any other emetophobics?

[tough2bstrong]

Hi, just wondering if their are any other members here who are emetophobic also....fear of vomiting. THis is the main reason behind my dental phobia, and Im wondering if Im alone in this....thanks

 

[NotAloneISee]

This is one of my biggest fears as well. And yes, I am emetophobic, too.

Funny thing is....I have only vomited once since I was ten (and I am 45) and that was six years ago.

And never have I come close at the dentist.

So I wonder why the fear?

 

[tough2bstrong]

Wow...great to meet you...Im 38 and have been emetophobic for years also. the way I see it, the dentist encompasses all the triggers for emetophobia. There is a lack of control when you let somebody mess around in your mouth, and you feel as though you are forced to sit and endure it . Also, having work done at the dentist is a necessary evil, therefore we have no choice but to do it. Just those thoughts alone are enough to set me into a panic with my emetophobia. If you are anything like me, you need to feel in control of everything. More specifically however, having my mouth frozen is a huge panic thing for me. Im glad you have never come close to vomiting at the dentist. I have a root canal coming up, and Im petrified. The alternative is to have iv sedation, but Im worried about the sideeffects of being put out. Will I be sick afterwards?! I had a horrible experience 3 months ago at the dentist during an extraction. The nerve was infected, therefore he had trouble freezing me. I had 13 needles and on the 3rd one he let some of the anesthetic go down my throat and I instantly started gagging and dry heaving. I dont do that!!! I was freaking out, hysterical, and I couldnt stop. I didnt throw up though, maybe because I had nothing in my stomach. Anyway, the receptionist had to come in and tell me to calm down, I was scaring the children, which made me even more upset! He wanted to stop the procedure, but I begged him to continue.So 10 more shots later he finally had to just yank the tooth, and I felt the whole thing.I was traumatized to say the least. AFter it was over I just cried and cried, and literally spent the next week at home reliving it and felt shattered. Since it happened i actually had the nerve to go back and have 3 more fillings done(one of which was very deep and borderline root canal from what he said) Im proud of myself for going back, but it still doesnt give me the nerve to go back for this upc oming root canal. Im terrified....thanks for listening

 

[LittleS]

I'm sure I suffer from an element of this, which is probably why I have trouble with gagging at the dentist. I've never come near actually being ill at the dentist, but I go into real panic mode.

I'm shortly to have three wisdom teeth out with IV sedation. The clinic is due to ring me any day now to fix my appointment. I've read lots of encouraging stuff on here about it, and it doesn't sound like it makes anyone feel ill afterwards - just tired. I also know two colleagues who have had IV sedation and they've been fine afterwards.

My dental and vomiting phobia both became apparent after I had (successful) open-heart surgery at the age of 16. I woke up in ICU with a big tube right down my throat and was continually gagging on it. I had absolutely no fear of dentists before then.

The funny thing is that, apart from that awful hospital episode, I've not actually vomited myself since about the age of 9, and I'm now 44. I managed to survive acute appendicitis followed by two-and-a-half weeks in hospital when I got a vile gut infection after the appendix operation without vomiting!

I say I know only have an "element" of vomiting phobia because it is nothing like what it used to be. It's not so long since I couldn't go out for a meal because of my phobia and it really affected my life in several ways. But I gradually cured myself of that, and it now barely troubles me. However, I don't like the dentist, flying, being on public transport late at night or being driven by others. There's a link on this site to an emetophobic site and I couldn't believe that there are people like me who look closely at each car apparently broken down at the roadside because they assume the occupants are being ill at the side. I drive 36,000 miles a year and this thought still goes through my mind several times each week at every breakdown I see. Still, it's not as bad as it once was - honest!

 

[NotAloneISee]

Are the wisdom teeth simple extractions or impacted?

Not that it may matter because you have had a traumatic experience. This alone would make me terrified.

I just had four extractions in September and October. It is possible that I will have another one in two weeks. Since the last ones went well (excluding one), I really have no anxieties for the next one. Besides, I just endured three and a half days of excruciating tooth pain.

The biggest reason I have no concerns...or very little..is that I trust my dentist. She has shown that she will do everything possible to make it easy for me. Three of my extractions were wisdom teeth and in the back of my mouth. During none of them did I feel any sense of gagging.

When I went in four days ago to have my infected tooth looked at, the dentist held the x ray in such a way that it did not touch the top of my mouth because she knew that this might make me gag. When I called her the night (She provides her HOME number for emergencies ) before because I was in great pain, she called in prescriptions for me within minutes of my call. This kind of dedictaion has eliminated almost all of my anxieties, and I quit going to the dentist for about eight years due to fears. I am glad I found her.

I think that if you had some good experiences with a good dentist, then you would begin to relax and be much less nervous.

 

[LittleS]

Are the wisdom teeth simple extractions or impacted?

One is a simple extraction, but the other two (at the bottom) are impacted.

This may sound odd, but I actually have less fear of having simple extractions than having a filling. I don't mind needles or pain at the dentist - it's purely the gagging sensation and feeling of claustrophobia in my mouth when there's a few things in at once, especially things that can't be removed instantly. I've never been able to endure a x-ray for my back teeth.

I think my bottom wisdom teeth are such that even more normal patients would be offered IV sedation. I was also offered general anaesthetic as well, but have gone for the sedation option.

I've also stuck to the same dental surgery for about 15 years now. I've also always had women dentists, as I think they might be more understanding. Unfortunately for me, having women dentists means you take the risk they may go off on maternity. This has happened with three of my dentists. I was really settled down and confident with one of them, but when she had her first baby her stand-in freaked me out and I ended up biting her when she attempted a front filling. It actually upset her nearly as much as me. After her second baby, my favourite dentist never came back.

I'd just got used to her replacement when she also went off on maternity. I've recently seen her stand-in (a different one) for a front filling and just about got through it. She's the one who's semi-forced me into having my wisdom teeth out. Three dentists in a row have told me I need them out at some stage, and I know I need to face it one day and am not getting any younger. They don't bother me now, but one day they will if I don't get them out.

As you can tell, I've had a lot of treatment over the years (as well as the normal fillings, I've had a front crown and a couple of root canals) and have somehow got through it all each time. This wisdom teeth procedure will be done at a specialist sedation clinic, so I guess they'll be used to people like me. I'm nowhere near as worried as I was since I found this site.

 

[Idratherdie]

I'm an emetophobe too and I too think that is a bigger issue for me than a true dental phobia. My fear is being trapped in the dentist chair and unable to get fresh air (or to be in private) incase I needed to puke. The worst part for me is when they start a treatment and I know I cannot leave... it makes me sweat and feel nauseous and then I really go into a panic. When I just started to feel okay at the dentist, the dentist squirted some etching stuff down my throat and really sent me into a panic (much like your experience). So that has set me back with trusting the dentist- argh!

I haven't thrown up since I was probably 10, and I'm almost 28 now. At 18, before I had this phobia, I successfully had wisdom teeth removed via IV sedation. Although at the time I wasn't obsessing over vomiting or feeling trapped, I do not remember feeling nauseous with the IV sedation. What made me nauseous was the strong narcotics they gave me when I got home, but I tend to be very sensitive to them anyway. After taking 1 and feeling dizzy when I moved, I just took tylenol the rest of the time and that worked good for pain control. Perhaps they could give you an anti-emetic if you need to take pain pills?

As a fellow emetophobe you can probably imagine the panic I went into when I found out I was pregnant a month ago... but due to my great anti- puke powers, the all day morning sickness hasn't gotten me yet!!!

 

[LittleS]

I'm an emetophobe too and I too think that is a bigger issue for me than a true dental phobia. My fear is being trapped in the dentist chair and unable to get fresh air (or to be in private) incase I needed to puke. The worst part for me is when they start a treatment and I know I cannot leave... it makes me sweat and feel nauseous and then I really go into a panic. When I just started to feel okay at the dentist, the dentist squirted some etching stuff down my throat and really sent me into a panic (much like your experience). So that has set me back with trusting the dentist- argh!

I haven't thrown up since I was probably 10, and I'm almost 28 now. At 18, before I had this phobia, I successfully had wisdom teeth removed via IV sedation. Although at the time I wasn't obsessing over vomiting or feeling trapped, I do not remember feeling nauseous with the IV sedation. What made me nauseous was the strong narcotics they gave me when I got home, but I tend to be very sensitive to them anyway. After taking 1 and feeling dizzy when I moved, I just took tylenol the rest of the time and that worked good for pain control. Perhaps they could give you an anti-emetic if you need to take pain pills?

As a fellow emetophobe you can probably imagine the panic I went into when I found out I was pregnant a month ago... but due to my great anti- puke powers, the all day morning sickness hasn't gotten me yet!!!

Your experience in the dental chair sounds very similar to me. I hate the feeling of not being able to get away once they start. I could've added that what really bought my panic on was when one of the stand-in dentists (not the current one, nor the one I bit) left a matrix band around a tooth she was filling while she went out and answered the phone!!!! I'd never had a trouble with matrix bands before then, but she was gone for what seemed an age and I went into mega panic mode.

Another odd experience that put the whole thing in my mind was when a friend whose dentist was a father happened to comment that her dad had a bowl in his surgery that he frequently used when people threw up during dental impressions. That had never crossed my mind before, but now it's there, it won't go away. (Very sorry if this puts it in someone else's mind now).

As I said, I'm only a minor emetophobe and think I am far worse about seeing other people being ill, than about me being ill. Feeling nauseous after pain killers would not worry me in the slightest. I'm simply never ill.

Good luck with your pregnancy - and congratulations! I was half expecting a phone call from the sedation clinic today to fix up my appointment to have my teeth out, after the receptionist phoned up last week to check my contact details. But the call hasn't come yet!

 

[panicattackjenny]

That is one of my biggest fears. I was in the hospital for 3 weeks because I could not stop vomiting. I have stomic problems! I need to go under on friday. (see my terror post) If I have an empty stomic I vomit sometimes. This is my #1 fear! Glad to see I am not alone! What happens when you vomit after you have teeth pulled?

 

[Karenw]

I'm another emetophobic and the dentist terrifies me. Like others, I feel 'trapped' in the chair then I go into panic mode with sweating, palpitations, nausea and feel I can't breath properly when my mouth is numb for fillings.

A year ago I should have had a series of deep fillings for badly broken teeth but I couldn't face it. Now the teeth can't wait much longer and unless I have them repaired I'll be facing abscesses, root canals or extractions which are even worse. I've had to make the appointment - for Monday 19th January and I'm dreading it. I can't sit through fillings so I'm having IV sedation in the hope that this will take the edge off the panic for the 2.5 hour appointment.

I've never had IV sedation previously and, as you can imagine, my fear is of side-effects. Over the last year I haven't seen any references to anyone suffering N/V as a result of midazolam IV sedation and I'm desperately hoping I won't be the first. I'm living in terror at the thought of the appointment and, even now, I'm not sure I can go through with it.

 

[letsconnect]

I've never had IV sedation previously and, as you can imagine, my fear is of side-effects. Over the last year I haven't seen any references to anyone suffering N/V as a result of midazolam IV sedation and I'm desperately hoping I won't be the first. I'm living in terror at the thought of the appointment and, even now, I'm not sure I can go through with it.

If it's any consolation, the drugs used for IV sedation are the same drugs that are used to treat/suppress nausea and vomiting . So midazolam will actually help!

 

[Karenw]

That's most reassuring to read! Thank You.

 

[Karenw]

Although midazolam doesn't generally cause any nausea/vomiting side effects, I'm wondering how common it is to have flumazenil to reverse the effects of the midazolam?

I was very deeply sedated and had to have a full dose (1mg) of this to bring me round following my IV sedation. Nausea/vomiting can be a side-effect of this drug so I think it's something emetophobes need to be aware of.

I hadn't bargained on this and had assumed recovery and waking up occurred naturally.

Thankfully, I was OK but it was a worry.

 

[NotAloneISee]

If emetohpbes worried about every drug that listed nausea as a side effect, no meds could be used.

The one thing we should remember about meds is that they affect everyone differently.

Don't fear any med until you have at least tried it.

 

[ianto]

This is the first time I've found people who are the ame as me when it comes to vomit, I have a VERY bad phobia, even just the thought of feeling nausetous puts the fear of god in me, if someone tells me they feel sick I want to get away from them and now I've been booked in for my first extraction since I was a kid, I don't remember any of the ones I got years ago apart from one, when I came out I feel asleep on my back and ended up being sick and thats the thing that is scaring me most, yes I am worried about having the tooth pulled but its more what if I am sick after it, my mum and boyfriend are coming with me but all I want to do is phone and cancel the appointment! it is 2 weeks today which is Friday the 13th (oooops!) and I am bricking it already, my dentist said I could have gas if I want but will that make me more likely to be sick? just talking about it right now is making me shake uncontrollably and want to cry

 

[NotAloneISee]

This is the first time I've found people who are the ame as me when it comes to vomit

There is a website for emetophobes also. I am not sure that this makes people any better about vomit.

Will nitro help nausea?

I thought either nitro or sedation actually reduced nausea or gagging. I cannot remember exactly. I am sure one of the others will remember.

 

[ianto]

I suppose it helps a wee bit knowing that I am not the only one who goes into a blind panic with anything to do with vomit, I thought I may be the only one who has it as bad as this i.e can't even watch it in a movie when I know its only soup being used type thing

 

[Karenw]

Ianto

It's always nice to hear from another emetophobe - and I believe it's the 6th most common phobia in the UK, although it receives relatively little publicity.

I understand your dilemma fully because I'd be just the same.

I can honestly say I didn't have so much as a twinge of nausea before or following my IV sedation and, if anything, I actually felt hungry which surprised me. Would there be any possibility of you having sedation for your extraction - but don't have as much as I had, then try not to swallow the blood. I think it's the swallowing of blood which can lead to vomiting.

 

[NotAloneISee]

Would there be any possibility of you having sedation for your extraction - but don't have as much as I had, then try not to swallow the blood. I think it's the swallowing of blood which can lead to vomiting.

In case you are now worrying that there will be a lot of blood, don't worry.

Based on my experiences, after six extractions, there was actually very little blood that came as a result of them.

Besides, they have their little vacuum tube (which seems like the hose of a full size vacuum ) in your mouth so fast, I doubt any blood has much of a chance to leak down your throat.

Oh, I was just kidding about the size of the vacuum tube.

 

[LittleS]

This is the first time I've found people who are the ame as me when it comes to vomit, I have a VERY bad phobia, even just the thought of feeling nausetous puts the fear of god in me, if someone tells me they feel sick I want to get away from them and now I've been booked in for my first extraction since I was a kid, I don't remember any of the ones I got years ago apart from one, when I came out I feel asleep on my back and ended up being sick and thats the thing that is scaring me most, yes I am worried about having the tooth pulled but its more what if I am sick after it, my mum and boyfriend are coming with me but all I want to do is phone and cancel the appointment! it is 2 weeks today which is Friday the 13th (oooops!) and I am bricking it already, my dentist said I could have gas if I want but will that make me more likely to be sick? just talking about it right now is making me shake uncontrollably and want to cry

Is the tooth you're having out at the back or front - top or bottom? Could you get through it if you just had local anaesthetic? I can't imagine why you were sick before. Was it a long time ago? Did you have gas then?

I've had several teeth out and this mention of swallowing blood has never happened to me. Perhaps it's because I spat it all out - I probably would have done. If you do that, perhaps keep your eyes closed!

I personally find having teeth out less likely to make me heave than something like an x-ray.

If you're at all worried, I've definitely picked up from this forum that IV sedation does not make one nauseous at any stage. Could you ask to have that? But if it's a simple extraction under local anaesthetic, I think you'll be fine.