Lilly

Just curious, is it just me, or has anyone else who travels, find themselves sick on vacation or after? This is my 3rd vacation where I've gotten sick. I think it's the nasty germs in the airplane. I seem to be the lucky person who always gets sitted near someone who is sneezing & coughing the entire flight. Why me!!! I'm tired of catching the bug and feeling miserable when going on vacation. Is it just me?

Luke

It's a very common phenomenon, with several causes. One is, as you note, that you are exposed to a variety of new ailments from other people. That exposure can be personal or by way of things like air-supply ducts, doorknobs, etc.

But another is that a lot of people have been working very hard to get lots done before they travel -- either at their job, to make sure they get everything done before they leave, or at home getting all the details of travel in order, etc. Sometimes it's a matter of not having time to get sick until you get on vacation.

My husband is at his office until midnight, at least, the night before we leave, EVERY SINGLE TIME we travel (which obviously drives me nuts, 'cause guess who has to do all the work getting ready to leave).

As soon as people like this finally get on their vacation, they let down all that extra energy, and next thing you know, they get sick.

Put the two things together - reduced resistance and new bugs -- and you have a pretty good certainty of coming down with something.

Parrot Mom

Your not alone...normally after a vacation I would come down with bronchitis which I felt was due to the recycled air on the planes, mainly charters I now take as a preventative Biaxin two days before flying home and that seems to work.

aaaaaaa

Try econachia (sp)Start about a wk prior to airline travel & continue untl home. If you do catch something it's usually gone quickly with minimal pain
Hate flying due to the air thats recycled

Dr. G

Lilly, the most helpful advice you can possibly receive is this:
Do not touch your face with your hands while travelling.
Pretty simple.

More than 90% of cold and flu viruses, as well as most bacterial infections, are transmitted hand to mouth/eyes/nose.

It is the rare infection which is contracted by simply inhaling recycled air...if this were a common cause of infection, most everyone on every overseas flight would wind up ill (which, of course, does not happen).

If you can learn to never touch your face with your hands you can practically eliminate travel-related infections. If you monitor the number of times you drag your bacteria/virus infested hands to your mouth and nose each day you'd be astonished. And on a plane and in airports where huge numbers of people touch all the same things you touch, it's a bacteria farm.
Changing these subtle habits takes discipline and practice, but can be learned.
It'll save many a vacation in the future.

sick of

I agree with pos#2. Also, when if travel to a hot climate and have been exposed heavily to the sun (suntan or burnt), I believe this lowers my immunity to viruses, and I get a bad cold when I get home. After all, the skin is the largest organ in the human body.

Away-from-home remedy

Lilly, in addition to the wise idea that you should keep your hands away from your face (esp. not in mouth or nose), here's something I do that I think helps a lot in dealing with getting used to local water and other local "bugs." I try to order fresh, locally made yogurt as soon as I arrive somewhere. If the cultures are still live (in most cases, they are), they will help your internal system deal with local "bugs." The reason is a little revolting, but take my word for it.

xxx

Other than a hangover, no I don't get sick on vacation or when I get home.

bettyk

As noted above, this is pretty common. A couple of years ago, I spent half my European vacation with a horrible sore throat and conjestion that would choke a horse! After reading all the hints from Fodorites, I decided that I would be prepared for my next vacation.

In May, we took another European trip so I put my plan into action. I made sure that I had most of my packing done a couple of days before our departure to avoid all that last minute stress. I had a list detailing all the little things I needed to do such as stop the paper, go to bank, leave emergency numbers with neighbor, etc., and would cross off each item as completed.

I also started taking multivitamins about 2 weeks before the trip. Once on the airplane, I took those antibacterial wipes and cleaned off the armrests, tray table, etc. I drank plenty of water to stay hydrated and tried to get as much rest as possible.

Once we were in Europe, I would always use the hand wipes after riding on public transportation, etc. And I definitely tried to keep my hands away from my face.

It may sound paranoid, but I felt great the entire 2 weeks. So, try to get plenty of rest before your vacation and keep those hands clean!

darvy

Just make sure to wash your hands after going to the bathroom and you'll be fine.

Lilly

Thanks for the advice!! Trust me, I ALWAYS Wash my hands all the time. Especially after the going to the bathroom. I'm a wash your hands fanatic. I think I'm going to try the echanacia before I travel. I've taken that when I was catching a cold before. Good Idea. I'll try that next time and be prepared. Nothing worse than being ill on vacation!

xxx

Try the hand sanitizers like Purell. Apply it EVERY TIME you touch something on the plane, every time you disembark from public transportation, etc., just apply and keep applying it.

Just read an article which stated that alcohol-based products like these are actually more effective in killing germs than hand washing --- just think how many sick people touched the same washing facilities that you did. Use the sanitizers even after washing your hands.

Since I began doing this I have never been sick during travel or vacation.

Bob

As pointed out above, since most infections are caused by spreading germs to your own head with your hands, always clean your hands after touching public objects, and don't touch your face.
You can't get sick if you don't get germs on your face, in your mouth, etc.

Judy

I am a believer in homeopathy. Use it for the treatment of ailments - adult and children. There are absolutely no side effects to these tablets. I have studied it and used it for many years now and always travel with a variety of remedies. The one in particular I would sugest is a product called Alpa CF. You buy these in a health food store. It comes in a blue box, foiled encased tablets. At the very very first sign, (which means paying attention to your body so you are able to realize a slight cough coming on, feeling a little under the weather,etc) you take 2 of these tablets. Then take 1 every hour or so til you feel fine. It works best if you nip it in the bud! There are nights I take it before going to bed if I am not really sick yet but there were enough factors that I know could lead me to being sick. Take it when you are on the edge. And of course there is no harm to take it.

I believe prevention is the key. There is a homeopathic flu remedy I always travel with because I use it all flu season to prevent the flu. There is one remedy to take if you get stomach/digestion type sick, another for sore throats, fever, on and on.

You can read up on it some, talk to people, and put together a samll kit to travel with.

Curious

Not to be overly confrontational, Judy, but one question always comes to mind with these homeopathic remedies.

If they work so well, why do they never become mainstream?

If they truly work, everyone in the world of traditional medicine would recognize it and they'd become standard therapies.

Lots of natural herbs/plants are used in traditional Western medicine. Even very 'toxic' chemotherapy agents, many of them, come directly from plants and trees.

So why all this behind the scenes, under cover of darkness activity surrounding the homeopathics?

Linda

I REALLY agree with Dr. G--
The last two times I have gone on a airplane and rental car trip, I have not become ill.
Main thing I did was wash hands with soap and water--I mean 'washed"--not just rinsed. also used hand sanitizer. Something I do after washing and drying my hands, I use the paper towel to open bathroom exit door. Think how many people do not wash hands after using toilet and then exit!!!
Another issue to consider--shopping cart handles!!!! I use the bacterial hand wipes to clean these..
Despite the above, I am not a compulsive "hand washer"==just a retired nurse who loves to travel and hates having a trip spoiled.