Flying

Yes is the answer probably acquired flying to or from Canada from NYC.

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.

Hi Madeleine

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.

Yes me too, but thankfully not always. 

Thanks for these replies,it's  interesting...I do take precautions on the plane but, of course, I have strong suspicions about recirculation of air...I was wondering if I was paranoid but it seems not.  My first reacion is to really cut down on flights, it seems fruitless to go on holiday abroad for the warmth and come back to an infection which undoes all the benefits.

Hi Madeleine , I just come back from turkey , no problem for me, I had a bad infection before I went and had antibioics , don't know if this helped , hope you are feeling better now . 

Am a reasonably frequent traveller on planes, though typically only 6 journeys a year are intercontinental/lengthy.

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

I have agonizing pain in the back of my head where the head sits on the neck,  It only happens when the plane descends.  I've been told you know, to chew gum and blow out the ears - (Valsalva maneuver) and yawn etc. and none of that helps. the pain is so severe I'm halfway in tears and panic stricken because I think my head is being pried in two with a crowbar. Nobody else on the plane seems to suffer and I'm in hell.  A doctor told me the mastoid sinuses are back there at the side behind the ear.  so I don't know if that's my problem but I had to fly to an island for my son's wedding and I had to go even tho I hadn't flown in many many years.  I went to ENT Dr.  He offered tubes in my ears but I said no to that - I wasn't sure that would solve my problem and didn't know what that would be like and might cause me more trouble somehow. He didn't seem to understand the pain I had and was talking like it was 'just pain in the ears'. Several days before the trip I practiced the Valsalva maneuver probably too much. Anyway I took antibiotics, Afrin Nasal Spray (just for the flight), antihistamines and decongestants a day before and/or on the flight. Everything went smoothly and I arrived with no problem  Then I found out the wedding was to be on yet another island that we had to fly to in a tiny plane, two days later. Then I was a nervous wreck but again everything was OK there and back as the plane never got very high with it's one engine (or could it possibly have been two). I should have had Valium for that flight.  

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.

Madeleine, I thought that traveling over sea might be a problem, thought I have not been over seas in the last few years. It was a insightful reading all of replys to your question. Thank you for submiting it.

Best

Russ

Thanks for these replies, as always other people's experiences are interesting and welcome.  I must say I did take Steve's comment particularly on board as our holiday was a family one, which included very small children who rise early in the morning, it was fun, lovely to have the whole family together, relaxing...NO.  I do feel I must get a handle on my stress levels, which of course cause extreme tiredness.  I work very hard with diet and trying to reinforce my immune system, but fail when it comes to emotional stress...a woman thing????  I do know the areas I must work harder at...it's putting it into practice! 

​Madeleine