Sometimes it can be virtually impossible to obtain specific information from GPs who don't always accept or recognise the far-reaching problems associated with emetophobia.
Other people, having admitted to emetophobia on medical records and thus been labeled as a 'hypochondriac' might find it extremely difficult to be taken seriously when presenting with other medical problems. In this case, this page seeks to obtain information from other emets who might be experiencing similar problems. Whilst this page cannot provide qualified medical advice, experiences can be pooled and shared for mutual benefit.
This page, therefore, seeks to obtain answers via patients and fellow-emetophobes while other organisations can place their own appeals here for legitimate medical research into the causes of phobias and potential treatments for them.
Appeals on behalf of GR members:
Common questions always being asked are:
- Are stomach bugs spread by contact (ie hand to mouth) or can they be airborne?
- Are anti-emetic drugs such as metoclopramide effective against stomach bugs? Do they prevent vomiting induced by a stomach bug?
HAS ANYONE, ANYWHERE MANAGED TO OVERCOME EMETOPHOBIA??? If any reader has tried any treatment which has positively helped their emetophobia, PLEASE share this information with us!
Have any therapists reading this page ever successfully treated an emetophobia sufferer?
Does anyone suffer from low blood pressure or postural hypotension accompanied by a rise in pulse rate of about 30 beats per minute on standing? Or do you experience a 'fluttery' feeling in your chest making you feel faint or causing fainting? Have you been investigated or received treatment? What did it involve?
Does anyone suffer from emetophobia together with frequent nausea attacks due to a physical cause (not anxiety), a vestibular disorder affecting your balance and making you feel 'seasick', and heat intolerance - find summer sun or winter central heating unbearable? If so, have you even had any treatment or investigations for this? What did they involve? What was the outcome?
If you are female, do you suffer with persistent nausea, giddiness and headaches before and during a menstrual period? Have you received any medical treatment for this? If so, what was it and did it help or make things worse?
Another question for the 'girls': does anyone suffer with diarrhoea and abdominal colic during the later days of a menstrual period? Has anyone ever found a way to treat this or discovered what causes it?
Also, does anyone suffer from fainting during the early days of a period? Medical textbooks refer to 'vasodilatation' caused by the change in female hormones at this time, together with a fall in blood pressure. Has anyone ever found a way to beat this?
HRT (hormone replacement therapy) can cause side-effects of nausea and vomiting which can be very off-putting to menopausal emetophobes. Do you take HRT or have you ever taken it? Which sort was it? Did you have any side-effects? Are you still taking it?
Thank You. All responses are very gratefully received and will be treated in the strictest confidence.
Email: info@gut-reaction.freeserve.co.uk
Dr Chris Steele, resident GP on Granada Television's "This Morning" magazine programme, on 16 September 1999 stated that emetophobia is "quite common" and that "all phobias can be cured". On the 'latest news' page, I suggested that fellow emetophobes in the UK respond to this outlining their own experiences of ineffective treatment approaches and asking what he considers might be more effective. The comment was clearly made in good faith but I suspect he might not realise the extent of this particular problem, some GPs' dismissive attitudes or the fact that sufferers don't seem to gain any benefit from utilising standard phobia treatment approaches when applied to emetophobia.
A 'standard reply' letter was received on 14 October 1999 stating that "Dr Steele is prohibited by medical ethics from advising on individual medical problems ...... always recommends that you discuss your concerns with your GP who has ultimate responsibility to your health and well-being".