[animal_luva]

I'm the same as Cath, my fear is of actually being sick or seeing somebody else. I also panic when I am out, on my own..........I start thinking "what if i am sick.....what if i faint............" Sometimes the fear is so bad I can't go out (the excuses I come up with for work are amazing!) Or if I am out and the fear takes control I have to hurry back home........home is my safe place and the panic eases....well until I know I have to go out again! Also I dread having to eat at somebody elses house or in a restuarant or pub.
Yesterday I paid a visit to my GP who I have spoken to about this before. She rather helpfully pointed out that it is a pity I don't get a bug to prove that what happens is not that bad..........yea right! I replied that for me it is! She then mentioned that I can be referred to a therapist, something I have tried once before but did not help but hey I will give anything a go (within reason) to try and get this under control. She also mentioned anti-depressents...........now I don't think I am depressed...........hacked off with being like this yes but not depressed. I said I did not want to go down that road but asked if St Johns Wort could be useful.......she has said she has no problems with me trying this so have started taking one a day and will go back in 3 weeks. As this is something I can buy over the counter I don't feel I am going down a road of becoming dependent on a drug! I'm wondering if anybody else has tried this route or indeed any other method to help them through this.

[jonnyjonny_uk]

I can imagine how everyone must be feeling at the moment with this phobia and I was worried my parents were going to bring it over when they visited me here in Moscow from the Uk but luckily im still ok. Here is some good information that I found about the Norovirus.

Definitions

Norovirus: The latest term for all ?Norwalk-like viruses?, according to the Center for Disease Control (CDC).

Stomach flu: Norovirus ? actually a misnomer, as these viruses are not influenza or ?flu?.

?Stomach viruses? (?sv?) or ?winter viruses?: Noroviruses

Gastroenteritis: Any illness involving vomiting and diarrhea ? these symptoms may be caused by Norovirus or by a bacteria. Hence, ?viral gastroenteritis? or ?bacterial gastroenteritis?. Bacterial gastroenteritis is not contagious.



Virology

Noroviruses (genus Norovirus, family Caliciviridae) are a group of related, single-stranded RNA, non-enveloped viruses that cause acute gastroenteritis in humans. Norovirus was recently approved as the official genus name for the group of viruses provisionally described as "Norwalk-like viruses" (NLV). Currently, human noroviruses belong to one of three norovirus genogroups (GI, GII, or GIV), each of which is further divided into >25 genetic clusters.[1]

How it works

1) You ingest the virus by viral particles from feces or vomit entering through your mouth, or nose, or perhaps by touching your eyes.

2) In your stomach, it doesn't do anything.

3) In your small intestine, the virus begins to multiply, which may take from 12-28 hours before you show symptoms. The lining of your intestine has appropriate attachments for the virus. It attaches itself and releases its genome (bio genes). Those genes shut down the cell and start taking control in order to make more viruses. So your cells are a factory for the virus replicating.

4) Your cells then "explode" or lyse. Then it keeps going to more cells, etc.

5) While this is happening your immune response recognizes that cells are dying and T-cells allow your body to mount an immune response against it. They go to B-cells and produce antibodies. The antibodies travel to the small intestine and inactivate the virus.

6) The vomiting is a secondary response. It's your body's way, evolutionarily, to respond to an infection. It doesn't actually do anything to help you. (This is probably why, if you can stop the vomit response with anti-emetic drugs or even from anxiety...then it doesn't make the course of the virus any worse. ) There is no need to ?get the virus out of there?, as it?s not in your stomach anyway ? it?s in your intestinal tract. The brain may allow you to "not vomit" if you convince it to. While this is a fine idea when infected with norovirus, it?s not if you?ve ingested a chemical poison.

Incubation Period

24-48 hours after ingestion of the virus. Symptoms have been known to appear as early as 12 hours.



When is it contagious?

Once the virus has been ingested and is incubating, it is possible to shed it through stool, without yet showing symptoms. This is one reason why the virus is so highly contagious ? people don?t know they have it, yet they spread it to others through poor hygiene (not washing their hands after defecating, and touching others or touching surfaces.)



People are also contagious for at least 24 hours after the symptoms disappear. There have been virus particles found in the stool samples of people who have been infected some time after this as well, however it is not known whether enough viral particles are secreted in order to infect someone else. (There are too many variables at this point: strength of the virus, number of particles, strength of others? immune systems)



The person who had the virus becomes immune to this year?s particular strain and secretes antibodies with the virus so it isn't contageous anymore to him, even though it is highly contagious to others.



Transmission

The only way to catch one of these viruses is through the fecal-oral route. This means you have to "swallow" the virus particles contained in feces or vomit of someone who has the virus. ?Swallow? means to ingest it into your gastro-intestinal system which can be through your mouth or nose, or potentially (but not likely) by rubbing your eyes. You cannot breathe it in. That is absolutely impossible. It is possible, however, for someone to vomit near or beside you, and the aerosol "spray" droplets come up and touch your eyes, nose or mouth. Then you can get infected.



Myths



It is ABSOLUTELY IMPOSSIBLE to get infected in any of the following ways:



1. Being ?near? someone who has it, including co-workers or friends

2. Being on a plane with people who have it

3. Breathing the same air as someone who has it

4. Being in the same building as someone who has it

5. Walking past a pool of vomit on the floor, road or sidewalk

6. Through having sexual relations with an infected person

7. Through a cut in your skin

8. Through your rectum or genitalia (as in, on a toilet)

9. Kissing someone who is not yet showing symptoms (note: it may be possible to catch it from someone who has recently vomited by kissing them, as viral particles may be in their mouth from vomitus. But the virus is NOT transmitted through saliva)

10. Number 6, above, applies similarly to sharing cups or utensils with someone as well.

NOTE: I would not recommend that you share drinks or utensils with someone if you know they?re sick. Besides, many other diseases can be transmitted this way ? and some are more serious than norovirus. However if you have done so, then find out later that they have subsequently developed symptoms of a norovirus, there is no need to fear.



Transmission from surfaces

The virus can be active outside a host (person) on surfaces such as counters, toilets, faucets, doorknobs and even clothing. It is unknown exactly how long the virus can live on such surfaces, as this depends on the number of viral particles, temperature, and the nature of the environment. However, you can't catch anything by just touching a doorknob. You would have to put your hand into your mouth or on your nose afterward. Therefore, hand-washing is imperative to prevention of transmission.





NOTE:

The main reason for all the Norovirus outbreaks is poor hygiene, i.e., people defecating and not washing hands afterward, then contaminating surfaces or foods.



Is is ?airborne??

Norovirus is NOT airborne. Some news reports and even family doctors mistakenly report that it is, probably because it?s possible for airborne vomitus droplets to infect others, and thus they get facts somewhat confused. In other words, if you?re standing near someone who vomits, the airborne ?spray? from the vomit splashing will contain millions of viral particles and may infect you. This is not the same thing as a technically ?airborne virus?. You CANNOT catch it from breathing the air of an infected person.

If your doctor or any other source tells you it is airborne in the sense that one can catch it by only breathing air, please ask them exactly what they mean, how they think the virus is transmitted, a technical/scientific source for their claims and the technical virology IN WRITING that is contrary to what the world-renowned Center for Disease Control has discovered. (Then have them post that technical information here, and I will gladly eat my hat and take up another profession.)

[grracee]

Hiya, i have suffered having a phobia of being sick for as long as i can remember.
As a result of having this phobia i have recently suffered quite badly from anxiety and panic attacks, at one point i wasn't even going out of my house.
As i am only 17 it has a big impact on my A Levels and basically just my social life.
I went to the doctor and was referred to a woman who helped with teenagers with this. I only saw her for a few months, she thought that i was better, i was alot better than i was (i started going out, down street etc)... but to be honest to this day it hasnt gone completely.
I've recently tried to sign up to a training scheme to do what i want to do with my career but i know im going to find it very difficult to go to new situations as im always scared i will be sick infront of other people and no-one i know will be there. Therefore if i think i might be, i start to become more aware of my feelings. e.g if i look pale i will automatically think i will be sick, if my stomach hurts abit i then also think i will be sick, then that brings on an attack which makes me feel even worse.
I was always told that loads of other people suffer from this but as i didnt know anyone myself i didnt believe it.. until i came across this site. I think its great that theres a place where people can talk to people going through the same as them about their problems
Just wondering whether anyone has had any successful stories about getting rid of the phobia altogether?
Many Thanks
Grace

[tracymckie]

hi gill ive had a fear of been sick for six years its controlling my life i watch what ieat so im not sick and i only eat once a day i also need to know were the toilets are when im out or if there is a allyway somewhere i wish i didnt have this condition i feel like a freak and alone from tracy

[susie4uk2008]

Hello Gill,

I have off fainting really and i have a fear of incase it might turn out worse.

Susie

[animal_luva]

It has been a while since I have ventured to this site.....and in that time I have been seen by another therapist. Unfortunately the method of help I was offered was to go down the route of being faced with people being sick, ie made to watch it....and to be in very close contact with somebody who had recently had a stomach upset. Sorry but at this point I decided this form of therapy was not for me. Has anybody else had this form of therapy suggested to them......and did it help?