what do i do? will it spoil christmas?

[hannahspanner]

Hi,


Last night i found out that my mum had been sick from a bug that had been going round the children at school. She is a teacher, but normally doesnt catch anything from the kids. I am married and live 300 miles away from her, but nevertheless i lay awake all of last night panicing that she would pass it on to all my brothers and sisters and my dad. THe reason it seems such a big deal to me is that in 9 days i fly to her house for christmas. I am so scared about going. Its like telling someone to risk standing in the middle of a motorway - u might get killed, well in this case, we might all catch it. I havent been sick since i was 7 and i am 23 now. WHy do these things always come at christmas and spoil what should be fun? I have told my husband about my worries and he says i should put it out of my mind becuase its ages till we go. When i suggested cancelling the flight he went mad at me and said i was being stupid. There is probably no answer and i should probably ignore the fear and go anyway, but something inside me is petrified of going. Please can you help me?

[hippychick]

Hey, this reply is gonna be a lil short since I only have ten mins left online.


Anyway If you are going in 9 days I say don't cancel, 9 days is enough time for this bug to go from your Mum. If no one has caught it by the time you get there then there is no way you will catch and even if someone else did get it it doesnt mean you would, I think in 9 days tiem you will be ok to go and visit your Mum, I know it's so hard not to just shut down and run away but you know what? Don't let emet ruin this for you.


Louise xxxx

[gutterglitter]

I agree. 9 days is definetly enough time for it to go around. It will not be contagious by then.

[charzysbebe]

I agree...that should give enough time for the bug to die. Although I have to say, that maybe you should talk to her in a couple of days to see if anyone else caught it. Then call back in a couple more days. Who knows, maybe this bug stops with her! Then your mind will be at ease![img]smileys/smilies_04.gif[/img] If someone else does get it, I am sure they will get it, and get over it before you go! Good luck! Charlotte

[2jo2]

I totally understand, I just posted a similar problem yesterday in the General Discussion. My parents both had it, ending with my mom on Monday night, my brother doesn't live at home, so it'll stop there hopefully. We leave in 7 days, and although we are still going, and my husband left it up to me whether or not we still go, I am still so so so afraid. I know that's all I'm going to be able to think of when we're there, and that I won't be able to relax, that I'm not going to be able to eat anything she makes for us to eat and that I'm probably going to be a nervous wreck once we get back home for a few days worrying if my husband or I will come down with it. From the replies I got back on my problem, avoiding it will be worse, but for you, I understand how hard it's going to be to go because it may not stop with your mom, whereas at parents', there's no one left in the house to get the bug. Like Charlotte said, call every couple days to see if it's spread, and then come up with a plan say if someone else gets it. Are there any other relatives to stay with instead of your parents? I know that this is my big worry around the holidays and then when it comes true, it just makes me so blue, and makes me expect it on the next holiday. I try and look at it this way too: at least now I can visit them the rest of the winter and not worry about them being sick, they shouldn't get it twice!

[hannahspanner]

Hey, thanks for all your comments. I wish I felt brave! SO far so good, no one else has it... yet. But it is still going round at my little sisters school. I spoke to my mentor today about it and he told me that if there was anytime good enough to face my fear it would be now, to go there at christmas and be with family. He says that family is more important thanbeing sickand because i never get to see them I must go. Easier said than done, and i feel, so pathetic saying that i dont feel i could go, because even when i do go i will worry constantly, not eat and avoid the toilet that she was sick in... it sounds so silly when i actually write it down!! Thanks for all your help though I will keep calling to find out more over the next week. Hannah x

[gutterglitter]

Don't worry. If you really really don't want to go, don't. You will face your fear in your own time. Don't let anyone tell you you're being ridiculous. People that don't have any phobias or fears don't get it. Even if I didn't have emetophobia, I would still say the same thing: Not to think you're being ridiculous. It's a delicate matter and in most cases, it's not like exposure is going to help. Most of them time, it make things worse. But if you do feel okay, go have fun!

[guineaash]

Actually, my boyfriend just recently got over a stomach bug and I want to know the best ways for him to sanitize the apartment before I go back there. Any suggestions??

[gutterglitter]

Honestly, I don't think germs stay alive for that long. If he already got over it, and you haven't gotten it yet, I think you'll be fine. I think the stomach bug is the type of thing you catch before the person you got it from even knows they have it. Well, that has been my experience. But if you're worried, I'm sure you are an expert in sanitizing an apartment. Aren't we all? lol. I would use lots of bleach, paper towel and some kind of all-purpose spray. And plastic gloves of course.

[hannahspanner]

Hi,


I went to see my family for Christmas! It was fine, and no one else got ill, except the guy who was picking us up from the airport this morning now has dihorrea and it freaked me out loads after just having been fine all week. I hope it wasnt a bug. I dont really know how u catch bugs, i thought u actually had to be there with them when they threw up, but now i keep thinking the germs spread through the air like you would catch a cough or cold. What do other people think?

[jennyleigh1975]

I have wondered about this because .......... the last time my daughter caught the "V" stuff it was from my niece. They were around each other one weekend, but my niece didnt start "V" until Mon. My daughter didnt start until Thurs. I assume she got it from my niece, maybe my niece was contagious before she started showing symptoms. Maybe my daughter got it somewhere else, I dont know. I always thought the person had to be "V" to be contagious.