Please help! Panicking!

[sillygirl]

Ok, so I just went to use the bathroom at work. I got that funny “maybe you shouldn’t do this” feeling before hand, but I had to go so I went. When I got in there, it smelled funny. Kind of like Chinese food. I went to the bathroom really quick, and then went to wash my hands. There was a lady in the next stall that got out at the same time as me. I had never seen her before, but I said hi and she just kind of gave a weak smile, washed her hands and left. Her face looked really red to me, but like I said, I don’t know her so maybe she always looks like that. So anyway, that kind of set me off a little bit, plus I still smelled that funny smell.

As I was washing my hands, I looked down at the sink and saw dried spots that I told my self were probably just coffee. When I went to through my paper towel away, I noticed that the trash smelled really bad/strong. I am really not sure what it smelled like, but I started to have a major panic attack thinking maybe it was v*.

I washed my hands, opened the door with a paper towel, immediately ran out of there as fast as I could, and used hand sanitizer as soon as I got back to my desk. I realize that someone may have just thrown their lunch away in there or something, but if someone had been sick in there, do you think I could catch it? I haven’t touched my face or eaten anything since (didn’t touch food with my hands). What do you think? I am really scared now!

[gubba]

I doubt someone got sick in the garbage can in the bathroom. Surely it would be easier to get to the toilet. Not to be gross, but the sink would have had more than spots in it,if someone had recently V*d in it. As for the red faced woman, it has been a long time since I did V*, but I think you get pale, not red. Also, if she had eaten Chinese Food and felt well enough to do that, she probably didn't have an SV. Usually, it does hit fast, but if it was that fast...once again , not to be gross, maybe she had a big smelly poop and that was why she was so red faced.


Anyway you go about it, you are fine...you washed your hands, used hand sanitizer and I think that I recently read that it is easiest to get an SV by hand to mouth, eyes or nose if they have the contamination of the virus. You don't need to worry. I'm certain it was nothing and if it was our worst fear, you protected yourself perfectly.

[mjewell]

Hi Sillygirl -


V* has an unmistakable bitter smell too - rarely does it actually smell like the food you ate, so I bet it wasn't V, probably just lunch leftovers.


I know how you feel though, I had a similar potty experience today. i was in the bathroom at work and there was someone in the stall three down from me and another girl at the sink. The girl in the stall was really quiet, I was kinda laughing cause I thought maybe she was pooing. Well, then the girl at the sink asked the girl in the stall if she was ok...the girl in the stall said yes, I weill be out in a few minutes. I have never wiped flushed and washed my hands faster. ICk!! I HATE public bathrooms!!!!!!

[sillygirl]

I thought Chinese food was what it smelled like when I first walked into the bathroom. But when I got close to the trash can, it smelled different. I actually haven't been around v* for a while, so I'm not sure I would even recognize the smell. When I smelled the trash can, I panicked so bad that I can't even tell you what it smelled like. I quit breathing and flew out of there as fast as I could. I almost forgot to grab a paper towel to open the door with! I did see a brown paper bag (like from a fast food place) under some paper towels. It was probably just left over food from lunch, but I just can't shake it. And because I was panicking so much, about the time I left work, I suddenly had to go #2 really bad, but I was afraid to use the bathrooms at work again! I drove home so fast and flew to the bathroom. I am so freaked out still. I was careful, but I am still scared that if it happened right before I went in, maybe some of it was aerosolized and I breathed it in? I don't really think it was the lady that was in there at the same time as me (but who knows for sure).

[gubba]

I instantly need to poop the minute I get nervous about V* and I woul dhave had to go back into the bathroom, or to another one somewhere else. I hate that about stress. I hope you are getting calmed down now that you are home and don't let it ruin your evening. Easier said than done, I know!!!

[sillygirl]

I really can't calm down. I have been trying, but I can't think about anything else. And my 4 year old brother in law is coming tonight to stay with us until Monday, so I really need to quit worrying about this. I am so scared I am goin gto get sick while he is here! I would freak out so much about myself that I wouldn't be able to take care of him. I am so scared! Is it possible to catch anything if there even is anything to catch????

[*mandi*]

I don tthink you could catch anything. As long as you washed your hands, and kept them away from your face. I doubt what you saw was V*. It was probably just trash/old food. I know how you feel though. I'd be freaking out about it too. But if you keep thinking about it...it will only make you feel worse. So try to relax,,,,I dont think you will catch anything or get sick

[gubba]

i really don't think that you can catch something that way. You never really came into contact with any of it, and you washed well and sanitized even. I know you are safe and since we all worry till we think we are sick, just focus on the fact the you don't know what it was and it probably wasn't V* and you can't really catch it that way. That's 3 strikes against you getting it and so I think that you are definitely safe.

[sillygirl]

I know I am hungry, but I am scared to eat because I am still so nervous about getting it. I know I am being stupid about this. People are actually around other's when they v* all the time and never get it, so even if it was v*, there is a good chance I won't get it because I wasn't there when it even happened. I can talk all the sense I want to myself, but I just can't calm down. I hate this!

[sillygirl]

I ate dinner and now my intestines are raging. It feels like there is a war going on in there! If I was going to catch anything, would it be too early for symptoms to show? I think I need to get on some anxiety medication now. I just can't take it anymore.

[angel13]

You're just worried, Sillygirl, you said you were careful, so I don't see any way you could have caught it.


Public loos always smell weird! The one I go into at the train station is a lovely bathroom...y'know, nice taps and soap and stuff...but it *always* smells like old fried food, and greasy chips! It hits you as soon as you walk in, I could never figure it out...I think people use the rubbish bins in there for anything, like, bits of food. It just lingers.


Even if that lady *did* v*, like you said - people are around others who v* all the time, and don't catch bugs off them. Its only the careless people who never wash hands, and share drinks and food with contagious people, they're the ones who get sick. Not us emets with our hand sanitisers and paper towels to open doors with[img]smileys/smilies_02.gif[/img](I do that all the time, and I've never had an sv, only one mild one...and that was all my fault. So you shouldn't worry.)


You just need to combat the anxiety, and you'll feel fine again ^_^ Listen to some music, or just the radio, or something. Take some deep breaths...or even watch a movie? Just take your mind off worrying, you'll be ok.

[gubba]

Angel, you said it so well. the handwashing and sanitizing thing really does help up and I do the paper towel ting with the door as well. I wish bathroom doors opened out so you could puch it instead of pulling it, but I guess that is too simple for places to figure out.


Sillygirl, it's another day and I bet you are fine. Hope your night went o.k. I was thinking about you.