How do you know?

[willow2]

Hi


I am new to this so I'm sorry if this is the wrong way to do things or in the wrong place. I am amazed at how many people visit this site and that this is the 5th most common phobia - i really thought it was just me!!


The question I wanted to know was - How do you know you are going to v*? I have stomach problems and suffer from nausea a lot but how do know it is actually going to happen? People speak about a watery feeling in the mouth - ? And how much warning do you get? Part of my fear is not making it to the bathroom on time, or not making it out of the car, or out of the cinema etc. If I knew the feelings to look out for I wouldn't analyse every feeling i get in my stomach and think constantly - this is it!!


Thanks for reading, xx

[kimmyc24]

Hi Willow,


No you did just fine, it wasnt the wrong way or place to post your message at all. I'm also fairly new here, it can be a bit confusing deciding where to post your topic..


I take it from your post that you have never V*ed before? If so, don't you remember how it felt just before?


I'm eating a sandwichat the moment, so I hope I don't make myself feel queasy by explaining this to you...


Okay from what i've experienced, and my friends seemto experiencethe same, this is what it feels like:


Your mouth and tongue go very dry. You get that 'watery' feeling in your mouth..it feels as if your glands are salivating, the way they do when you eat a sour sweet or something..


Then the worst bit is that sort of 'pushing' feeling that comes from your stomach.. you just know when you get that 'pushing up' feeling, like your stomach is forcing itself upwards, that you gotta run! Its kinda like you need to burp, but you feel you cant, or you go to let it out and realise its not only a burp!


Its very unpleasant, but never usually lasts too long, and about 99% of the time you feel better afterwards.


I just want to warn you that you musn't worry now, every single time you get any of those symptoms.. a dry mouth can mean a lot of things, not only that you are going to be sick. Its only when you experience those feelings all together, at the same time as you are feeling nauseous/weak/shakey that you need to worry.


I hope this has been helpful to you, and also that I havent scared you in any way!


Feel free to Private Message (PM) me, or you can chat to me on [email protected] on MSN messenger, if you have it!


Bye for now,


XXKIMMYXX [img]smileys/smilies_02.gif[/img]

[willow2]

I have no idea how to PM at the mo so i'll reply like this for now!! Thanks, that does help.I haven'tv* since i was8 and i can't remeber at all whatit felt like. i just know i wasn't scared, i made it to the bathroom, i knew it was going tohappen and was in control. it happened at about 8 in the morning and istill made it to school that day so i must have been in controlcompletely!!


I obviously don't want to be ill to find out but if i knew how it felt for my self i think i'd be better. i wouldn't constantly have an 'escape' route - it's so mad!! I always make sure i can leave the table or the cinema or whatever else - just in case. But then when I am not trapped in somewhere and I have my escape route planned and sit there thinking 'so, i need to run, no, yes, no, yes, no!!' it's utter madness! is the watery feeling - more than just the need to swallow - if that makes sense?!


Thank you for answering!!

[willow2]

P.s. - hope you enjoyed your sarnie!!!

[kimmyc24]

Erm..I did actually, describing the 'about to V*' thing didnt actually make me feel too bad at all! The burp bit was a bit gross though.. sorry!


The watery feeling isnt a lot of water/saliva, its just like you feel like you need to swallow.. eat a sour sweet/lolly, and then feel how your mouth/saliva glandsproduce more spit/saliva. Its that kinda feeling. A bit hard to explain I think. You will hardly ever v* just after having the watery feeling only. It will be all the things I said, one after the other.


I think you will find with this phobia, that even when you do experience what it feels like to V*, you will still always be looking for an escape route. I know exactly what it feels like, and i'm always looking for the nearest escape route, toilet or window etc, wherever I go! Its awful, but thats how this crappy phobia works!


Where in the UK do you live? I'm in London!


hope you've got more of an idea now of what its like to V*! [img]smileys/smilies_11.gif[/img]


xxKimmyxx

[willow2]

Thanks - it really does help to know! And i'm glad the sandwich was good!


I'm up in Scotalnd in Glasgow - what do you do in London? I am studying at the moment but working part time too. About to finish my course and head out to the big bad world looking for a job which needless to say scares me for a number of reasons - including emet! It's all mad - can't believe I'm at the stage now where I really do have to get up in the morning and I do have to use my time constructively!!

[kimmyc24]

I have been in London for just over 3 years now, I'm originally from Cape Town in South Africa. I live with a few friends and I'm working, everyday, 10-6pm. Its quite an interesting job actually, we do chauffeur cars for the music industry, so we provided all the cars for the recent Motley Crue European Tour, and all the chauffeur cars for Live 8 too!


I sometimes wish I was back in school, or even college, when all you had to worry about was exams and homework! At the time it seems like such a drag, but once you are out in the big wide world, you realise how stressful it is to be an adult! ARRRGGHHHHH!!!!


Working isn't too bad with EMET, as long as you are comfortable in your surroundings, and you know where the toilets are located! LOL.


You will find that work, like home, becomes one of your 'comfort zones' where you feel ok and dont stress too much if you feel icky.


The worst part for me is travellling to and from work, on the Underground/tubes. I hate it, and always seem to have my panic attacks on my way to the tube station, or on the tube.. I sit near the door or stand near the window, just in case, and try and do deep breathing things without anyone thinking i'm a nutter!


oh dear you just gotta love this phobia hey! GRRRRRR!


Kimmy xx

[willow2]

Wow - what made you decide to move to London? Your job sounds brilliant!! Sounds very exciting!! I have to admit that I am looking forward to finishing my masters and finally gettinga job - been a student for 5 years and need some cash!


I never really thought about work that way in that it would be an area where you feel comfortable but i guess your right - that' reassuring!! Pubilc transport is a nightmare for me too - I get the underground to work in Glagow too and I have to say that's when I panic - not being able to get off etc. I try to keep calm as well but gosh if anyone really paid attention to me breathing too they'd think i was nuts!!

[hippychick]

Hey I'm glad someone answered your question better than I ever could lol I never know how to answer that one! I used to panic everytime I took a bus and then I had to do it for work. There was just no room for panic there because I was on it so much I got used to it!!!!!!!!!! Hope you feel better soon,


xxxxxxxxxx




Edited by: hippychick

[willow2]

I don't know if anyone can really answer the question for me it's just reasuring to hear other people tell me what it's like cos i panic constantly thinking that whatever feeling i have is the first sign!!




Edited by: hippychick

[hippychick]

Yup!


I know, I was the same, actually feeling real nausea is what helped me toward some kind of cure. Because once I felt what it was really like I knew exactly what Panic nausea was like. The 2 are so different! I usually just feel...Idk heavy in my stomach i guess i would explainit as lol


xxxxxxxx

[willow2]

yeah! i get alot of heart burn and stuff - got a rubbish stomach anyway!! - but i quite often have a heavy feeling or a feeling of discomfort and then my mind goes crazy. i know what you mean about REAL nausea tho - it's different from panicing that you might get sick!

[Jenneh]

another thing i just might add as long as no one starts to get obsessed about this (i kinda have i check my glands all the time now)...


but the glands underneath ur chin... when ur reallygoing to v* go heavy feeling. not just "i think my glands are getting heavier".... they go truly truly heavy....


Jen xxx

[kimmyc24]

I think i have managed to seperate the two different feelings too:


Nausea when you are actually ill is more in your stomach, and it sits there almost like a lump just below your lungs, kinda just down from whereyour bra is..


Nausea when you are panicking is more in my chest and between my ribcage, and its also a heavy feeling, but a controllable one.


Urgh now that I've tried to explain it, its actually not that easy. Durrrrrr Kimmy!


I read in this medical book once, that you know you have food poisoning, if you have a sore stomach, and if you push in and its still sore further in, then its likely thats whats causing the pain. Great stuff.I'm surprised I don't have permanent indents in my stomach from all the prodding and poking I do.


GRRRRR!

[willow2]

Hi Jen


truly heavy glands in your chin - i have never heard that before. not in your neck - in you chin? it's funnt how your body reacts in different ways. does that happen everytime or just sometimes?


Hi Kimmy


I think I know what you mean about the paniky nausea cause it really does sit higher and in your chest - it's not your stomach - it is just genuine panic i think. but then the two are in such a viscious circle.


people have said to me before that nausea and v* are both really indiscript and it is hard to get a handle on it in order to be trul able to explain how you feel. i wish i could see inside my tummy....maybe cos maybe it's a bit rank ? !!!

[Jenneh]

Willow: the glands justunderneath ur chin... as it reaches into ur neck...my friend once told me this and the reasoning was tht these glands fill up with something or other which means you are going to v*. i remmber when i last v*ed about 7/8 years ago my head got extremely heavy. in the chin area. it was probably that. so whilst i can't say it happens every time, i'm sure for some it would...


Jen xxx

[kimmyc24]

Lol.. i cant remember that heavy gland feeling.. but then again when i'm about to V*, I don't really stop to think about all the feelings, I just run!! WAAAHHHHHH!!!!! (like McCauley Culkin style in Home Alone, LOL!)


Also, with nervous nausea, if you burp, you feel better afterwards, you feel a kind of relief, but with normal nausea, your burps are small and pathetic and you dont feel relieved afterwards, just constantly sick.. sometimes when i'm that nauseous, I wish i could just get sick so that i feel better!


Geez us Emets have messed up logic sometimes! We could see inside our stomachs but then we have to have a camera put down our throats which would make us gag, which we cant handle either so we cant win. Bugger. [img]smileys/smilies_07.gif[/img]

[kimmyc24]

I think that heavy chin/gland feeling that Jenneh is talking about, is the kind of pushing feeling that I was trying to describe earlier. You just feel this heavy feeling coming from your stomach/chest area.. it sort of stops your breathing, and your head gets heavy.. I think that might be why most peeps when they sick bend over, because its almost impossible to keep your head up straight.. because of that heavy/forceful feeling on your head andchin.. thats the feeling that makes us feel out of control of your body..that forceful pushing feeling that you cant stop!!


I think when you V* from choking or coughing too much, its not as bad, its more of an end result of a 'gaggy cough' rather than proper V*ing. Do you guys understand that bit?

[roxxi277]

Hi Willow! Welcome to the site. I know you got a lot of
replies, but I just wanted to say that I worry about the same
things.....not getting out in time. I have to plan excape routes
everywhere I go. I must admit that even though I have had a sv*
within the past two years, it doesn't make a difference. I still
worry if I will know when I am going to be sick. All I can tell
you is that everytime (knock on wood) my body has given me at least a
minute notice before I v*. And I have always gotten to a bathroom
or somewhere "safe". I'm glad you have joined us. Everyone
here is wonderful and very helpful. Carrie

[willow2]

Thanks for all your replies!! I really do appreciate it. you have no idea how much this part of it all adds to my fear. I think the amin thing that bothers me is not being in control, not knowing how to stop it happening. It sucks!! I hate this phobia. I am meeting a friend ths avo and panicing about it incase I get sick when I am there. She is a great freind and although she knows I have a fear she doesn't know about 'emet'. I don't really want her to either.


I just want to be able to live a normal life and kick this fear in the butt!!! I want it out of my head forever!!

[ejb199]

Hey Willow and Kimmy - welcome to the site both of you - i havent been posting for a while but have been reading and loitering so to say! hehe.

Kimmy - i totally understand about your work place becoming one of your comfort zones - thats like with my workplace too - it gets easier and u feel comfy working - so for all those looking for work or studying and thinking abt work - dont worry - it will be ok and u will learn to treat work as a safe place.

abt 'knowing' = you will just KNOW. its the fear before thats the worst - not actually doing it i have learnt.

anyways - take care both of yous and keep posting!

ems xx

[kimmyc24]

Hi again Ems,



Yep I agree, all those people out there worrying about getting a job or
going to work, shouldn't worry, as it is probably the place where you
spend most of your time in any week, so as long as the people are kind
and friendly, the hardest part of having to work, is getting there!



I have to use the London Underground (tubes) every morning and night,
and thats where most of my panicking takes place, but I'm fine once i'm
out of the station and outside my work..its actually a relief to get
here!



I think working also takes your mind off other things, cause you dont
get too much time to sit and dwell on how you're feeling, or on whats
going on in your stomach etc!



And I also agree on the 'just knowing' thing - its the build up of fear
when you're feeling nauseous, and you know that you are going to V*,
but you just dont know when, thats the worst part. Actually doing it
isn't that bad, you just wait till its over, and then the majority of
the time you feel better afterwards!



Okay I'm gonna get back to work, i'm spending WAY too much time on this site, and my workload is starting to suffer..woopsie! [img]smileys/smilies_09.gif[/img]



xxKimmyxx



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[jesskali]

For me, I know that *v* is inevitable when I get a feeling like someone has kicked me in the stomach. My mouth also waters. It is different for everyone, though.

Jess