Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

Horrible sore throat and supposed to fly on holiday on Saturday….

46 replies

Embelline · 06/10/2023 04:35

Panicking a bit as I’ve woken up with a horrible sore throat when I swallow, feels really raw. I’ve done a Covid test and it’s negative, but I’m worrying about it getting worse as last time I had a sore throat like this it lasted weeks and turned out to be strep - I was pretty much stuck in bed and in a lot of pain.
I’m also worried that my three year old DS is going to pick it up and get poorly while we are out there.

This is a big family holiday on a group booking - the other people going really need this break as they’ve had a lot going on and I already know that if we have to cancel we have to cancel the whole thing because of the way it’s booked, so it would have to be cancelled for everyone.

I’m beside myself, it’s our first holiday abroad in four years and it was SO expensive.

Ive just gargled TCP and taken ibuprofen but it hasn’t really done anything.

I don’t really know what I want from this thread really - what would you do?

OP posts:
Lizzieregina · 06/10/2023 04:42

Can you get a doctor visit later on and get a strep test and maybe an antibiotic if it’s a bacterial infection?

I had a similar throat one time and I felt ten times better within an hour of taking the first pill.

You’ll probably have to repeat the COVID test though as it definitely can start with a really sore throat.

Hope you feel better really quickly!

MariaLuna · 06/10/2023 04:42

Just go. Take paracetamol etc.

You can go to bed when you get there.

And they have excellent pharmacies in tourists resorts.
Take your insurance card.

ChimneyPot · 06/10/2023 04:48

Doctor visit for an antibiotic asap. Even if it is a private GP on a video appointment

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

Children's health General health
Original poster
Embelline · 06/10/2023 04:49

@MariaLuna irs more the fact I’m worrying DS is going to get it, he’s already really snotty and is prone to tonsilitis which he gets really badly and always ends up in hospital with because his fever spikes so high :(

ill take paracetamol alongside the ibuprofen and see if that does anything, TCP and ibuprofen haven’t touched it.

OP posts:
Original poster
Embelline · 06/10/2023 04:52

@ChimneyPot this is what I was thinking. I might take DS to be checked over as well incase his throat is inflamed as he doesn’t always tell us it hurts until it gets really bad.
im so so gutted.

OP posts:
AussieManque · 06/10/2023 04:53

Please please please wear a tightly fitting mask at the airport and on the plane if you continue your trip. Preferably an N95 like a 3M Aura. COVID is rampant so there's a high chance it's that, please don't spread it!

Keep testing because the data suggests LFTs are only turning positive from day 4 of symptoms. And seriously reconsider your trip if it's COVID as your family won't thank you for infecting them.

If your child is prone to tonsillitis, be aware that tonsils are a viral store for COVID so this could be a reason.

Original poster
Embelline · 06/10/2023 05:01

@AussieManque i will don’t worry, I’ll test again as well. I don’t know how we even go about cancelling the trip to be honest we booked direct with the hotel and I’ve never done it before. We have travel insurance but again never had to claim against it before. What do you mean regarding tonsils being a viral store for Covid/that could be the reason? Do you mean the reason he’s prone to it or the reason I’ve got whatever I’ve got?

im wondering if the GP is likely to give us his usual antibiotics just incase it turns into what I think it will.

OP posts:
AussieManque · 06/10/2023 05:07

@Embelline if you booked direct with the hotel contact them first and ask what is their policy on cancellation, explain the situation. They may be willing to cancel for the cost of the first night or rebook at an alternative date.

And you can maybe change your flights? Depends on airline.

For tonsils I mean the tonsils act as a reservoir for the virus - there was a study where they removed tonsils of a bunch of kids and a significant proportion had virus present despite not having an active COVID infection. But that could be a reason for recurrent tonsillitis. I'll try to find the paper.

Original poster
Embelline · 06/10/2023 05:09

That’s interesting thank you as it only started after he got Covid the first time.
we booked a package deal so the flights are included and it was all done via the hotel’s website.
i really can’t believe this, i could cry.

OP posts:
AussieManque · 06/10/2023 05:12

Here is the article and a photo of the layman's summary. https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/spectrum.01347-23

It sucks doesn't it. I would go get swabbed to see if it's Strep.or not, and also that way you can have something in your medical records if you need to make an insurance claim.

Can part of your family still do the trip even if you end up not going? Worth seeing with hotel if some of you can be rebooked at a later date?

Horrible sore throat and supposed to fly on holiday on Saturday….
SUCkythings · 06/10/2023 06:52

If it’s the bug going around I would actually consider postponing. It’s very bad indeed.

Turmerictolly · 06/10/2023 06:58

Take a chance and go with antibiotics. If you're going to Europe, the health care is better than here. You can see a doctor very quickly for a small charge and the hospitals are better than in the Uk also. Hopefully it won't come to that. The sun and warmth may lessen the effects of any virus - who knows.

Do you have a GHIC card?

Funderthighs · 06/10/2023 07:00

Gargling with aspirin can really help from the point of pain.

MNetcurtains · 06/10/2023 07:01

I find spoonfuls of honey very helpful with sore throats.

NonMiDispiace · 06/10/2023 07:05

Dequadine antiseptic and painkiller throat lozenges might help, gargle with soluble aspirin and dose up on Flu and Cold capsules?
Sip hot lemon and honey?

Somethingweirdisgoingon · 06/10/2023 07:09

Couldn't they go without you and you just suck up your share of the lost cost? Or would you cancel to get your money back but then no one else gets a holiday?

I only ask because this summer we went on a big family holiday, ridiculous expense. But when I booked it I asked everyone if they were happy enough to agree that if THEY couldn't go, they'd be happy for the rest of the family to carry on without them, they all agreed of course because who cancels a family holiday to get back money for the trade off of ruining a get away for loved ones...

GurlWithACurl · 06/10/2023 07:14

I have just come out of hospital having gone in because my sore throat developed into something awful! It turned out that it was only viral, but it has been horrible. Please don’t go or take a poorly child away from home.

Flipflopflopflip · 06/10/2023 07:16

I rolled my eyes when my Dr said this but honestly works for me. Use really warm water and lots of salt, gargle thoroughly and rinse. I do this 4 or 5 times a day with a sore throat and it really works. The trick I think is to have the water as warm as you can and plenty of salt.

PosterBoy · 06/10/2023 07:18

Where are you flying to?

A lot of countries have easier access to antibiotics (buy over the counter for a few quid) and private appointments with doctors so if there are any problems you can get speedy help.

TheOnlyLivingBoyInNewCross · 06/10/2023 07:18

My friend has this virus and it has lasted ten days so far, and that’s ten days of being properly unwell, not just going about everyday life with a bit of a sniffle, I’m afraid 😕

I don’t understand how you not going means no one can go though - how does the booking work?

Steev · 06/10/2023 07:19

I wouldn't consider not going based on what ifs. Go and if you get ill when you're there use your insurance to see a doctor.

AussieManque · 06/10/2023 07:19

If it's viral antibiotics aren't going to help. Doesn't matter what country OP is in.

ShowOfHands · 06/10/2023 07:25

It might just be a sore throat.

DS, DS and I have all had a sore throat this week and it hasn't been "very bad indeed" and also, wasn't Covid. We all carried on as normal.

OP, I know the utter sinking feeling when illness arrives just before a longed for event, but instead of deciding what it is and what will happen, concentrate on what you can do. GP? Pharmacy? Buy yourself a decent mask. Get all insurance stuff together and make sure you know medical procedures where you're going in case you need them while there. Check cancellation procedures with the hotel.

Original poster
Embelline · 06/10/2023 07:26

Okay so I think I was delirious with lack of sleep when I wrote this. I think we have to pay the full amount anyway at this point and then get back from travel insurance if we don’t go so my other family would be able to go. DH wouldn’t go without us.
DS isn’t actually poorly he’s just very snotty and has been for the week, but had a cold previously so I thought it was the tail end of that.
i feel a little better this morning after having a jakemans throat sweet my throat isn’t as raw.
we are going to Greece, a resort near Thessaloniki. There is a doctor on site I just checked.

i think im going to try to get a GP appointment today and get them to check DS for throat inflammation as well then see what they say before I make any decisions.

I just don’t want our holiday to become us stuck inside with a poorly child, but it’s hard to call how it’s going to go. He’s bouncing around downstairs as I type, for a bit of a mild cough but he’s mainly upset his nose is so runny.

OP posts:
PosterBoy · 06/10/2023 07:27

AussieManque · 06/10/2023 07:19

If it's viral antibiotics aren't going to help. Doesn't matter what country OP is in.

Op seems to be worried about strep. UK is useless for treating that. Many countries will actually get you on abs straight away ... no more strep!

I really like difflam spray, or similar, for pain

Swipe left for the next trending thread