Throwing up when scared

I am at my wits end with my 2 yr old DD. She is petrified by her Dr and she recognizes the parking lot and building and starts freaking out to the point where she throws up everywhere, such a night mare and a mess.

Today, we had a play date and my friends Apt. building kind of looks the Dr's office building and she starts freaking out and throws up all over, I can't take this anymore...anything I can do?? anyone else go through this?

Message edited 11/12/2012 11:55:45 PM.

Re: Throwing up when scared

I would call the peds office and see if there is a social worker that maybe to work her thru it. I work in a hospital and they do it all the time

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That would make me sad, not angry. How do you approach her when it happens?

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My 2 and a half year old is the exact same with the doc. I feel terrible and it breaks my heart that she goes thru this. I drive down the block and not even in the lot and she starts yelling no mommy back home. I feel sick to see her like that. I have to carry a bucket or ask for one as soon as I walk in because she makes herself throw up. The only thing I really try to do now is enforce that the doc is SO nice and helps kids get better when they are sick. I'm due anyday with number 2, so I've been telling my 2 year old the doc is gonna help mommy check the baby. I'm wondering how she is going to react when it's time to bring the new baby to the doc...I'm gearing up! Good luck, my advice, if she sees you getting mad and upset, it might actually make her worse. I use a very sympathetic sof voice and say its ok, mommy is here...blah blah! Good luck!

Re: Throwing up when scared

My dd does this! I thought she was the only one. She has been doing it for a long time she is 27 months. She does it when she cries a lot or gets very scared. She get herself all worked up, cries hysterical and than throws up. I just try to keep her as calm as I can. I try not to feed into her fears. I'm not really sure what else could be done to stop her. My dd use to be able to make herself throw up during meal time if she didn't like something and thankfull she out few it so I hope sooner rather than later she will outgrow this too

Re: Throwing up when scared

I feel for her because I practically throw up the second I even THINK about seeing a Dr.

But I would speak to your ped about it... maybe they have some advice?

Re: Throwing up when scared

Thanks for the advice, I am actually not calm when it happens and I start yelling (not at her but just out of frustration) because its such a mess and a disaster. I will try the soft voice approach.

Strangely enough, she was in the Doctors office when she did this and I'm surprised that the Dr didn't say anything about how to handle this. I'LL give him a call today...thank you all!

Re: Throwing up when scared

My son did this when he was two when I put him in a learn and play drop off class for 2 hours 2 days a week. The second he heard the word school or figured out where we were going he would throw up.

You have to stay calm and talk to her aout it. I know they are young, but it is an anxiety thing. My son got used to it and eventually stopped doing it.

You have to be prepared at all times. We put plastic bags on floor of car and under the car seat. I always had paper towels and cleaner in the car. And obviously an extra pair of clothes (and shoes).

The hard part about your situation is that she doesn't go to the doctor all the time. My son got over it in about a month but he was going there 2 times a week, so he eventually got used to it.

Maybe a reward you can bring with you that you can show her before she gets upset. I would try to bring her there a few times maybe just to bring her there go in and then leave. So she doesn't always relate it to a checkup or a shot?

Re: Throwing up when scared

Re: Throwing up when scared

My DD has a very strong gag reflex and for a LONG time any time she got really worked up and hysterical she would throw up. The Ped's office would be horrific. It would start in the car with her whining and then the hysterics would start in the waiting room. Most of the time it was in the actual room where she would throw up but, once or twice it was in the waiting room. She would be so hysterical she'd start gagging and BAM. Many because as a mom who has gone through it I know how truly awful and difficult it is.

My ped was unphased by it and said it is very common. What he suggested and it helped TREMENDOUSLY was to schedule appts first thing in the morning before she has eaten or drank anything. That made a big difference. Also, I will tell you two things. First, don't make too much of a big deal about it because, and the ped was the one who first warned me about it - they may actually start to throw up on purpose if the child likes the reaction they get. I know this sounds crazy but, believe me it happens! The second thing is - try to figure out if the vomiting is happening because she is so worked up she is gagging and she can't help it or if she is actually making herself throw up - this will help you in solving the problem. Also, the older they get it gets MUCH better!

HTH

Message edited 11/13/2012 3:34:40 PM.

Re: Throwing up when scared

Message edited 11/13/2012 4:23:49 PM.

Throwing up when scared

The suggestion of scheduling first doc appt and don't feed is a great suggestion. But I do suggest going there, just to go there once a week. I know a lot of kids have doctor anxiety and if she starts to see its not always a visit it my alleviate the anxiety for when it is.
I know how much it stinks, but just work with her and she will come around.

Re: Throwing up when scared

My ds used to be like that and its extremely difficult so I feel your pain! We tried a few things. We tried to just ignore the behavior (when he would work himself up so hard that he would throw up we would just clean it up and keep going and not bring ANY attention at all to that). We bought a doctors kit for DS to play with. He would give us check ups and we'd give him check ups so he can see that its not so bad. These made it a little better then when he started getting a little better we would tell him that if he didnt cry and was a good boy at the doctor that we would buy him something (lollipop, small toy, ect..) I don't love the bribing but hey it worked. Now DS (who is 3) is fine at the doctors other then getting shots. Good luck!

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Well, I haven't given birth yet, but I have sympathy for these children because I was like that when I was little. In truth it was because I had terrible, horrible anxiety. I wish someone could have given me therapy. It was pretty horrible. I lived with a lot of fear.