How do you avoid getting sick?

[RMulieri]

At the end of the day, you are going to a place full of thousands of people from around the world. This is why it is important to build our immunity - part of the reason why our younger generations gets sick at the drop of the hat is our obsession with not allowing them to come into contact with any germs therefore they cannot build immunity.

Wash your hands with soap & water, stay hydrated, top up on your Vit C, eat healthy and good luck!

YUP
I tried and tried to explain this to my sil..She wonders why her kids are ALWAYS ALWAYS SICK..Well...She washes everything in bleach, sanitizes everything and is always at them with the hand sanitizers..The Dr told her point blank...THERE IS SUCH A THING AS TOO CLEAN..She still does it and is now wondering why her baby is sick all the time too...

 

[gatrbait]

Those of you flying you are breathing everyone elses air plus all the left over air from the flight before etc...if you take something that can help you be resistant by all means do so...A great friend of mine and her family almost always gets ill when coming to WDW and calls it the Disney Disease...last trip they all brought their own pillow cases and no one got sick...just a lil tip...I (knock on wood) have not gotten sick in relation to the parks but they are a part of my general life so I am sure I have built up a lil immunity as well. Drink Green Tea it does a body good!

 

[mickeyluv'r]

OP, it's probably dehydration. Drink more water! If we are at WDw in the summer months, we ALWAYS have water in hand. We get water with every meal. (know that cofffee, which I drink and alcohol dehydrate you. If you drink either, you have to drink even more water. They are diuretics. Many medications are also diuretics.)

Another thing you can do to bolster your immune system is start injesting more PROBIOTICS. It can be probiotic foods or a pill. Some great foods are yogurt, fermented foods like saurkraut/kimchee, even aged cheese. (Most cheese is aged. But cheesewhiz and velveeta are not really cheese. Real cheese, think: the less plastic the better.)

We haven't been sick in years, beyond rare episodes that are under 24hours. (since adding yogurt/probiotics to my regular diet) I've always tried to eat veggies/reshfruit too(esp berries) - but the probiotics are what really made the difference. You'll notice most WDW fruit is the cheap kind. You really have to keep an eye out for berries and healthier fruits.

While we are at WDW, we are heavily on the go. I also make sure that even at WDW, I eat a healthy diet, as much as possible. That's not to say I don't have treats- but every day we make sure we ALSO eat green veggies, other veggies, and fresh fruit. If it means paying for an extra veggie with dinner - we gladly do it. You'd be surprised, evne at WDW, sometimes an order of veggies is pretty large. At many restaurants one order of gren beens is enough to share.

Oh, and iceberg lettuce is not a veggie. It has almost no nutritional value, especially if it's drowned in cream dressing! UGH! Conversely, most WDW places do have yogurt on the menu. It's the kind with fake sugar, sugar, thinkeners, and loads of food coloring- but it's yogurt. If you can develop a taste for Greek style plain yogurt- so much the better. Again though you have to read labels. Make sure it is just milk and cultures. Avoid artificial thickeners.

 

[Sheaboys]

We were in Disney World, 8/24-9/2. DS5 started with a runny nose and cough about day 4. He still has the nose thing, but not too bad. DS1 started with the coughing on our last day.

We have been home a little over a week, and I have a sore throat and nose thing and no voice. Ds4 has croup.
I will say, the first 2 did get their colds from flying or sleeping in the same bed, or whatever while on vacation. Me, I will credit that to the kids going back to school and spreading the love on to me. Same with the croupy kid, back to school stuff.


Not sure how to prevent it or stop it, we just washed our hands as much as possible.

 

[stitchlover]

My husband has gotten sick every trip for the past 4 years except for 2012. He missed like 3 days of our 2011 vacation. I know everyone says Airborne doesn't work but ever since that 2011 trip he takes Airborne before boarding the plane anytime we go anywhere (not just Disney) and we haven't had any further issues.

 

[PhoenixStrength]

I'll repeat a few things others have said, but here is what works for me. If I don't do these things I ALWAYS wind up with a week long, horrible cold when I get home from any traveling, so I'm diligent about it now.

First, I start taking Airborne once a day for 4 days before I leave. The morning I leave I take it, then again that night. While on vacation I take it every morning. I also take Vitamin C drops with me that I can suck on while in the parks, usually one or two a day. I make sure to take my vitamins each day too. As many have said, wash your hands frequently!!! And eat health. Doesn't mean you can't indulge a bit, but the healthier you eat the less likely you are to get sick. And drink lots of water. Keep taking Airborne once a day for a few days you get back too.

Lastly, if you are prone to sinus problems, avoid all dairy!!! Short explanation is that dairy aids in phlegm build-up, increasing your chance of a sinus infection and a sore throat.

Hope this helps at least one person )

 

[micknpluto]

... you all have great ideas - thanks! ...

I'm leaning towards the allergy thing... and we kept the air cond flowing in our hotel room... and my throat felt worse in the AM.

I remember when I had to see a dr on vaca - few years ago when I had strep. He asked how I came to Florida; when I told him by plane. he gave me a look. like ahhh. yup.

Next time I will try benadryl before bed... and maybe some claritin non drowsy during the day. I drank a lot of water but I also drank alcohol

 

[PhoenixStrength]

My husband has gotten sick every trip for the past 4 years except for 2012. He missed like 3 days of our 2011 vacation. I know everyone says Airborne doesn't work but ever since that 2011 trip he takes Airborne before boarding the plane anytime we go anywhere (not just Disney) and we haven't had any further issues.

I think the biggest problem is that people don't know what Airborne does. It's not a medication and won't really help if you are already sick. It's an immune system booster to help prevent you from getting sick. I know a lot if people that didn't take it until they felt sick, and its too late by then!

 

[babyrich]

I have bad allergies to begin with but I do take Airborne before the plane. I take Allegra every day.

We also try to build up our immune system before we leave. We take Vitamin C and antioxidants.

On vacation we get less sleep and we eat on the go and maybe not very healthy. It just got cool up north, we go back into warm weather, and there are millions of people touching the same surfaces we are touching, so if our immune system is already compromised, we get sick.

 

[stitchlover]

First, I start taking Airborne once a day for 4 days before I leave. The morning I leave I take it, then again that night. While on vacation I take it every morning. I also take Vitamin C drops with me that I can suck on while in the parks, usually one or two a day. I make sure to take my vitamins each day too. As many have said, wash your hands frequently!!! And eat health. Doesn't mean you can't indulge a bit, but the healthier you eat the less likely you are to get sick. And drink lots of water. Keep taking Airborne once a day for a few days you get back too.

Lastly, if you are prone to sinus problems, avoid all dairy!!! Short explanation is that dairy aids in phlegm build-up, increasing your chance of a sinus infection and a sore throat.

Hope this helps at least one person )

Thanks for the information on your routine. I might have DH increase to taking it before we leave and then daily while we are there. I will also mention the limiting dairy advise to him. He is very prone to sinus problems.

 

[Haley]

I also make my own hotel room spray with a small part vodka, eucalyptus oil .

It doubles as a nice after dinner cocktail, too

 

[micknpluto]

I'll repeat a few things others have said, but here is what works for me. If I don't do these things I ALWAYS wind up with a week long, horrible cold when I get home from any traveling, so I'm diligent about it now.

First, I start taking Airborne once a day for 4 days before I leave. The morning I leave I take it, then again that night. While on vacation I take it every morning. I also take Vitamin C drops with me that I can suck on while in the parks, usually one or two a day. I make sure to take my vitamins each day too. As many have said, wash your hands frequently!!! And eat health. Doesn't mean you can't indulge a bit, but the healthier you eat the less likely you are to get sick. And drink lots of water. Keep taking Airborne once a day for a few days you get back too.

Lastly, if you are prone to sinus problems, avoid all dairy!!! Short explanation is that dairy aids in phlegm build-up, increasing your chance of a sinus infection and a sore throat.

Hope this helps at least one person )

sounds good! I will be prepared next time.. and hopefully avoid the sore throat and headache.

Thanks!!!!!! I like the idea of vit C drops ... my friend carried those peppermint star mints (taste like a candycane) and we used them to help with sore throat. I couldnt find hard candy anywhere. till the last day at goofys candy co at DTD. they sold halls in the resort store but yucky flavors.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

... you all have great ideas - thanks! ...

I'm leaning towards the allergy thing... and we kept the air cond flowing in our hotel room... and my throat felt worse in the AM.

This is agood point. The air vent on the plane also contributes to drying; I always close mine. I also think since it's just redistibuting air from inside the plane, it's kind of just spraying germs on me. Or maybe that part is just hooey. Airplanes are VERY dry, so it is important if flying to pay extra attention to drinking enough liquids- especiallyin the wintermonths.

There is real science behind staying well hydrated, eating well, and probiotics.

 

[WedgieSock]

I actually believe in the old "dirt is good for you" philosophy.
I do wash my hands after the restroom and before eating, but that's about as far as it goes.
I don't sterilize my room (and I do use my dresser drawers). No wiping things down or carrying Lysol.
I really do believe that you have to allow your body some exposure to germs so that it can build up immunity - otherwise, it won't be able to fend things off when it comes in contact with them.
I also eat a lot of foods that are high in antioxidants and take supplements - and I exercise every day.
My DD is in 4th grade now and has only stayed home sick once since nursery. I am rarely sick - maybe a cold once every two years or so (and we are not biologically related, so I think it's more our lifestyle than genetics...)

Same here! I don't even bleach my kitchen *shocker* I use a peppermint soap that does NOT contain antibacterial soap

My family are rarely sick.

I'd rather agree with this. I've work in both bacteriology and virology labs and pharmacy. I know that dilution is key - lots of water, in your body and on your body (hands)! Washing your hands with copious amounts of water, even if you have no soap is exponentially more effective than squirting on a bit of Germex. I use it in a pinch. In the labs we don't even use antibacterial soap. That said, it is good when you need to use it.

Thank you - its great to hear that from someone who has worked in the field. You'd be amazed how many people don't believe me when I say water works better than hand sanitizers

 

[micknpluto]

we were there in Feb and it was cooooold buuurrrrrr freezing 38 degrees (it was a fluke yes but freezing in the MK was a weird feeling)

I didnt feel sick at all that week. My friend who was with me then and during this trip says the cold kills the germs and thats why we didnt get sick.



and we drove in feb no airplane!! ahhhh makes sense.

ps - I agree that airplane air is nasty.

 

[PhoenixStrength]

Thanks for the information on your routine. I might have DH increase to taking it before we leave and then daily while we are there. I will also mention the limiting dairy advise to him. He is very prone to sinus problems.

You're welcome, I hope it helps! Also, saline nasal spray really helps if he gets a stuffy nose from sinuses. I've had sinus troubles all my life,and have antibiotic allergies, so I've found lots if ways to help them without having to take meds!

Gargaling warm salt water helps for sore throats and phlegm build up in throats too!

 

[stitchlover]

You're welcome, I hope it helps! Also, saline nasal spray really helps if he gets a stuffy nose from sinuses. I've had sinus troubles all my life,and have antibiotic allergies, so I've found lots if ways to help them without having to take meds!

We are doing the Wild Africa Trek on this next trip which has been known to have issues with people getting sick afterwards. I think this might just be the trip to consider your Airborne daily regime. Heck I will do it too!

 

[PhoenixStrength]

We are doing the Wild Africa Trek on this next trip which has been known to have issues with people getting sick afterwards. I think this might just be the trip to consider your Airborne daily regime. Heck I will do it too!

I did WAT during my last trip in February and, with doing my routine, I wasn't sick when I got home.

 

[Jennasis]

I get sick EVERY TIME i fly. It's that germy recirculated air. I think.

So just wash your hands, carry sanitizer and maybe wipe down your room with a clorox wipe and you'll be good to go. A little vitamin C wouldn't hurt either.

 

[stitchlover]

I did WAT during my last trip in February and, with doing my routine, I wasn't sick when I got home.

Thanks!