One of those things we fear

[psychma]

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I was working with a client today and started feeling nauseous. With about 10 minutes left of our session, I began sweating, salivating, and noticed my stomach lurching. I KNEW I was going to throw up. I tried to interrupt the process and end the session without success and without warning, I began chocking, gagging, and vomiting violently in front of my client. No, really. She jumped up and screamed and left. I can't believe this happened, but I'm human and I'm under the weather tonight. Any thoughts on recovering from this with the client beyond, "I'm sorry. I started feeling sick to my stomach and ..." yup.

 

[cara susanna]

Yikes! I don't think there is anything else you can do other than that. Like you said, you're human.

 

[msc545]

I was working with a client today and started feeling nauseous. With about 10 minutes left of our session, I began sweating, salivating, and noticed my stomach lurching. I KNEW I was going to throw up. I tried to interrupt the process and end the session without success and without warning, I began chocking, gagging, and vomiting violently in front of my client. No, really. She jumped up and screamed and left. I can't believe this happened, but I'm human and I'm under the weather tonight. Any thoughts on recovering from this with the client beyond, "I'm sorry. I started feeling sick to my stomach and ..." yup.

I think you should see a physician to rule out any physical problem as the cause. If there is no physical issue, then this sounds a lot like a panic attack, and for this, you might want to consider treatment, especially if these have occurred previously.

 

[Ollie123]

Definitely got food poisoning during a clinic day and had to interrupt a client mid-description of something quite serious to excuse myself to the restroom mid-session once. Definitely billed that one as a 30 vs 45-minute visit. Worse, had to do so mid-300 person lecture once (sounds like I need to be start being more attentive to where I get lunch). Always made it to the bathroom though!

Personally, I would call later that day to apologize along the lines of above. That's about all you can do. You're human, stuff happens. I've found excusing yourself, being transparent and lighthearted makes it really-not-a-big-deal. Neither my students nor my patient were phased in the slightest beyond expressing concern for my well-being. There are exceptions, but my experience is that when you are genuine and transparent with folks it goes a long way. Also models good behavior for patients.

Hope this wasn't an emetophobia patient!

 

[cara susanna]

I've had to run to the bathroom during session as well. I usually just say something like "I've been trying to drink more water." Patients are super understanding from my experience.

 

[futureapppsy2]

I think you should see a physician to rule out any physical problem as the cause. If there is no physical issue, then this sounds a lot like a panic attack, and for this, you might want to consider treatment, especially if these have occurred previously.

I just assumed the OP probably got norovirus or another GI bug.

 

[smalltownpsych]

I had a sudden onset of vertigo that wouldn’t go away during a session once and almost felt that I was going to throw up. Made it through to end of session but that was a tough one. A little over the counter motion sickness pills really helped with that one. Turned out to be an inner ear infection. One of my coworkers who has migraines had one that caused her to vomit in front of patient. Stuff happens. Hope you’re feeling better.

 

[WisNeuro]

I vomit extremely rarely, so I'd definitely be worried if I did without an obvious cause. My last one was when i had to take an antibiotic that they warned me had to be taken with food due to nausea. I ignored that warning with the first dose I took and paid the price.

 

[futureapppsy2]

I vomit extremely rarely, so I'd definitely be worried if I did without an obvious cause. My last one was when i had to take an antibiotic that they warned me had to be taken with food due to nausea. I ignored that warning with the first dose I took and paid the price.

My brother did that with his pain medication after getting his wisdom teeth out. Boy, did he regret it.

 

[borne_before]

I'm totally down with a stomach bug right now, too. I don't think I have norovirus. But possibly cryptospordium. Happens to the best of us.

 

[psy.d. 2021]

I think you should see a physician to rule out any physical problem as the cause. If there is no physical issue, then this sounds a lot like a panic attack, and for this, you might want to consider treatment, especially if these have occurred previously.

 

[psy.d. 2021]

I also have been battling some stomach stuff. Must be something going around

 

[jdawg2017]

Ooof I’m sorry, OP! I agree that apologizing is about all you can do, unless you’re treating someone with emetophobia, in which case… well done! 😆

I never have had this happen but when I was taking an oral iron supplement a few years ago I suddenly developed an inability to take it in the morning due to extreme nausea, which resulted in me vomiting before an important talk and once in my car on the freeway. Not fun!

 

[clausewitz2]

I may have shared this anecdote before, but I was in the middle of an evaluation during residency that I was doing with a Big Deal Famous subspecialist in the room when all of a sudden, about 30 minutes in, probably the only real migraine I've had in my life hit me. While the Big Deal Famous subspecialist was saying something to the patient, I stood up, left the room, went down to the hall to the bathroom, vomited my guts out, and then went straight to my office, turned off all the lights, lay down on the couch, and fell asleep for the next two hours. None of this felt particularly optional at the time and was the middle of a weekday morning.