I need urgent help! Anyone please reply!

[katelynmarie]

I need some help on something I've experienced today. Any opinions, tips, or known facts would be really appreciated!!!

So I went to my therapist today, and I told her about how I was getting an anxiety last night when I was trying to fall asleep because I was worrying and obsessing over feeling nausea. It resulted in just taking a pill for the anxiety, and putting a cold washcloth over my head. I ended up sleeping eventually, but I still wanted to talk to my therapist about it.

My session had ended, and I headed out of her office, down the hallway, and into the waiting room, where my mom was. I opened the door to the waiting room, and instantly- something hit me.

It smelled like disinfectant and v*. And sure enough, my assumption was right. Someone had v*ed on the carpet, floor, and even on the door to exit the building. Apparently, my mom had texted me during my session warning me and asked me to have my therapist bring me out to the alternative exit. Unfortunately, my phones service in the building doesn't work too well and the text ended up delivering after we left the building.

My mom knows exactly what happens with me in a situation like this, so when she saw me open the door, she said, "Come on Katelyn, just walk around it and we'll leave."

That was not helpful whatsoever. I started to cry, and I put my jacket over my nose and mouth and in a panic, I asked if someone had gotten sick in here.

My mom didn't want to tell me right there and then that someone had, to avoid anxiety. But, the custodian said, "Yes. Don't worry though, I cleaned it up and got it off the door, so you can get out without coming in contact with it!"

My mom got a little angry at the custodian and told her, "Yeah, that's fine, but she has a severe phobia of this so that doesn't matter to her."

This was a situation of VERY, very bad timing. Considering I had just talked about that with my therapist right before, and walking into that did not really help.

I've been away from that for over three hours now, but I'm obsessing and panicking about it still. The thing I am mostly worried about is how I possibly inhaled germs and will come down with something. This is what I'm asking for help on:

Even though I've possibly inhaled something, does that mean I will definitely get sick?? I only inhaled it for a brief moment, because I knew what was going on and then I covered my mouth and nose. How likely is it that I will come down with something because of this?

I got rid of the shoes I was wearing, and my clothes I had on are being washed and sanitized by my mom. The instant I got home, I washed my hands many times. I wiped my phone off with a clorox wipe, and my hands, too. I brushed my teeth too, and took a super hot shower after that, and then disinfected my phone and anything else I may have touched. And after all of that, I cleaned the bathroom with disinfectant and I made sure everything was squeaky clean. Even though I sanitized myself and everything else thoroughly, is it possible that I could develop something from airborne contact?

Anything anyone has to help would be very good. Even if you just have advice on how to handle it or calm down, and if anyone knows anything factual about the situation I described, that would be great help. So anyone, please reply with any type if info!! :/

[Collie]

I'm sorry you had to go through that. Super gross and jarring, especially after a therapy session...awful timing. But will you get sick? Nah. It sounds like janitor had already cleaned it up before you came out, am I correct? Either way, you're not going to catch anything. It might not have even been something contaigous! Sounds like you went above and beyond to sanitize and disinfect yourself and everything around you, you will be FINE!

[katelynmarie]

You are probably right!! Your comment made me feel reassured. You know how it gets with this phobia, though. :/ You see something like I did today and not only does it freak you out then, it becomes a constant worry. And that's what's bad about it, but I'm working on trying my best to handle it!! Thank you for your comment!

[horsewoman]

I hope you're feeling better now. As many precautions you took and the janitor had already cleaned it up, I seriously doubt you
are in any danger. I understand and it's tough when something triggers the phobia. I find that if I can sleep or focus on something that really interests me it helps.

[Hello_there]

Ugh, so sorry to hear that. But I agree, you are at a very low risk of catching anything. You were not in the room when they were sick, it was cleaned up immediately, you didn't ingest any particles, and you sanitized everything. So sorry you experienced that.

[Charzy14]

I have walked into incidences like the one you described.... several times, years ago. One time I was in Wal-mart and heard an older lady cough and v* right next to me, just a few feet away. Of course I ran to find my husband, my kids, and we left. My night was ruined.... but I never got s* from it. There was also a time where I walked into a store where it had just happened. I almost stepped in it. It was all over the floor and the glass door; it was very new and the smell was awful. I didn't get s* from that one either. I have had more than those mentioned, and I did not get ill from any of the incidents that I walked into or around, thus possibly breathing in particles. Sounds like you will be just fine!!

[anna81]

Oh no what awful timing! You won't get ill from it though.

[katelynmarie]

Thank you all for replying to my post, I haven't been on my computer much the past couple days so I didn't see anyones comments. But being that this was about three days ago, I don't think I will get sick from it at this point. It was just a shocking and frightening situation which made me panic!! But thank you all for reassuring me, I feel much less anxious now!