I need reassurance! Help!

[k10]

Hi everyone,

I'm home from college on spring break. Just about an hour ago, my parents yelled upstairs that dinner was ready so I went downstairs and started eating, and my younger brother (16) yelled "okay" down to my mom. He never came downstairs though.

My mom went up to his room to ask why he hadn't come downstairs and he said he didn't feel like eating and he has a headache. Of course my mind jumps to noro or any SV...

I know a rational person would think "it probably isn't a SV"... but it might be the beginning of one, and I'd love to hear any success stories about avoiding a SV when it is in your house (if any of your siblings/SO's/children have had it). Also any advice on how to avoid it would be very much appreciated. If I hear him start to v* I just know I'll have major anxiety, I'll start shaking, and I won't be able to sleep tonight!

Help!

[DelciaO]

I am 15, and my brother is 16. I have not v*ed in 8 years, and I swear he gets sick from the sv* multiple times a year. It absolutely disgusts me. Before I became major emetophobic, I was only slightly emetophobic. I didn't have the anxiety, I just had the fear. Each time my brother got sick, I would tie a towel around my face and go on a cleaning spree. Lysol is all I used. Other times, I avoided breathing around him. The sv* isn't airborne, though. Over the summer last year, I actually had caught the sv* because I didn't wash my hands before eating popcorn at a movie theater (of course). And guess what? I still didn't v*! I became extremely emetophobic August of 2012 when high school had just started for me. The stress of school really got to my stomach and it scared me so bad. And that was where that went.
~My main defense against sv*s is grape juice. Yep. The acidity of grape juice kills germs in the stomach and the vitamins/antioxidants in the grape juice are fantastic for the immune system. It is not recommended for people with sensitive stomachs or acid reflux, unfortunately. It's very acidic. Because have a sensitive stomach, I add small amounts of grape juice to water. There is also a brand called Airborne, and they are vitamin tablets placed in water. I just got them recently, but I have heard many success stories from them. Last but not least, stay healthy! It will really help your immune system! Tea will help get rid of the anxiety, too. Chai tea is the best. Chamomile and nutmeg are great for anxiety and nausea. When I had the sv*, I forced myself to drink both chai tea and Lipton tea. I am pretty sure the chai tea is what saved me from the dreaded v*, but it could have been the Lipton!
I hope the best for you!
~Delcia

[k10]

Thanks for your answer! My emetophobia is worse than it's ever been this winter, it seems like so many more people have the SV! It got especially bad when my boyfriend v*d a bunch of times one morning a few weeks ago (still don't know if that was FP or SV) but I didn't catch it and neither did his house mates!

Turns out my brother is having some anxiety (I think) that made him not want to eat. However, I totally appreciate your advice! I love knowing that it's possible to avoid a SV even when its in someone living with you. I know that I keep my hands very clean, but I don't trust anyone else to do the same!

I definitely drink a TON of tea (all kinds) .. I have a white tea with dried strawberries in it that is very soothing when I'm nervous/sick, and I agree that Chai is also great! I think the cinnamon in it is calming on the stomach. Low caffeine or no caffeine are best because they don't increase your heart rate, making you feel more anxious than you actually are!

I have a little bit of acid reflux, but a little grape juice is no big deal for me - have you seen any official studies confirming that it actually kills the stomach virus? I've heard that a lot of people swear by it, but I'd love to see a study about it - that's when I'll start drinking it all day every day, haha!

[Mutanatia]

I have done researching on norovirus to feed my anxiety for some time now (I know! BAD ME >.<). But I can tell you that a headache is NOT a symptom of norovirus. Neither is coughing or sneezing.

[k10]

I have done researching on norovirus to feed my anxiety for some time now (I know! BAD ME >.<). But I can tell you that a headache is NOT a symptom of norovirus. Neither is coughing or sneezing.

I do the same thing! It's the worst!

& he's totally fine today, so I was just overreacting. I was concerned because when a teenage boy doesn't feel like eating I assume v* or at least d* are in the near future! All teenage boys want to eat all the time unless something is wrong! Lol!