Introduce myself

[lgood22573]

Hello every body, I just found out this "thing" I have has a name after I
saw the Dr.Phil show. I have been suffering with emet for 30 years ('m
about to turn 38). I am typically the true emet in the since that I can
count the times I have v* on one hand (2 times in 38 years). The second
time I'm not even sure if it counts, it was mostly dry heaves due to the
fact that I was nauseous and refused to eat, so the last time I v* was
about 30 years ago- now that's a stretch! (knock on wood!) Right now I
am terrified because my daughter goes to a mother's day out program
twice a week and there is rampant stomach virus going around. I am
trying to decide if I should keep her out for the entire month (it's
supposed to peak here in Feb.) or let her go (it is a small day care with
only 20-25 children). Every time she goes I wait in fear for a stomach
virus to rear it's ugly head. Last year was the first time I had to deal with
v*, she got a stomach virus in the middle of the night and my husband
was out of town. She was v* and crying and I was the only one here. As
soon as I ran in the room and realized what was happening. I felt my
heart literally surge out of my chest. It was beating so fast, I thought
surely I would have a heart attack. I had to touch her and pick her up. I
was so scared I can't even describe it, only my fellow emet's here could
ever understand. I was shaking so violently, I could barely hold her, not
to mention I had my eyes clamped shut. I made it out alive! But only for
her to get it again in 2 weeks and have to go all through it all over again.
This time my hubby and I both caught it. He v* all night long, and I
fought like I have never fought before. I was the sickest I have been in
many years. I literally paced the house for 8 hours in the night fighting
getting sick. I had the d*, but I never did v*, but oh I could of if I had not
fought so valiantly. This episode brought back my emet in full force.

I am tired of this ruling my life the way it does, but I have noticed from
reading other's post, it is not to the point of some here. I lead an
"almost" normal life with the exceptions of: carrying sanitizer absolutely
everywhere and everytime I touch a door, sink, etc. I get that baby out. I
only eat certain things at restaraunts, but I do eat regularly at restaraunts,
I do fly on planes, but I will NOT eat anything the day I fly and am always
afraid of someone getting sick on the plane. I would prefer not to fly.
There is not a day that does not go by that I do not think about v*. I can
say with absolute honesty that the day my 2 yr old caught the sv* was
worse for me than 12 hours of labor and an emergency c-section. I live
in fear, but I try to live my life as normally as I can. Anyway, I just wanted
to finally join after lurking for so long.

Lisa

[curly wurly]

Hi Lisa


Welcome to the site.The story of your daughter being ill is so familiar. I am a mother of 2. Each time one of my children v*s, I panic and do not cope well at all.. Even when they are well I continue to look for any sins of illness and ask them about 100 times a day if they feel o.k.


I am impressed with how long you have managed to be v* free. the longest I ever managed was 7 years.


I know how you feel about wanting to keep your daughter away from her daycare. I hate sending my daughter to school when there is a sv going round and I try and avoid my sons toddler group if I know someone there has had a v* bug.


You are not alone with your constant fear of v*. This site is wonderful. I wish I had found it sooner. Everyone here is so nice.

[ontariogirl]

Welcome to the site Lisa. I think we live in fear and try to live normally as best as we can. It is hard at times. I always felt that the summer months are flu free but that changed my mind since last August my sister came down with the stomach flu (both ends). She was up visiting from Ottawa. Turned out that my son caught it, that wasn't pleasent at all, I won't go into detail.
SO my theory about the flu not being around in the summer months have gone down hill.
Again welcome.

[stella9]

Hi Lisa,


Wow, you sound exactly like me. I could have written your post.


My math tells me that your daughter is three years old. I think the decision to not take her to themother's day out group is a personal one. It is one you CAN make while she is very young. Once she begins school, you won't have that option. Like you, I cringe with the knowledge that sv season will peak in mid-February. The past few years we have been fortunate to have two days off for President's weekend, right at that peak. We have also has some snow days thrown in there which kept the kids in and away from the epidemic. However, this year the weather has been unseasonably warm so I doubt we will have respite from school.


Onatriogirl is correct that sv occur all year round, but we all know that our children are much more vulnerable when half of their class is sick with tons of kids dropping every day from sv.


My inclination would be to keep her home for February. If you don't work outside of the home and she just goes for the social aspect, the loss of her not going for a month is fine. She is very young and won't have any negative impact from your breaking the continuity of attending the group.


Stella

[asagao]

Are you saying Dr. Phil did cover this topic? My mother suggested I write in a letter talking about it, so it would increase awareness in the world. I thought about doing it since I've come so far with it, but I never got around to writing the letter. If there is indeed an episode floating around I'd like to see it sometime. Is there a way you can buy it?Aside from that, welcome to the community. I recently joined myself. I think you're really brave to have a child to begin. Many emets won't go through the length of the pregnancy. Give yourself a pat on the back for that one.

[lgood22573]

Yes, there was a dr. phil show that talked about one woman's struggle
with emet. I bet you can still find the info on his website.

The decision to have a child was not an easy one for me, thank God I
never had any morning sickness from the pregnancy or the anesthesia. I
am torn about the MDO (Mother's day out) because it is so important to
me that I do not let my emet affect my daughters life. I cannot, WILL NOT
let my problem become her problem. I cringe every time I take her to the
big public play ground with all the germies and sick little kids, but I still
take her every time she wants to go, but I do disinfect her hands after
(she is 2 by the way). The indoor playgrounds at McDonalds, just make
me want to croak! But I always let her play if she wants to. This is my
illness, not hers and it's not fair for me to let it alter her life as well as
mine. If I keep her out, it will be for selfish reasons only (my fear). The
entire MDO is only 20-25 kids, it's small. If I let her go, she will be
happy, but I will be in agony waiting... watching... for any little sign.

Lisa

[asagao]

Sometimes I get to the point where I say the hell with it and do something I'd normally never consider. I encourage everyone to do this once in awhile because you really do prove to yourself you can accomplish things, which you always doubted before. I would like to start a family some day myself, and the idea of having children running around the house spreading germs isunsettling. At the same time Irealize I'd be missing out on a lot ofgreat things ifI passed this opportunity. What's funny is the fact I wouldn't be the one getting pregnant to begin! Again, I commend you on going through with the pregnancy. As for the MDO, I say go for it, but the decision is entirely up to you. Last year I went on a plane by myself to a place that was completelynew to my eyesjust to see a girl who I happen to love being around. I kept playing the disastrous "what if" sequencesin my head, and it just made things worse. Finally, I said the hell with it, bought a ticket and did it. The fear of v* I've noticed will always be present among us as emets, but the intensity of it will lessen the more we prove to ourselves we are capable ofdoing thingsby placing ourselves in the "danger zone". You still won't see me taking ipecac syrup anytime soon though! I'm not that brave! Haha

[dord]

Welcome to the site - I'm also 38 and have had this phobia for as long as I can remember. I just wanted to say kudo's for taking your little girl to the park and letting her play at McDonalds. You're so right that this is our phobia, not our childrens. I've tried hard to be a "normal, non-obsessive" Mom, the only thing I can truly look back on and know that my emet affected was letting my son have kids spend the night. I said no far more often than yes because I feared the other kid getting sick. I regret that but he's 15 now and I don't think it was a big deal - besides, we can't go back and redo so I must forgive myself. Anyway you've got a great attitude to not let the emet affect your daughter. Welcome to the site, it's good to chat with others who know the feelings we share.

[neesy]

I am tired of this ruling my life the way it does, but I have noticed from
reading other's post, it is not to the point of some here. I lead an
"almost" normal life with the exceptions of: carrying sanitizer absolutely
everywhere and everytime I touch a door, sink, etc. I get that baby out. I
only eat certain things at restaraunts, but I do eat regularly at restaraunts,
I do fly on planes, but I will NOT eat anything the day I fly and am always
afraid of someone getting sick on the plane. I would prefer not to fly.
There is not a day that does not go by that I do not think about v*. I can
say with absolute honesty that the day my 2 yr old caught the sv* was
worse for me than 12 hours of labor and an emergency c-section. I live
in fear, but I try to live my life as normally as I can. Anyway, I just wanted
to finally join after lurking for so long.

Lisa

WOW you sound just like me. I do lead a pretty normal life and also you haven't been sick in about the same amount of time as I have. There is not a lot I don't do eating wise with this phobia apart from be totally obsessed at BBQ's when eating chicken and always checking that chicken is cooked for my whole family (without them really knowing I am checking!).


I don't sit in a carriage where there are toilets on the train because I always figure that if someone feels sick they will sit near the toilets, not a day goes by where I dont think about sickness and bugs.


It's just great to be around people who are exactly the same. All the little things that you thought were silly that you doand you thought you were the only one that does these things - YOU ARE NOT ALONE AND ITS GREAT TO KNOW THERE ARE OTHERS OUT THERE EXACTLY THE SAME![img]smileys/smilies_01.gif[/img]

[e-lizabeth]

You guys are me...I'm 40, been emet for as long as I can remember, haven't been sick in 28 years (but who's counting? LOL) and lead a very normal life. I have two kids, a great full-time job, an understanding supportive husband, an amazing family, and great friends. I'm by far one of the luckiest people I know.


And yet......need I say more?

[Babydoll]

welcome! ( I'm a dr phil addict as well)