Originally Posted by
Kyra
I have had emetophobia for as long as I can remember, but I am determined not to let it keep me from traveling and experiencing the world, which is why at the end of this month I will be leaving for a 6 month backpacking trip with my boyfriend. We are going to India, Nepal, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakstan, and possibly Turkey as well. Given the length of time I will be gone and the variety of developing countries I am going to, everyone I talk to seems to think it is inevitable that I will get stomach problems, especially in India which is notorious for food poisoning and is also where I will be spending the majority of the 6 months. In addition to the sketchy food and water I will be faced with, I will also be flying all the way to India alone (my boyfriend is already abroad and will be meeting me there) which includes a 13 hour flight, and my emet is so much worse when I am in confined spaces, particularly crowded planes and buses.
Even though I am doing this trip in part to overcome my fears, I am still terrified of v* and would hate to break my 12 year v*-free streak. I have done a lot of research and will be bringing with me activated charcoal, ginger capsules, peppermint essential oil, dramamine/bonine, and my doctor was even nice enough to write me a prescription for 10 Zofran and some antibiotics in case things get really bad.
What I want to know is:
- Has anyone else traveled to India or any of these other countries and NOT gotten sick with v*? And if so, how did you keep your stomach healthy?
- Does anyone know of any other remedies that I should bring along to fight off food poisoning and keep my digestion in prime condition?
- Some of my worst n* is caused by a vicious cycle of a mild stomach ache that brings on anxiety about getting sick which in turn causes more n*. What are some relaxation and calming techniques that you use to calm yourself down if you do start feeling n*?
Really any advice on how to avoid v* in a developing country and how to avoid anxiety attacks if mild tummy upsets do happen would be AWESOME. I leave in less than 20 days and it's official, I'm finally freaking out!