i am paralyzed by fear - because of drano!

[cloudy1]

Hello,
I have come to this site now and again when I have become obsessed over a particular medical condition that I thought I had. Never posted before though. I'm hoping someone will read this who can give me some reassurance...I think I have OCD, because no amount of mentally arguing with myself/convincing myself will make me feel OK.

I am somewhat obsessed with cleanliness and I am afraid of harsh chemicals that can harm the body. Well, today I wanted to clear a bad clog in my bathtub drain, so I went and bought Drano. I kept remembering other times in my life that I have used Drano (two times that I can think of) and had no problem. So I went ahead and used.it. I was careful to open the cap slowly, to pour gently and close to the drain, not stick my face over it, etc. I washed my hands after handling the bottle.

Then I made myself dinner, which was a veggie burger, so I ate it with my hands of course. I ate my whole dinner and felt at ease. Then, when I was done, I began to worry that I had not washed my hands well enough before preparing my food and eating, and that I could have some residue of the drano on my hands, which I would have then ingested when I ate my food. So then I freaked out and felt like I had a dry mouth and my hands were tingling (they were scrubbed raw by this time). I started worrying that I had ingested a speck of Drano and that my mouth, tongue, and insides were going to be corroded.

I'm worried now that if I had Drano on my hands when I ate, that it's now on my keyboard and mouse, and that everything is contaminated. It's like that Seinfeld episode where Jerry throws out everything in his apartment because the woman he was dating dipped something in the toilet and wouldn't tell him what. Except I was here and there should be no missing pieces to the puzzle--I should be able to remember exactly what happened. And how well I washed my hands. And I should point out that I didn't spill the drano at all, and I didn't get any on myself.

Now I'm trying to look at my hands and tell myself that if there is no visible Drano damage on my hands, then there's no way that there's Drano damage in my mouth/body. BEcause it would have had to affect the hands first. Does that make sense?

I had something really important to work on tonight and I didn't do it because I was making myself sick with worry. I think I need to take a tylenol PM and knock myself out and start over.

Does this sound like OCD or does this sound like I have really hurt myself with Drano???? Or both....I just can't let it go...

[nursegirl6572]

Hello and welcome!

This is a very old thread.

If you would like some input, I would encourage you to start your own thread.  You can do that by clicking on the orange "post a question" button on the top right of the page.

I'll keep my eye out for it!

[DemiSavedMe]

Okay the same sort of thing happened to me today except I was washing my hands and my mum refills the soap thing and there was water in it before so I pumped a little soap in my hand and it started burning so I washed my hands 3 times. My eyes are itchy but I won't scratch them because I'm afraid that I have bleach or drano on my hands and I'm afraid to drink water in case I got any in my throat. I have horrible axiety. I literally and terrified right now

[OneScaredBuckeye]

I agree with suzi-q.  You're obsessed with your body/health and you need to learn not to be.  I think you need to see a theapist and probably be on some medication for as long as the therapist thinks is necessary.  The Drano did not hurt you and you know that in the rational part of your mind.  But you're letting the irrational take over.  Good luck on overcoming this.

[suzi-q]

You should go to work.  The best thing you can do is to divert your attention away from yourself.  I think it is very important for you to get in touch with your therapist today.  Your fear is totally encompassing every part of your life.

[cloudy1]

Thanks for your responses! It's now the next morning and I am seriously considering calling in sick from work, because the Drano is all I can think about. Certain parts of my body feel uncomfortable and I keep thinking it's because the Drano touched them somehow. Though I know it didn't. I really SHOULDN'T call in sick...I guess if I have to go home later I can make some excuse...I am probably going to have to talk to my therapist today (I have only seen her once before) on the phone so I can get through the day! I have a really important project that I'm supposed to be working on this month, and I don't know how I'm going to focus. I think I am having a very pronounced episode of ocd and i don't know how to make it go away...

[suzi-q]

Have you ever considered counseling?  I know that you realize that you have an irrational fear and logically nothing is wrong with you and you did not ingest draino!  But, for some reason your subconscious mind keeps this fear alive.  I feel that if you speak to a professional, you will feel better and it will help you to control these irrational fears.  Best to you.

[injection]

hi cloudy,well yuov handled the drano,and youv diagnosed yourself with 1 clean of the bath tub [if only life was that simple] this forum wouldnt exsist,we all have our fears and dark inner secrets,but only we can control them quack remedys and usless information can only make things worse,your symptoms are very common your definatley not on your own with the ocd,good luck cus your right its ocd