mucus, and very tired.

TMI trigger- it wasn’t projectile. It just landed on his lap and seat. That’s not a bug is it? And because he’s now acting fine that also means he’s ok right? And all through the flight he had been grazing on crisps and none of that came up. If it was a bug it would have, right? Please give me some solid

my mum is a god send and has kept me calm because I explained my fear and she took it on board and I mentioned I am waiting for therapy. She’s with us tonight so I feel safe.

I also feel like a big baby who’s scared of her own child which is what happened.

thanks for reading I know you guys will get this
Click to expand...
It sounds like motion sickness to me and the mucus too. I used to get air sick as a child and would sometimes vomit after landing, but if he was fine in the air it was probably the bumpy landing. I hope he is running around tomorrow! 😊
 
Both my children, who don't get car sick, get motion sick on aeroplanes. Especially at landing and immediately after so I'd say that's the most likely option.
 
Thanks so much for all your replies. There hasn’t been any further incidents and it’s been 10 hours so I’m guessing he’s definitely not unwell?

Honestly was my worst nightmare. Being trapped in a window seat of a plane. I’ll be overthinking that for days
 
Yes; that sounds like a combination of motion sickness and being full of cold. My son used to throw up every time he had a bad cough and cold at that age because they can’t blow their nose to get rid of everything. Nobody warns you about that before you become a parent!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top