Need Tips For Staying Healthy Before Trip

[Mouser]

I read a thread on the Parks board about staying healthy before your trip and during the trip..Three differnt occasions at WDW my DH has gotten sick at the end of our trip with a bad cold or flu like symptoms...Since then we have tried a lot of preventive things before the trip and our last trip was cold free...We take a multiple vitamin each, plus Vitamin C and E tablets each day and we took the anti0-bacterial hand wash with us last trip and used it before all eating.....Can anyone give us more advice on vitamins or preventive measures?? We are flying down for the first time in September and want it to be a great trip with no one sick....thanks in advance!!!!

[Barbruka]

I have a thread running right now on the Tips board about this very subject. Under "inspired by the strong stomach thread" . Lots of good ideas there.

[imgoingtodisney]

This may sound gross but my 9yr son has problems in the bathroom area. He's fine for a few weeks but then watch out - he needs the bathroom immediately - no time to walk to the nearest bathroom. And this is when we are home and know where the nearest bathroom is. I am planning on cleaning him out with Milk of magnesia a week before our trip.

[Kama89]

This one is a little on the gross side too. :p I once had a doctor tell me to put a small amount of Neosporin in each nostril before flying. :D We also do the antibacterial handwash stuff. All three of us take multi vitamins and Vit C. on a regular basis, but about two weeks before we go, we increase the dose a bit, and add Echinacea. Our '95 trip was riddled with colds and a flu bug. This last trip, I was the only one to get sick. I came down with a raging case of Bronchitis, which I'm convinced came from the Relenza I was on the week before we left. At least our son stayed healthy, that's what mattered most! :)

[BonnieA]

The recirculated air in a plane while flying can be a big cause of colds. I've gotten them after a plane trip along with members of my family. Last time I flew to disney I tried a new tactic, I used a zinc spray in my throat before flying. I'm not sure if it worked or not but I didn't get a cold. In fact I was renting a house with some friends who joined us and the wife had a miserable cold. My friend caught it from her, but I remained cold free.

[Kermit]

Drink tons of water, especially on the plane. Water is a great way to prevent illness since it flushes your body out.

Eat as lowfat as possible while still having fun. Either do healthy meals and good snacks or vice versa. It's easier on your stomach.

Try to stay as close as possible to your normal sleeping and eating schedule. It's easier on your body. If you normally get up early, don't sleep in every day. Do ee and get to bed early at night.

[tink2dw]

don't drink the Florida water or the Zepherhills bottled water in the parks!!!!! Get Aquafina spring water,its not bottled in florida!!

[FergieTCat]

I've read that you are more suspectible to colds on vacation because when your body slows down in vacation mode, your immune system slows down too. I can't count the number of times I've come back ill from a vacation.

Donna

[Mickey76]

:)

Flying might be the problem...the air in the plane does not circulate well. A lot of people I know have gotten sick with a cold after flying back somewhere. It especially doesn't help if you live in anarea that isn't as warm as Florida. Change in climates almost always do smoething to me. As for taking vitamins, that's an exceptionally great idea,even though I don't take them myself......they're not exactly cheap. During your stay, don't turn the air conditioner very high, for that could lead to a cold. Get plenty of rest and drink a lot of fluids and I'm sure you'll be fine.......Have a great time..............Mickey76:)

[Poly Pal]

keep them out of those indoor play areas for at least two weeks prior to departure. My sons always seem to end up with a cold 4 - 5 days after a birthday party at an indoor play-zone or those ball-pits at McDonald's.

Also, the antibacterial soap is alot of hogwash! You are just as clean using regular sopa and warm water. And, there are helpful bacteria as well (maybe that's why yogurt eaters live so long).

[briane]

I don't believe that short term habit changes do much for people. It is living life healthy that will give you the best shot at a sick-free vacation. Exercise, eat well, get plenty of sleep.

I do take a vitamin but all that other crap is meaningless. Consumer Reports and Dateline study echinacia and other "miracle" pills and they do next to nothing.

My wife and I bought an air cleaner for my sister after she had a fire in her house. We would run it about 3 hours a day during the winter. We never got sick. However, we also don't drink, smoke, and do exercise quite a bit.

Obviously washing hands is good too.

[ehagerty]

I once had a prescription for a medicated cream which contained nyomyacin - the key ingredient in neosporin. It took 4 pharmacies before I could get the script filled - each one warning me that 25% of the population is allergic to it (and they didn't carry it anymore). Heedless to the warnings, I had my script filled and ended up with a raging topical rash.

I just wanted people to be aware of this - on the off chance that they might try it without pre-testing their allergic reaction to it ahead of time!

[LuvTigger]

A friend of mine used to work in a hospital and he said the reason people get sick from airplanes is that the nasal cavities become dry and form little cracks which allow the germs from the recirculated air to get into the system. He recommended a nasal mist which is usually just saline solution and to squirt it in the nostrils every so often. Moisturizer works too, but that requires sticking your finger into your nostril, which may look a bit strange to other passengers! (I use the solution and cover my nose area with a tissue.)

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by imgoingtodisney
This may sound gross but my 9yr son has problems in the bathroom area. He's fine for a few weeks but then watch out - he needs the bathroom immediately - no time to walk to the nearest bathroom. And this is when we are home and know where the nearest bathroom is. I am planning on cleaning him out with Milk of magnesia a week before our trip.

I assume you are going to feed your son while on the trip or before hand, hence the MOM will not work for long.

[GAIL HAYDEN]

I guess I am just lucky. I don't get sick and I drink the Disney water and the Zeperhills stuff. I also smoke, eat well and exercise. I also drink Bloody Mary's on the plane, I bet it is the alcohol that keeps me germ free. :)

[newholiday]

Gail - youre not saying youre a lush, are you?

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by newholiday
Gail - youre not saying youre a lush, are you?

Nope, not me. I only drink on the plane, rarely anywhere else. And, Zimas at lunch time is your trick,not mine.

Also, a smiley means JOKE, ok?

[ScarlettO]

I know a few Buisnessmen have a drinkie- poo at lunchtime....but for a Librarian to do so....:( :eek: :crazy:

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by ScarlettO
I know a few Buisnessmen have a drinkie- poo at lunchtime....but for a Librarian to do so....:( :eek: :crazy:

And, in the Children's part to boot. She is an assistant, so, maybe that makes it ok. ;(

[ducklite]

Originally posted by imgoingtodisney
This may sound gross but my 9yr son has problems in the bathroom area. He's fine for a few weeks but then watch out - he needs the bathroom immediately - no time to walk to the nearest bathroom. And this is when we are home and know where the nearest bathroom is. I am planning on cleaning him out with Milk of magnesia a week before our trip.

It sounds like your son might have a serious medical problem, IBD, colitis, Chrohn's (which can literally be fatal if not treated). I'd have a DOCTOR check him out to determine what the proper course of treatment is, rather than relying on your home remedy. What you are describing is NOT normal for a nine year old.

Anne

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by ducklite
It sounds like your son might have a serious medical problem, IBD, colitis, Chrohn's (which can literally be fatal if not treated). I'd have a DOCTOR check him out to determine what the proper course of treatment is, rather than relying on your home remedy. What you are describing is NOT normal for a nine year old.

Anne
Might be, depends on the parents. That MOM treatement reminds me of something out of SYBIL......hmmmm, strikes a cord in my head, how about you?

[jeancbpugh]

Just a thought: if the cold symptoms arrive during every Florida trip, he may have a mold allergy. Make sure you stay in a room on the 2nd floor or higher, they tend to be less damp and less moldy.

[HenDuck]

I brought Zicam nasal tips for DS, but never needed to use them. I quarantined him for 2 weeks prior to the trip. He could only see his parents and grandparents, assuming no one was sick. My DH knows how paranoid I am about DS catching someone else's cold. I don't know what I'll do before our next trip because he'll be in preschool by then. I can't justify pulling him out of school too many days before the trip...or can I???

Having said that, he did get a yeast infection (jock itch type) during the trip and we had to run out to by lotrimin. Luckily, he's had it before I knew what to buy.

I think the only thing you can do is the usual good health routine. Give your kids vitamins, teach them to wash their hands, get lots of rest, and run screaming from any child or adult who even sniffles!:p

Maybe the best advice is to bring the children's Tylenol and cold meds along on the trip and hope for the best. DS had a fever on the flight back home and we pumped him with Tylenol, luckily, we never travel without it.

Good luck and don't stress too much about it. If your kids get sick in Disney, let them eat a Mickey Ice Cream bar to help them feel better. Heck, have one yourself too!:teeth:

[redfieldmjr]

I almost always get sick while I'm at WDW - a cold. My plan is to use Zicam before and during the trip this year. I too attribute it to the airplane.

[dkrause716]

I am a 1st grade teacher and believe me, I am surrounded by germs! Last September I started taking an herbal supplement called Astragalus.. They sell them in any GNC or vitamin store. I take 1 470mg tablet every morning. I swear, I have not had a bad cold all year. The most I have had is the feeling that you are going to get a cold but it never went any further. If I do feel like I getting sick, I'll double dose for a few days. These things are awesome!

[dani blaski]

My DH& I went to WDW last month. FIrst of all, I make vitamins regularly & get allergy shots ( that has helped me the most). We used antibacterial hand gel before eating. I washed my hands at least every hour & 1/2 when I used the ladies room ( I drink LOTS of h2o-obviously! LOL!). Here's how I caught a cold/sinus infection that developed on the plane ride home: On the plane ride to WDW, I sat next to a person who was coughing & sneezing the entire flight. And it was a full flight, so we couldn't move:(
At least it was the plane ride home & not on the trip...

[crusin'minnie]

My solution is simple and cheap! 1 cup of Orange Juice each morning. You can start 7-10 days before you go. Works great for me and my family.
:earseek: