Need a handhold- ill and due to fly home tomorrow

[holidaytummytrouble]

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.

Echo the immodium advice. It will bung you up for a few days but that's probably a good thing!

It'll probably have calmed down tomorr9w once it's out of your system.

Honestly - dose up on immodium. Keep nil by mouth other than water with a dioralyte in it. Lots of small sips.

God speed, you will be ok!

I know its horrible to think about, but pack some spare clothes in a carry on just in case.

Ive been there!

This is not proper medical advice but 'I want to stop shitting every 5 minutes and get on a plane and be poorly in my own bed' advice.

@pinkbowl I completely understand! I want nothing more than to be at home right now.

I have sympathy - mine started 5 minutes before the coach arrived to take us to the airport. It was the worst hour and 45 minutes of my life on that bumpy coach ride. It's a miracle I made it to the airport to be honest. I ran off the coach and left DH with all the suitcases as soon as we arrived!! I don't think I'll get on a coach ever again after that. I was ok once at the airport and on the plane because there were toilets at least!

I think with almost 24 hours to go you will be fine.

Like I said, in addition to taking imodium go to the bathroom whenever possible even if you don't need it in that particular moment. Before you leave for the airport, when you arrive at the airport, while you're at the airport, just before you board, as soon as the seat-belt sign goes off etc. If there's an opportunity to use the bathroom, take it. Giving your body the opportunity to go in the correct place as often as you can will hopefully reduce the risk of an accident.

Oh dear, I totally empathise. We are in France due to fly home tomorrow 10am. I started feeling ill 24hrs after we arrived and was bed bound for 3 days, vomiting intermittently. Felt much better yesterday and then youngest ds started vomiting last night. I am so worried other kids will get it or DH before we leave. I am not insured on the hire car so I can't even drive it to the airport to help DH. Youngest DS hasn't been sick for a few hours but the thought of him being sick on the plane is horrible. I just want to get back home to my own bed!

@Ginormarse that sounds awful. Poor you. It's enough to put you off going on holiday ever again!

In the short term, immodium should let you get home. Then you worry about the recovery process.

I had to do this coming home from The Gambia. I was on the pot for another week when I got home.

are you drinking bottles water not tap always has an affect on me even in safe countries

@holidaytummytrouble Where are you on holiday? You say you’re a 4 hour flight away but the same time zone as the UK so perhaps North Africa? If so I’d ask your DH to head to a local pharmacist and see what they recommend. You may find you’ve picked up a parasite or other infection which needs treating with antibiotics.

Definitely. Start taking it now and keep taking it all the way up to your flight. It’s not nice but does the job.
So so sorry OP. Diarrhea is my worst nightmare after a horrid food poisoning episode when I was 19. I hope you feel better soon.

I would do a Covid test - my brush with it started with this and I thought I had food poisoning or noro at first. No other typically ‘Covid’ symptoms. If you test positive your insurers will have to pay for you to extend your holiday…

I wouldn’t take immodium today.

I would actually try and eat so I go to the toilet more often and get the pathogen out of my system.

Remember the reason you have this is because there’s something bad in your stomach and so your body is trying to get rid of it.
Eating may help to get rid of it faster.
I would try and eat over the next couple of hours and then if it’s still not belong stop.

I would definitely take immodium tomorrow for the plane journey.
Also if you have any spray do the bathroom doesn’t smell.

I would look at how expensive flights are if you wake up tomorrow feeling just as bad or worse and then see if you can spend a day or 2 extra there.

If you’re somewhere like Egypt, don’t mess around - send husband to pharmacy and get him to describe your symptoms. They’ll sort you out and you’ll be fine to fly. I was due to go diving in the Red Sea before I was struck and the pharmacist sorted me out.

Can you ring your insurers? They'll have an emergency number to ring when you're away. They can authorise an emergency dr and any forward costs (ie having to stay on at your current location for a few days). That's what insurance is for.

Can you get some Cocodamol as well as the immodium? The Codeine in it will slow down the bowel and help bung you up - long term ibs sufferer here! Even better if you can get a stronger version than the 8/500 usually purchased over the counter - it might be possible to get a stronger version where you are. I take the occasional 30/500 tablet I get prescribed from the doctor for ibs.

I was you a few months ago OP.

Had to fly home with what I now know was Salmonella poisoning and severe dehydration.

Don't take immodioum today. Let whatever is going on run it's course as much as possible but do take it before you fly. I dosed up on it and prayed the whole way home. Didnt need the loo on the plane at all thank the lord.

Also, DP got us a room at departures (hotel within departures where you can book rooms by the hour) so I was able to get a few hours sleep and use the loo as much as needed in private before flying. Only cost 40 euro but was a lifesaver.

Good luck!

You've got 24 hours and I'm sure it will have eased up a bit by then. I've been in this situation and I used the thick maternity pads or thickest night time sanitary pads you DH can get for you. Was some pants now with shampoo or whatever and hang them up to dry if you don't have any clean ones left to take with you on the plane and take a couple of pairs of trousers. I think it will be manageable by tommorow.

I'd say more likely canary islands. Plenty of chemists there.

@Walrus6 we're in Tenerife.

@Afterfire I've taken cocodemol before and it made me sick so probably best not or I'll just be swapping one problem for another!

Contact your travel insurers.

Their advice and support is what you paid the premium for.

If you haven't bought insurance, then you'll need immodium and a supply of adult incontinence pants and wipes, obtainable from any pharmacy.

@whynotwhatknot we've only had bottled the whole time we've been away.

Hmm if it's norovirus, there's a fair chance that you'll all come down with it.

I'd let your gut rest today, nothing other than water and then start taking Immodium in the morning. 2 initially and then after each loose movement if you have one.

Are you in Cyprus OP, sounds like you are. There is a chain of doctors I can’t remember name but they have clinics everywhere, you can make an appointment. Shouldn’t be more than €50 and they can prescribe or state you are not fit to fly.

You would need medical proof for the insurer for them to pay out, they won’t just take your word for it that you where too ill to fly.