Sick abroad with no insurance. Please be nice, I know I'm a dumbass

[ABroadAbroadandill]

Am on a European citibreak with DP. Arrived on Friday. I felt ill on the plane and again in the taxi. That night I woke up with excruciating upper abdo pain (in waves, almost like contractions) and worst black liquid shits of all time. Am alternating between freezing and boiling.

No nausea or vomiting. No back pain.

Haven't eaten since Friday. Still shitting through the eye of a needle.

DP has gone out to get diaoralyte, immodium and the strongest pain relief you can buy otc here.

I would've gone to urgent care if I had had insurance but just can't afford a big bill or risk them admitting me and missing my flight.

Does it sound like pancreatitis?

I had a bit of a binge Thursday night as was end of work before our holiday and also the eurovision semi final. 1 bottle of wine and a large gin. I don't drink regularly. I eat low carb/low fat and am a bit overweight but working on losing it.

I know I'm an idiot for forgoing insurance. Believe me, will never do it again.

😭

"No" "non" "nope" etc.......

If the OPs condition is as described it would be chuffing irresponsible to herself, fellow passengers and the crew to get on any flight without first getting medical opinion and medical clearance to do so...

Aircraft aren't airborne A&E's (though I know some people think they are), the crew have limited medical training, have access to limited medical equipment, and if things go badly wrong in flight the OP would probably be at least 30 minutes away from getting on the ground and heaven knows how long away from a real A&E.

You poor thing, I hope you are getting medical attention! Make sure you're drinking enough clear fluids in the meantime

NHS Overseas phone number is - 44 191 2181999 - Mon - Fri 8 a.m. - 6p.m. I have not used this number for help myself.

Hope you not responding means that you are getting the treatment you need OP!

Honestly, don't give such dangerous, stupid advice.

if anyone was stupid enough to do this, they could die in flight.

The last thing you should be doing is getting on a plane before medical intervention. God knows why people think boarding a plane while feeling very ill and having physical symptoms is a good idea is anyone’s guess.

Can you register for a ghic and use that reference number? It used to be that you did not need a physical card. You should still get some emergency treatment but only equivalent to a local which may mean paying for medicines and some treatment, and only free at a public hospital.

This! Afaik it's not going to cost you an arm and a leg.

Hope youre ok-do not get on a plane not only could it make you worse without insurance if they have to divert will cost you alot more than just a hpsital visit

I hope you have gone to hospital OP

Agree with this. If you have an infection, then Imodium will just keep all those toxins in your body longer and can be dangerous. Black stool are a concern unless you are on Iron tablets. It could be a stomach ulcer or something, especially with the severe upper abdo pain. I think you really need to be seen by a medical professional asap.

are you on iron tablets?

@ABroadAbroadandill - how are you doing OP? I hope all okay and you've got medical help?

OP, you are bleeding internally. The money is the least of your problems, go to hospital.

I really hope you are currently being seen by a medical professional, the severe pain and black stools sounds very concerning.

Sometimes we make mistakes that cost money to be fixed, but better to spend the money and be ok than dont and be much worse.

I really hope you have gone to hospital - that sounds like internal bleeding and and you absolutely must be seen.

Fingers crossed she's gone to hospital

Don't take anything dh brings back except the dioralyte and perhaps paracetamol but sounds like that won't touch the sides. You NEED to get to A&E. lots of good advice already re using a state hospital and get your dh to apply online for the ghic card if you don't already have one. This isn't going to be the huge expense you think but even if it was you cannot board a flight home in your condition so you have no other option.

How scary for you, OP. As others have said, forget the cost, health is way more important than money. Get yourself to a medic.

Really hoping its just something fairly innocuous, like food poisoning..or just a nasty bug…sometimes excessive red wine can turn stools black, but one bottle of wine, if indeed it was red, can’t really be considered ‘excessive’. Good luck.

I really hope that you've gone to hospital op.

If you can afford a city break, you can afford the hospital bill (just thank your lucky stars you're not in USA)

Get seen ASAP.

Just your passport is enough to get NHS treatment in some countries even without GHIC.

even in the USA, hospitals
often have schemes
to help
the uninsured. This helped a friend of
mine recently who went to the US without medical
insurance. Not all
hospitals, but many. Much more straightforward in Europe. Hope
you're getting medical attention now.

Oh OP that sounds very difficult. I second the advice of others to seek proper medical help.