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Original poster

Should we cancel our holiday?

32 replies

Holidaydramaheretoo · 22/08/2024 09:12

DD (6) has been complaining on and off of a sore tummy since yesterday morning. Yesterday afternoon she had one episode of a slightly bad tummy then said she felt sick. An hour later she devoured her dinner and was fine all night so I put it to the back of my mind.

Just on the way to the airport now and she says she feels sick again. Arghh what to do?

Doesn't help I have emetophobia so I just want to turn around as dealing with sickness away from home is next level!

DH thinks I'm overreacting and that if DD had a bug she wouldn't have kept her dinner down last night.

What do you think?

OP posts:
Gymmum82 · 22/08/2024 09:14

Even if she does have a slight tummy bug she’ll be over it in 24-48 hours. You’re on your way to the airport. I’d go and worry about it when you’re there. They have doctors wherever you’re going should you need them

Aposterhasnoname · 22/08/2024 09:14

Not a cat in hells chance would I turn back from the airport because someone felt sick

IBlameTheDog · 22/08/2024 09:17

My DD suffers with horrendous emetophobia so I know exactly what you're going through.

Just try to tell yourself that chances are she won't be sick. And neither will anyone else. By this time tomorrow you'll be on your holidays, somewhere warm, relaxing.

Concentrate on that.

Good luck!

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Original poster
Holidaydramaheretoo · 22/08/2024 09:17

OK that is good to hear, must be my emetophobia talking then.

She's not much of a vomitter so pretty sure she'd be fine and over it quickly if it's a bug but then I'm imagining the youngest catching it then us... and by the time it's been round everyone it's time to come home, so might as well not have gone and saved myself the stress and hassle. Sigh. First holiday in years, so depressing.

OP posts:
MintGlitter · 22/08/2024 09:17

She's probably just nervous!

You could always give her a travel sickness tablet?

No way would I abandon a holiday because a 6yo may or may not feel sick.

Werweisswohin · 22/08/2024 09:17

She's not nervous about the holiday is she, or some part of it?

TokyoSushi · 22/08/2024 09:19

I'd also take my chances, perhaps a travel sickness tablet and a tot of Calpol for good luck!

Sparklesandbeer · 22/08/2024 09:19

Just make sure she doesn't touch everything and infect others

Original poster
Holidaydramaheretoo · 22/08/2024 09:23

She's been really excited, I really don't think she's nervous but could be I suppose. If it had started this morning I'd have put it down to nerves but we were just having a normal day yesterday.

My heart is racing so bad, not knowing if she will be sick or not. Deep breaths...

OP posts:
JustASquareMoreChocolate · 22/08/2024 09:24

Do you have travel insurance?

LarrysNewOwner · 22/08/2024 09:26

get her travel sickness tablets from the airport

Invisimamma · 22/08/2024 09:29

Pop a couple of carrier bags, wipes and a change of clothes in the hand luggage just in case. And crack on with your holiday, she'll probably be fine. It could be pre-holiday nerves!

I always get a bit of funny tummy before I travel so I'd never go anywhere! It's just the nerves and excitement of travel.

MotherOfCrocodiles · 22/08/2024 09:32

You are massively over reacting due to your phobia. Can you get your DH to be in charge if she does vom.

SlightlygrumpyBettyswaitress · 22/08/2024 09:33

Honestly probably just nervous excitement. All of mine were like that!

Original poster
Holidaydramaheretoo · 22/08/2024 09:35

MotherOfCrocodiles · 22/08/2024 09:32

You are massively over reacting due to your phobia. Can you get your DH to be in charge if she does vom.

Definitely, he knows the drill by now! I deal with poo, he deals with vom!

Just really worried about the 2year old catching it as it would then be a lot harder to contain. At least the 6 year old can warn us.

She's asleep at the moment.

OP posts:
FawnFrenchieMum · 22/08/2024 09:35

I’d be fairly certain in my child it was a mixture of nerves and excitement. I definitely wouldn’t cancel a holiday due to it.

SummerInSun · 22/08/2024 09:35

As PP have said, get lots of bags in case she throws up on the flight, and maybe try something minty too, eg tic tacs or mentos for her to suck as that may help settle her, especially if motion sickness is part of it. And do NOT let her eat anything greasy at the airport or on the flight.

Out of an abundance of caution, you could grab some rehydration mix at Boots at the airport just in case it is a bug and she gets worse while you are away.

Also keep a spare top for her and whichever adult is sitting with her in your carry on in case she is sick and any of it gets on her clothes.

(My children have frequently thrown up within an hour of eating the inflight meal on of haul flights - combination of motion sickness and the food. We now travel with plain cheese sandwiches and they refuse all airplane food. No issues on short haul flights)

KreedKafer · 22/08/2024 09:38

My guess is that she’s just excited/nervous about the holiday. She’s six and she doesn’t know the difference between having butterflies in her tummy and being unwell. Lots of people get mild stomach cramps from excitement or apprehension too.

DataPup · 22/08/2024 09:40

JustASquareMoreChocolate · 22/08/2024 09:24

Do you have travel insurance?

Do people really think travel insurance covers a 6 year old 'feeling sick' ?

JustASquareMoreChocolate · 22/08/2024 09:45

DataPup · 22/08/2024 09:40

Do people really think travel insurance covers a 6 year old 'feeling sick' ?

Show quote history

No, but a child with tummy pain and intermittent vomiting could have appendicitis. Everyone should have travel insurance, and this is a good time to remember, just in case OP ends up in A&E abroad.

Boxina · 22/08/2024 09:45

Holidaydramaheretoo · 22/08/2024 09:23

She's been really excited, I really don't think she's nervous but could be I suppose. If it had started this morning I'd have put it down to nerves but we were just having a normal day yesterday.

My heart is racing so bad, not knowing if she will be sick or not. Deep breaths...

I feel sick before holidays, it's just because I'm excited and also a bit anxious about the travelling. I think it's emotions for your DD not sickness.

PrincessHoneysuckle · 22/08/2024 10:27

A bit of distraction with treats at airport and she'll be fine

User5462462 · 22/08/2024 10:41

Uggghh lots of sympathies from another emetophobe mum. Maybe it's just gas pain due to the previous funny tummy. DD (6) has a tendency to go from being ravenous to eating a few bites and then crying and screaming about a tummyache. I've figured out that most of the time it must be gas because it's quite low down and disappears entirely on its own. But still keeps me on tenterhooks not knowing whether it might get worse or what to do if we're out and about. I always pack a small bottle of diluted bleach, rubber gloves and kitchen paper when we're on holiday in case there's sickness and I can disinfect the loo. At home this works well in preventing anyone else from getting sick.

My children have frequently thrown up within an hour of eating the inflight meal on of haul flights - combination of motion sickness and the food. We now travel with plain cheese sandwiches and they refuse all airplane food.

Another possibility could actually be altitude sickness because airplane cabins are pressurised to the equivalent of 1500-2500m above sea level. This reduces the level of oxygen going around the body. It's the equivalent height of an alpine mountain or ski resort...even many adults spending time that altitude will feel symptoms especially if you normally live close to sea level. There's nothing you can do about it unfortunately. Altitude sickness symptoms usually only kick in after 6 hours hence more common on long haul flights. It has nothing to do with the height the plane is flying but just the cabin pressure inside.

Anecdotally, many more people used to be airsick in the 80s & 90s. That's because older plane models had worse pressure, close to 2500m whereas newer planes are pressurised to the equivalent of lower altitudes around 1500m. Most people and small children can tolerate 1000m without problems.

LyndsayBluthFunke · 22/08/2024 10:52

User5462462 · 22/08/2024 10:41

Uggghh lots of sympathies from another emetophobe mum. Maybe it's just gas pain due to the previous funny tummy. DD (6) has a tendency to go from being ravenous to eating a few bites and then crying and screaming about a tummyache. I've figured out that most of the time it must be gas because it's quite low down and disappears entirely on its own. But still keeps me on tenterhooks not knowing whether it might get worse or what to do if we're out and about. I always pack a small bottle of diluted bleach, rubber gloves and kitchen paper when we're on holiday in case there's sickness and I can disinfect the loo. At home this works well in preventing anyone else from getting sick.

My children have frequently thrown up within an hour of eating the inflight meal on of haul flights - combination of motion sickness and the food. We now travel with plain cheese sandwiches and they refuse all airplane food.

Another possibility could actually be altitude sickness because airplane cabins are pressurised to the equivalent of 1500-2500m above sea level. This reduces the level of oxygen going around the body. It's the equivalent height of an alpine mountain or ski resort...even many adults spending time that altitude will feel symptoms especially if you normally live close to sea level. There's nothing you can do about it unfortunately. Altitude sickness symptoms usually only kick in after 6 hours hence more common on long haul flights. It has nothing to do with the height the plane is flying but just the cabin pressure inside.

Anecdotally, many more people used to be airsick in the 80s & 90s. That's because older plane models had worse pressure, close to 2500m whereas newer planes are pressurised to the equivalent of lower altitudes around 1500m. Most people and small children can tolerate 1000m without problems.

Edited

Really interesting about the changes in air pressure being different in older planes, I always wondered why there was less sickness now, thanks

Karatema · 22/08/2024 11:17

Holidaydramaheretoo · 22/08/2024 09:12

DD (6) has been complaining on and off of a sore tummy since yesterday morning. Yesterday afternoon she had one episode of a slightly bad tummy then said she felt sick. An hour later she devoured her dinner and was fine all night so I put it to the back of my mind.

Just on the way to the airport now and she says she feels sick again. Arghh what to do?

Doesn't help I have emetophobia so I just want to turn around as dealing with sickness away from home is next level!

DH thinks I'm overreacting and that if DD had a bug she wouldn't have kept her dinner down last night.

What do you think?

My GDS did exactly this to his DP. They went on holiday; he was ill for the rest of the day and was right as rain for the rest of their holiday! Whatever it was lasted 48 hrs.