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Original poster

Daughter ill in Tokyo

28 replies

NotMe1981 · 01/06/2025 09:44

My DD age 20 flew to Tokyo on Wednesday night. On the second flight from China-Tokyo she started feeling really sick and vomited as the plane was landing. Since then she has been feeling really nauseous and hasn’t been able to go out of her Airbnb.

She is autistic and young for her age and normally relies on me to deal with pretty much everything for her. She is with a friend who has been trying to help the best she can, she went to a pharmacy to get some pills but doesn’t speak Japanese so just mimed being sick. My daughter took one of the pills earlier but isn’t feeling any better.

She hasn’t been able to eat much at all, and says she is hungry but the thought of food makes her feel more nauseous.

She is on sertraline and has been feeling nauseous on and off for the last few months since the doctor upped her dose, but nothing as bad as this.

She went to Japan with the same friend last year and had a great time, her friend has to do pretty much all the organising of everything though as DD is away with the fairies.

She has travel insurance. I sent her the number of the medical advice line in Japan she can phone to find an English speaking clinic, but she started crying even more on the phone this morning saying she doesn’t want to see a doctor.

I feel really helpless, she is in a state and was completely inconsolable this morning. I don’t know what I can do to help her.

OP posts:
Netcam · 01/06/2025 10:07

I think she should see a doctor. I lived and worked in Japan for 2 years about 25 years ago and we had an English speaking doctor. She might have a virus, or it might be the medication, but either way it would be useful for her to see someone and find out what is wrong so she can do something about it and make sure it doesn't ruin the whole trip. People in Japan in generally very helpful and by contacting the right people she should get the support she needs.

Bordersrule · 01/06/2025 10:17

NotMe1981 · 01/06/2025 09:44

My DD age 20 flew to Tokyo on Wednesday night. On the second flight from China-Tokyo she started feeling really sick and vomited as the plane was landing. Since then she has been feeling really nauseous and hasn’t been able to go out of her Airbnb.

She is autistic and young for her age and normally relies on me to deal with pretty much everything for her. She is with a friend who has been trying to help the best she can, she went to a pharmacy to get some pills but doesn’t speak Japanese so just mimed being sick. My daughter took one of the pills earlier but isn’t feeling any better.

She hasn’t been able to eat much at all, and says she is hungry but the thought of food makes her feel more nauseous.

She is on sertraline and has been feeling nauseous on and off for the last few months since the doctor upped her dose, but nothing as bad as this.

She went to Japan with the same friend last year and had a great time, her friend has to do pretty much all the organising of everything though as DD is away with the fairies.

She has travel insurance. I sent her the number of the medical advice line in Japan she can phone to find an English speaking clinic, but she started crying even more on the phone this morning saying she doesn’t want to see a doctor.

I feel really helpless, she is in a state and was completely inconsolable this morning. I don’t know what I can do to help her.

Please contact your embassy they will help to guide your daughter through this

mummymissessunshine · 01/06/2025 10:23

Your poor DD. How terrible
How long are they planning to be in Japan?
it’s awful when you are really sick. It happened to me on a trip years ago. I was completely away with the fairies with the illness. I had to rely on the person I was with. A dr came to visit me. Terrible gastro bug.

we had to delay my flight home as I could not do anything.

can you speak to your DD friend and make a plan together?

If a dr visit is not possible perhaps speak to the embassy to see if there is support available there?

good luck.

JackdawRoost · 01/06/2025 10:32

They can use Google translate to communicate at the pharmacy.

Maybe they could move to a hotel, where the staff will be more able to help with phoning medical places etc? Airbnbs are cheaper, but no help is available usually.

And there are local vetted guides, which may be approachable to pay for assisting with a hospital or doctor visit? I'm not certain on whether you'd find someone able to do that though. There's expat FB groups that may give advice on what to do?

How long are they there for? Is there anyone who could fly over and assist? Although that's drastic! Hope she feels better soon, fingers crossed.

turkeyboots · 01/06/2025 10:36

Your poor daughter and her friend. Unfortunately if your DD is in such a state you'll have to rely on her friend to help her. Can you send her friend money for doctors and medication and food? Japan is expensive and maybe the friend is also panicking.

MermaidMummy06 · 01/06/2025 10:37

There's an English speaking international clinic in Tokyo station.
We didn't use it ourselves but plenty of people on my FB planning page did & recommended it.

Original poster
NotMe1981 · 01/06/2025 10:38

mummymissessunshine · 01/06/2025 10:23

Your poor DD. How terrible
How long are they planning to be in Japan?
it’s awful when you are really sick. It happened to me on a trip years ago. I was completely away with the fairies with the illness. I had to rely on the person I was with. A dr came to visit me. Terrible gastro bug.

we had to delay my flight home as I could not do anything.

can you speak to your DD friend and make a plan together?

If a dr visit is not possible perhaps speak to the embassy to see if there is support available there?

good luck.

She is flying home on the 11th. She just messaged me asking if she’s going to die ☹️. I don’t have her friend’s number, I think she has been doing her best to look after DD but I guess she doesn’t want to spend her entire trip stuck in a room with her. I’ve encouraged her to see a doctor, I really hope she does, but that’s a lot for her to navigate when she relies on me to do that kind of thing for her back home.

I am actually considering going over there but I’m in Croatia at the moment for a wedding, don’t get back to the UK until Wednesday.

OP posts:
mummymissessunshine · 01/06/2025 10:52

NotMe1981 · 01/06/2025 10:38

She is flying home on the 11th. She just messaged me asking if she’s going to die ☹️. I don’t have her friend’s number, I think she has been doing her best to look after DD but I guess she doesn’t want to spend her entire trip stuck in a room with her. I’ve encouraged her to see a doctor, I really hope she does, but that’s a lot for her to navigate when she relies on me to do that kind of thing for her back home.

I am actually considering going over there but I’m in Croatia at the moment for a wedding, don’t get back to the UK until Wednesday.

Show quote history

Pls ask her for her friends number and call / WhatsApp her.
she will also be in a state as she won’t necessarily know what to do and may feel she is stuck between going out on her own or staying in and wasting her holiday.

she may also need some coaching.

Original poster
NotMe1981 · 01/06/2025 10:54

MermaidMummy06 · 01/06/2025 10:37

There's an English speaking international clinic in Tokyo station.
We didn't use it ourselves but plenty of people on my FB planning page did & recommended it.

Thank you I have sent details of that clinic to DD, hopefully she will go there.

OP posts:
Zippidydoodah · 01/06/2025 10:57

What a worrying situation! Also, the poor friend having to essentially babysit your daughter. Absolutely try and get her phone number and contact her directly.

Original poster
NotMe1981 · 01/06/2025 11:11

mummymissessunshine · 01/06/2025 10:52

Pls ask her for her friends number and call / WhatsApp her.
she will also be in a state as she won’t necessarily know what to do and may feel she is stuck between going out on her own or staying in and wasting her holiday.

she may also need some coaching.

Show quote history

Just as I was messaging DD to ask for friend’s number, her friend phoned me on DD’s phone. She’s a bit stressed out herself and DD is shaking and still feeling really sick. I’ve convinced her to go to the international clinic, they are about to get in a taxi to go there.

OP posts:
Tripadvisor101 · 01/06/2025 11:31

Would she normally go to a doctor's if she was sick? It sounds like a sick bug or food poisoning neither of which need a doctor at this stage. She's probably shaking as she's not eaten and her blood sugars will be low. She needs some flat coke or similar to boost her energy levels.
If she was at home would you be as worried? Probably not. It just seems worse as she's in an unfamiliar place.

QueenCremant · 01/06/2025 11:40

If she’s been feeling unwell since increasing the sertraline I’d be concerned that she could have serotonin syndrome.
please make sure that she tells the dr what meds she’s on

Original poster
NotMe1981 · 01/06/2025 11:42

Tripadvisor101 · 01/06/2025 11:31

Would she normally go to a doctor's if she was sick? It sounds like a sick bug or food poisoning neither of which need a doctor at this stage. She's probably shaking as she's not eaten and her blood sugars will be low. She needs some flat coke or similar to boost her energy levels.
If she was at home would you be as worried? Probably not. It just seems worse as she's in an unfamiliar place.

I’d probably at least phone 111. She says she’s never felt this sick and it’s been 4 days now.

OP posts:
Original poster
NotMe1981 · 01/06/2025 11:42

QueenCremant · 01/06/2025 11:40

If she’s been feeling unwell since increasing the sertraline I’d be concerned that she could have serotonin syndrome.
please make sure that she tells the dr what meds she’s on

Yes I’ve got her to take the pills with her to the clinic.

OP posts:
CoastalCalm · 01/06/2025 11:46

Electrolyte drinks will help , if they can download a translation app or just key into Google and take to the pharmacy and show them the Japanese equivalent ?

User989674 · 01/06/2025 11:49

Tripadvisor101 · 01/06/2025 11:31

Would she normally go to a doctor's if she was sick? It sounds like a sick bug or food poisoning neither of which need a doctor at this stage. She's probably shaking as she's not eaten and her blood sugars will be low. She needs some flat coke or similar to boost her energy levels.
If she was at home would you be as worried? Probably not. It just seems worse as she's in an unfamiliar place.

Agreed, if it's a tummy bug then there's not much you can do aside from stay hydrated and let it run its course. Japan is highly developed so you don't need to worry about the hygiene or water. I find it odd why the friend didn't attempt to communicate more about her symptoms in the pharmacy. In the age of ChatGPT & Google Translate, there really isn't an excuse for language to be a barrier. Some obvious things the friend could do:

Go to a 24 hour kombini (literally on every corner) and get some drinks and easily digestible snacks.

Use Google Translate or ChatGPT in the pharmacy to describe your daughter's symptoms. Show the people what's written on the phone screen.

Do the same but with hotel staff and they may be able to recommend local medications or organise a doctor.

To be perfectly honest, it sounds a lot like an autistic meltdown/panic state caused by unexpected circumstances and extreme dysregulation. Being in a foreign place makes it impossible to regulate emotions using familiar routines (or food) and the thought of doing anything triggers panic or nausea. It really sucks and there's no easy way out of it. This is also why the idea of seeing a doctor or going to hospital makes her feel worse because that escalates the feeling of unfamiliarity and being out of control.

Also, to state the obvious, maybe she could just go back to her previous dose of Sertraline. A quick search shows that reducing the dosages makes symptoms go away within 24-72 hours. Serotonin syndrome is really rare, especially if she's not taking other prescription meds at the same time.

WickWood · 01/06/2025 11:52

Oh bless her, glad she is being seen, for peace of mind if nothing else.

Kurokurosuke · 01/06/2025 12:04

I have sent you a message x

AlertEagle · 01/06/2025 12:21

NotMe1981 · 01/06/2025 09:44

My DD age 20 flew to Tokyo on Wednesday night. On the second flight from China-Tokyo she started feeling really sick and vomited as the plane was landing. Since then she has been feeling really nauseous and hasn’t been able to go out of her Airbnb.

She is autistic and young for her age and normally relies on me to deal with pretty much everything for her. She is with a friend who has been trying to help the best she can, she went to a pharmacy to get some pills but doesn’t speak Japanese so just mimed being sick. My daughter took one of the pills earlier but isn’t feeling any better.

She hasn’t been able to eat much at all, and says she is hungry but the thought of food makes her feel more nauseous.

She is on sertraline and has been feeling nauseous on and off for the last few months since the doctor upped her dose, but nothing as bad as this.

She went to Japan with the same friend last year and had a great time, her friend has to do pretty much all the organising of everything though as DD is away with the fairies.

She has travel insurance. I sent her the number of the medical advice line in Japan she can phone to find an English speaking clinic, but she started crying even more on the phone this morning saying she doesn’t want to see a doctor.

I feel really helpless, she is in a state and was completely inconsolable this morning. I don’t know what I can do to help her.

she can try electrolyte water it always helps me

TiredArse · 01/06/2025 12:27

I would also get the friend to buy her something like Pocari sweat drink and crackers from the 7/11 as I expect she’s weak and dehydrated by now. Hopefully it’s nothing serious and she’ll be able to enjoy the rest of the holiday.

MissyB1 · 01/06/2025 12:30

Let us know how she gets on at the clinic @NotMe1981 What a worry for you.

Mynewnameis · 01/06/2025 12:57

Poor thing.
I have an autistic daughter and she'd really panic . Sorry this is meant to be solidarity not making you feel worse..
I'd stay in contact with the friend and reassure her that you'll pay for what's needed.

Original poster
NotMe1981 · 01/06/2025 13:09

She’s still at the clinic, they took her temperature before she saw the doctor and she has a fever. I’m sure her autism is a big part of the problem. She’s already gone back to her previous dose of sertraline. Haven’t had any further updates since then. I’m about to get on a 4 hour boat ride from the island I’m on to the mainland so this is terrible timing all round! Had some really useful advice from a lovely mumsnetter via PM which I’ve passed on to the girls.

OP posts: