My Story

[piratealumni98]

First time here. I have never admitted that I had this phobia but I am tired of the daily worries that is associated with this "problem". It started like many of you where you had one bad exp.and then you are cursed with bad memories. Kinda like eating too many chocolate covered cherries as a child, getting a tummy ache and never touching them again. Only this is an everyday fear for a-lot of us that you can;t simply just avoid all together. I was 20 years old and got Norovirus really bad. Since then I have been terrified I would be out in public, or in a situation where I could not leave to go home on my own and getting this dreaded virus. The fear is that it comes on so suddenly you almost have to be ready at anytime to retreat home. I have been on Lexapro, etc, etc and it has been no help. My worring actuallys leads to nausea almost everyday of my life. I even have a running Rx of Phenergan and Zofran I keep with me and often take when I start feeling bad. My doctor said it's IBS and GERD, which could be true but that does not erase the fact I fear this so much each day. Well, this past Sunday it happened. Norovirus finnaly caught up with me after 16 years of trying to avoid it. I was at home (Thank God) but the waiting for you know what was torture. I even loaded up on my Phenergan to try to avoid it but the virus was just going to have it's way. Like others here have posted, it was rather quick but the fresh memory from Sunday will surely boost my fear back up a notch when out in public the next time. It has consumed my life to a degree. I'm in my mid 30s and want to live a normal life without this fear. OK....sorry so long. First time I wrote something like this out since I have had this disorder.

[what_the_frick]

Welcome! I was put on Lexapro and then switched to Prozac for Depression & GAD. Both helped me to not feel so scared all the time. I also have GERD .. if you are still feeling poorly after your medications, maybe you should consider a different prescription?

I'm so sorry you caught noro. You are so brave. If you don't mind talking about it (and if you do, I totally understand), can you expand a bit more? Although I am terrified of v*, I also have a sort of fascination with it. How did you feel prior, and how many times did you v*?