Holiday and feeling sick what would you do?

[greenrollneck]

I'm booked to fly to Spain with my mum on Wednesday for a weeks holiday, she's in her 80s and it's a once a year trip we do.

I've been feeling a bit shaky and hot since Thursday, just thought it's a cold, dodgy tummy and some burning sensation in my bladder.

Today I've been up and about but I have a thumping headache still hot, still shaky and now I'm getting dull aching and pains in my kidney area.

I'm clearly fighting something off, be it a cold or kidney infection or lower UTI(no burning)

I sat here thinking wtf do it so, flights are Wednesday I have a few days to see what happens, but I only have 3 days to cancel the hotel with no charges, I can move flights and to book.

But what if this comes to nothing? Equally what if something kicks off and I've ignored symptoms?

I have ringing in my ears, temperature and would just like to sleep!

Advice or just what would you do??

I'd go to a pharmacy and get antibiotics if you have a UTI - there should be enough time to recover before Wednesday if you treat it now.

I'd go to the doctors today

I can't get an appt, won't be able to get one until Tuesday earliest.

Just debating going online and ordering some UTI antibiotics as a just in case? I have no idea if that's what is wrong but my bladder and kidneys seem to be the main aches here.

But my kidneys and back aches when I have colds and flu.

Phone 111 and ask for an out of hours GP appointment. It's only Saturday, they should prescribed a 3 day course of Trimethoprim and you'll be fighting fit by Wednesday. Don't wait and see what happens.

You can get antibiotics for uti from pharmacy now as part of the new guidances

Go now and you will feel better by Monday

Ok great, I'm going to see which local pharmacist is open.

111 have given me a prescription for antibiotics before when I said I was coming down with a kidney infection (had them before so know the symptoms). I was able to pick them up an hour later and start on them immediately.

@greenrollneck Sounds like a UTI - but could be Covid? It's rife at the moment. Please try and get an Out of Hours Doctor's appointment. Or take a test?

Went to a super helpful pharmacist who's said I don't follow the pathway to prescribe as I don't have burning or frequency to urinate?

And with back and kidney aches I need to go to GP.

I have some of the antibiotics at home from a previous time unopened but 09/23 so annoying, looks like I'll have to wait until the Moro g to find out of hours that can prescribe.

And thanks for the heads up I've just bought a pack of Covid tests as well.

I've had Covid a few times and it's always started with a sore thread and cough so hadn't thought to rule it out, haven't take a test for years but best to with going away.

Call gp surgery and ask to hand in a sample they will dip it before they send it away and will you antibiotics. You could also order the uti dip test from Amazon good indication if you have a uti

I've been here before with kidney back ache and no change in urine and it was a stone apparently on the move. That was about 4-5 years ago.

I can't pinpoint exactly what's up but I'm just not right and this throbbing back ache is not going away.

Covid test first!

Oh thanks for the heads up on Covid all negative @Silvers11

Call 111 now and say the pharmacist told you to

I can try and get an appointment Monday but won't hold my breath. I'll have a see tomorrow what options I have for walk ins. Get up early and phone 111 then I can get the dip etc

Glad you haven't got Covid @greenrollneck I hope you can get somewhere you can walk in and get advice tomorrow instead of having to wait until Monday. Hopefully you will get sorted out before you leave on Wednesday. Fingers crossed

your travel insurance should also cover the hotel if you can't go due to illness, check the terms.

@Silvers11 and @DecafDodger thanks, insurance will cover everything, so that's always a reassurance but it's just a nuisance feeling rough and thinking about travelling with any kind of infection going on.

I'm going to set an alarm for 111 as this isn't easing up, but not getting worse so best to see what's going on.

Ring 111 and try and be seen today.

Do you have a walk in centre or urgent care dept near you? Smaller town hospitals that don't have A&E often have them and you can go to one and see a Dr in this sort of situation.

For next time NHS 111 and out of hours GP is 24 HR cover at weekends, you really don't need to wait...

I was going to say you won't meet the criteria for antibiotics in a pharmacy. Your symptoms are too mixed and complex also, definitely one for a GP. 111 is the best bet.

So I have an hour to decide... I managed to get antibiotics finally I'm on day 2 of a 3 day course and feeling pretty rough.

My flight is tomorrow so need to leave home at 11am. It's week away in Europe.

I feel headachy, shakes, nauseous, and my back and bladder is aching and painful.

I'm up and dressed, driven and able to semi focus on work, only done an hour mine, I'm able to talk and potter, so not totally laid up but feeling very wiped out and running a temperature.

Do I go, do I delay by a day? Or do I cancel the whole thing.

Check in is in a hour and I know the final decision is mine but be great to hear how others would handle letting someone down, or powering through.

@greenrollneck To be honest - if you're still feeling as rotten as you have described I would be cancelling the whole thing. I wouldn't want to run the risk of not feeling any better while I was away. Might not be the right kind of Antibiotics for whatever is wrong with you. If you finish up in hospital while abroad, will your travel insurance still cover you if you go away when you are already ill? I know you said you have travel insurance but have you told them you are ill? That is usually a pre-requisite if something comes up after you get the Insurance and before you travel?

I'm so sorry, but if it were me in your position, I would cancel. I would be very reluctant and sad to do so, but I would do it

I've just managed to move everything by 2 weeks, maybe not so nice weather but at least I can rest up, I suspect the antibiotics are doing more harm and I'll have to get different ones as I now have a sore and fluffy mouth!!

Why is life never simple!!

Get well soon. Glad you got your antibiotics eventually