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Holiday worry

(40 Posts)
dollydaydream68 Wed 02-Jul-25 09:51:18

I know I've posted about this before. My husband has recently been in hospital for a blocked bowel. This happens occasionally due to a medical problem.
His last episode was a couple of years ago, but there's no routine to it.
We're going away soon and I really worry about it and all the 'what ifs' he's ill again.
We're in the U K so I know I could phone an ambulance.
Selfishly I worry about how would I cope alone. He says if I really don't want to go we can cancel. I can't do that he lives our trips away and I know I'm being stupid.
Any word of wisdom very welcome.
We're in a caravan and I have insurance if we need to be brought home.
Thank you

Samsara1 Wed 02-Jul-25 09:53:21

I have a DH with some bowel issues and as long as he has a management plan in place to cope with eventualities I would say go on holiday relax and enjoy.

Lathyrus3 Wed 02-Jul-25 09:59:09

I think the possibility of illness on holiday is something we just have to accept as we get older. Or never go away at all.

Really I don’t see that it would be much different to if it happened at home as you are in the UK.

You’ll call an ambulance, he’ll be treated in the nearest hospital, you’ll stay in the caravan like you would stay at home f he was being treated.

Is it that you don’t drive and couldn’t visit the hospital! Or that you’re afraid of being alone in the caravan?

What is it exactly that is making you anxious?

MickyT Wed 02-Jul-25 09:59:54

Stop worrying about what might or might not happen, you have things in place for any emergencies, go on holiday together, and enjoy the here and now

Shelflife Wed 02-Jul-25 10:18:23

You will have the security of being in the UK so on home ground. I feel you should go and not dwell to much on the
' what if' ho and enjoy your time away . As you say if the worst happens you will be able to access help. Good luck.

dollydaydream68 Wed 02-Jul-25 10:30:02

Thanks for your encouragement. I don't drive

Crossstitchfan Wed 02-Jul-25 10:37:05

I know it must be worrying for you. I would be the same. Basically, you have choices. You can either go, knowing you have access to help and a hospital, if needed. Or you can stay home, wondering how it would have been if you had gone.
If you were going abroad, I might advise caution (not because medical help abroad is necessarily poor, but because of the logistics involved). As you are staying in the UK, I would go for it.
Have a wonderful time!

woodenspoon Wed 02-Jul-25 10:38:55

dollydaydream68

Thanks for your encouragement. I don't drive

Perhaps it’s time to learn!

Lathyrus3 Wed 02-Jul-25 11:09:17

woodenspoon

dollydaydream68

Thanks for your encouragement. I don't drive

Perhaps it’s time to learn!

I’m learning to be at ease with calling cabs.

It’s hard but I think a worthwhile learning curve.

Equip yourself with a few local cab numbers where you are staying OP.

woodenspoon Wed 02-Jul-25 11:15:13

That’s a very good idea.

Visgir1 Wed 02-Jul-25 11:23:08

If you are on Holiday in the UK, you will be fine. Any major problems you can call 999.
Make sure you take all his meds and just enjoy yourself.
Have a nice time 🌞

Woollywoman Wed 02-Jul-25 11:52:11

Do you have something you can take when you are feeling stressed/too worried? I take a Propanalol tablet in these situations - a very useful occasional prop (sorry about the pun!). You would need to ask your local surgery about this.

Please do go and try to enjoy the hol - as others have said, you can always call an ambulance or 111 for advice.

Mt61 Wed 02-Jul-25 12:02:47

Oh you are in this country so he will be fine. Have a good time 😊

rosie1959 Wed 02-Jul-25 12:22:40

Go and enjoy your holiday there is little point in worrying about something that may never happen. You are holidaying in the UK so no real need if anything does go wrong pretty sure you will cope as you do at home.
Suggest downloading the UBER app to you phone knowing then you can always get a taxi if you need one.

dollydaydream68 Wed 02-Jul-25 14:37:44

Thanks, I have the Uber app and take meds for anxiety.

Caleo Wed 02-Jul-25 15:25:51

Dolly, can you use a mobile phone? If not you need to ensure that where you will be on holiday has someone handy, a hotel manager, or some other person who can make a a urgent call for you, and call for a taxi .

You also need to know how to pay the taxi driver .e,g cash, or plastic card.
I do sympathise with you and your situation, and I understand you need for help on deciding how to cope when on holiday.

dollydaydream68 Wed 02-Jul-25 15:41:26

We're caravanning in Cornwall.

Retroladywriting Wed 02-Jul-25 18:25:37

Do you have any family members or friends that could be called on to help out should you need a lift or just moral support in an emergency? Might be an idea to run the possibility of needing help through them before you go.
PS I'm in Cornwall on holiday right now and it's lovely- go for it!

Catterygirl Wed 02-Jul-25 22:54:28

I was given Propanalol for panic attacks before travelling but on the packet, it said not allowed to stop taking it without a doctor’s approval. I used deep breathing instead.

Woollywoman Thu 03-Jul-25 09:12:17

Hi Catterygirl, it is ok to take Propanalol occasionally - I take it when I have a migraine (thankfully not very often these days), and in stressful situations if I feel I need calming down.
It depends on why you’re taking it as to whether you need to be careful about stopping taking it.
As it’s a prescribed drug you would need to have had advice from a GP anyway.
Glad the deep breathing helps you.

Whitewavemark2 Thu 03-Jul-25 09:16:16

dollydaydream68

We're caravanning in Cornwall.

Truro A&E is very pleasant😄 I was there on my last holiday to Cornwall.

Elegran Thu 03-Jul-25 10:10:48

I don't think the OP is posting so much about her husband being OK - she knows how to get an ambulance to get him to A & E, and they will deal with the problem then - but about coping with the logistics of life in the caravan without him, and about visiting the hospital without driving.

Make friends with the organisers of the site as soon as you get there, and mention your worries. They are very helpful if needed, so are fellow caravanners.

Is it a touring van or a static one? If it is a static, daily life will be the same as in a house. It will be wired and plumbed in, with the same facilities as home.

A touring van will need you doing things that your OH probably did (as mine did) - filling the water tank and emptying a Portaloo for instance. You presumably have a rolling water-barrel, and the Portaloo tank can be strapped to a sack barrow to transport it to an emptying point. If you have not done these things, get him to give you a demonstration in case it is necessary.

Same with managing gas bottles if that is how you cook and heat the van (but these days touring vans have microwaves, electric cookers and heaters. When we started decades ago, we had gas lighting with fragile gas mantles that disintegrated if they were shaken around while travelling, a one-burner gas ring and a grill that took one slice of toast at a time and left that pale round the edges. I remember trying to grill sausages after sunset one evening. If I turned up the gas on the grill, the lights went out. If I turned it back down to see, the sausages stopped cooking. We travelled with a box of new gas mantles, and mostly ate tinned stuff or ate out.)

Go - you will be OK.

dollydaydream68 Thu 03-Jul-25 13:13:58

Thanks Elegran, that's exactly right. What if site full and I can't stay.? Have some notes on how to live in van but I do struggle. Need more practice!

dollydaydream68 Thu 03-Jul-25 13:15:03

Husband just says it'll be fine. I did once have to call an ambulance when we were away.

Etoile2701 Thu 03-Jul-25 14:13:59

It's not that easy, and anyway not everyone is a natural driver. I know I'm not.