Help - DC not feeling well and long journey

[UndertheCedartree]

We have spent the last few days in a city a 4 hour journey from our home town. Today we are travelling home.

Both DC (14 & 9) feel sick and are still in bed. We've got 4 hours until our train. Is there any medication I could give them or anything else I can do to help them feel better before our journey?

Do you mean sick as in unwell or sick as in nauseous? What are their symptoms?

Travel sickness pills?
But if it’s viral or food poisoning there’s no much you can do to stop it.

Sick in what way? I know this doesn't help, but should they be travelling?

Do you have to travel back today?! If possible to extend your trip I maybe would. Does it look like a bug? Could it be something they’ve eaten?

I’d try ginger as a first step then perhaps some pepto (though it tastes gross) but it’s only really gonna help if they’re just feeling queasy, if they’re developing stomach bugs/food poisoning then it’s gonna be a bit of a shit show no matter what you dose them up with. Would suggest plenty of sick bags and preparing yourself for other passengers glares!!

Have they been sick?

Not ok to send them if it could potentially be a stomach bug

Could you hire a car for the day and drive back instead? Lots of places can return cars to different branches than you pick up from..

They feel sick as in nauseous. They have not been sick. Eldest says he is feeling a bit better. Youngest has managed a few sips of apple juice.

Unfortunately, can't see a way to not travel. Hotel is fully booked and I've got the train tickets.

I'm hoping they won't be sick - they probably would have by now if they were going to. I have travel sickness pills and will get some bags just in case.

I don't drive so can't hire a car.

Would their dad come and pick them up?

I don't think they should go on a train, they could have a bug which would spread to everyone on there if they are sick, or they could have covid. Being nauseous and being sick are common symptoms of covid in children.

Activated charcoal! Sounds strange but buy some capsules (Holland and Barrett etc do them) and empty a capsule into a glass of apple juice and get them to drink it. It might look strange but doesn’t taste of anything other than the apple juice. Every single time I feel sick or have been sick I take one and swear by it. I managed to avoid being sick travelling for 6 months by taking it if I ever felt like I’d picked up a bug. Hope they feel better!

What did they eat last night? Did they both have the same thing?

Please please have them wear masks and wash their hands religiously if you're taking them on a train.

How long is the train journey? Will be grim , toilets on trains in normal times are grim and in short supply.

I'd postpone your journey. Contact the rail company. They might suggest you transfer to another date. Won't be without charge though. Have you got UK travel insurance?

I don't think they should go on a train, they could have a bug which would spread to everyone on there if they are sick, or they could have covid. Being nauseous and being sick are common symptoms of covid in children.

This, but also because it'll be hellish for them. If they feel nauseous already, the movement of a train is unlikely to help, and toilets on trains are grim. Depending on where you are, it might also be manic - we've got local warnings about how busy the trains are at the moment, although I haven't been on one recently to verify.

Not fair to take them on a train. They might have norovirus & spread it to other people.

It could be a horrendous journey if they start vomiting. Either stay where you are or get someone to pick you up.

Make sure they are front facing in the train.
Just sips of water, no food.
Paracetamol before you start.

I travelled on a train once with noro. It was about and hour and twenty minutes of sheer sweating hell. Luckily it was on a very empty train heading out of London at about 10am. I am pretty sure I hallucinated during it.

Dts had covid a couple of weeks ago, started with nausea. Have you got any LFTs?

Travel bands, ginger or boiled sweets to suck. Audiobook to listen to, chewing gum. Plain food, dry cracker if anything but I'd try not to feed them til off the train. Masks but might make them feel worse. Plastic bags and face/baby wipes.

Obviously the best option would be to stay put but if I couldn't stay and couldn't drive I'd also want to get home. Pretend it's travel sickness.

Try to change the tickets and book another hotel?
Otherwise- Stugeron travel sickness pills are miraculous and sit near the toilet
Drink flat full fat coke

You can’t take them on a train if they have a bug ffs!

Find an alternative.. it is very selfish to take them. Sorry you are going through this though.. awful timing!

Nausea can be one of the first signs of COVID so I would keep an eye on them and not travel today.

You could see if you could get cinnarizine (I think that's how it's spelt) from a pharmacy. It's a nausea suppressant.

Even if they have a bug, they're unlikely to spread a sickness bug from simply sharing a space with others. Norovirus etc isn't airborne, like covid is. Take antibac wipes and handgel, wipe down any tables or handles they touch.

and book another hotel
If she had the spare cash I'm sure she would have already done that. Or ordered a chauffeur.

Yes, it's irresponsible, but OP needs to get home before she catches it. She can't drive, presumably has limited funds and no one who can collect, so what else is she supposed to do?