Warning for traveling with allergies/asthma

[lovethattink]

We had to drive from Florida to Pa for a funeral this last week. We encountered some problems on our trip north and wanted to share this with anyone with allergies to pets/allergies to latex/asthma.

My son is allergic to pets and latex. The reaction triggers his asthma, and in the case of latex, it's an anaphylactic reaction.

We stopped at a Days Inn in Roanoke Rapids, Virginia (I think it was exit 173). I had called the 1-800 Days number and asked if they could locate a motel that was pet free and smoke free for me. They found one that only had 2 rooms designated for pets and they had rooms that were non-smoking rooms. So I booked the room over the phone. We arrived at the motel and I voiced my concerns to the check-in clerk. He said there is no motel in the country that can guarantee a pet free room. He said people sneak them in all the time. I really should have taken a cue from this and kept driving. However, we were very tired. I looked at the room before we checked in. I couldn't find any signs of a previous pet. We checked in. Got to the room and my son laid on the bed to watch tv. We left a few minutes after that and went to eat dinner. He didn't feel well while eating. We got back to the motel and he started watching tv. He began to make these weird noises with his throat. Then he said his throat hurt. I asked him if it was a real sore throat or if his throat was closing up. He didn't know. So I sent him to take a shower. He came out of the shower, still making those noises and his lips were purple. His face swelled. His nose was twice as big as normal. I sent him to the car. I had some prednisone on hand. Gave him some prednisone and tried to start the nebulizer. There must have been too much power because every time we turned on the nebulizer, the electricity shut off in the car. I dug throught a suitcase and found the battery operated nebulizer and his epipen. I got him set up with that nebulizer. Went back to the room and called the front desk. They allowed us to check out without being charged. So we were off driving not knowing where to go. We were so tired. We ended up at the house of my ex-sister-in-law's in Virginia. We stayed the night and he was fine, just had to continue breathing treatments and the prednisone in the morning.

The drive back to Central Florida was much more successful. We stayed at a Best Western in Smithfield, NC. They don't allow pets. However, they do allow service animals. We were put in a room where the clerk was sure no animals had been on the 3rd floor. This motel charges a $100 fine for pets. We all made it through the night. The motel also has an indoor pool. It's fairly new. There are outlets, a movie theater, and a Cici's Pizza right next door. The employees at the motel were wonderful. The place was very clean.

 

[SueM in MN]

that must have been very scary.
Glad it worked out for you. The clerk was right that even if they don't allow pets, they do have to allow service animals. It's good though that they were able to give you a room where one had not been in.

 

[lovethattink]

Forgot to add in the OP that we had considered flying back home, however, we were told airlines allow small pets to ride in a particular size carrier on the plane. They must fit under the seat. So needless to say, flying is not an option for us. The other thing we encountered years ago with a motel room was when it was newly painted with latex paint.

 

[Belle1962]

Forgot to add in the OP that we had considered flying back home, however, we were told airlines allow small pets to ride in a particular size carrier on the plane. They must fit under the seat. So needless to say, flying is not an option for us. The other thing we encountered years ago with a motel room was when it was newly painted with latex paint.

I understand that!!!!! While my allergies are not as bad as your sons on my last flight with Delta there was a lady in the waiting area with a small dog in her bag (think ala Paris Hilton). I did not see a carrier at all. When I went up to the desk to ask about this I was assured she had a carrier. I then told the desk people I needed to be as far away from her as possible. They told me she was one row behind and across the aisle from me. I asked them to please move her as that was too close. They said they could not reassign her seat or "force" her to move. I asked if they would tell her to at least keep it in the carrier and they said --that is "the rule". They offerred to move ME all the way to the back of the plane. I said no thanks but don't be surprised if this flight is going to make an emergency landing along the route. They then talked to her and UPGRADED her to FIRST CLASS!!!! Whatever---flying is hard enough anyway because of the recirculated air in the planes but this just ticked me off------like I was the problem. Ummm..hello------the dog was cute and all but I'm a person---my medical needs should have come first. And No this was not a service animal, just one of those cute little furry white "accessories". (Which I will admit I wish I could have too !!!)

 

[steffali]

I have often wondered how airlines can allow people to travel with their pets ?? With so many people with all sorts of allergies it amazes me.

 

[Talking Hands]

The drive back to Central Florida was much more successful. We stayed at a Best Western in Smithfield, NC. They don't allow pets. However, they do allow service animals. We were put in a room where the clerk was sure no animals had been on the 3rd floor. This motel charges a $100 fine for pets. We all made it through the night. The motel also has an indoor pool. It's fairly new. There are outlets, a movie theater, and a Cici's Pizza right next door. The employees at the motel were wonderful. The place was very clean.

All motels, motels, etc will allow service and guide dogs. They do not have a choice as it the law. This means there is no guarantee that any will be dander free. You just have to trust that clerk knows which rooms have had a service dog in them recently.

 

[lovethattink]

All motels, motels, etc will allow service and guide dogs. They do not have a choice as it the law. This means there is no guarantee that any will be dander free. You just have to trust that clerk knows which rooms have had a service dog in them recently.

Yes, that's what they all said. They are required by Federal Law to allow service animals. I think what just about killed my son was the fact that a pet was in the room and the fact that hotels are not required to changed the comforters or blankets after each guest. By law, and depending on the state, they can change the blanket and comforter only once a week. If you're traveling on a major interstate, that room could have had 6 other ppl before us. It may have not even been an animal in the room. Maybe it was suitcases or clothing on the bed with pet dander?? It's hard to say, because his allergies and asthma are so bad.

 

[scojos]

my son is a severe asthmatic too, so i know how you feel, just wanted to say well done for staying so calm and dealing with it so well, im not sure i would have been as calm...
tracy

 

[maxiesmom]

I understand that!!!!! While my allergies are not as bad as your sons on my last flight with Delta there was a lady in the waiting area with a small dog in her bag (think ala Paris Hilton). I did not see a carrier at all. When I went up to the desk to ask about this I was assured she had a carrier. I then told the desk people I needed to be as far away from her as possible. They told me she was one row behind and across the aisle from me. I asked them to please move her as that was too close. They said they could not reassign her seat or "force" her to move. I asked if they would tell her to at least keep it in the carrier and they said --that is "the rule". They offerred to move ME all the way to the back of the plane. I said no thanks but don't be surprised if this flight is going to make an emergency landing along the route. They then talked to her and UPGRADED her to FIRST CLASS!!!! Whatever---flying is hard enough anyway because of the recirculated air in the planes but this just ticked me off------like I was the problem. Ummm..hello------the dog was cute and all but I'm a person---my medical needs should have come first. And No this was not a service animal, just one of those cute little furry white "accessories". (Which I will admit I wish I could have too !!!)

The airline did offer to move you but you refused. Why are you angry? The airline cannot force another customer to move to make you feel better. Are you just mad they moved her to first class?

 

[Priorityonecb]

I agree. We travel with a child with allergies. The last time we flew, they offered us a row to ourselves surrounded by emtpy rows in the back of the plane to keep her as safe as possible. Didn't bother us a bit to move.

 

[Talking Hands]

You want to take your own bedding for him and remove the bedspread and blanket completely. There is something called a bed sack which is similar to a sleeping bag but much lighter. I Am making my self one of light fleece because I don't like to sleep on regular bedsheets. Hate the feel.

 

[spiceycat]

you might consider flying Southwest - they don't allow pets period.

on delta Spicey is consider to be luggage....which he is NOT....

so the only airlines that flies from here that allows pets in the cabin is Northwest....

if he reacts that badly to being around animals - I am surprised he can go anywhere....

I use to have some bad allergies myself - off the scale in several areas - the only ones I still have are dogs (and I yes I still pet doggies), mold, mildew - I can start itching way before I start sneezing, dust mites (this one is just impossible to avoid)...

please go see an allergiest - NOT a nose and throat doctor. the nose and throat doctor say they can help. Someone who has real allergies and your son definitely sound like it. they just can't.

go see a real allergist and see if they can't cure him completely. It can be done.

I was 25 when I first started treatment with a nose and throat this went on for 10 years (I know I was pretty stupid). Work finally told me - enough is enough - do something. So I went to an allergist - but he couldn't help me (too far gone for him) and referred to me to a wonderful man. In 5 years he took me from over 400 things - to the ones I mentioned.... now he won't touch drugs or foods.... Oh by the way before I saw him there was not a week when my allergies were not reacting to something....so there is hope for your son.

He was a true healer - people would come in on stretchers - and would leave stand up and well.... he retired but his replacement is also as good...

 

[Belle1962]

The airline did offer to move you but you refused. Why are you angry? The airline cannot force another customer to move to make you feel better. Are you just mad they moved her to first class?

No I was already in a pissy (can I say that here) mood because they had moved my seat assignment already--three times. This was during the "blizzard" in Feb. I went from bulkhead to a regular seat near the front of the plane to a seat in the middle of the plane and then they brought in another plan (bigger due to call the cancelled flights) and reassigned seats yet again. My freq flyer profile and the travel agent we use at work indicate on the tickets/profile I have issues with tight enclosed and crowded spaces (hence the original bulkhead) and I had kept still about the move to the other seats (I normally get approval fly first class on business trips but with budget cuts and all that I figured I could take a two hour flight and still be mostly sane by the end of it). I was travelling light--no carryon even so that I could jump up and GET OUT as fast as possible---not possible from the rear of the plane or a window seat. (I had aisle near the front).

 

[lovethattink]

my son is a severe asthmatic too, so i know how you feel, just wanted to say well done for staying so calm and dealing with it so well, im not sure i would have been as calm...
tracy

Thanks.

You want to take your own bedding for him and remove the bedspread and blanket completely. There is something called a bed sack which is similar to a sleeping bag but much lighter. I Am making my self one of light fleece because I don't like to sleep on regular bedsheets. Hate the feel.

This is exactly what we did for the return trip. We brought a comforter and a pillow with us. I will have to check out info on the bed sack.

you might consider flying Southwest - they don't allow pets period.

on delta Spicey is consider to be luggage....which he is NOT....

so the only airlines that flies from here that allows pets in the cabin is Northwest....

if he reacts that badly to being around animals - I am surprised he can go anywhere....


please go see an allergiest - NOT a nose and throat doctor. the nose and throat doctor say they can help. Someone who has real allergies and your son definitely sound like it. they just can't.

go see a real allergist and see if they can't cure him completely. It can be done.

He has been. However when someone has an anaphylactic reaction to something, they cannot consider giving allergy shots for that allergen to them. Complete avoidance is the only remedy. We're hoping in time he will outgrow it, but there's no way we are going to expose him on purpose to something that could kill him. Latex is his biggest culprit. He ended up in the hospital for 4 days due to a balloon once.

As for him traveling anywhere, guess that's why we always chose Disney or a relative's house.

 

[spiceycat]

Thanks.

he has been. However when someone has an anaphylactic reaction to something, they cannot consider giving allergy shots for that allergen to them. Complete avoidance is the only remedy. We're hoping in time he will outgrow it, but there's no way we are going to expose him on purpose to something that could kill him. Latex is his biggest culprit. He ended up in the hospital for 4 days due to a balloon once.

As for him traveling anywhere, guess that's why we always chose Disney or a relative's house.

you realize that the air thing are latex on the plane? latex in this society would be very hard to avoid. I hate to fly so I pay attention to what is on the plane. I always end up sick.

so sorry my old Doctor retired - believe he could have helped your child. He completely cured a bunch of kids - he could actually stop an anaphylactic reaction....

So sorry you and he (and believe me it can be worst for him that you even realize) are going though this....

some kids do get better for a little while - but more often the allergies will get worst... Oh I am just a bearer of bad news....

Pray that he gets better!!! at least enough to take the shots...

is there a children hospital in your area?

 

[lovethattink]

you realize that the air thing are latex on the plane? latex in this society would be very hard to avoid. I hate to fly so I pay attention to what is on the plane. I always end up sick.

so sorry my old Doctor retired - believe he could have helped your child. He completely cured a bunch of kids - he could actually stop an anaphylactic reaction....

So sorry you and he (and believe me it can be worst for him that you even realize) are going though this....

some kids do get better for a little while - but more often the allergies will get worst... Oh I am just a bearer of bad news....

Pray that he gets better!!! at least enough to take the shots...

is there a children hospital in your area?

Yea the latex allergy is very hard to avoid. From bandaids, balls, socks, underwear, paint, pencils, etc., he has to stay away from. It's very difficult. However is school works with us, and us with them.

 

[videogal1]

Forgot to add in the OP that we had considered flying back home, however, we were told airlines allow small pets to ride in a particular size carrier on the plane. They must fit under the seat. So needless to say, flying is not an option for us.

Airlines also "allow" Service Dogs, which, of course, are not pets, and mostly would have to be folded into teeny tiny pieces to fit under an airline seat.

I cannot imagine how there could be a difference between the dander of a pet dog and that of a Service Dog...and, as neither the airlines nor any other business permitting public access, would be allowed to exclude Service Dogs from their premises you need to find a workable solution, such as some of those suggested in previous posts because even if you found, say, a motel, that charged a zillion dollar "fine"...(shouldn't that be fee?) for pets, they could not charge a fee, nor prohibit, the presence of a Service Dog in their rooms.

Looks like you're stuck with renting private homes and traveling by private jet or Winnebago. You might contact Fred Schotz at ADA consultingdotcom for suggestions on how someone with an ADA level allergic disability could be protected.

 

[lovethattink]

Is it free to get information from Fred Scholtz? It would be great to find help. All the specialists and his ped always said to avoid the things that cause him problems. We passed by a RV dealer, and we teased him that he'll have to get a good job when he's older to afford one of those, lol. Poor kid. He is actually doing better now, than years ago. From 2000 until 2006, he avoided any hospital stays!! In 1999, he was in the hospital 4 times for status asthmaticus.