what is wrong with me?

I’m sorry you’re feeling so stressed and sick but I totally understand, I also get very anxious when I have symptoms and I’m not sure what is going on. It really sounds viral based on your symptoms, some bugs are just strange and the symptoms come and go but eventually it will just stop, try to relax and eat lightly for now until your stomach calms down, if the symptoms persist then a visit to the doctor will help to make you feel more comfortable, best wishes for a speedy recovery.

Hi @anagel, and welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. I’m glad you found us and reached out, especially when you’re feeling so frightened and unsure about what is happening.

It sounds like the uncertainty about what these symptoms might mean is especially scary because of your severe fear of vomiting. We can’t tell from symptoms alone what is causing them or predict whether they will lead to vomiting. Members here can share what they have experienced with similar symptoms, but similar symptoms can have different causes.

You mentioned that the fever, headache and body aches have stopped and that you’ve been able to eat, but you’re still having nausea and waves of stomach pain. If you’re concerned about what those symptoms mean medically, I agree with @frouke it is best to call your doctor’s office and explain what you’ve been experiencing. If reaching your doctor isn’t an option, an urgent care clinic could evaluate you.

You also mentioned having a severe phobia of vomiting. Have you dealt with this fear for a long time? When the fear starts to build like this, is there anything that has helped you manage the panic while you wait to see how you’re feeling?

@frouke thank you! i made an appointment with my doctor when the symptoms started but she can’t see me till thursday and i got too anxious and desperate. i made a telehealth today and she said that it seems viral based but said she doesn’t suspect norovirus but could be a jumble of viral bugs like adenovirus or enterovirus but she doesn’t suspect norovirus or viral gastroenteritis because i would’ve had symptoms that hit hard by now. i have some relaxation but the impending doom is killing me

@jlharsh thank you so much! i just depend on reassurance a lot when i have moments like this and having clarity that it’s NOT any stomach sickness is what makes me fully calm down.
i’ve dealt with this fear since i was younger but it’s gotten 10000x worse in the past 2 1/2 years. when i get like this the typical anxiety exercises don’t really help and it almost always leads to panic attacks, i don’t feel calm and relaxed until i get proof and 100% certainty that i don’t have a stomach illness and that i won’t vomit. if i don’t get that then i pretty much stay with impending doom and on the edge just waiting for something to happen and it affects my day to day life.

@anagel It sounds like it isn’t only the physical symptoms that are difficult. You are struggling with the need to know with 100% certainty that you won’t vomit can leave you stuck in that feeling of impending doom, and you said it’s affecting your day-to-day life.

Since you already have an appointment Thursday, would you feel comfortable telling your doctor exactly what you just told us here - not only about the stomach symptoms, but about how much this fear and need for reassurance are affecting you? Then, would you come back and provide an update about your appointment?

First of all it sounds like you'll be improving and no reason to think you'll get worse.
I also hate the idea of vomiting or hearing others doing so, but an important thing to keep in mind is that it's your body's way of taking care of itself. If you eat something very spoiled, with bacteria, and your body wants you to throw up, it's in order to get rid of it and heal. Or if you have a virus it's because your body knows that it's beneficial at that moment to have an empty stomach.
So, just like there's pain in giving birth, because you have strong painful contractions, but it's for a purpose (in opening up the cervix so the baby can be born), it can help if you understand the pain is for a purpose.
Also, keep in mind that throwing up is quick, and once it's over you'll feel better. So, better not to spend a long time worrying about it, considering the event itself is short. Maybe this can help you with the phobia.

@jlharsh yes of course! i was supposed to be referred to a psychiatrist but she never called 🙁 i will keep you guys updated!

@t98 thank you so much for your words! trust me i have tried everything in the book, i’ve tried even like trying to make myself throw up once when i felt sick because i know throw up is to make you feel better but i physically could not do it. it’s this horrible buildup of like impending doom and intense fear and it just won’t go away.
right now im having a panic attack because i still feel the same as yesterday but my nausea seems to be worse and now i tried to eat and it made me feel worse so now im convinced i have a bug or and that im going to throw up and that the worst is coming.
do you have anymore tips with how you got more calm with it?

@anagel It's good you're seeing the doctor because that's the first thing, to diagnose what you have.
I'm not a professional, so maybe ask a professional or look on the internet for other tips. Hopefully you'll feel physically better soon and realize that physical ailments sometimes are accompanied with this panicky feeling, so just ride with it and try to relax your body with slow breathing, tapping/stroking yourself, and know that you'll get better soon.

It sounds to me that you have a medical issue that needs further investigating by your dr and that you need to ask for the referral to a psychiatrist again. I hate panic attacks, thank God I’ve only had one and that was enough! Does listening to soft music help, maybe try it when the panic starts. I have severe anxiety but it is generalized. I also have major depression and my antidepressant is helping both issues. I like another person suggested use deep breathing exercises. Have you tried CBT techniques to help? I have to use a variety of things to help me. But I would definitely see my dr in person and ask for further help there and again ask for the referral to a psychiatrist. BTW, my psychiatrist is a DO and he teaches me techniques to help my issues. Let us know how you are doing and stay connected here.