panic every time...

[BethT]

I was wondering if this has ever happened to anyone...

It doesnt matter what has happened, but lately it was my husband. We were driving down the road and he said he was sick at his stomach, immediately my face turned pale, I started to sweat, I was wigging out LITERALLY.

I feel like such a freak. Everytime someone feels sick at their stomach like they are going to vomit, I FREAK OUT. It scares me (now I know you think I am crazy) It is so hard to explain.

I had giardia for over two years, it went undiagnosed by several doctors. I'm sure all of you know what that is. Well, now anything to do with the stomach, diarrhea, vomit, anything...I totally freak. I get nervous, I think oh my gosh, oh my gosh. STUPID, right?

How am I ever going to be a nurse? How am I ever going to be able to handle stuff like this? Maybe nursing is not for me.

I mean, I am a compassionate person, I really am. I really want to help sick people, but stomach issues I just cannot deal with.

I panic when people are hurt... not just the stomach thing. It's like oh my gosh, what do I do.

Help?

[BethT]

i think we're long lost sisters. seriously, i panic too! someone just has to say "i'm nauseous" and immediately my heart starts racing and i panic. my ex boyfriend would say he was nauseated all the time.... and it got to where i would grill him, asking if he felt like he was going to vomit or he had indigestion, etc. usually it was the latter.

i've pinpointed that its the noise of retching that get me. i've cleaned it up many times without problem. i work in peds, so most of the puking episodes i deal with are the kiddos after eating, or taking a gross medicine, that doesn't bother me. it's the older kid, or someone post-op.... i get a little nervous automatically... its weird.

hang in there, i am!

that is soooo funny!!! i do the exact same thing to my husband! he gets so mad at me...lol!!

it's not cleaning it up at all, i'm good with that, i think it is just the action. i can sit with my dog when she is sick and vomiting all the time and clean it up no biggie.....but people, that is a whole other ballgame!

i know i will get used to it, things will be ok, for us both!

thanks everyone....for making me feel like i am not alone :heartbeat

[Journey_On, BSN, RN]

You are definitely not alone.

Emetophobia is one of my biggest phobias, and this has got me worried about starting clinicals and actually working as a nurse.

Like a couple of you have said, I think it's actually seeing it happen that scares me, or the retching noise. Or having it happen on me. And like you, TFAM, I didn't have as much fear cleaning up my dog's vomit - maybe because the noise wasn't as harsh or there wasn't much to clean up (she was a toy breed).

I'm afraid of mentioning my phobia to other people because I feel like they will say, "Then how are you going to be a nurse?" And I do not want to hear anything like that. I do not want to hear that kind of negativity.

keeptryin, thank you for your input. That is a really good way to think about it.

[MrsCaseyRN]

I hear you loud and clear! Vomiting used to be my #1 enemy. I was an EMT before I becoming a nurse. Any calls where I even remotely thought the pt was going to vomit, I drove. I think I actually feared being around a pt vomiting. After becoming a nurse,while doing rounds I heard the familar "heeving" noise. I wanted more than anything to just keep walking...but I peeked into the pts bathroom. It was a little old lady, that never called for help, walked herself in there and hunched over the toliet, alone. I thought about when I was a kid and when I was sick, I had a parent to stand with me, because I was scared. And even though I wanted to go no further than the bathroom door, and just call in there "are you ok I ?" I went in and stood with her, and helped clean her up when she was done.

It changes when you have kids (and as a nurse) because you do what you don't want to because some one needs you. And if you were that pt, you would hope someone would be there for you too. Trust me, when you have to do something, you will. :wink2:

[VivaLasViejas, ASN, RN]

giardia is a parasite you get in the intestines,(i may not have spelled it right) it is caused by eating unwashed lettuce or veggies. i had it for two years, every doc i saw thought i was totally stressed out and put me on anti depressants all that mess..

i had diarrhea 8-12 times a day for over two years. i guess i was traumatized a little.

after it was all over (14 days worth of antibiotics, HA!) i got the stomach flu...i thought it was back and boy did i have a mental break down. lol my poor doctor, i know he thought i was nuts. i cried so hard he sent me home with samples!!

i think about that, doing a different area of nursing, i guess i just wont know until i jump right in there and try.

i don't have kids and everyone says it all changes when you have children, so i am hoping that rings true.

i really want to be a nurse and i dont want to not try because of something as silly as this, so i am going to give it my all.

thanks for the advice.

You spelled it correctly. I've had it too, and it is an ugly little beastie that made me drop 40 pounds during my second pregnancy many years ago. I literally threw up for nine months straight, almost got put in the hospital because I couldn't keep anything down (or in) for weeks. I was finally diagnosed when my OB sent me to a GI specialist, and even then I had to wait to be treated until I delivered because you can't take Flagyl when you're pregnant!

Anyway, every nurse has some little quirk, and we either learn to handle it or we avoid our 'weak spots'. With me it's dentures and feet.........GACK!!!!!!!!! I can deal with either if I absolutely must, but I'll go to some lengths to get out of it, that's for sure. Heck, when my kids were small I couldn't bear the sight, sound, or smell of vomit either. I didn't even have to be sick myself, all it took was knowing that someone in the house WAS, and I'd be right there beside them, gagging. It was pathetic. But I got over it, and so will you..........it just takes time, and yes, exposure.