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
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Need a handhold- ill and due to fly home tomorrow

295 replies

holidaytummytrouble · 29/07/2022 12:00

Posting here for traffic. On holiday with DH and two young DC. I started with diarrhoea at 2am. It's showing no signs of stopping, even though I've had nothing but water since last night and we're due to fly home at midday tomorrow. It's a 4 hour flight and on the way here there was a queue for the toilet pretty much the entire flight.

I don't know what to do. If I'm still like this tomorrow I can't possibly fly, can I? Presumably the insurance wouldn't pay for all of us to stay so DH would have to fly home with the DC and leave me here?

DH has taken the DC out to give me some peace but I'm just lying here panicking about tomorrow in between running to the hotel bathroom. I don't even know where to start with the practicalities if I can't fly tomorrow, would we contact the airline or the insurance company? Will they definitely pay out? If anyone has been in a similar situation and had any advice it would be very much appreciated.

OP posts:
Crunchymum · 30/07/2022 18:54

FFS. Due should be she

PoleFairy · 30/07/2022 18:55

Just take immodim. So confused as to why you haven't done this. I've done it loads of times in this situation (IBS and extensive traveling in India and South East Asia). Take 2 immediately. If you go to the loo within half an hour of taking them they won't have got into your system so take another 2. After that they say take one after every loose bowel movement until they kick in. In my experience after that first 2 I haven't sh*t in 3 days

ifionlyhadacat · 30/07/2022 18:59

Are you ok ?

Thinkingblonde · 30/07/2022 19:03

She probably still flying or just getting home.

Sportbilly79 · 30/07/2022 19:05

Did you manage to fly home? How are you feeling?

User52637274 · 30/07/2022 19:10

It may run its course by tomorrow.

maybe consider Imodium or similar. It works well for IBS, not sure how it works if say it's a bug or food poisoning.

also, be careful what you eat! Don't eat anything that might aggravate your stomach further. Maybe just try dry toast And bland foods. Only drink water!

Hahabonk · 30/07/2022 19:15

i once had a similar situation in Siberia. Came down with horrendous diarrhoea, the day before I was supposed to get a 20 hour long train into Mongolia, during which I knew the train toilets would be locked shut and unusable for about four hours (while the border crossing was navigated). Fearing a seriously catastrophic trouser situation if I had to go four hours without immediate and unrestricted access to a toilet, and for want of a better solution, I overdosed on Imodium. I took double the standard dose.

Well that was that. I spent five days in Mongolia, and I didn’t pass solids once.

QueenBee70 · 30/07/2022 19:15

holidaytummytrouble · 29/07/2022 12:14

@pinkbowl I thought you were supposed to drink more water when you have diarrhoea? Now wondering if I've been making myself worse trying to stay hydrated! How long before your flight did you stop drinking?

Yes you are supposed to keep yourself hydrated . It’s very dangerous not too so keep drinking bottled water .

Imodium should keep it at bay until you get home . Good luck , let us know how you got on.

Timeturnerplease · 30/07/2022 19:23

Honestly, I used to have very severe IBS before pregnancy restarted my system somehow.

This is NOT medical advice but it has worked for me on a plane journey before….two Immodium to start, then one more after each further incident (if they occur). Sip water, no big gulps. Wear two pairs of pants and dark trousers.

Do not trust a fart until you’re home.

Ultimate123 · 30/07/2022 19:28

just seen this post. I have found taking a teabag, rip it open and have the dry tea with water makes a huge difference. Literally been life saver in many incidents. You can add sugar or honey to it if you want and have it with water. Take a couple of times. Helps with the cramps and the runs. Tried and tested. Nephew (3yr)once had the runs , cudnt make it to loo, had so many accidents on stairs before my mum suggested this. One dose made a massive difference. Second does was like there was never anything wrong with him.

SallyB392 · 30/07/2022 19:29

Get your husband to go and get some medication from the nearest Chemist, and don't whatever you do, eat. Just drink bottled water. If you start taking meds in the morning you should be fine to fly.

I don't think a bout of the trots would be considered serious enough for your cancelling your flight, unless of course you are hospitalised.

RestingMurderousFace · 30/07/2022 19:35

I once had similar. Couldn’t get hold of Immodium but could get codeine, bunged me up a treat for two days, lol. Best of luck!

gillys · 30/07/2022 19:36

Sympathies to you.
I came back from Tenerife 2 weeks ago. 2 of our party had diarrhoea for about 4 days each whilst there, 2 more had it when we got home. We all took Imodium.
would be interested to know where you stayed, to see if it’s a bug in the area or specific to the hotel?!

Sillyname63 · 30/07/2022 19:41

Drink FLAT full fat coke , this act exactly like rehydration sachets. Also Imodium will definitely stop you going take two straight away, then one every time to have loose motion .

Notforbeef · 30/07/2022 19:54

Hope you made it home safe OP and are feeling better

WinterMusings · 30/07/2022 20:03

I hope you're home now & feeling much better.

A friends DH was like you, but he was in Turkey, the gave him something OTC and he was fine a couple of hours later. Their chemists seem to have more knowledge:& more freedom to hand out useful OTC than they do here.

Bedtimeforever · 30/07/2022 20:10

😩😩😩 OP I had this, it was on a long haul journey, consisting of two flights as well. And I was going to the bathroom every 10 minutes. Eventually I asked the air hostess for something, probably similar to immodium and I was okay but very very uncomfortable for the rest of the flight. I would suggest you take Immodium or similar, enough to stop the runs and to keep you going throughout the flight. And then then focus on recovery at home.

Bellagio40 · 30/07/2022 20:13

Lansonmaid · 29/07/2022 12:13

In my limited experience the problem with Imodium is it works too well and you end up not going for days afterwards.....good luck OP, hope you get home ok

100% our experience too. OP take it and you won’t go again until next week

Walrus6 · 30/07/2022 20:14

Ultimate123 · 30/07/2022 19:28

just seen this post. I have found taking a teabag, rip it open and have the dry tea with water makes a huge difference. Literally been life saver in many incidents. You can add sugar or honey to it if you want and have it with water. Take a couple of times. Helps with the cramps and the runs. Tried and tested. Nephew (3yr)once had the runs , cudnt make it to loo, had so many accidents on stairs before my mum suggested this. One dose made a massive difference. Second does was like there was never anything wrong with him.

@Ultimate123 I’m intrigued by this. So it’s like loose leaf tea that you’ve not strained?

TheHateIsNotGood · 30/07/2022 20:16

I really want an update.

QuestionableMouse · 30/07/2022 20:32

BlanketsBanned · 29/07/2022 12:16

Immodium wont work if you have something like norovirus and if you have food poisoning or a bug then you shouldnt bung yourself up, its better out than in as they say, plus you could pass anything on to other passengers and crew if its noro. I would contact your insurance company and see what they suggest.

This is 100% false. It will work, and diarrhoea is both a symptom and a way for the virus to spread. There are no downsides to stopping it and it won't make you more ill.

BuggersMuddle · 30/07/2022 20:35

For all the folk saying you can't travel etc. insurance might not see it like that. Someone I know well had what was most likely food poisoning (none of the rest of the party came down) sufficient to need a hospital visit & IV fluids prior to a much longer flight. Insurance arranged a loperamide injection, anti-nausea medication and they were expected to board the flight. The alternative would've been thousands of pounds of costs.

I'd be very surprised if they put you up for a couple of days unspecified bad diarrhoea that could be controlled with OTC loperamide, whatever anyone thinks should happen.

Allaboutthecheesecake · 30/07/2022 20:38

I wouldn’t take Imodium yet , keep trying to clear out your system . And drink small amounts of water , wait till the morning and I bet you will feel loads better .

Take 3 Imodium an hour before you leave the hotel , and keep them topped up (don’t use the melts use the original I believe the my are stronger )

I have had anxiety of this especially in planes since I was 24 , and yes it’s my worst nightmare too so you are not being dramatic , i would try and get a seat by the toilet if you can for peace of mind .

I take Imodium most work days so I am very used to them now but I’m sure as no sickness it’s just a bit of a tummy bug . Imodium will work .

if you can get any diazepam to mentally relax your brain that would help .

trust me I know how you are feeling but I think after 24 hours you will feel a lot better .

my not going forward will be ALWAYS take loperamide / Imodium on holiday with you going forward.

I hope it goes ok for you 💋

RockyReef · 30/07/2022 20:53

Having lived in 3rd world countries for years I can assure you that immodium will work - it won't do you any harm either but obviously it should only be taken in cases like yours when you need to travel or something. On one occasion I had the raging shits (amoebic dysentary) and needed to get a cross country bus for work with no toilet so I took a version of immodium and kept taking during the time I was away but actually it worked for about 3 days after I stopped taking it. Take a few spare pairs of pants and some wet wipes too. Remember to keep washing your hands well to protect others on your journey from your germs too. Good luck!