Tell me about flying with a cold!

[RysMomma]

My husband and I have both managed to catch our son's cold and we're leaving in three days. How awful will it be to fly with a cold? Give me some pointers if you have! I'm VERY nervous!

 

[carolina_yankee]

Use sudafed - the real stuff with pseudoephedrine that you have to get at the pharmacy counter with a driver's license. That keeps my nasal passages clear so I don't have pressure change issues.

Also, kleen-ex (and a little tube of face cream for the chapped nose). Be sure to wash your hands frequently out of courtesy to others, too.

Dirk

 

[Lewisc]

To clarify, you want pseudoephedrine. PP is correct. It's kept behind the pharmacy counter (almost all stores). You must show your drivers license. You don't need to pay for the Sudafed brand. Most stores have a generic "store" brand that works just as well.

Take the pills a half hour before take off and half an hour before landing. Check with your doctor if you're concerned about slightly "overdosing" by taking the second dose less then 4 hours after your first.

 

[dandelion]

I agree with the pseudoephedrine suggestion, and also some type of nasal spray that helps to clear your sinuses. An RN friend suggested that when I flew in April with a head cold and I was fine. I used the nose spray in-flight (in the restroom) about an hour before landing.

Just be sure it is a small bottle of nose spray, since it is a liquid and will have to go into your quart-size ziplock bag for security screening.

My sons ears got that plugged feeling (and he hadn't had a cold) during landing, but the pseudophedrine helped him out later that afternoon too.

 

[crashbb]

I agree with the pseudoephedrine suggestion, and also some type of nasal spray that helps to clear your sinuses. An RN friend suggested that when I flew in April with a head cold and I was fine. I used the nose spray in-flight (in the restroom) about an hour before landing.

Just be sure it is a small bottle of nose spray, since it is a liquid and will have to go into your quart-size ziplock bag for security screening.

My sons ears got that plugged feeling (and he hadn't had a cold) during landing, but the pseudophedrine helped him out later that afternoon too.

Since it is a medication, it should fall under the exemption to the 100mL rule and it doesn't go in the baggie.

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

Try Afrin nose spray that has menthol in it. It clears my nose up in a matter of seconds and stays clear. This way I am not groggy. Plus taking cold meds will make you have to pee more. And one thing I hate is to use the bathroom on a plane!

My husband and I have both managed to catch our son's cold and we're leaving in three days. How awful will it be to fly with a cold? Give me some pointers if you have! I'm VERY nervous!

 

[ExPirateShopGirl]

A slight offshoot of Lewis's post. In the rare event one of us has a cold when flying is necessary, we take a full-frontal decongestant (pseudoephedrine, as others mentioned) one hour before takeoff and exactly four hours later, regardless of when we land. If we are still flying 8 hours after initial ascent for the day, a third dose exactly 4 hours after the second is taken.

Earplanes can also ease the pressure on your eardrums.

 

[kirbsam]

it is worse for the people around you. hacking and wheezing and sneezing and respiratory droplets in the recirculated air. ewww.

 

[RysMomma]

Well, luckily I'm not hacking and wheezing. My throat just feels scratchy and I have a little sinus pressure. But that's it!