Just Pick up the Pizza! | OCD and Emetophobia (MHAM)

[@peatyboweaty]

I used to have emetophobia, I was terrified of getting sick or being around anyone that was sick. It hit it's peak in 2016, coincidentally the last day of my Disney Cruise. As we were disembarking that morning I started to feel a bit nauseous. I figured it was just a mix of vacationing too hard, and a touch of sea sickness, I didn't think much of it. As we made our way through customs, I started to feel worse and worse. Once we walked out into the Florida heat, the kind that's so intense it practically punches you in the face, my stomach did a full 180. At this point is was a matter of where not if I was going to get sick. I found a garbage can and everything I ate for the past 7 days came violently rushing out of me. It turns out my gallbladder broke, the day that I needed to travel by bus, plane, train and car. Luckily I was able to muster enough strength to fly home and see my regular doctors to figure out the issue. Even though I had my gallbladder removed 3 months later, and the problem was solved physically, I was traumatized. I was so afraid to eat the wrong thing, as to make my self sick again, I would not touch anything greasy or fatty, I was afraid to go on thrill rides, every morning I'd wake up and feel like OMG today is the day I puke everywhere again. I went to doctor after doctor to try and get this fixed but no one had answers. Finally my PCP put me on anxiety meds. In almost a week I started to feel better, and the knots in my stomach were got. Crazy enough I was literally thinking myself sick. Fast forward to 2021, I ended up needing another surgery on my digestive system. This time I ran into major complication, which resulted in me spending much of that summer in the hospital, and vomiting becoming part of my morning routine. Then not long after, I became a dad and I'll tell you nothing adapts you to bodily fluids like parent hood. I've peeled more poop and vomit soaked onesies off my daughter than I can possibly count.

[@SkipperMeaghan]

Oh my goodness, that sounds awful! I’m so glad you were able to get home to your doctor, but that travel must’ve been terrible! Hopefully you’re done with GI surgeries/issues now!