Do/did you ever want to a job that may include vomit?

[JessalynV.]

I REALLY want to be a suregeon, but of course I have to go through residency (YUCK). Just wondering if any of you do/did, want to take a job that may include sick?

[asianeko]

My job definitely DOES include sick, but it's working with dogs, so it doesn't bother me much, thank goodness!!

[andee]

I LOOOOVE the medical field, and am a medical assistant/phlebotomist. BUT, I am finding it difficult to work between the fear of v* and the overall anxiety. It has been a struggle...
I would advise you to give it a try, always follow your dreams, but also realize that depending on the severity of your fear, it may be very difficult. Good luck and keep us posted as you progress...

[pretendworld_]

It's really silly to think like this but there is certainly the possibility that someone may v* in my job. I'm a dental assistant and I can't tell you just how many people gag when we take x-rays and impressions. I guess at least it's not contagious v*...but still, I'll probably faint if and when it does happen to someone.

[sdfl]

Considering my future is in Criminal Justice.... I imagine there will be nervous sick aha. But Bartending especially saw many a night with people's throw up overflowing toilets/sinks/urinals. I loved the job but that aspect was definitely not high up on my favorite priorities (shudder) Thank heavens it was only alcohol related.

[britishheather]

I thought about joining the police as a special (Volunteer for minimum of 4 hours a week for those that aren't from the UK) but I know that I would have to deal with v* and I can't. Its a shame because a few of my friends have said I'd make a good WPC. I'm a teacher and often worry about trips (the coach mainly) and walking past the medical room, but somehow I'm managing it.

[JessalynV.]

Thank you SO much for your support. Most people tell me I wouldn't be good at my job because of this, and i've started to doubt to. But with this site I'm sure I can get mostly over it, and it will all be because of you guys! Thank you for believing in me.

[5headh]

Sorry first post im new here

I was a care assistant for the elderly up until monday, too many horrible things going around...

[Orchid]

Absolutely not, if I knew it did. I thought about being a waitress or hostess at a restraunt but what if I have to clean up puke in the bathroom?? It seems like anywhere you'd work there could be the chance of vomit, weather it be a customer or a co-worker. I currently don't work but just have 2 cleaning jobs. The one I totally love and if they were ever sick she'd let me know and wouldn't have me come, they've never been sick. The other one I help out on a farm and I see dead animals everytime I'm there(they raise all sorts of animals and sell them) so I have to desensitize myself to it and try not to let it make me feel gaggy.

[BrightStars]

Definately, I'm hoping to go onto a nursing course within the next year or so as at the moment I am working as a trainee dispenser and really enjoy it! But luckily I am not as bothered by others being sick as I am being sick myself.
I wish you the best of luck finding a career best suited to you, perhaps in operarional practice (an assistant to the surgeon during, and only during surgery)
Jenna x

[Allons-yJay]

I've always wanted to be a vet and obviously that could involve animals being sick (although animals doing it doesn't bother me as much for some reason, probably cos I know I can't catch it.). However, I have found a loophole. I absolutely LOVE horses and they don't have a uvula (the dangly thing at the back fo your throat that makes you gag) so can't be sick (or burp for that matter) so I could just specialize in Equines

[sunnyskies]

I applaud anyone who takes that step! I am not courageous enough and I'm not sure I ever will be. The experiences I've had in restaurant and retail jobs when every now and then someone would get sick were bad enough. But y'know, I guess I got through those situations okay. A bit unnerved but I was okay. So maybe I could handle a job that involved it more frequently... but I'm still not sure I want to try.

[Truegryphon]

Yup, for the far out, dream job I wanted to be an astronaut. Until I found out that you v* pretty much the moment you hit zero gravity (has to do with the inner ear)...

Next, I wanted to be a patrol officer but I knew I would be picking up drunks, and that meant being exposed to the visuals...

Thankfully, I've chosen to go down the path of sociology. It fits me like a glove and I couldn't be happier. Well, unless an astronomy job lands my way, lol.

[haylz113]

I used to work in a laser tag place, and hundreds of kids used to come in and run around and eat a lot of junk. Then a few times some of them puked. Normally other people cleaned it up but I had to clean a couple of toilets once. It reeks and it's horrible. I'm studying to become a teacher at the moment, and I know that young kids often get sick in the classroom. I will have to put up with that, but it's the job I want, so I have no choice. Always go for what you want.

[reganstorm]

I am a driving examiner. We get a quite a few people who feel sick with nerves, it's very rare it actually happens though. My colleagues all know about my emet and would swap candidates with me if I needed them to. I always worry what I'd do though if we were already out on the road and it happened.

[hmw2000]

I thought about nursing, then I thought about the vomit involved. Definitely not for me. In my current job, sometimes I have to "dress out" female prisoners to make sure that they do not carry contraband into the jail. That is sometimes scary when you get the drunks that can't hold their liquor. There are also some that will try to make themselves vomit because they think that it will get them out of jail if they are sick. I am always afraid of catching some sort of virus from them. Most of the ones that come in are not exactly focused on their personal hygiene!

[krw690]

I've been an elementary special ed teacher for three years now! My first year I got a horrible stomach bug and v*d at school. The second year, one of my students threw up in the classroom (I did NOT handle it well. Nothing crazy, but I apparently was just so freaked out and afraid to get close to her that I made her feel bad. I actually ended up getting in trouble with the girl's mom and the principal because I acted "unprofessionally." It was terrible but Ive moved on). More than anything though, the scariest part of the job is the constant fear of getting sick. Haven't figured out a way to deal with it... just letting time go by, I guess....

[Sweet Illusion]

I'm a registered nurse, and goodness do we see a lot of sickness. But I found in the clinical setting, though I was still afraid, I would be acting like a different person as I had a responsibility to my patients. Plus working under pressure and constantly busy probably took away a lot of the stressful thoughts from the emet.
I however got a lot worse in the past year and am unable to work due to my anxiety being so bad...

[Amy3006]

I've been an elementary special ed teacher for three years now! My first year I got a horrible stomach bug and v*d at school. The second year, one of my students threw up in the classroom (I did NOT handle it well. Nothing crazy, but I apparently was just so freaked out and afraid to get close to her that I made her feel bad. I actually ended up getting in trouble with the girl's mom and the principal because I acted "unprofessionally." It was terrible but Ive moved on). More than anything though, the scariest part of the job is the constant fear of getting sick. Haven't figured out a way to deal with it... just letting time go by, I guess....

I'm just about to start my primary teacher training degree in a weeks time, hoping to specialise in special ed and early years (Reception, Kindergarten for those from America . I know this job is going to include v* and it TERRIFIES me but I'm determined to follow my dreams!

That story rather scares me! I've experiences v* in a special ed classroom before and didn't cope well but everyone was so nice about it I decided to pursue my dream. I hope things get easier for you and selfishly I really hope I avoid anything like that xx I know the odds are against me...

[mhartse]

i work as a CNA, and i was straight forward with my coworkers when i said i DO NOT deal with puke. there have been a couple instances, when i had to run out cause a situation came about and everyone is ok with it.

[Elski]

I'm a midwife, whoooole lotta puke in my job follow your dreams, don't let emet rule you

[krw690]

I posted a while back about dealing with puke in my current job as a kindergarten teacher. In the winter it really gets out of control. In a sense, I've been desensitized (not by choice.) There's probably been at least a dozen times in the past few years where I've walked by puddles of puke on the floor. It's disgusting and definitely scares me, but I just pretend to play it cool and tell myself repeatedly, "some kid probably just ate too much and puked after recess!!" The thought of catching a stomach virus really paralyzes me. But I can't escape it it in this line of work. I do what I can- I NEVER touch my mouth, or my food with my bear hands. And I wash my hands about 20 times a day.

Recently, I've decided on switching careers for many reasons. I've always been obsessed with medicine and health. (constantly researching diseases online and self diagnosing ha.) Anyway, I'm thinking of applying to medical school in a couple years. I know, I know. I will have to deal with sick people and lots of blood, guts and puke. But you know what? I have a theory- if I learn as much as I can about why it happens, what causes it etc etc, I bet I won't have anything to be afraid of anymore. People fear the unknown, but once it's figured out.... maybe I'll stop fearing! So that's wear I am now. That and just lots and lots of hand washing....

[hairyfairy]

no way!




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[blazinbritt1158]

I'm currently pursuing my dream of becoming a doctor. I've wanted to become a doctor for my entire life. I don't want to go into primary care though, I want to go into either surgery or dermatology. I don't think I'll see a lot of v* in those fields...hopefully...

Also, I'm hoping that once I get into medical school, I will learn more about v* and sickness so that it won't be as scary for me.

[livepink]

I think you should definitely go for it if that's what you want to do I became a CNA and before that if I even saw v* I would practically pass out but now I can clean it up as long as I don't breathe haha. If I see it happen it's a different story but you do get used to it and realize it's really only food and as long as you practice good hygiene you should be fine. don't let this fear hold you back because you are capable of overcoming it !

[meg_pro]

This is funny I was just thinking about this...I just learned I will be dealing with patients that vomit. I want to go into radiology technology and I may have to work in fluro (Which is drinking an icky drink to get an x-ray) I guess a lot of people can't stand it and vomit. I have no idea how I will react in this situation! Usually when I see someone vomit I run away or if I can't then I shut my eyes and ears. I don't think the boss will like this..

[ShadeKat]

I have my dream job, actually, working at a bookstore. I've been there only a couple months or so now, just because the last book company I worked for went under, so I'm still adjusting to letting everyone know about my phobia and panic attacks. But I certainly end up around sickness, especially in the winter and around the holidays. I've made sure to let them know that I am most certainly NOT cleaning anything like that up, and that if it happens and I'm at the other side of the store, not to ever, ever let me know it happened. I've had a couple severe attacks already there and they've been as helpful as they can be, so I'm thankful for that.

When I was younger I thought I might like a job in the medical field, but after I started getting a bit of emetophobia I knew I wouldn't be able to do it. I'm glad I didn't, too, because as the years pass it just gets worse and I'd never have been able to complete training, much less actually get a job in something like that.

[CMM811]

I'm a midwife, whoooole lotta puke in my job follow your dreams, don't let emet rule you

Yay for midwives!!!!!!!!! I'm sure you have to deal with lots of v* I got very n* with my daughter (who was born at home with assistance of 2 midwives) but I never spoke a word of it to anyone! I didn't want them focusing on the fact I was really n* and I knew I could power through it to get to the end result! It went away when I was at about 8 cm and my daughter was out at 9 so I couldn't be happier cause she was out and the n* went away!
As for a job involving v*, I don't know I LOVE bartending it's fun I love interacting with people, I have had to deal with v* once but directly...he did it in the bathroom, but it would be rare to as I have always bartender on a golf course not in a bar or pub. Although my main calling is to be a mommy, I'm currently a stay at home mom and I adore it, it does involve v* and anxiety about v* but I manage with lots of support by my loved ones! As for when they get older I would LOVE to be a photographer!

[Erica1649]

I would like being a nurse...I'm a compassionate person who would always treat people with kindness, but definately couldn't do it because of the vomiting thing...I went on an interview and even just jokingly asked if there was much vomiting that occured there (primary care office) I work with butts right now so I told them I could deal with poop, but not vomit yuck! lol

[Paisley]

No, I would never knowingly go into a field that involved vomit because, especially in the medical field, I would feel that if my patient started vomiting, and I'd start freaking out (quietly), I wouldn't be able to properly take care of my patient even if I managed to pull myself together and go through the motions. I'd feel like a fraud.

As a patient, I would be livid if I found out that the doctor or nurse or dental assistant who is supposed to be taking care of me has emetophobia because I know what this disorder does to a person and I don't want "me" in another body responsible for my wellbeing. No way.

I'm very surprised how many of you are in the medical field because I always assumed that anyone who would be a nurse or doctor etc wouldn't have a problem with puke.... or blood.... or guts and gore, etc. Guess I'm wrong. And that worries me because now I feel like I should be asking my doctor, her nurse, my dentist, his assistants, etc if they have emetophobia or any other disorder I should know about! lol