Desperate for advice regarding recent trip to west africa

[RuJuAs]

Hi All,

I’d really appreciate any advice as I’m so desperately desperate.

In August, my partner and I found out that I’m pregnant (first ever pregnancy), we found this out when i was about 5 weeks. I’m currently just under 8weeks. My problem is, I’ve been in West Africa for about 3 months with my partner who lives there and only came back to the UK 2 days ago. While i was out there, i experienced terrible diarrhea for at least 2 weeks straight, had bad vomiting, really painful stomach cramping, awful bodily aches and pains, high temperature at times, among some other symptoms. I felt like a i had a stomach bug and the flu combined with awful period pain (though i had no bleeding), i also noticed a sudden change in the way i smell down there. At one point i genuinely felt like i was going to pass out from the combo of symptoms and pain. Now i wasn’t able to get to a hospital or anything because of the area i was staying in so the best i could do was speak to a "pharmacist" who told me all of my symptoms were completely normal for the first trimester. It didn’t feel at all normal and paracetamol made no difference. Now that I’m back home, I’m feeling much much better, however, i have a constant pain in my abdomen that switches between dull and sharp, i still feel very week, i’m not able to eat or drink much. I’m wondering if i should take a trip to A&E incase it was something i should be worried about. I booked an appointment with my GP but that’s not for some weeks and i don’t want to make things worse by waiting if i shouldn’t. I don’t know if this info is useful but i suffer from frequent UTI’s and i’ve been experiencing a similar pain to what i might get when i have one.

Sorry this is so long, the nurse in me is saying "it’s fine, don’t worry and don’t waste A&E resources" but the first time pregnancy is screaming "OMG, you’re already a terrible mum, get to A&E now!"

Phone your health centre and ask to speak to a doctor. It does not sound like normal first trimester symptoms at all!

I'd just book an urgent appointment at the GP rather than the standard one you have.

Definitely get an urgent GP appointment tomorrow morning.

Or find a walk in centre. You need to be seen tomorrow in my view. You also need to register with the midwife you shouldn't have to wait several weeks for that

Google EPU and your local area to find your nearest hospital with an early pregnancy unit and go floor, see if they'll take walk ins.

I’d phone 111; if they think you need to be seen right now they can sometimes book you a slot at a&e or out of hours. If it was me, I’d want to be seen.

You definitely need to see a GP. Could be a parasitic infection or some other nasty.

I'd say urgent GP appointment too, i don't think A&E is appropriate. GP can refer to the Early Pregnancy unit (if you can't self-refer, you can't where I am) if there's concerns about the pregnancy or order tests/refer on due to the illness. Hope all is well! X

Is there an EPU near you? If so, can you get there for when they open tomorrow?

(Your post has made me remember that my fanny smelt unfamiliar in early pregnancy though. Not bad exactly - not a dirty/sweaty smell - but more metallic/acidic than usual.

In fact I think it was giardiasis a friend picked up in Kenya. Treatment with antibiotics, but grim.

They’re not pregnancy symptoms.

The two best options you have are phone 111 for an out of hours appointment this evening or wait until the morning and get an urgent GP appointment. You absolutely must tell them you’ve been in West Africa, I’m sure you would anyway but it’s important!

God such quick responses. You’re all so very amazing, thank you so much for all the advice. I’m gona search for the EPU, (that’s awesome, never even knew this was a thing) and I’m gona call 111.

I’ll update you all once things develop.

I’m not sure if it genuinely smells as bad as i feel it does OR if my sense of smell is crazy sensitive right now but for the moment, i’m finding the smell unbearable. It’s somewhat chemically with a hint of sweet. Nothing like what i’d expect to smell if i had BV or thrush.

111 and GP.
They need to know you are pregnant but most of all they need to know how ill you were and that you are still not right. None of that is a pregnancy issue, it is a health issue that may have considerations regarding your pregnancy. E.g what anti-biotics you can take.

But I very much doubt the pregnancy unit can diagnose and treat whatever you picked up while you were away.

Good luck, OP, and congratulations on your pregnancy!

Do let us know how you are in this thread.

I'm not sure what the situation is in the UK but do you by any chance live near a university hospital with a specialist tropical disease centre that you can contact directly? That might also be worth trying if possible.

All the best and congratulations pn your pregnancy

Bless you, get to A and E as soon as possible. Don't wait. It doesn't sound normal for the first trimester. You sound very stoic and have taken enough of this pain.

All the best and congratulations too

Hello ladies,

Thank you all so much for your advice, you were all so helpful. Apologies i’ve been so quiet today, I’m ridiculously tired as i just got in from A&E. Anyway, here’s the update:

I made an emergency appt with my GP this morning and was able to see her around 11am today. After checking all my vitals (blood pressure and pulse were a bit low, temp was a tad high) she made an urgent referal to A&E so from my GP i went straight there. After MANY hours of waiting (and vomiting) i was finally seen by a nurse who done my vitals again, BP had gotten lower actually but everything else was fine. Eventually saw a doctor, another vitals check and BP was still low, ran some blood and urine tests. The put me on IV fluids for the day seeing as anything i swallowed would happily come back up sigh

Bloods were all clear but i have a UTI, i also have Gastroenteritis AND hyperemesis gravidarum. They’ve given me some antibiotics and anti sickness meds.

On the bright side, they so helpfully booked me in at the EPU for my first scan tomorrow. Really excited!

Good - glad you got seen to. And it sounds like a combination of things rather than one serious illness.

Get well soon and good luck with the rest of your pregnancy xx

Oh bless you, what a horrible mixture of things to deal with at once!! Hope you feel better soon and that the scan goes well.

You poor thing, no wonder you have felt so ill. Grim!

Fingers crossed that the antibiotics work fast and your gastro enteritis clears up sinthst you can get on with enjoying your scan and pregnancy.