Oh, penny! I'm so sorry to read this. I've no advice on the trip insurance as I've not traveled enough to use it. Wouldn't a UTI be considered an "emergency" though? Doesn't emergency cover sporadic ailments? I will suggest though, if you're prone to them, get your doctor to write you a couple of antibiotics scripts to keep on hand. Waiting a week for a diagnosis is dangerous. I've never waited more than 48 hrs and that includes a culture test. You don't mess with UTIs. :( Wishing you a speedy recovery (and negative test results on the UTI!).

I'm no expert on travel insurance though I've purchased it a couple times. We have discussed that here before and there are many who have purchased it and can probably weigh in with more info. It does seem like it would be a good idea in your situation.

Also wanted to say I'm so sorry you are in this situation. I have a neighbor who has psoriatic arthritis and the medication she takes definitely impacts her immunity resulting in multiple episodes of shingles recently!

Thanks, tartan and 3katz...yeah it usually doesn't take this long. The antibiotic they prescribe first has sometimes been the wrong one for the culture, so I have to wait to see which one is going to work. In other words the dip stick was positive, but they don't know in-office what the bacteria will respond to.

My husband could have done the culture at work within 24 hours, but they won't/can't take his results.

Bells Palsy is a virus, so that's a whole other thing :(

DH had Bells Palsy once - his was caused by shingles on his facial nerve. Have you had it before and/or know that it's a "simple" viral infection or do you need to investigate further? Ugghhh....so sorry you are dealing with this.

Yes, 3katz, I had it once before...woke up with half my face on the floor...I knew nothing about Bells Palsy (never even heard of it) so I got over the doc asap. What a mess, huh? "eating" becomes a real fun adventure....But yes, I can still make a fist and my shoulder isn't drooping and I can walk, fine...but thanks for the cautionary note :)

Penny I'm so very sorry..these things always seem to come in a row..very overwhelming and painful as hell and all

I used to always take trip insurance until my husband told me it's largely useless thing as they cover so few of cases. No idea whether it's true.

I usually go anyway if something is big and planned in advance..but I have my medicines, and all lined up. I don't know what I'd do if nothing is definite and treatment is not determined.

Vacation can be a lot of suffering..I had couple like these..you're stuck somewhere you're supposed to be enjoying, and it's all mighty stupid. Then when you're back you remember some good things if you were able to see them at all of course.

Had the same thing when they had to determine what kind of bacteria..then I don't remember, I think I had either allergy to the medicine, or side effects(I react very strangely to medicines past few years,even simple antibiotics that I took previously and was fine, can be suddenly hell), so they had to find another one..

I don't know..I can just wish you to feel better soon, and to get treatment that'll take care of things.

Sorry Penny. Regarding the UTI, when results came in, couldn't the doctor fax a script to CVS in CA? I completely understand why you would cancel your trip when you are sick. Hope you feel better.

Thanks, you two...Yes the prescription could have gone there, no problem, but I'll have to get to the doctor later for the Palsy...I think there's a shot involved as well as an anti-viral. If it was just the uti, I was going to go.

My husband made some calls and we lost a couple hundred-ish. (that he's telling me...it may be more but he knows I feel terrible about the whole thing)

I haven’t had to use travel insurance, but I recently had to cancel concert tickets and had bought insurance thru Allianz, which I believe also insures Delta’s tickets I purchase thru Amex. I have my account setup to auto purchase the insurance. Got a full refund within a few days for the tickets because of DH’s shoulder surgery. I provided an electronic copy of his surgery orders with the online application for refund. Easy.

edited to add, Penny, your DH may have a couple hundred in rebooking fees, which is fairly usual. So your tickets are being ‘held’ so you can rebook the tripat another time.

We recently took a vacation to the Dominican Republic when I was in the middle of an asthma flare. I was not able to enjoy myself and actually got worse...thought I might end up in a Dominican hospital. I wished I was home the whole time and the stress likely made it worse, not to mention the humidity. I think you made the right decision. California will still be there when you are feeling better...which I hope is soon!

Our airline credit card basically offers the same insurance coverage for no additional charge. Check your credit card benefits.

Penny, I have no words of wisdom to offer but just want to tell you how sorry I am that things are difficult at the moment. I wish you all the very best and hope you feel better soon.

I’m so sorry you are not feeling well. I definitely would have cancelled. I always buy insurance for trips out of the country, but not for within the US. However, this year I bought Allianz multi-trip insurance which covers all my travel for a year.

Aww thanks everyone. Your kindness continues to make me tear up! I can't even blame hormones :(

It's not such a huge deal, but my DH thought that the sea and the beach and stuff would be good for me, which was so lovely...

Guess, I can at least unpack... :(

Checking into Alianz now..I appreciate it!

Penny, I am so sorry you are not feeling well. I work for a travel advisory firm and have an annual policy with MedJet Assist in case I have to be evacuated and brought home. I also buy additional trip insurance through Allianz on a trip by trip basis. The insurance is inexpensive.

A friend broke her hip in Spain and did not have insurance. The cost to bring her home was in the six figures because she had to lie flat and had to be brought back on a special plane. Another friend fell and broke her arm in Vietnam, had insurance and was brought home at no cost.

Penny I am sorry to hear that you are having such a tough time. I hope that this is a passing thing and that things will be back to normal asap. It sounds like your dh is very thoughtful with planning your trip. Maybe things will subside and the two of you can have a staycation. I dont know anything about travel insurance.

Penny, I'm sorry about not feeling tip-top and having to cancel the trip. Your health matters most.

Penny, I hope you feel better soon, and can look forward to a rescheduled trip. When it’s your health, not going was probably the best decision. I don’t know if your travel insurance would cover this type of situation or not, but I do think it is important to have insurance, especially when traveling outside the country.

This time last year DH and I were on an extended trip across SE Asia. With two weeks left before heading home, he had a bad fall and fractured his ankle on both sides. Communicating with the insurer was somewhat tricky from the opposite end of the world but luckily for us his ambulance, surgery, hospital stay, medications and a nurse medical escort to bring him home were all covered. We also ended up having to stay in our hotel for those final two weeks (we had planned to travel on and visit elsewhere) but the hotel graciously covered the extra days that we were there.

As for for credit card insurance, it turns out that the great coverage with our major VISA card which we have had for many years ends once you turn 65. I was never notified of this on my birthday, but a year or two before, on receiving a replacement card, I was moved to read the fine print. So it is always good to check the coverage offered.

I think I'm confused..I was talking about cancellation thing, refunds and all, if one can't make the flight..and now I read about medical insurance for the trip itself? If something happens during the trip?

I'm sorry to have misunderstood if so?

I was referring to last minute cancellations, and maybe it's not what it was about at all

some horror stories..I read and start sweating..

I know that our medical insurance covers emergencies when out of the country..

I don't want to take this OT, I just realize that I'm more illiterate than I thought. Which is a lot of illiterate lol

Penny feel better soon please!!

Thanks april...yes the question was about cancelling last minute due to illness (for me) but really I need to look into what happens if you get sick while you're away. It's not something you really think about until it's too late, you know? So I need to research and be better prepared.

It's all really useful information...

Penny, I was researching for my frequent-traveler DD and this site really clarified the pros and cons:

https://www.consumerismcommentary.com/the-pros-and-cons-of-trip-cancellation-insurance-programs/ 

Penny, have you seen someone for the Bell's palsy? Sometimes with RA people make Antiphospholipid antibodies which can cause clots which can affect kidneys, or stroke if the clotting is arterial and pulmonary embolisms or DVT if venous. You should see a doctor for the face drop. even with a history of Bell's palsy a ct and a d dimmer test to rule out clots is not a bad idea and ask to be tested for APS if clots are suspected. Hope you feel better soon.

Thanks roarah, yes, I'm going today but can't call the rheumatologist until Monday. I'll check if the bloodwork involved that test (I can see my results online)...

Interesting information and thank you..