Winter is Stomach Bug Season

[Katie_Y]

I’m preparing by stocking up on every anti nausea remedy I can find. It’s kind of sad because Christmastime used to be my favorite time of year but again and again back when I was in school, throughout December - February over the years I came to realize that that time period was stomach bug season so I have ruined every Christmas these past few years by panicking over the state of my stomach. I honestly can’t control my thoughts no matter what kind or how much therapy/coping mechanisms I put into place. Guys, I’m so scared. Stomach bug season is upon us.

[Dolphin14]

Don't forget things like Gatorade and popsicles. I always have those ready to maintain hydration.

Looks like you have everything covered.

[SnowWhite94]

I’m starting to wonder if we’re the same person Katie! This struck me the other day, that it’s flu season, and more specifically stomach flu season. While I hate all germs I’d take the normal flu over the stomach flu any day. Make sure you start taking more Vitamin C or immune support vitamins! I’ve also read that some people say drinking grape juice helps prevent catching the bug. Of course Ive also heard some people say it isn’t true but regardless grape juice does have a lot of vitamin C so in the end it can’t hurt to try. I’ve also started carrying hand sanitizer with me everywhere and the travel size Lysol disinfectant spray. You can get it at Walmart in the travel aisle and I spray public toilets and stuff before I use them. And if you can, buy and use the bigger Lysol spray at home since it’s the only disinfectant that lists killing the exact germs of the stomach bug. Other than bleach of course. Praying you and I and/or our families don’t get sick this season. 😭

[Katie_Y in reply to SnowWhite94]

It’s the emetophobia. I take 2 Vitamin C gummies a day, and drink a Pepto shot once in the morning and once before bed because my mom read that Pepto kills the germs that cause diarrhea, which isn’t nearly as scary as v*miting, but is still unpleasant nonetheless and I’d like to prevent it, of course. I have a 34 fl oz hand sanitizer bottle that’s about a foot tall. I used to get made fun of at school because I always wiped down my whole desk and chair with Clorox wipes before getting settled. If we are the same person, I’m sorry for what you go through. I’m just terrified to my very core of v*miting. I’d literally choose death before I’d choose throwing up.

[Funkyfaerie]

I have worked my whole life in microbiology.

Washing your hands is the best way not to pick up or pass on a tummy bug.

Wiping things with diluted bleach will kill the tummy bug germs. If someone gets it in your home, wipe all the things that everyone touches, raps, bannister, handle on the fridge, light pulls and swutches (carefully of course) I do this and it will stop the virus spreading.

And make sure the sick person stays in the one room and clean the bathroom with bleach after every visit.

It sounds like a pain, but I've done it with a house full of three grandchildren and it works...

Remember wash those hands!!

[Katie_Y in reply to Funkyfaerie]

Thank you for your sage advice! I happen to have emetophobia so it’s especially hard for me to keep fear at bay. You have some very good tips and I’m fascinated by your background in microbiology!

[Funkyfaerie in reply to Katie_Y]

Katie,

Strangely, although I have spent part of my life in cancer research, and then in food manufacture, and the latter ironically most of our work was dealing with and testing for E. Coli and Salmonella!!

I too suffer with emetiphobia., very badly, I think it's the feeling sick that is the worst for me, if you didn't get that awful feeling, it might not be so bad. I have some anti sickness pills at hand all the time, just in case... they are Domperidon. If I feel sick and panic they work so well, however, if I was to have caught a bug, they are not going to work you have to get it over with.

It's horrible, horrible, horrible and like you I get scared. I have had children, they are grown up now and I coped when they were ill, you just do because you love them.

Some people think our fear is ridiculous, I know that, but mine started from one time when I was ill at about age seven, the last thing I ate that night was a coconut biscuit, I didn't eat any form of coconut for 20 years, that's how bad my fear was.

Through my work I now know you're not going to get a tummy bug from eating a dry food like a biscuit, they love moist conditions, so it would have been something else or just mixing at school.

Also ironically when working with these scary bugs in a laboratory didn't scare me at all, because we were in a controlled environment, and that's how I know that for them bleach is a killer. And washing your hands and then washing your hands a second time, like a surgeon is the best way to keep clear of germs etc, especially after being out shopping for example.

For instance, when I come back from the play park where my grandchildren are mixing and touching toys and swings, I say to them "What is the first thing we do?" and they shout back in chorus "Wash our hands!" just habit that can help keep you safe.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not manic about it, just careful.

Just know you are not the only one that suffers this awful fear.

Best Wishes

[mrmonk]

Hi Katie_Y,

Speaking as a fellow emetophobe, I wondered if you've tried getting a prescription for an antiemetic medication, like Zofran, to have on hand in the event that you or someone close to you comes down with a stomach virus? I find that just knowing I have a potent medication that can actually prevent vomiting (as it acts in the brain, rather than the gut) helps put me at some ease when there are stomach viruses afoot.

[Funkyfaerie in reply to mrmonk]

Hi mrmonk,

Is that one that actually prevents vomiting, like they use foe chemotherapy patients?

Mine just stop the feeling. I can see how knowing you're not going to vomit would help you calm down. Sometimes I take a diazepam just to help me calm down from the panic of feeling sick.

So envious of people that can just get on with it!

[Camo72]

HI, I understand. I had c diff all summer into autumn. I have never had it before.

I thought I was dying. I had to give 12 samples all together of my poop. And it all started because I went to a Doctors office and caught a bug.

I stock up on urinary tract products also.Always get them especially in winter. I have chronic depression.

I dont want to leave the house, I'll get sicker. My dogs will get away, I'll end up in an accident like I have before, none my fault. So winter sucks yes. But I do find on my journey through this hell on earth that we should embrace the winner as time to rest. And get better. I'm not into the whole Christmas thing this year. Last year I was working were I had for 7 years, I got sick could not go to the Christmas party no energy. I have been sick since.

No job, teeth with bad crown killing me. Migraine, MS, it goes on and on.

Christmas used to.be my favorite holiday. But I have no one really. My husband is never here, and my family all deals with thier problems.

Sad.....yes