Things That Make You Go Puke

Last week my office sponsored a table at the Southampton Days Fair. There’s something about fairs and carnivals that makes me feel both exhilarated and scared to death at the same time.

In general, I love the atmosphere and excitement that surrounds county fairs. The face painting, games of chance, sideshows, cheesy puppet shows and other activity that I associate with fairs and carnivals.

Even some of the rides can be fun. It’s the ones I won’t go on that scare me. For the record, I’ve never, ever felt nauseated or vomited after going on an amusement ride. That’s because I won’t go on rides I believe will make me sick. That includes rides that spin fast, go upside down and yes, roller coasters. Funny thing is that I will go on virtual rides that are known to cause motion sickness and I love them and never feel sick from them. Merely closing your eyes while on these rides will remedy any motion sickness so I’m not afraid of them.

Watching some of these rides operate puts a pit in my stomach. Our table was near this nausea inducing twirling ride called The Zipper.

Combining these rides with typical fair food is another fear inducing thought.  I don’t like fried, greasy foods and the smell of them on a sizzling day makes it that much worse.  Emetophobics ponder the thought of how many people during a typical day at the fair vomited somewhere on the grounds.

Honey and Cinnamon

Writersblock is a screenname I commonly use and for good reason. It’s been almost a month since my last blog entry and that’s mostly due to writersblock – not having any good stuff to write about. Rather than repeating how awful panic attacks are or the dire fear I have of getting a stomach flu, I prefer to write about different, helpful and interesting matters somehow related to emetophobia or what us emetophobes want to read.

Last week a family member sent me an e-mail about the medicinal value of honey and cinnamon. I don’t know where this e-mail originated from so I can’t give anyone the credit, but nonetheless, I’d like to share snippets that I found of particular interest.

Honey is the only food on the planet that will not spoil or rot. It will do what some call turning to sugar. In reality honey is always honey. However, when left in a cool dark place for a long time it will do what I rather call “crystallizing”. When this happens I loosen the lid, boil some water, and sit the honey contain in the hot water, off the heat and let it liquefy, is then as good as it ever was. Never boil honey or put it in a microwave. To do so will kill the enzymes in the honey.

Since us emetophobia sufferers obsess over expiration dates, this is good news and one less item in my pantry to worry about.

It is found that a mixture of honey and Cinnamon cures most diseases. Honey is produced in most of the countries of the world. Scientists of today also accept honey as a ‘Ram Ban’ (very effective) medicine for all kinds of diseases. Honey can be used without any side effects for any kind of diseases. Today’s science says that even though honey is sweet, if taken in the right dosage as a medicine, it does not harm diabetic patients.

I’ve heard before that cinnamon has antimicrobial properties but can’t swear by the above claims that both honey and cinnamon cures “most” diseases. In fact, I strongly doubt them but scientific studies do claim that many ailments and illnesses can be remedied or cured by honey and cinnamon. And it’s cheap enough to keep stocked in the pantry. However, diabetics should consult their doctor before self-dosing on honey.

The e-mail goes on to list the conditions and how to prepare a honey and cinnamon remedy. I’ve snipped out a few that relate to illnesses that emetophobics would be the most interested in.

BLADDER INFECTIONS:Take two tablesp oons of cinnamon powder and one teaspoon of honey in a Glass of lukewarm water and drink it. It destroys the germs in the bladder.

CHOLESTEROL: Two tablespoons of honey and three teaspoons of Cinnamon Powder mixed in 16 ounces of tea water, given to a cholesterol patient, were found to reduce the level of cholesterol in the blood by 10 percent within two hours. As mentioned for arthritic patients, if taken three times a day, any chronic Cholesterol is cured. According to information received in the said Journal, pure honey taken with food daily relieves complaints of cholesterol.

COLDS: Those suffering from common or severe colds should take one tablespoon Lukewarm honey with 1/4 spoon cinnamon powder daily for three days. This Process will cure most chronic cough, cold, and clear the sinuses.

UPSET STOMACH: Honey taken with cinnamon powder cures stomach ache and also clears Stomach ulcers from the root. GAS: According to the studies done in India and Japan , it is revealed that if Honey is taken with cinnamon powder the stomach is relieved of gas.

IMMUNE SYSTEM: Daily use of honey and cinnamon powder strengthens the immune system and protects the body from bacteria and viral attacks Scientists have found that honey has various vitamins and iron in large amounts. Constant use of Honey strengthens the white blood corpuscles to fight bacteria and viral Diseases.

INDIGESTION: Cinnamon powder sprinkl ed on two tablespoons of honey taken before food Relieves acidity and digests the heaviest of meals.

CANCER: Recent research in Japan and Australia has revealed that advanced cancer of the stomach and bones have been cured successfully. Patients suffering from these kinds of cancer should daily take one tablespoon of honey with one teaspoon of cinnamon powder for one month three times a day

Will deep breathing help panic attacks

The number one piece of advice I’ve been given is to do deep breathing techniques when a panic attack begins. In theory, it works and it works very well. In reality, I have a hard time doing deep breathing exercises when my stomach is in knots.

One reason is that I only get panic attacks when I have indigestion, bloating, cramping or other common stomach ailments. Deep breathing requires concentrating on the air flowing down the lungs and the stomach expanding. This type of technique not only keeps me focused on the same part of the body that’s giving me the attack, it makes the symptoms feel worse.

Emetophobia sucks!

My Progress with Emetophobia

During the past several years my life has been like a roller coaster with emetophobia. Unlike the frightening Cyclone in Coney Island, my ride never ends it just slows down in between turns. I have scaled many hills, endured twists and turns, and then soared down them.

During the past few months, I’m glad to say the roller coaster has slowed down. Even the panic attacks invade my life less often. This however, could all change in a snap.

I doubt my fear of vomiting will ever go away. All of my childhood and my adult life I’ve had it. It just didn’t control my life until later on. Right now it’s manageable. I’m still following good hygiene and walk around with my emet kit. I still don’t enjoy going out to dinner or events where there is food and drink. But, I’m able to do these things without terrible distress.

That’s not to say I no longer need this blog. There will be times when my roller coaster will pick accelerate unexpectedly, even if it’s only a quick ride.

Now Its The Swine Flu

Just when the wave of relief over the end of norovirus season swooped by, we now have to face the Swine flu. Flu like symptoms could include nausea and vomiting but those aren’t the main symptoms and in many people, if not most, they don’t violently vomit from the flu.

Emetophobia has made me paranoid about getting sick, period. When an illness has possible symptoms of nausea and vomiting, paranoid turns into panic. Especially when it’s of near epidemic proportions and airborne.

On Sunday I was walking amongst crowds of tourists in Times Square. Yesterday I heard there was a confirmed case of the Swine flu at a company located in Times Square. This is very scary since I can wash and sanitize my hands frequently, which I often do, but I can’t control what I’m breathing in.

I only hope this flu dissipates as quickly as its spreading.

Expiration Dates

If you have ever known an emetophobe, you probably noticed how fanatical we are about expiration dates on food.  Most of my perishable foods are tossed before the expiration date, just to be on the safe side.

I’ve heard everyone from close family member to grocery store employees tell me the date on the product is only when they must stop selling the product rather than when the product should no longer be consumed.  And some products specifically say they are best before and then a date.  That may sound ok to normal people but for me it poses one question.  How long after the posted date is the food safe to consume?  All of the answers I get are very ambiguous and well, no one seems to know.

Situational Depression and the Emetophobia effect

Those who follow my blog may have noticed it hasn’t been as active as it once was. It’s not because of lack of interest. I really do enjoy blogging.

One reason is that as my screenname implies, I tend to get writersblock often. The other reason is depression. The past few months, there has been too much stress and anxiety in my personal life. Generally, I don’t deal with stress well and it doesn’t take much of it to throw me into a panic stricken or depressive state. Since 2009 began, one stressful situation after another piled up and now I’m on overload. The last time I’ve had this much anxiety in my life, my emetophobia reared its ugly head.

I know other emetophobia sufferers who also feel it was brought on my stress and or depression.

Horseradish – more postive news for Emetophobia

Every spring my Grandmother would grind fresh horseradish and mix it with beet juice for the Passover seder. It didn’t just add a beautiful color to the seder dish. It had a nose burning effect when it was sandwiched in between matzoh and passed around. As a child, that was the only time of year I ate horseradish.

Now, I buy it frequently and add it to my tomato juice to give it some kick. Anytime I hear of an herb that doubles as an antibiotic, anti-viral, or anti-emetic, life seems just a little bit easier. Horseradish, as outlined below, is a natural antibiotic. It may not kill the norovirus, but it can kill icky bacterias that can cause vomiting.

(http://www.liveandfeel.com/medicinalplants/horseradish.html)

As a medicine horseradish root has many curative properties: strong antibiotic, expectorant, bronchodilatator, antibacterial, coronary vasodilatator, it increases the blood pressure, it heats up the body, stimulates the body’s immune system, anti-inflammatory, antiparasitic, antianemic, antiscorbutic, diuretic. It can stimulate the appetite. It has a cardiotonic effect and is recommended to the people that suffer from high blood pressure. Also it is known that horseradish has aphrodisiacal properties.

Treatments

Bronchitis, sinusitis, paradontosis, rheumatism, anemia, flu, stomatitis, and even facial paralysis can be treated by using horseradish. As for sinusitis and rhinitis it is enough for a cataplasm to be placed on the forehead along with two spoons of grained horseradish so that the nose gets immediately decongested. This treatment is repeated 4 to 5 days in a row and it gets interrupted once burns occur.

Against bronchitis, flu and lung congestions, horseradish flour is applied like a cataplasm on the chest area for a half an hour up to an hour. This treatment is repeated once every two or three days.

Pains caused by rheumatism disappear if a cataplasm of horseradish is used. If a burning sensation appears the treatment is to be stopped.

Gargling tincture of horseradish dosed in 3-4 spoons in a glass half filled with water alleviates stomatitis.

Against paradontosis, the person suffering from it would need to chew grained horseradish. It can be mixed with carrots to reduce the spicy taste. This herb is great for gums because of its strong stimulating effects.

I think I’ll pass on this one

Homeopathic herbs and remedies are part of my daily life.  Moreso since becoming emetophobic.  I spend a lot of time researching what works and what doesn’t. When I’m looking for an alternative treatment to common ailments, I usually browse Dr Weil’s website .(www.drweil.com).

Lately I’ve been feeling depressed and exhausted and have considered trying a detox program. One of the programs brought to my attention is called Panchakarma.

Panchakarma is an Ayurvedic cleansing program for body and mind. Ayurvedic medicine, which originated within the ancient Vedic tradition of India, defines health as a body free of toxins, a mind at peace, emotions calm and happy, wastes efficiently eliminated, and organs functioning smoothly. Panchakarma (literally “five works”) is designed to restore health and wellness by cleansing the body of toxins with five methods: induction of vomiting, intestinal purging (with herbal laxatives), medicated enemas, nasal irrigation with medicated oils, and blood letting (traditionally with leeches or by cutting a vein.)

(Source: http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/id/QAA400225)

Further, the recommended treatment is for 14 to 21 days of vomiting, diarrhea, and blood letting.

Oh hell to the No! If inducing vomiting and intestinal purging isn’t bad enough, how about those leeches?

Thanks, but no thanks!

“I’ll never eat again”! How many times have you said this?

By guest blogger Dave Anderson, Cooper Lake, Texas

As soon as the rumbling in my stomach starts, I tell myself “it’s only gas.” At that point my mind wanders to the everything I ate or drank for the past 24 hours. Then, the bloating and cramping begin. The sudden reality that this isn’t just a passing gas pang sets in.

 Beads of sweat form on my forehead as I rummage through the medicine cabinet grabbing anything on the emetophobia shelf I can find that will help. Tums, GasX, Pepto Bismol. I settle for the Charco-caps. The shakes and shivers quickly set in.
While sitting in the bathroom waiting for relief, I realize how pissed off I am at myself for not watching what I ate. Now I’m paying the price. I make a pact with myself swearing never to eat anything again.

The next morning I wake up feeling great and savor the smell of bacon and eggs. My mouth waters and I dig in.