[Shared by How to be a Domestic Disgrace]
Have you heard of Emetophobia? It is an extreme phobia of vomit/vomiting and I have it. I’ve had it for a long time now – around 23 years to be exact. And when I say ‘extreme’ I really do mean extreme – this is not just the normal horror that most people feel when faced with a puking child or a tummy bug, this is life controlling, severely limiting stuff. I’ve coped a lot better with it for the last 8-10 years than I did before then. I’m still a quivering, panicky wreck whenever I have to deal with it, but when I tell you that I used to starve myself so I couldn’t possibly be sick and at one point couldn’t even leave the house at all because of it, you’ll see how far I’ve come.
Now. What would be on your list of things not to do when you’ve got a crippling phobia of vomit? Training as an early years teacher is probably up there, right? Because you’re sensible. I, however, am not sensible and did exactly that in my mid 20s. Hurling a-plenty. Awful. Not the job; the hurling. My several years of working in schools and with small children has taught me some helpful tips for dealing with pukey scenarios though, and it’s only fair to share, so here’s my vom attack list. Do not read on a full stomach:
You will need:
- Two buckets (one for vomit catching, another for vomit cleaning)
- Febreeze. no other air freshener will do.
- A metric fuck-tonne of kitchen roll.
- Disinfectant a-plenty
- Disinfectant wipes (we’re not saving the planet here people, we’re cleaning up puke)
- Bicarbonate of Soda: Lots
- A dust mask that covers your mouth and nose if you’re like me and are pathetic (find them in B&Q)
- And (drumroll) – my secret weapons – lots of sand and an old cereal packet or similar.
Plan of action:
1. ALERT! ALERT! SPRAY THE FEBREEZE, I REPEAT, SPRAY THE FEBREEZE. Spray it so much that you’re all choking on the scent of ‘fresh linen’ for the next 3 days. Also, open every window in the vicinity.
2. Stick puke bucket under child. Mad person tip: put on dust mask now to reduce germ and vomit scent inhalation.
3. Assess situation.
4. If the puke has occurred on carpet, a) WHAT WERE YOU THINKING? Have I taught you nothing? Rip all carpets up and cover entire floor of house in laminate flooring or PVC or something. Carpets and small children = disaster. b) You’re going to have to go straight in with the kitchen roll to mop up and pick up chunks (bleughh), then clean it all up with soapy water before going over it with disinfectant in water. Sprinkle liberally with bicarb and leave to dry.
5. If the puke has occurred on a solid surface like vinyl or laminate flooring or a table, you’re going to make like a school caretaker and go in with the sand. (Hum the Mission Impossible music here). Sprinkle handfuls of sand all over the area of pukage. Be liberal with your sand. You can’t possibly use too much. This will turn it into a solidified mass (heave) which you can then use your old cereal packet to scrape up and dispose of. Any cardboard will do actually – you just need a bit to scrape with and a bit to scrape onto. This negates the need to deal with any ‘bits’ and you can go straight in with the disinfectant and water before bicarbing the area like a mo-fo.
6. Getting rid of the bicarb once the area is dry is a problem. Hoover it up, but this makes me obsess horribly about germs being in the hoover. I end up using yet more disinfectant to wipe it down inside and out and chucking the hoover bag away.
7. Turn attention to child. Plonk in empty bath and remove clothes. Put clothes in washing machine to boil wash. Hose down child with plenty of soap and water. Dry. Re-clothe. Surround with towels.
8. If you’re me, scrub self raw whilst sobbing and shaking, followed by disinfecting every single door handle, centimetre of floor etc etc. Hopefully you’re normal – if so, don’t bother with step 8.
TOP TIP: One of the schools I worked at gave children shallow bowls to vomit into, which they kept ready-lined with paper towels. The shallow depth resulted in less splashback and the paper towels meant that the whole lot slid nicely down the toilet and left the bowl more or less clean, which meant that it just needed filling with water and bleach and leaving to stand rather than a traumatic amount of rinsing out and emptying.
There you go – hopefully that helps. And if you’re wondering how I can possibly be as phobic as I say I am after reading all of that, then believe me – last time my husband vomited in the toilet when he had a tummy bug, I had such a bad panic attack that I lost all feeling in my hands and face for 12 hours. If you’re like me, all you can really do is prepare yourself, think of a strategy and try and block it out while you’re dealing with it. And only have a child with someone who doesn’t mind dealing with it – that’s helped on most of the occasions.
Linking up here: http://mumsmakelists.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/top-tips-cleaning-up-sick-wee-worse.html Have a look for more tips for cleaning up unpleasant bodily emissions.
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Oh my God, I thought I was the only one! I used to cry and shake for hours after my brother or sister was sick. Husband and I have been together 19 years and I’ve never seen him throw up – he wouldn’t dare! I haven’t been sick myself since I was 12 – I’m
39 now. I’ve come a long way and can deal with it if I have to, but usually my husband does. Strangely I find I’m better with clearing up than with being with the child when they are actually being sick. I still shake, I still can’t sleep and it still gives me diaorrhea having an I’ll child in the house
It’s so much more common than you’d think Sarah – it’s the 5th most common phobia apparently. I agree – I’m better cleaning up the sick than dealing with the puking child. I’d far rather run away and hide though!
Fantastic post! I suffer from emetophobia (I’ve written a post here http://www.the-blunt-truth.com/2011/11/phobias.html ) and I dread any of my children complaining of a bad tummy and this time of year freaks me out what with all the bugs doing the rounds.
Just read your post and commented. It really helps to know that I’m not the only mum struggling with this.
I don’t have a phobia of cleaning it up – more of catching it myself, and having spent the last 24 hours catching the contents of my daughter’s stomach, I’m now praying I’m not next in line …. how much more hand sanitizer can I get through?!
Oh thank you, thank you, thank you!
I never knew that it was real phobia and I’ve suffered in silence for years! The panic attacks I’ve suffered before flying had people thinking that it was due to a fear of flying and when I explained that it wasn’t the flying it was being trapped in a plane with people who could possibly vomit they really did look at me as if I was mad!
I must admit I have got better since having my child, now four, as I HAVE to deal with it. Luckily it’s only happened a handful of times but I go into full panic mode, my heart is racing and I’m breathing fast and furiously through my mouth – the tip about wearing a mask if fantastic, as is the one about having a spare bucket to hand!
Great article! Thanks again.
K
I won’t go on planes for this very reason! We flew to Jersey for our honesymoon 5 years ago (husband thought I’d be OK as it less than an hours flight). I doped my self up on Valium and was OK on the way there, but when I boarded the plane on the way back, it stank of sick and I just got off and refused to get on again. The air hostess kept assuring me that nobody had been sick on the plane, but COME ON, I’ve worked in primary schools for years – I know the smell of vomit when I find it! I was forced on in the end and they sprayed air freshener everywhere. Traumatised for months afterwards.
It’s nice to hear others talking about this. I feel rather ashamed to admit that I avoid taking my toddler to playgroups at this time of year, and I am constantly anxious about him catching tummy bugs. I’m OK with the clearing up bit though, I just run a mile when he’s in the act of being sick – which makes me a terrible parent, I know. Just have to hope my OH is around when it happens!
Ick, ick, ick now I feel sick! Think I’ve got Emetophobia too!
I’ve spent my whole life worrying about being sick, I even remember as a small child I wouldn’t do certain things in case I was sick or someone else was and I might catch it!
You have some super tips there, I will have to tell my hub
I run a mile if our two are ever being sick, I go round doing the whole dissinfectant thing! Did you know with the Norovirus it can survive in a house for 21 days after a bout of sickness!!! Eeew!
Thanks for the tips
I’m really glad I wrote this post now as so many of you seem to have the same problems. Google Emetophoboa – there’s a few really good sites about it and it will help you see that you’re all far from alone. x
PS With impeccable timing, my son came down with a tummy bug over the weekend and spent all of Sunday throwing up. I’m still a nervous wreck now and it’s 3 days on. Jinxed myself by writing this, didn’t I!