Nina66

We been to Paris numerous times, but always in early to late Spring and in the Fall. We've experienced cold, wet, weather there, but never anything extreme like Winter weather.

My mild asthma is under control with my medications. But .. when we were in New York during the holidays in '04 I suffered an attack on our last night my first one in years, and I had to go to the emergency hospital. It was very cold, but only a little snow here and there.

Get to the point Nina... I'm not seeking medical advice, but I'm wondering how cold it is around that time of year?

Is it worth it to see the lights and decorations that I've dreamt of seeing for so long? Aside from the Christmas crowds in the stores, is the City much different than at other times of the year? We'd be there for two weeks.

Thanks,

Nina

ira

Hi N,

>Is it worth it to see the lights and decorations that I've dreamt of seeing for so long?<

Of course.

Does cold weather always trigger an attack, or was it peculiar to NYC?

Nina66

Ira, just that one time in NY. We had a place in Lake Tahoe for years and the winter weather never bothered me.

That trip to NY was our first during the Winter, so the attack was totally unexpected.

I had a minor one the first night there and then was fine for two weeks, until the last night - Stupidly I waited waaaaaay too long to go to the emergency, but fortunately I was able to take our scheduled flight back home to San Francisco later that day.

Would the cold weather in Paris be as severe as it was in NY?

Someone recommended drinking no cold drinks and drinking something warm every few hours.

The NY attack really scared me and that is why I am asking.

Nina

P_M

Nina, I have asthma and traveling to Paris in January was quite a problem for me. Not because of weather, but because there is so much cigarette smoke indoors. Of course when it's cold, they don't have the doors and windows open for ventilation. I was there for a week and when I got home I missed 3 days of work because I was ill. So if you are sensitive to cigarette smoke, please take this into consideration.

ira

Hi N,

Sounds to me as if the asthma problem was NYC, not cold weather.

However, since I am not an MD, I cannot speak with authority.

You can find monthly highs and lows for Paris at www.weather.com.

Have a lovely visit, and bring your medicine.

Underhill

And take with you a list of restaurants where smoking is not allowed AT ALL.

Nina66

Could I possibly be allergic to NYC? ;-) Maybe just in winter and not the Spring.

P_M, I never thought about the cigarette smoke in Paris during the cold weather. Very good point. Each trip to Paris we find that more and more restaurants have _real_ separate non smoking sections, not just one or two tables right in the middle of the smoking tables.

The smoke doesn't bring on an attack, but I do feel the difference in my breathing. I hadn't even thought about being trapped with no ventilation. That is now something else for me to consider.

I just remembered that we were in Amsterdam about 6 years ago for one week in January. It was cold, but I felt fine.

Ira - you may be on to something, but don't hang out your shingle quite yet - not until the tests results are in.

Nina

Robin4

I am an asthmatic. I have lived in New York and had to move because I had difficulty breathing there. Having said that, I did not have any more difficulty breathing there in the winter.

I went to Paris last February, it was extremely cold. I did not have any asthma problems. I took my medication and made sure I always had a scarf to cover my mouth and prevent the cold air going directly into my lungs. I did not have a problem in restaurants.

semiramis

I have asthma. The only time I found that cold especially aggravated it (and actually caused an attack that led to an emergency department visit) was going immediately out into very cold air just after returning from down south. I think the suddenness of the change from warm to cold air triggered the attack. My advice: let your lungs acclimatize with short exposures to the colder air when you first arrive.

Nina66

Now that that problem is solved, I can move on to the next one ...airfare. We use FF miles to upgrade to business. When I hear the holiday fares, I will probably have a different kind of attack ;-) or at least DH will.

Nina

chiarachiara

Nina - if at all possible - go! I have been to Paris a few times during September/October and once in December. I cannot describe the magic I experienced - the lights, the decorations and the overall atmosphere! It makes for some of my fondest memories.

Nina66

In order to take this trip, I had to scratch four things off of my list:
1. asthma info

2. airline reservations - hopefully upgraded seats

3. a particular apartment that I had hoped to get

4. THE MOST IMPORTANT .. boarding in a loving home, uncaged, for my wonderful 10 month old Shih Tzu, Monsieur Zebulon - Zebby for short.

Thanks to you guys, United Airlines, and the apartment owner, I was able to scratch off the first three things in only a few hours - #4 seems to be the impossible part. Our sitter will be gone for the holidays and it looks that will be the really hard part.

Since time is of the essence for the airline and apartment, I have to find someone NOW. ;-(

Nina

P_M

Nina, I have a shih tzu too. By any chance, do you live anywhere near Austin, TX? Maybe we could trade babysitting services.

LoveItaly

Oh Nina, if I still had my house I would have taken your darling little pup, I did that for a few friends at times. Have you checked with your Vet? A friend of mine did and one of their employees took her little pup to her house and it has worked out perfect when my friend has taken trips. Just a thought. P_M, Nina lives in N CA but what a great offer.

P_M

Darn, our little dog would have enjoyed hosting a canine companion. <sigh>

muskoka

I, too, have mild asthma but was advised by my dr. to begin an inhaled steroid three days prior to travelling to Europe. Very cold weather, cigarette smoke, perfumes can easily trigger an attack. Filling in when necessary with a rescue inhaler seems to make everything a little easier overall when the steroid is begun early. There is less inflammation and the attacks are warded off (at least for me).

muskoka

I forgot to add that my worst attacks have been in NYC: pollution from all those cabs!

Nina66

P_M, I too thought that you were a Nor Cal gal. Funny, we just met a lady from Texas, I'll have to check to see it was Austin, who has two or three of our little fur balls plus she does a word of mouth rescue. I think she has five of them now! I know that little Zebby would have loved staying with you guys. Thanks so much for the thought.

LoveItaly, if he came home with just l/10 of your wit and and graciousness, it would be such a pleasure to leave him with you.

Tommorrow I'll hit the ground running and call every one I can. DH bless him, said to go ahead and book the flight and apartment as we will have over five months to find someone.

Nina

LoveItaly

Oh Nina, I don't even know what to say regarding your gracious comments to me, except to say thank you.

I have found myself trying to think of of someone who could care for your pup while you are in Paris. There has to be someone, but of course you want to make sure that it is someone who will give give your pup loving care. If I can think of a person I will sure let you know. Best regards.

travelbunny

..just a comment re apt- try to avoid a damp one. Molds and dustmites love these conditions. If you do run into problems, the public hospitals in Paris are very good as is the American hospital in Neuilly.