Throwing Up in Public

[aprilgail2]

I clearly remember the worst time in public for me! I was taking my godson to see the Jetsons movie, he had gotten chemo the day before but it was the chemo that usually did not make him sick at all-well we were at the popcorn counter and he was in my arms (he was about 3), he just projectile vomited all over the popcorn counter, it was dripping down the back side of it (the open part where they get the popcorn from) it was TERRIBLE!!! People behind me were grossed out, I kept apologizing saying "I'm sorry he has cancer, he couldn't help it"...it was awful!

 

[CEDmom]

Sorry about your DS. I think you did the best you could under the circumstances and things were cleaned up quickly. There's no way a child could hold that until you got to a bathroom.

My DD got sick in Costco once. She was about 2. Like your DS she got that look but we were in the middle of the store and there was no way I could get her to the bathroom in time. I had taken my coat off so I stuck it under her chin and she threw up in it. After that I alerted the closest worker since I had perishables in my cart and I just took DD out of the store and we came home. The Costco people were really nice and I honestly don't think anyone shopping noticed.

Oh, and I still have the coat - clean of course.

APRILGAIL2 - the poor thing - how terrible

 

[LaraK]

I'm the Queen of Puke. My son has an auto-immune disorder that causes sudden projectile vomiting. He's thrown up all over the place with no warning. One time there was a couple looking at us at the DC Mall...you could tell they were talking about our kids (I'm going to assume they were saying they were cute or something...they were smiling and talking to each other)...anyway, they are looking at my son just as his head spins all the way around and he projectiles about 10 feet....I could see the horror in their faces...guess they'll put off having kids now.

In all seriousness, I've gotten all sorts of reactions. I've learned that some will be nice, some will grimace and some will be openly hostile. I thank the nice, try to shield the disgusted and ignore the rude.

 

[Iluvthemouse]

On our travel day back from Mexico, DD (6 at the time) was ill. She had started throwing up in the van ride to the airport and luckily we had a bag with us. Then we checked in w/the airline, did security all between running to the bathroom. We waited to board our plane in the closest seats to the restroom.

Finally we are first in line to get on the plane. I was holding DD and this lady behind us says to her "you look tired little one". I said "she has been feeling a little ill today" She says to her husband "ewww, I hope we dont sit next to the sick girl". I look at her husband and say "ewww, I hope we dont sit next to the bit$#". She looks at me, huffed once and went to the back of the line.

Some people.

 

[cccm]

DD9 threw up two years ago. We were in a Filenes that was closing. I had about $700 worth of clothes and shoes, total to pay was $75. We let someone know and left. I left my pile of clothes and shoes on the way out. I was very, very sad.

She was fine after that, got some water and felt wonderful, all perky and ready to take on the world. Wasn't ready to risk it so we went home.

 

[freckles and boo]

My seven-year-old daughter gets carsick - other things like air travel, amusement park rides, and swings don't bother her at all but for some reason the car makes her queasy. Our last drive to my mother's (just me and the two girls) I gave her kid's Bonine in our driveway. About an hour into the trip she was cramping so I pulled into a McDonald's parking lot, got her and her sister out of the van, and before we could walk two feet she threw up in the parking lot. No problem - not a drop on herself or anybody else. I made her hold onto the door handle of the van so I could put her sister (who is autistic and needs a hand on her at all times outside the house) back in the van. As I turned my back to her she nailed the back of my shirt and jeans with round two. So I got them back in the van, got her face cleaned up, etc. and went to the back to get a change of clothes for me. Since I couldn't leave them alone I figured I would have to change in the van. BUT there was this older couple in a van right next to us staring at us. I waved my clothes around but they kept staring and didn't get the hint so I just started changing my clothes. I hope they enjoyed the barf and strip show.

 

[PhotobearSam]

We were getting on Winnie the Pooh at Mk one day and a kid in line barfed all over the floor and it splashed all 4 (there was another couple with us on their first trip) of us on the legs...Yuck. My gag reflex went haywire but we dealt with it.

We all felt bad for the kid. I was not angry at the parents. Kids sometimes get overwhealmed, eat different food, are very tired etc...Not anyone's fault, just the way it is. It did not ruin anything for us. I had wetnaps and on we went with our day.

 

[Mkrop]

I am sos orry for you. I think you did the right thing. We have never had anyone be rude although nothing surprises me.

DS9 for awhile was the King of Throwup. He has a bad gag reflex and also gets carsick, even on short trips. I cant count how many times we have had to clean his carseat when he was little over the years.

Two stories to share:

When DS9 was 4 we were in an Old Country Buffet having dinner, early in the day he had been driking grape juice. So he is now drinking milk with dinner and he starts to gag on a green bean and then it happens. Purple milk spewed all over the table!!!!!! So DH and I qucikly jump in to clean up mode and we have the majority of it cleaned up before the staff gets there. But the nice part was that two older couples sitting on either side of us complimented us on not panicking and reacting so quickly to the situation. I thought that was nice to say.

Now DS4 is in the car with us on the ride back from Hershey Park and he yaks all over the carseat (different kid was not expecting him to do this) so we pull over on the turnpike and start cleaning up. Well all the clothes were dirty from the trip so we changed him into dirty clothes and clean up as best we could and start to drive with all the windows open and even the sunroof so we can deal with the smell. Well dont you about 10 minutes later it starts to rain so we had a 2 hour trip back home dealing with that smell.. Ugh

But throw up stories are standard in my family, my DB23 got sick on EVERY( and I am not exaggerating) family trip we ever took. DH had no clue what he was getting into when he offered to take me and my family on trips but he still married me and I think it was great prep for our kids

 

[illini]

I was working a weekend night at The Disney Store. 3 girls who looked at least high school age came in. One of them puked by plush mountain and then they all ran off. Guess who cleaned it up! ME!
The worst part was the next week a boy who looked about the same age came in and wanted to see where his friend had puked!

 

[Dismom+two]

We were at at local amusement park last summer and in line for the Tilt-a-Whirl. I don't normally like spinning rides however for some reason i LOVE this one!
Anyway, they were unloading the ride when this woman got off as she was throwing up into her hand and all over the ride. Needless to say, we made an about face and exited the line. I just couldn't ride it after seeing that.
I had no bad words for this poor lady, I felt bad for her!! It happens!!

We now refer to that ride as the Tilt-a-HURL!!

 

[chager]

About 5 years ago we went to Kings Island. DS was 7 or 8. Well he had mentioned not feeling well when he got up that morning. He was also stuffed up really bad. (This was when we found out about allergies and him not being able to camp outside.) Well, thinking it was just from all the excitement of being in the park the night before and junk food we decided to go ahead and go back to the park (our tickets were nonrefunable with park entry the night before after 6) We were there about an hour when DS again says his tummy is upset. He asked for some Sprite since that sometimes works to settle it. As we are standing in the entrance of one of the drink places he starts puking uncontrollably. I was apologizing to everyone. We had several really great employees that were off work that day even stop to help. They made sure the first aid people were called and even checked on him later as we were still in first aid 3 hours later. The first aid people arranged for us to have tickets to come back another day (practically unheard of) and also arranged for us not to get charged for that night at the camp ground since we were having to leave that day. After throwing up all morning he felt better on the way home and was totally better the next day! As it turns out it ended up storming the whole day so it actually worked out for the better for us. We were able to to go back on a nice day. So I understand how helpless you can feel when a child is sick and people are staring.

 

[ducklite]

I think the OP did the right thing. IMHO it's far preferable to have the child tossing his cookies outside than in the middle of the restaurant. And telling the maanger so it could be cleaned up was very respectful.

Hope he's feeling better.

Anne

 

[Cindy B]

My daughter did this yesterday as well.

We were at an outside street fair and it was hot. She had just had some water and I think she drank it too fast.

She said her stomach hurt and she threw up four times in the middle of a conveinence store (where she was getting more water my DH)

I felt so bad for her.

 

[MUFFYCAT]

I've vomited in public...when I was 12. We were at Six Flags and I was riding the Texas Chute-Out (a parachute drop ride) for the first time. When we got up to the very top, I realized how high we were, leaned forward over the lap bar and puked on whoever was below.


TLM

Wooo.. my stomache just dropped.

 

[Kath2003]

I really don't see what else you can do if anyone, adult or child, is unwell other than getting them to the place which is going to cause the least inconvenience (the first of which is obviously the bathroom). I think the OP did the right thing.

Personally I would be grossed out if I saw (or heard) someone being ill ANYWHERE (even in the bathroom) and would leave promptly, because seeing or hearing other people being ill makes me very queasy; but I certainly wouldn't be disapproving! There are times when you simply cannot help vomiting if you are ill - obviously if you're an adult you stand a better chance of realising and making it to the bathroom but throwing up in public can happen to the best of us!

 

[Narnian_Princess]

I was on my way to Disneyland near Christmas of '05. It was just my dad and me, and I was super excited, and so when I felt a bit queasy I thought, heh, it's just nerves and tiredness (we'd had to wait in the airport for 4 hours). I was "fine" for nearly all of the 5-hour flight; had to keep eating peppermints to keep the queasiness under control, when suddenly I knew it wouldn't help anymore and rushed to the bathroom. Well, whatdyaknow. Some guy stands up in front of me and goes into the bathroom first. I tried to hold it, I really did. But I puked all over the galley area. The flight attendants were really nice, they cleaned it up, gave me Sprite (which I kept throwing up) and were just really really sweet. The other passengers were all looking at me sympathetically too, no rude comments that I could hear. I was sick for the rest of that night, all through the airport, on the shuttle to the car rental place, and half of the next day (I had bags by then, though), so it kinda put a damper on my perfect Disneyland trip.

 

[freckles and boo]

Personally I would be grossed out if I saw (or heard) someone being ill ANYWHERE (even in the bathroom) and would leave promptly, because seeing or hearing other people being ill makes me very queasy; but I certainly wouldn't be disapproving!

I used to be the exact same way until I had kids. Now vomit is just another thing to be dealt with when you love your children.

 

[happygirl]

I'm sorry people were rude to you!! throwing up is just one of those things that can't be helped

 

[sweet angel]

DS16 got sick in the aquarium in Baltimore last year. He was in the bathroom throwing up and he said some guy was banging on the stall door telling him to hurry up because he "had to go". I thought that was pretty rude.

 

[Gurgi]

I'm sorry your son got sick in public

Last time I got sick in public, I was about 13 years old, visiting family in England. My sister had gotten the flu on the flight over and had thrown up all over the back of my seat. Yuck. When we got to the subway, *I* felt sick and threw up all over the stairs and the back of my dad's pants.