Sorta OT Flying and Altitude Sickness

[Dis703]

I'm just wondering if anyone here, who may be prone to altitude sickness, has had any problems with flying and what if anything they've tried to prevent it.

I didn't fly very often when I was younger because it always made me feel awful. Nausea, my ears always hurt really bad (took days to clear) and I was terrified of flying so I had to take xanax. Since my kids were born I have been able to wean off the xanax and found that a nasal spray decongestant is helpful for the ears. Bonine for the motion sickness and it's not so bad.

This year I've taken 5 short round trip flights. Short as in both short trips of only 3-4 days and flights from NJ to SC and NJ to FL so 1 1/2 to a little over 2 hours. The flight isn't terrible, but I get hit with extreme fatigue shortly after and occasionally I can barely function for the next 24 hours. I used to chalk it up to the xanax and then I thought maybe the Bonine (but I take Bonine daily at the parks and don't feel this way every day). My most recent trip it was the worst it's ever been and as much as I fought to get up and out of bed I was literally unable to stay conscious even sitting and standing up.

After feeling better I hopped on Google and did some searching and found that apparently people prone to altitude sickness (which I had a severe case of when I went to Arizona as a teenager) can have issues with flying because the cabin pressure makes it equivalent to over 8,000 feet altitude. But while I have come across suggestions for the headache/body aches and nausea I haven't found anything that is supposed to really address the fatigue issue.

I've been loving my mini-trips this past year but recouping after arrival and then after getting home is really bothersome. I missed our whole first day in Myrtle Beach although my husband and his mom still had fun with the kids. But the last couple of mommy and me trips to Disney we planned for an early morning start and didn't make it to the park until the afternoon and I still felt awful.

Has anyone dealt with this or have any suggestions (other than driving of course, lol)

TIA!

 

[rwdavis2]

What's your doctor say?

 

[sam_gordon]

I'm just wondering if anyone here, who may be prone to altitude sickness, has had any problems with flying and what if anything they've tried to prevent it.

I didn't fly very often when I was younger because it always made me feel awful. Nausea, my ears always hurt really bad (took days to clear) and I was terrified of flying so I had to take xanax. Since my kids were born I have been able to wean off the xanax and found that a nasal spray decongestant is helpful for the ears. Bonine for the motion sickness and it's not so bad.

This year I've taken 5 short round trip flights. Short as in both short trips of only 3-4 days and flights from NJ to SC and NJ to FL so 1 1/2 to a little over 2 hours. The flight isn't terrible, but I get hit with extreme fatigue shortly after and occasionally I can barely function for the next 24 hours. I used to chalk it up to the xanax and then I thought maybe the Bonine (but I take Bonine daily at the parks and don't feel this way every day). My most recent trip it was the worst it's ever been and as much as I fought to get up and out of bed I was literally unable to stay conscious even sitting and standing up.

After feeling better I hopped on Google and did some searching and found that apparently people prone to altitude sickness (which I had a severe case of when I went to Arizona as a teenager) can have issues with flying because the cabin pressure makes it equivalent to over 8,000 feet altitude. But while I have come across suggestions for the headache/body aches and nausea I haven't found anything that is supposed to really address the fatigue issue.

I've been loving my mini-trips this past year but recouping after arrival and then after getting home is really bothersome. I missed our whole first day in Myrtle Beach although my husband and his mom still had fun with the kids. But the last couple of mommy and me trips to Disney we planned for an early morning start and didn't make it to the park until the afternoon and I still felt awful.

Has anyone dealt with this or have any suggestions (other than driving of course, lol)

TIA!

See a doctor?

 

[jodybird511]

I have, but only on long distance flights--specifically, to and from Hawaii from the Midwest. I had it both ways the first trip. We took another trip this past summer, and I was very proactive, trying to prevent it. My main symptom is a very severe headache. I took Sudafed preventatively and through the travel days, along with ibuprofen. I also made sure to drink a LOT of water and consume no caffeine during the travel days (with the exception of my one cup of morning coffee). Also did not consume sweets throughout travel, and made sure to do everything possible to elicit sleep--took travel pillow, blanket, eye mask, noise-canceling headphones. I also tried to limit screentime during travel. I was successful in warding off symptoms on both legs of the trip, so this will be my regimen going forward.

 

[Dis703]

What's your doctor say?

I haven’t seen any of them since I put two and two together and realized what is likely going on. I have a lot of specialists but not a great GP, so I wasn’t sure where to start. But I’m due to see my sleep doctor next month anyhow so I’ll probably ask him.

 

[Huff]

Keeping well hydrated will help with altitude sickness. Dramamine will help with nausea. For ears I always take an antihistamine shortly before my flight. Theres also foam ear plugs that help reduce pain caused by air pressure changes while flying.