Emetophobia Struggle. Was I exposed?

[blackrabbit]

Ugh. So yesterday morning i picked my dog up from my ex's house so he could spend the night at mine. My ex just told me today that he was up all night "v'***ing his brains out for some reason only at night with no other symptoms" both last night and Saturday night.

SO now im nervous because I've been using/touching the dog's leash. He walked the dog yesterday before i picked him up and now im afraid i have sv germs and will have picked up whatever he has😭😭😭

Any input? I just started my new job and i don't wanna be ill or have to call out already!!!

[mrmonk]

Hello and welcome to this HU community, blackrabbit.

As one also with emetophobia, I know how our minds get stuck on the possibility of exposure to sv. What sometimes helps me is to mentally list the other possibilities that are not contagious, like food poisoning/allergy or something like a stomach ulcer.

Also, there are, of course, things you can do that are within your control like washing your hands after handling the leash and maybe even disinfecting it for good measure.

Do you have any antiemetic medication on hand? Sometimes just the presence of such remedies can help put one's mind at ease.

I know what you're going through and I'm pulling for you. Take care and be well.

[blackrabbit in reply to mrmonk]

Hi, thanks for the reply.

I think it's too late for disinfecting and hand washing now. I was holding the leash all day yesterday basically as I took my dog to a party and held it all day/evening. I also didn't wash my hands much yesterday because this phobia has taken a backseat for a bit but now it's back in full force!

I do have some anti emetics on hand (zofran). Do those even help if you are sick with the sv?

Anyway...I don't think I'll be able to fully relax until the incubation period is over. I do know that my ex flew home from an international trip to Paris on Wed so he could've picked something up on the airplane as his hygiene was never great. But who knows.

[mrmonk in reply to blackrabbit]

Yeah, I know that white-knuckling-it feeling well. The Zofran should help with sv, but it seems unlikely that one would only v* at night with no other symptoms if it were a viral infection.

[blackrabbit]

you're misunderstanding. its not the dog who was sick. it was my ex. i was saying im worried any possible germs had transferred onto the dog leash as my ex walked him yesterday morning after being sick the night before, and i was holding the leash all day.

[blackrabbit]

just move on please, i dont need help from anyone rude.