Holiday booked soon but bladder pain ongoing, would you still go?

[spiggyholes]

I currently have constant pain and pressure in my bladder from what I think maybe interstitial cystitis. I have had this happen only twice before in the last 9 years but both times the pain has lasted months before it finally calmed down. No idea what triggers it or if it actually is IC or a stubborn UTI that won't shift - have had 3 days antibiotics which have done nothing. The thing is we've booked a big family holiday to Central America, leaving in 4 days and I'm massively stressed out about how I might manage it. Would you still go, taking loads of painkillers with you and hoping for the best? Or back out of the trip? I really don't know what to do. This is our holiday of a lifetime and I don't want to miss out but I also don't want to go and be miserable and a drag on everyone else. What would you do?

Have you informed your travel insurance? It sounds like you’re not diagnosed, so you probably won’t be covered for anything related to it while you’re away, since it started before the start of your holiday.

Did you declare this to your travel insurance and will they therefore cover cancellation?

Usually travel insurance will cover a condition if it started after booking the holiday. They ask the booking date and if there’s anything medical after that date it’s covered.
They also ask if you’ve been to the doctor or had investigations in a specific period before booking the holiday - I can’t remember what this time period was for my insurance I think it may have been 1 year prior but not sure.

I cant offer any suggestions but I just want to say you poor thing its so agonising. I had it 25 years ago and will never forget the pain.
Have you tried amitriptyline or similar to dampen the nerve pain. Id speak to GP to ask for some.
I found the cause of mine was sex. Or it aggravated it anyway. It suddenly stopped when I got divorced. Not suggesting you get divorced but a period of celibacy might help.

If you don't go, the condition won't feel different and you'll be miserable and pissed off on top of it. I'm not suggesting you "suck it up", but you may as well go and feel crap as stay at home and feel worse.

I wouldn't. It sounds as if you need further treatment or investigation . . .

Often, if it’s undiagnosed, they’ll cover you to cancel, but not cover to travel if there’s no diagnosis. It’s really important to check the policy wording and speak to the insurer to be sure.

They May also cover you to travel and exclude the undiagnosed co diction, which would be massively risky.

Hello OP. As an aside, if you are over 40 vaginal estrogen might help. GSM can cause symptoms like interstitial cystitis. It might take a while to work though so not a quick fix. Xxxx

I was going to say if it was a hotel based holiday where you were going to be able to be close to a bathroom at almost all times I’d go. A multi stop itinerary around Latin America is very different though. I’d be calling the insurance people.

and seeing the GP today if possible

If OP has had similar symptoms in the last 9 years it depends whether they were in the period when her insurers required her to notify - usually one of 2 years. If it want in the last couple of years then she needs to check the policy wording but they will likely cover cancellation IF doctor recommends it. She's also likely to be covered if needing treatment abroad but best to notify insurers and check. (Mine covers me for conditions that arose after booking, had to check once).

If you are starting vaginal oestrogen you may be able to use daily initially. If you can afford it I'd pay for a private ultrasound of your bladder, could be one or more bladder stones.

Thanks for replies. I have been on vaginal estrogen for a few years as have bladder prolapse. GP has given me 4 more days of antibios today but I’m doubtful they’ll help. I’m not officially diagnosed with IC, but think that maybe it as the pain pattern matches (pain as bladder fills not when I pee). It’s just odd that it is so infrequent - only 3 attacks in 10 yrs. If I didn’t go on the holiday, my family would go without me so I wouldn’t expect to get any money back. I hadn’t thought about insurance potentially not covering treatment needs while away tho. I better check that out! Charlotte - my husband said the same! Go and feel crap or stay home and feel crap AND miserable at missing out. This maybe right, I am worried about the minibus journeys we have to do tho! - 2 of 3 hours and one of 6 hours. Just bought myself one of those toilet bags that turn your pee to gel in case of dire emergency. Ugh I just cannot decide whether to tough it out and go or stay home. Such terrible timing.

If this is a family group and the minibus is just for your family then just get them to stop while you water a bush. If you cancel you should get at least your fare back, maybe something more but as hotel costs are likely the same probably not much.

With a bladder prolapse stone formation is more likely. Private scan could be as little as £120, depends where you are www.communityultrasound.co.uk/private-kidneys-bladder-ultrasound-scan/

I wouldn't be backing out of a trip in 4 days time, because you'll lose all your money. Will being at home make any difference to your condition? What sorted it out last time? I would ring the doctor again today or tomorrow morning, if you've missed the slot for calling today, and tell them your worries and see if anything else can be done. Re: the long minibus trips - surely you'll stop for comfort breaks? I couldn't go all that time without stopping!

OP when you speak to your insurers be careful - undiagnosed symptoms will not be covered. However if you say your gp is treating you for a urinary infection, which is presumably the diagnosis you have been given, then they are likely to cover further treatment if needed.

I get these pains and suffered for years until I hit perimenopause and started using 30mg vaginal estrogen pessaries. Turned it off instantly! Needs to be the silver bullets not the little tablets for me! Turns out that the bladder needed estrogen. Initial problems started when I took depo provera which caused hormone disruption which impacted my bladder.

@Genxhausted this echoes my experience and I also feel my issues started with the Mirena. P.s. you mention 'silver bullets' - what are these? Id be interested to know. Xxx

I think I’m not going to go. I just feel too stressed out about the whole thing with the travelling around and all the activities. I could probably sack them off and say behind in hotel but what’s the point of that? Beyond gutted but I won’t want to spend the whole time anxious and looking for the next toilet. Am going to try and see a Urogynae privately and find out what the hell this thing is. I can’t bear the constant burning day and night.

They are melting pessaries 30mg. They come wrapped in silver foil ( hence silver bullets ). Ask your doctor!

Check your nhs app to see exactly what the dr wrote eg if they put uti, 7 days antibiotics you need to call your insurance and state that, this means you should be covered, if you don’t call them it means your insurance is null and void. I’d go, take pain killers but also be optimistic because you’ve only had 3 days of antibiotics so far

I had horrendous bladder pain due to post menopausal vaginal atrophy. Oestrogen pessaries and amitriptylene tablets10mg each night fixed it. The bladder pain was nerve pain not infection. I had to see a urogynaecologist to get the correct treatment. GPs tend to just give ABx which doesn't help.

This is the thing. I highly doubt the antibiotics will work. they haven’t before when it’s felt like this. I feel I’m in a high state of anxiety now about it that will only make things worse if I take the trip. I’m already on vaginal oestrogen. I had amytriptiline last time this happened but it turned me into a total zombie so I’m not super keen for that again.

Not what you asked, but have you tried D-Manosse? Honestly, I call them the magic tablets. I order off Amazon, but as you need them so quick, get to Holland and Barrett or local health shop and get some today.

I’d go on the basis they sell Azo over there ! Bring loads back with you, it numbs the bladder and urethra so you’ll have no pain!

you’re going to be in pain whether you stay or go, so I’d go!

Dont know where my message went -probably on an entirely different thread. I'd never heard of Azo but you can buy in the uk, online with next day delivery available. https://www.webmd.com/drugs/otc-brands/azo-urinary-tract-infection-products

and https://vitamingo.co.uk/product/azo-urinary-maximum-strength-24-tablets/

Thanks. You have all been really helpful. I have been taking lots of d mannose daily for over a week and started on aloe Vera tablets too which are meant to help bladder. I do have that Azo stuff as well but not sure I could take it for the whole holiday. 11 days!