Flying
Posted , 8 users are following.
Just wondered if anyone has come down with an infection after an air flight? I fly to Europe on holiday and have found even taking precautions I seem to come down with an infection a couple of days after landing.
0 likes, 12 replies
broadsword madeleine89263
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it led to pneumonia and a torn rib cartilage from coughing too much. The latter still pains me from time to time. It led to a holiday from nightmares as I refused hospital admission. The alternative, strong antibiotics gave their own side effects of tendon pain and rash that simply added to problems.
i suggest infection control procedures including regular hand gel not touching toilet surfaces or doors without using a hand wipe/towel etc . A face mask may help but most people might think that over the top. Better to travel with others you know are free from respiratory infections including colds. Even so gel armrests and table surfaces. Such measures have helped me since.
Recirculating air air on planes is ridden with risks and some airlines may be better than others ar cleaning or renewing filters.
dancing_queen madeleine89263
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Yes, I am very prone to infections after flying. Also, like yourself, I become ill a couple of days after flying. I took a course of antibiotics finishing them the day before I flew and still got an infection. My doctor says its due to the change in the weather conditions.
4jean madeleine89263
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madeleine89263
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jackie14837 madeleine89263
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steve62514 madeleine89263
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Have not noticed any additional impact of travel on my infections. Same with my history of bronchitis before bronchX.
Stress and tiredness that are well-known to be associated with holidays (family ones in particular) may be a contributory factor in temporarily reducing the effectivenes of the immune system. Possible ways of reducing stress would be:
* holidaying during low and shoulder seasons to avoid crowds at airports, hotels, restaurants
* sending more money on avoiding cattle class (I nearly always travel economy myself though and agree it's difficult to contemplate the premiums, but there is no doubt that greater legroom, nicer seats and more tailored food is less stressy
* planning - don't put yourself in those stressy transiting situations between flights or when travelling to/from airports. Leave plenty of time so you can breeze through in a calm manner with time to stop for a relaxing (and unfortunately often expensive) snack/coffee
* planning - do lots of research about your holiday destination and eg ask other travellers online about how to negotiate airport to hotel and getting foreign currency; don't try to see everything by rushing around
* consider taking more relaxing holidays at home where you take it very easy in a place you know - foreign holidays to new destinations increase stress levels
Common sense stuff and I'm sure everyone else would come up with more tips.
Do I follow my own advice? Nah! Certainly not when I'm on my own, but it helps now I have a wife and family who prefer to take life easy and relax in the hotel and for long meals rather than rush around taking in views, events and tourist destinations
tabatha84296 steve62514
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We took a lengthy train trip to Seattle last year and even tho we were seated and it was relaxing it's still kind of stressful when u have to get off the train and find transport to hotel etc. etc. So we do that and what???? my husband wants to take a tour of the city (well sort of)
walking! He asked if I was going to go and I said no thanks, just let me stay here and unpack. I was winded from walking down the long corridor, needed to do my inhaler, couldn't see me stepping out on the street to sightsee etc. So off he goes, gets totally lost because the streets are curvy and not what he thinks streets should be and finally comes back maybe 2 hrs later. He's learned his way around and the next morning when I'm staying in bed, he's off again sightseeing some wonderful things and taking pictures of it all, Again he's gone a couple of hours. He's older than me but very healthy and I hate that I can't keep up but I wanted you to know it made me feel good to hear you say what is in my thoughts and I too focus on domestic holidays as they can be stressful enough esp. when driving.
Tabatha
steve62514 tabatha84296
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Want to take them to the US next year - I worked there for a couple of years and love the place. But I can just imagine, Grand Canyon (not interesting) Yosemite (not interesting) [steaks and seafood will be a great hit as will be the theme parks in Florida or California].
tabatha84296 steve62514
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He also got on a Greyhound bus all by himself at 17 and took a trip back to his old hometown to visit friends. I was totally amazed at this. As you say, it's probably a man thing. Plus he had the money to do all this!!!!
Well hopefully your couch potato is not that in real life, and only like that on vacations while believing she is stuck in hotel rooms : )
See what Madeleine started??
Happy Father's Day - do they have that where you are?
Tabatha
tabatha84296 madeleine89263
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I still had the drugs in me and had enough for the flight back home. And that turned out OK too. I was thankful to have made it with no pain. So we get in the car and drive the hour and a half back home. When we got to the outskirts of town I opened the window to feel the air and see if it was warm or hot. It was evening and dark. At that moment I just know something flew into the car and made me sneeze and come down with such 'an allergy' I thought. Have no idea what it was in the air that night but I ended up sick with bronchitis for a couple of weeks. And I'd been on an antibiotic for 7 days but I'd finished it two days prior. NOW, reading Madeleine's question, I'm wondering if it was something from the plane I mean, what could fly in the car and make me sick for that two seconds I had the window open?.
My son and his wife do not understand why I don't fly; I don't want to burden them with all my problems. I assure them I'm not 'afraid' to fly it's just that I have such pain. And they throw it back that I had no problem on that flight to the island. (I don't tell them about the BX or other lung things that make me afraid to get near crowds of people and about the fear of germs.)
We took a train ride this year, quite a long one, and there was not anybody we met on that train who wanted to fly. They were all insistent on taking a train to get to their destination rather than fly, for different reasons. I used to fly and had no problem for years but not knowing if I'll have this head pain again and on what type of plane etc. I'm not taking a chance. And especially now as I'm older and with a maybe substandard immune system why take a chance on getting a germ that could be serious and make me worse with my COPD and BX. It's a shame as I have people to visit all over and in Australia and the UK. I wonder am I afraid to live a ittle or am I being cautious about my health. Anyway, I think you are right, Madeleine - it's risky. And the older you are the more risk involved I'd guess.
Russell27NOLA madeleine89263
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Best
Russ
madeleine89263
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Madeleine