So I am living in the town where my university is located in order to teach (which pays my tuition) while I finish my dissertation. I have 1 not-so-close friend here and that's it. My husband and family are a plane away (for those who take planes . The earliest I can leave to go back home is Dec 3rd, though I've paid rent through the month.

my problem: I'm completely falling apart due to anxiety. It was already really bad but then I got the stomach bug. I have a phobia of vomiting and nausea and the fear and anticipation really put me over the edge. Now I wake up in a state of total dread with my stomach in unbearable knots. I can't even get out of bed until 1 in the afternoon, and then am just hobbling around in misery. I can barely eat and am becoming extremely hopeless and sad.

my question: do I wait it out and hope this passes, or do I go back home and ditch my TA-ship? My husband is flying down tonight and then I have to decide whether to drive home with him or stay...I want to stay and finish what I started but I'm just so miserable and nothing is helping (I was exercising, eating well, sleeping well, and now have been taking ativan as needed)

Feels like I'm choosing between feeling guilty and lame or anxious and miserable

[BeyondtheRainbow]

Can you go to student health and get a script for zofran? Then if you start to feel nauseous again you have something to help and maybe it would help break the cycle? I'm not phobic about nausea or vomiting but I remember having a horrible stomach virus once that had me vomiting for days. I was on appendicitis watch for a week and in the ER twice with dehydration and abdominal pain. I stayed nauseous for days because my body wasn't moving food out of my stomach; my body kind of shut down. Zofran wasn't helping and I was scared to move because I had thrown up so many times. I got another med for nausea and it really worked and let me relax about how I was feeling and that helped me feel able to work and function while continuing to get over the virus. Based on student health where I went to grad school I wouldn't explain everything, just say that you had a virus or something and that you are still have periods where you are very nauseous and unable to function and can they give you something for that. Dec. 3 is so close....I know it feels like forever but it's only 6 weeks. You can make it. You are doing something so difficult but it's almost over.

Originally Posted by BeyondtheRainbow

Can you go to student health and get a script for zofran? Then if you start to feel nauseous again you have something to help and maybe it would help break the cycle? I'm not phobic about nausea or vomiting but I remember having a horrible stomach virus once that had me vomiting for days. I was on appendicitis watch for a week and in the ER twice with dehydration and abdominal pain. I stayed nauseous for days because my body wasn't moving food out of my stomach; my body kind of shut down. Zofran wasn't helping and I was scared to move because I had thrown up so many times. I got another med for nausea and it really worked and let me relax about how I was feeling and that helped me feel able to work and function while continuing to get over the virus. Based on student health where I went to grad school I wouldn't explain everything, just say that you had a virus or something and that you are still have periods where you are very nauseous and unable to function and can they give you something for that. Dec. 3 is so close....I know it feels like forever but it's only 6 weeks. You can make it. You are doing something so difficult but it's almost over.

They actually gave me zofran but I'm anxious about taking it (!) I never even threw up from this bug, but things feel all messed up now. But you're right, 6 weeks isn't so bad...I just have to get to someplace better than where I am now before my husband (and ride) leaves town.

[BeyondtheRainbow]

It's not a bad drug. I take it for migraines so I always have a script for it although I don't use it terribly often. Well, that and if I vomit too much when sick my MAOI patch concentrates and my levels get way too high and I get a really amazing rash (scalp to toes) so they try to stop vomiting after a certain point. It's pretty much side effect free; I think it has caused a headache if I took it when not hydrated enough. (hard to know since I mainly use it for migraines).

Compared to psych meds it's a kitten. A cute one with big blue eyes and a playful attitude.

[ComfortablyNumb5]

I would just ride it out and take the Zofran. I'm a medical assistant and we give it to our pts all the time. Even preg ones so it's safe! Do you have any meds for anxiety? Maybe you should bring that up with your dr. Just a simple PRN to help you relax a bit. This will pass! Don't let something like this discourage you hun. Hang in there and I hope you feel better!

[BastetsMuse]

The zofran and meds for anxiety are what you need to get through this. Don't waste this opportunity to get through your dissertation! Also, work on creating a bigger support group where you are, or come to us here online more often. You can do this.