Re: fear of vomiting and school

[Guest guest]

mnmomof1@... wrote:

> For those who have kids with fears of vomiting preventing them from

> going to

> school, I have a question for you. Does the child actually complain

> that they

> feel nauseous also? I have been having this issue with my daughter

> where some

> days she doesn't want to go to school because she says she feels

> nauseous and

> doesn't want to take the chance of throwing up at school. It has been

> a long

> time since she actually has thrown up. How do you know if it is real

> or OCD

> related? Thanks. Kim

>

> Kim,

> The answer to that is: I don't know! I'm not inside her body, so I don't

know if she's actually nauseous. From what I've pieced together, I think it's

more of the sick/anxious/butterflies in my stomach feeling. But, I'm not sure.

When she's obsessing, SHE can't distinguish either, that's the awful thing about

this disorder. Everyday she thinks she's about to throw up, but then if her

anxiety calms down, she can say, " Well, of course I wasn't going to throw up, it

was the same thing as yesterday! " Then, when it starts again, let's say that

evening before bed, she says, " This time it's different! I REALLY AM going to

throw up! " She just doesn't know how to distinguish that feeling from a real

sickness that may happen and thus all the doubting. And since I can't tell her

100% that she's NOT sick, she will obsess.

Dina

>

>

[Guest guest]

My son fears throwing up at school. There have been times when he

goes to the bathroom because he thinks he will - he never does! I

think it is more a fear of throwing up because you can rationalize him

out of it. It is an extreme fear that drives him into a panic attack.

That's how i know it is OCD. The pdoc confirms this as well.

Sometimes I wonder if he confuses bodily sensations such as the

butterflies in the tummy that go along with anxiety, but

never-the-less it is extreme.

Bonnie

>

> For those who have kids with fears of vomiting preventing them from

going to

> school, I have a question for you. Does the child actually complain

that they

> feel nauseous also? I have been having this issue with my daughter

where some

> days she doesn't want to go to school because she says she feels

nauseous and

> doesn't want to take the chance of throwing up at school. It has

been a long

> time since she actually has thrown up. How do you know if it is real

or OCD

> related? Thanks. Kim

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Kim,

My daughter used to actually vomit every day when she started kindergarten, so

naturally I took her to a specialist and they did an endoscopy and found

nothing. She was diagnosed with ocd and anxiety, than put on Zoloft and it all

stopped.She than began having severe behavioral problems. This went on and on

for 4 years(with no vomitting). Suddenly now, she has been constantly nauseaus

just about all day long, she has not actually vomitted though,and says she can't

stop thinking about it, so I know,, for her it's ocd, which than leads her to

have a panic attack.

hugs

Judy

[Guest guest]

OH YES!! We went through years of this. From second through sixth, to be

specific. In fifth grade (with a very scary teacher) my daughter actually did

throw up most mornings from about 5-9 a.m. (notice that it stopped at about 9,

when school started and she wasn't there...We made her go when she stopped

vomiting, if she was at all able to). When she wasn't actually throwing up she

was crying, clutching her stomach, shaking - in full blown panic mode about

throwing up. This sometimes happened several times a day, in addition to the

early morning panic sessions. It was awful. It took years for her to learn that

it was all OCD - that even though the nausea was very real, it was caused by the

OCD and it didn't mean that she would actually throw up. When she is going to

have something unpleasant at school she still gets that " sick stomach " but she

says, " I know it's just my OCD and I'm not going to throw up, but I *really*

feel like I will. " She has learned to do something that

will take her mind off of it, if possible.

I wish I could say there is a quick solution to this, but we didn't find it!

We just tried over and over to distract her (go for a walk, even if you have to

drag her, put on funny cartoons or have her play fetch with the dog, etc.) and

then when it worked, we'd point out that it was just OCD and that getting her

mind off it had worked. The worst possible thing to do was to let her lie down

and start moaning, or to act as if it might be a real stomach bug. It took

forever, but she eventually learned not to listen to the OCD/stomach thing.

I should point out that when you have this problem, you'll eventually do what

we did a couple of years ago - one morning when Anne was saying, " I feel like I

might throw up - I'm sure it's just OCD, but... " and I was half-way through my

response ( " Yes, it's just OCD. You never actually DO throw up, even when you are

sure you're going to... " ) she puked all over me and the kitchen. Oops.You can't

win. Sometimes they really do get the bug that is going around!

Good luck!!

[Guest guest]

My son is also quite ill a lot, I to wonder what is true anxiety or what could

possibly be because he hates school so much - it is such a tough decision at

times about if I take him to school or not

Cheers Jaxx (New Zealand)

fear of vomiting and school

For those who have kids with fears of vomiting preventing them from going to

school, I have a question for you. Does the child actually complain that they

feel nauseous also? I have been having this issue with my daughter where some

days she doesn't want to go to school because she says she feels nauseous and

doesn't want to take the chance of throwing up at school. It has been a long

time since she actually has thrown up. How do you know if it is real or OCD

related? Thanks. Kim

[Guest guest]

,

My daughter came off the bus today crying and saying she was nauseaus all day

and can't go to school. Last night she was begging me to take her to the

hospital so they could help her.

Can I ask ,How did you ever get her to go to sleep at night?!!

My daughter is driving me nuts, crying , yelling that she's going to vomit and

that she's nauseaus. This goes on till 12:30 pm, because she than works herself

into a panic attack, and doesn't fall asleep until she's literally completely

exhausted.

She has an appt tomorrow with the p-doc. I pray he puts her on something that

will stop this!

Sleepless in CT

Judy

Fowler <em.fowler@...> wrote:

OH YES!! We went through years of this. From second through sixth, to be

specific. In fifth grade (with a very scary teacher) my daughter actually did

throw up most mornings from about 5-9 a.m. (notice that it stopped at about 9,

when school started and she wasn't there...We made her go when she stopped

vomiting, if she was at all able to). When she wasn't actually throwing up she

was crying, clutching her stomach, shaking - in full blown panic mode about

throwing up. This sometimes happened several times a day, in addition to the

early morning panic sessions. It was awful. It took years for her to learn that

it was all OCD - that even though the nausea was very real, it was caused by the

OCD and it didn't mean that she would actually throw up. When she is going to

have something unpleasant at school she still gets that " sick stomach " but she

says, " I know it's just my OCD and I'm not going to throw up, but I *really*

feel like I will. " She has learned to do something that

will take her mind off of it, if possible.

I wish I could say there is a quick solution to this, but we didn't find it!

We just tried over and over to distract her (go for a walk, even if you have to

drag her, put on funny cartoons or have her play fetch with the dog, etc.) and

then when it worked, we'd point out that it was just OCD and that getting her

mind off it had worked. The worst possible thing to do was to let her lie down

and start moaning, or to act as if it might be a real stomach bug. It took

forever, but she eventually learned not to listen to the OCD/stomach thing.

I should point out that when you have this problem, you'll eventually do what

we did a couple of years ago - one morning when Anne was saying, " I feel like I

might throw up - I'm sure it's just OCD, but... " and I was half-way through my

response ( " Yes, it's just OCD. You never actually DO throw up, even when you are

sure you're going to... " ) she puked all over me and the kitchen. Oops.You can't

win. Sometimes they really do get the bug that is going around!

Good luck!!

[Guest guest]

Hi and Judy!

I guess I was wondering if there is a Dad in the picture, how does he

deal with this? I just can't picture my x-husband dealing with a child

like this. He couldn't deal with the terrible twos, let alone this. I

know it is hard for me to face all of this alone as my child at 15 has

temper tantrums due to OCD. All I know is that we are much happier

without him in the picture as he would make it all the worse for her and

me...

________________________________

From:

[mailto: ] On Behalf Of jchabot

Sent: Tuesday, May 23, 2006 3:58 PM

Subject: Re: fear of vomiting and school

,

My daughter came off the bus today crying and saying she was nauseaus

all day and can't go to school. Last night she was begging me to take

her to the hospital so they could help her.

Can I ask ,How did you ever get her to go to sleep at night?!!

My daughter is driving me nuts, crying , yelling that she's going to

vomit and that she's nauseaus. This goes on till 12:30 pm, because she

than works herself into a panic attack, and doesn't fall asleep until

she's literally completely exhausted.

She has an appt tomorrow with the p-doc. I pray he puts her on

something that will stop this!

Sleepless in CT

Judy

Fowler <em.fowler@...> wrote:

OH YES!! We went through years of this. From second through sixth, to

be specific. In fifth grade (with a very scary teacher) my daughter

actually did throw up most mornings from about 5-9 a.m. (notice that it

stopped at about 9, when school started and she wasn't there...We made

her go when she stopped vomiting, if she was at all able to). When she

wasn't actually throwing up she was crying, clutching her stomach,

shaking - in full blown panic mode about throwing up. This sometimes

happened several times a day, in addition to the early morning panic

sessions. It was awful. It took years for her to learn that it was all

OCD - that even though the nausea was very real, it was caused by the

OCD and it didn't mean that she would actually throw up. When she is

going to have something unpleasant at school she still gets that " sick

stomach " but she says, " I know it's just my OCD and I'm not going to

throw up, but I *really* feel like I will. " She has learned to do

something that

will take her mind off of it, if possible.

I wish I could say there is a quick solution to this, but we didn't

find it! We just tried over and over to distract her (go for a walk,

even if you have to drag her, put on funny cartoons or have her play

fetch with the dog, etc.) and then when it worked, we'd point out that

it was just OCD and that getting her mind off it had worked. The worst

possible thing to do was to let her lie down and start moaning, or to

act as if it might be a real stomach bug. It took forever, but she

eventually learned not to listen to the OCD/stomach thing.

I should point out that when you have this problem, you'll eventually

do what we did a couple of years ago - one morning when Anne was saying,

" I feel like I might throw up - I'm sure it's just OCD, but... " and I

was half-way through my response ( " Yes, it's just OCD. You never

actually DO throw up, even when you are sure you're going to... " ) she

puked all over me and the kitchen. Oops.You can't win. Sometimes they

really do get the bug that is going around!

Good luck!!

[Guest guest]

" All I know is that we are much happier

without him in the picture as he would make it all the worse for her and

me... "

Have to agree with that - since I have left my ex we are doing so much better

and actually making progress - ex just does not want to know about the issues,

when the kids go up I have enough issues telling him how important it is for

to have his meds. I keep him informed but he has not bothered to do any

reading on the topics and has never asked to come to a meeting - he just does

not want to know.... even though he has noticed improvements with his behaviour

he just does not want to know anymore. And as for my MIL I won't even go there,

she is not qualified for anything but keeps rubbing it in that there is nothing

wrong with but all to do with his parenting..... thank god I no longer

have anything to do with her. Boy I could go on here.... LOL

Cheers Jaxx (New Zealand)

[Guest guest]

Hi Jaxx!

I hear you on that one!

Thanks for your response.

________________________________

From:

[mailto: ] On Behalf Of Jaxx Brown

Sent: Tuesday, May 23, 2006 4:43 PM

Subject: Re: fear of vomiting and school

" All I know is that we are much happier

without him in the picture as he would make it all the worse for her and

me... "

Have to agree with that - since I have left my ex we are doing so much

better and actually making progress - ex just does not want to know

about the issues, when the kids go up I have enough issues telling him

how important it is for to have his meds. I keep him informed but

he has not bothered to do any reading on the topics and has never asked

to come to a meeting - he just does not want to know.... even though he

has noticed improvements with his behaviour he just does not want to

know anymore. And as for my MIL I won't even go there, she is not

qualified for anything but keeps rubbing it in that there is nothing

wrong with but all to do with his parenting..... thank god I no

longer have anything to do with her. Boy I could go on here.... LOL

Cheers Jaxx (New Zealand)

[Guest guest]

Dear Sleepless in CT,

As I recall (and this may be mostly selective memory) we had more problems

with nausea during the day, particularly before school, than we did in the

evening. But we did had terrible problems with bedtime in general. It's when OCD

likes to strike hardest. When things were at their worst (while waiting for that

first psychiatrist's appt.) we used to take the kids for the Death March at

Bedtime. We obviously didn't call it that in front of them, but that's what it

was like. We would take my daughter (then 7) and my son (then 4) and walk for

several miles after dinner, just around town. Even in the snowiest, wettest

weather. Then they would be so exhausted that they would be nearly asleep before

we could get their coats off. It wasn't fun, and my daughter hated it (the 4

year old thought it was great!) but it worked. Since then we have always made

sure my daughter was involved in some sport that wore her out. And we spent

years perfecting the bedtime routine- first a long

warm bath, then a long time listening to me read, then listening to a tape

until she was asleep. We insisted that the kids not get back up and leave their

rooms once we said good-night, but they were allowed to read or listen to tapes

until they feel asleep. Let's see... I think it took about 6 years before we had

truly peaceful bedtimes. She did eventually learn to fall asleep without major

scenes, but it took a long, long time. Since she was put on medication,

particularly the Abilify, sleep has not been a problem.

Obviously the fear of throwing up will keep any child awake, so that will

have to be the first thing to work on. If you can find something to distract

her, like books on tape (which both my kids still listen to at night), that

might work. Also, some psychiatrists recommend a non-addicting sleep aid (like

Benedryl or Clonidine) to help get over the hurdle. The child has to learn that

they aren't going to throw up and they can fall asleep,but until they DO fall

asleep on their own without a scene, they can't learn to do it. So sometimes

medication helps in the short run for this.

Good luck with this - my heart truly goes out to you!

[Guest guest]

rnmomo2 wrote:

> My son fears throwing up at school. There have been times when he

> goes to the bathroom because he thinks he will - he never does! I

> think it is more a fear of throwing up because you can rationalize him

> out of it. It is an extreme fear that drives him into a panic attack.

> That's how i know it is OCD. The pdoc confirms this as well.

> Sometimes I wonder if he confuses bodily sensations such as the

> butterflies in the tummy that go along with anxiety, but

> never-the-less it is extreme.

>

> Bonnie

>

This is exactly my daughter too. In fact, I just got back from the

school because I had to go and pick her up. (It's 1:00). Her teacher

called and said she was in the bathroom, panicking because she thought

she was sick. The end of the school year can't come fast enough!

Dina

[Guest guest]

Fowler wrote:

> OH YES!! We went through years of this. From second through sixth, to

> be specific. In fifth grade (with a very scary teacher) my daughter

> actually did throw up most mornings from about 5-9 a.m. (notice that

> it stopped at about 9, when school started and she wasn't there...We

> made her go when she stopped vomiting, if she was at all able to).

> When she wasn't actually throwing up she was crying, clutching her

> stomach, shaking - in full blown panic mode about throwing up. This

> sometimes happened several times a day, in addition to the early

> morning panic sessions. It was awful. It took years for her to learn

> that it was all OCD - that even though the nausea was very real, it

> was caused by the OCD and it didn't mean that she would actually throw

> up. When she is going to have something unpleasant at school she still

> gets that " sick stomach " but she says, " I know it's just my OCD and

> I'm not going to throw up, but I *really* feel like I will. " She has

> learned to do something that

> will take her mind off of it, if possible.

>

> I wish I could say there is a quick solution to this, but we didn't

> find it! We just tried over and over to distract her (go for a walk,

> even if you have to drag her, put on funny cartoons or have her play

> fetch with the dog, etc.) and then when it worked, we'd point out that

> it was just OCD and that getting her mind off it had worked. The worst

> possible thing to do was to let her lie down and start moaning, or to

> act as if it might be a real stomach bug. It took forever, but she

> eventually learned not to listen to the OCD/stomach thing.

--so how old is your daughter now and what changed for her after

6th grade?

Dina

[Guest guest]

jchabot wrote:

> ,

> My daughter came off the bus today crying and saying she was

> nauseaus all day and can't go to school. Last night she was begging me

> to take her to the hospital so they could help her.

> Can I ask ,How did you ever get her to go to sleep at night?!!

> My daughter is driving me nuts, crying , yelling that she's going to

> vomit and that she's nauseaus. This goes on till 12:30 pm, because she

> than works herself into a panic attack, and doesn't fall asleep until

> she's literally completely exhausted.

> She has an appt tomorrow with the p-doc. I pray he puts her on

> something that will stop this!

> Sleepless in CT

> Judy

My daughter knows that if she can get to sleep, the OCD thoughts will go

away. If she's having a particularly hard night--over and hour or so of

panic and not sleeping yet--I give her a Klonopin. She takes .125 mgs.

Dina

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

My daughter's dad and I are divorced. He only sees her every other weekend,

and has a hard time dealing with her than.

My daughter has " temper tantrums " also, and I'll tell you , my ex doesn't have

a clue!

Judy

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

My daughter's dad and I are divorced. He only sees her every other weekend,

and has a hard time dealing with her than.

My daughter has " temper tantrums " also, and I'll tell you , my ex doesn't have

a clue!

Judy

[Guest guest]

Jaxx Brown <hippygal@...> wrote:

>>>>> " ex just does not want to know about the issues, when the kids go up I

have enough issues telling him how important it is for to have his meds. I

keep him informed but he has not bothered to do any reading on the topics and

has never asked to come to a meeting -

I could go on and on for hours about my ex also-(LOL)

He never reads any books or topics on my daughter either, nor does he follow

my instructions about . She needs a very consistent routine, which he

never follows.When she was on lots of meds, he'd just fail to give her a dose,

etc, etc,.

All I can say is , if he had her 24/7 like I do, you bet he'd be reading books

and doing research, going to meetings and appts. etc, etc.

I had to threaten him with a letter that I would go for sole custody if he

didn't get more involved with his kids.( I should have it anyway, seeing I make

all the decisions) He's smartened up a little, but really all in all has no

clue!!!

I better stop rambling now!

Sorry!

Hugs

Judy