RE: Panic Alert - We leave Monday!

[Mickey-4-Me]

We (family of 5) leave on Monday (September 15th) and I have NOTHING done! I am in panic mode. Actually, I am too sick to be in panic mode. I have been fighting nausea and diarrhea for about a week. Yesterday, my throat started hurting so bad that I couldn't swallow. I took some Claritin, Sudafed, and an antibiotic that I found in my closet. Plus, my husband has been fighting similar symptoms - so - we have just been lying around being sick and lazy together. To top it all off, I have to work Thursday, Friday, and Saturday in the ER (12 hour night shifts! I'm a RN.) I don't have to work Sunday, but I will sleep about 8 hours that day and won't wake up until around 3 or 4 pm. I STILL need to do laundry. I don't even know what I am going to pack.

Vent, Vent, Vent. I need a hug and a vacationer planner (you know like a wedding planner) where you just show up on the day and everything is done for you.

I really just want to cancel everything and go later this year, but all we have pumped this vacation up so much that the kids would be devastated. I don't know what to do. I don't feel up to cleaning, laundry, packing, walking around the world (probably in the rain) and then on the day we return I start a 7 day work week stretch (12 hours!) to make up for lost time. I work a week and have a week off. 12 hours. Did I mention 12 hour shifts.

Help!

 

[kaleighmariesmom]

I am going through a similar thing. Sick 2 year old. I took her to the dr and her dr told me I should go see mine... it is a BAD virus, she thinks I need meds. I dont have time to go with a sick baby.. plus I havent packed and we leave Sat!!! AHHHHH!!!

 

[Eeyore's Wife]

You sure sound like my son when he gets strep throat. The upset tummy and general ick always set in before the throat pain. Have you gotten a rapid strep test?

I know you started an "old" bottle of antibiotics, but you still need to get the test. Any other advice I hand out will be useless if you are really ill.

As to packing, just wash what has to be washed, as in socks and underpants. Unless the other clothes either reek or have obvious stains, just pack them up and wear them again. Tell your kids it is prep for college. My kids start the day in clean clothes, but by 11 a.m. it is impossible to tell if the clothes were clean or "creatively recycled."

In a pinch, just start the day in rumpled clothes.

My friend with seven kids says, "Don't worry about packing, because you will always forget something, and there is always a walmart where I am going." I am a prep freak, but planning on making a stop at Wal-Mart of Target when you get there might take off some of the stress.


You could always give your husband or kids the responsibility of packing themselves for the trip. I know if I let my boys and hubby do this they would wear unmatched silly clothes all week, but this is vacation, you are not getting graded by someone else.

The pictures from your week there might be very funny in the years to come.

Lastly, you could tell your hubby that he takes the kids to the parks the first few days at the world. You can then catch up on sleep, get to feeling better, and he will have a special chance to bond with the kids.

I love to plan as much as any person on the planet, but there are times when we all have to cut ourselves a little slack.

So, see a doc, try to get some rest, and relax, no one gets to judge you...but you.

--Eeyore's Wife

 

[Mickey-4-Me]

Thanks for your help/advice.

I couldn't stand it any longer (plus I didn't want it to get worse and not enjoy our trip) and went to my ER (where I work). I couldn't believe it but I have a UTI (urinary tract infection). The PA (physician's assistant) called it a "raging bladder infection". My bacteria count was 4+. They determine them as 1+, 2+, 3+, 4+ (which is the highest). There were some other lab values, but they were all high. I couldn't believe it. I don't have the typical symptoms of frequency and burning, just some nausea, generalized weakness, and abdominal pain (not to mention the sore throat symptoms). The strep was negative, although I didn't think it was quite strep yet, but I do feel as if it is going to get worse.

I got a liter of normal saline (because I'm dehydrated my systolic blood pressure was in the 90's!), Rocephin IV, and some scripts for Macrobid, Pyridium, and Nasonex.

I'm so glad that I went to the ER. I would have continued self-diagnosing and treating myself for Gastroenteritis and Strep Throat (pharyngitis).

I'm going to follow your advice Eeyore's Wife and hope for the best.
KaleighMarie'sMom - I can empathize. I hope your little girl and yourself get better and have a terrific trip.