Panic Attack

Usually I only get panic attacks when digestive problems begin. The combination of cramping, diarrhea, bloating and gas brings on the symptoms of a panic attack. A visit to the bathroom to relieve myself makes me physically better and the panic attacks subside. Once in a while I’ll get a panic attack if I’m in a public place when acid indigestion attacks. Even though I’ve never vomited from acid indigestion alone, the thought of getting violently sick in in a public place scares the shit out of me.

Yesterday I had an unusual panic attack. Someone I know told me something very upsetting. It upset me so much that it gave me heartburn which made me nervous. While laying in bed I started shaking and a bad case of chills swept through me. These are symptoms of a panic attack. I didn’t have cramps, nor diarrhea, nor any feeling that I had to go to the bathroom. I wasn’t even nauseous but the fear that I was going to vomit set in. The fix was to do the deep breathing which eventually put me to sleep.

Packing For Vacation ( I can’t forget the remedies)

My vacation begins next Saturday. I’m doing something many emetophobics won’t do. Taking a cruise. Cruise vacations don’t scare me as this is my 20th cruise (most of them were done before being attacked by emetophobia) and, knock on wood, I have never had any terrible illnesses affect me. Maybe it’s because I take extra precautions but even so, those I have traveled with in the past, never had any problems either and they are not emetophobic.

We are going to places to Columbia, Costa Rica, and Panama. Again, these places don’t scare me as I have traveled to developing countries in Africa and never experienced any stomach ailments there either.

I have the daunting task of packing, which for me, is as enjoyable as cleaning the toilet. The last hour I spent dividing up and laying out my herbs, remedies, and medications that us emetophobes can’t live without.

In the green bag are my ginger chews – a taffy that contains 8% ginger. Altoids are great for carrying around as it has a sharp peppermint bite. The plastic bags are individual filled with:

Cinnamon – I take before meals because cinnamon is said to kill off salmonella and other bad food-borne bacteria.

Ginger capsules- in case I get nauseous for any reason and the ginger chews aren’t strong enough.

Dr. Weil’s Immune Boosting capsules. They contain astragalus and other mushrooms that build up the immune system so my body can better fight any viruses out there or on the ship.

Multi-Vitamin – also to help my immune system

Probiotic – improves digestion and helps with IBS and travelers diarrhea

Enteric coated peppermint – helps food digest and reduce gas in the intestines

Charcoal caps – They’re those pink pills. Charcoal is an old remedy to reduce bloating, and relieve gas. Bloating and gas don’t usuall cause vomiting but it does cause me to panic.

Motion Sickness Relief (meclizine) or better known as Bonine – Seasickness has never been a problem for me but meclizine is an anti-emetic and I bring it just in case the ginger doesn’t help and I need something fast.

The long white cloth on the right side are anti-bacterial wipes. These are used to wipe down the seat and tray on the airplane. Yes, I’m that fanatical. I have another box of individually packed wipes for my excursions off the ship and on.

I hope to post another blog entry before leaving for vacation but just in case I don’t, I hope all of my readers have a stressfree, unpanicky, non-bloating, and happy Thanksgiving.

The Most Wonderful Time of the year – NOT

Looking through the eyes of the average person, this time of year brings joy. The holiday spirit is everywhere. The malls glitter with decorations, piped in holiday jingles echo throughout, and gleeful children run through Toys R Us overwhelming their parents. And if you live north, shimmering snow adds to the atmosphere. Loved ones bundle around the fire place with hot cocoa.

Yep, tis the season to be jolly. Unless of course, your emetophobic. The holiday spirit comes secondary to the fact that it’s also stomach virus season. And unfortunately, stomach virus season is by far longer than Christmas and New Years combined. Stomach virus season peaks in January, then starts to diminish until it almost disappears in the spring.

Next to ani-emetics, digestive aids, and herbal immune boosting supplements, my next big item to buy is hand lotion. Why? I hear you asking. Us emetophobes know that washing our hands is the best way to prevent illness so we do it to excess. That and the cold temperatures leaves us with dry, brittle hands and nails.

So for all of you emetophobics reading this blog, I would like to recommend a link that will help calm your mind about norovirus. This link is from a former emetophobe and mental health counselor who also moderates the International Emetophobia Society’s web forum. Please read this information.

http://www.emetophobia.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=13408&PN=1

Plain Soap and Water vs. Anti-bacterial

For a while I’ve been touting that washing your hands with soap and water is far better than anti-bacterial hand products including those found in soap. That doesn’t mean I don’t own hand sanitizers. I do. They are perfect for traveling, carrying in my purse and bringing to my martial arts classes where access to soap and water are limited if non-existent at the moment.

The below article makes my point clear.

http://green.yahoo.com/blog/the_conscious_consumer/6/say-no-to-antibacterial-soaps.html

Say no to antibacterial soaps
By Lori Bongiorno Posted Wed Oct 15, 2008 12:01pm PDT

Global Handwashing Day was established to promote a simple message: Wash your hands with soap and water to prevent disease. It’s also the perfect time to visit the topic of what kind of soap you’re lathering up with. This is an important decision that many of us don’t think twice about.

The main ingredient in most of the liquid soaps lining store shelves is triclosan, a pesticide that kills bacteria. Turns out you just need to banish germs from your hands, not kill them. Studies show that antibacterial soaps aren’t more effective at preventing illness or at removing germs than good old-fashioned soap and water.

In fact, antibacterial soaps may do more harm than good.

There are concerns that triclosan may contribute to the rise of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. It’s also present in human bodies and breast milk as well as in streams. The Environmental Working Group says triclosan has been linked to developmental defects, liver toxicity, and cancer in lab studies. It also may affect thyroid and other hormones that are crucial to normal development.
The best thing you can do is avoid soaps that claim to be “antibacterial” while we wait for more research to be done. A quick read of the label will tell you if triclosan or triclocarban (a similar compound that’s more commonly found in bar soaps) are active ingredients. If so, move onto another product.

My own comment: Not all anti-bacterials use Triclosan. Some use alcohol based ingredients which are are safe but may not be as effective. The best way to prevent catching germs is by thorough and frequent handwashing.

Rubbing Alcohol for Nausea

Two years ago I had undergone surgery that required anesthesia. It’s normal to be scared before any surgery. Normal people are nervous about complications, infection, or pain. Not me. Like every one else with emetophobia, I was scared to death of getting nauseous or vomiting from the anesthesia and pain killers.

In recovery, I felt woozy but no nausea although I was so scared that it would come on later on during the day. When leaving to go home, the nurse handed me a pad soaked in rubbing alcohol. She told me this would help. Once the anesthesia wore off, I felt great and completely forgot about this homeopathic remedy.

Recently I was reading about a woman’s experience after anesthesia. She was extremely nauseous even after they gave her anti-emetics. Just like myself, the nurse handed her a small cotton pad soaked in rubbing alcohol and with one sniff, the nausea completely went away.

My point is – make sure you keep a bottle of rubbing alcohol in your home.