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.

Don’t be nasty. Diarrhea is absolutely horrible and the cramps hurt as hell. I have IBS and it almost ruins my life sometimes - especially when traveling. Always checking where the nearest toilets are, and on the plane when it starts and lands you can’t get up and go. It’s horrible and not dramatic.

You’re not being dramatic OP, I don’t have anxiety and I would be worried about having d++ on an airplane! I think shitting oneself in public is a normal thing to be concerned about…

Thank you @Saucepanwarrior and @Mariposista.

On a positive note, I have managed to go a full hour without running to the toilet! Wouldn't usually consider that cause for celebration but I'll take what I can get right now!

Laughing as I gave similar advice on a different thread (Imodium and hope for the best) and got (rightly) completely torn to shreds.

Hope your insurance is helpful and get well soon OP

I think shitting oneself in public is a normal thing to be concerned about…

Thank you @RunningFromInsanity ! I was genuinely starting to wonder if it was just me!

Imodium has been suggested already but if it hasn’t been said above, loperamide is the generic name in case it’s called something different where you are.

It saved me a couple of times when I had to do very long bus journeys in Africa and South America, with awful diarrhoea and no choice but to carry on.

(Not a stealth boast, I don’t go any further than Scotland these days)

I can see that would be the only option on a different kind of trip.

But OP is in a hotel in Tenerife with access to doctors, medication, a clean private room with a private bathroom and has travel insurance.

She shouldn't travel if she's unwell, partly because it's unfair on other travellers who may not be as healthy as her.

And even if they are, OP do you want to be responsible for making people feel as horrendous as you have done since you got sick?

What if they have long journeys coming up? Or connecting flights? Or ill relatives they can't risk making worse? Or a pregnant partner? Or immuno compromised kids in their home?

This is what insurance is for - use it!

Gawd, shitting yourself in the privacy of your own home is pretty bloody awful, but the thought of it happening in public even makes me nervous, and very few things do that!

Imodium plus adult nappy or jnco pads, reduce water intake a few hours before and wear black leggings with some loose black trousers on top. Bring spares.

If all else fails, just run to the toilet shouting dodgy tummy, sorry I need to jump the queue
Good luck !

OP do you want to be responsible for making people feel as horrendous as you have done since you got sick?

No, I really don't. Which is why as I've said DH is currently on the phone to the insurance company and I've already spoken to the hotel staff, although the latter weren't very helpful.

I watched The Real Housewives of New York, one of the richest always wears incontinece nappies (adult) for flights, if not private, as she won[t use the loos.

Go to Mercadona, or similar, get adult nappies, go to farmacia, they are brilliant. Get OTC meds.

No drama. I really don[t think youur insurance will pay a penny for the shits.

My friend and I had food poisoning the last night on holiday. I took Imodium and was able to fly back, feeling a bit dodgy. She didn’t and spent the whole 3 hour flight going back and forth to the loo. I would definitely try Imodium. It’s the best invention ever.

Lord. You poor thing! I nearly had a diarrhoea accident at home the other night - I dread to think what would have happened if I couldn't have got to a toilet instantly. Fingers crossed it settles down overnight for you 🤞🤞

To get any sort of payment from the insurance company you will need a doctors letter saying you’re not fit to fly. So you urgently need to find a doctor.

Sorry to be really blunt and hopefull it won’t happen to you. But this suggesting wear pads - I’d be so worried I smell awful and everyone around me would know.
Genuine question, does that not happen?

This happened to me once, I took Imodium and it definitely worked!

I have severe IBS which is well controlled most of the time (thanks to the FODMAP diet) but I know exactly how you feel OP as I'm still not happy on planes, trains or anywhere where I can't access a loo quickly if necessary. Immodium melts are a lifesaver..... Sometimes I take a couple just to preempt an attack if I'm going somewhere there may not be a loo. I hope that either the insurance company is helpful or that you manage the trip home without any emergencies. Good luck!

DH has been to the chemist and they said you can only get loperimide on prescription here! We are trying to find a doctor, still getting passed from pillar to post on phone to insurance company.

Do NOT stop drinking!!!! Stop drinking water if you think it is suspect, but absolutely do not stop drinking - that way lies kidney failure and a heap of other problems.

When people die of gastroenteritis, it is absence of fluid that sets it in train.

Please drink!!!

Good luck. I suffered IBS when I was younger and every day was as you describe.

You should be able to get a prescription for travel! Hope you get one this evening.

Imodium is great stuff by the way - it will bung you up very quickly! I have IBS and anxiety so I have some experience in this area 😂

Chances are you’ll feel better tomorrow either way, most common bugs are worse on their first day. I wouldn’t move the flight because of it.

What's your solution to that then?

I expect you will be ok tomorrow, as long as you don’t get dehydrated, drink flat, must be flat, original cola, and water. Good luck OP, hope you are feeling better soon.

Update: DH has got loperimide from another chemist. The insurance company keep passing him around to different people. One suggested he call back in the morning if I am still unwell. He said that's not good enough and he wants to speak to someone so they've put him back on hold.

Oh it would happen - as I can verify (!) but I guess you can just look round as if to suggest it isn’t you and the smell is coming from elsewhere - small children nearby….?! I guess it’s better than shit literally falling on the floor. Can’t deny it’s you then!