I think there is a stomach flu going around

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Im probably just as scared to throw up as joe90. Saw someone on facebook that lives in my area had been throwing up since friday. This is the only case I have heard about. Maybe they just have a weak immune system. There has been cases of kids getting the stomach flu not so much adults.

I dont know what Id do if I had the stomach flu because I live in a rooming house and you havevto share bathrooms and kitchens. Id be spreading the bug to everyone in the house. It would just be easier to take care of myself in my own apartment but mom doesnt think Im quite ready for that. Inthink it would be a sin to stay at my parents and transfer the illness to them. Especially when they become elderly someday and I get the flu I wouldnt want to make them sick.

So getting the barfing flu is hard enough as it is. Getting it in a rooming house would just make it worse.

There is no such thing as "stomach flu". Viral gastroenteritis is an intestinal infection marked by watery diarrhea, abdominal cramps, nausea or vomiting, and sometimes fever.

The most common way to develop viral gastroenteritis -- often mistakenly called "stomach flu" -- is through contact with an infected person or by ingesting contaminated food or water. If you're otherwise healthy, you'll likely recover without complications. But for infants, older adults and people with compromised immune systems, viral gastroenteritis can be deadly.

More likely someone forgot to wash his/her hands between using the communal bathroom and using the communal kitchen. You likely have some form of mild "food poisoning" from this.

Get some buttermilk and drink some cups at the first signs (e.g. first cholics). It's cheap and helps to regenerate the intestinal flora that is destroyed by the infect. In most cases the initial abdominal cramps disappear within few minutes afterwards. Don't try this if you have a milk protein allergy.

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Err...I take it you live in the USA, where they call it "stomach flu", while here in the UK we say "stomach bug" or "sickness bug". Please stay where you are!! (joke).

Seriously though, I can feel your fear and panic. I hate these viruses that are invisibly floating around in the air we breathe and the objects we touch. The disturbing part is it's so catching. It would be nice if stomach bug was like chickenpox, where you only get it once then you're immune forever.
I get in a panic too when one person announces they have a stomach bug, or even if someone you work with says their kids or spouse or whoever they live with has the bug. I keep thinking that would make that person a potential carrier and then pass it on to me. So I start washing my hands thoroughly and trying not to breathe too much, which can be rather difficult if you want to live.

My emetophobia is so bad, that each day I live in fear that I might suddenly start vomiting. People go on about exposure therapy, but that doesn't work on me. I try to watch YouTube videos of people vomiting (especially little kids), but there's not much except people talking about their kid vomiting or people faking vomiting. Plus I went 17 years without vomiting until I got norovirus the other year, and you could say that was exposure - but it didn't bring me the "oh it's not as bad as I remembered" feeling. Instead it has just worsened my fear and gave me the "wow, it's even WORSE than I remembered, I hope I never vomit again" feeling.

I used to have a fear of vomiting. But two weeks ago I had a rare migraine and threw up spectacularly, breaking my 11 year record. I'm so glad I made it to the toilet! I'd be mortified if I was sick in public or another part of my house.

We say stomach virus or stomach bug here.

Joe, what you said about chicken pox, I've had it twice - once when I was 5 and then again when I was 20. The second time was far worse. I even had pox on the soles of my feet. What's more is that afterwards I was tested for immunity to the chicken pox virus. And I'm not immune! So I can get it again. I haven't heard of anyone I know getting chicken pox so hopefully I'll not get it again.

Vomiting with migraines is fairly common, but thankfully I don't vomit or even feel nauseas when I get migraines. Menstrual cramps used to make me feel really sick and almost vomit, so I had to go on the pill to minimize the pains.