Not unless WADA test you next week...

Aussie cold remedy sounds like a miracle cure i look forward to being available in the Uk

It's not available in the UK as the Aussie version contains an ingredient that can be used to make crack. Seems the nanny state thinks we can't be trusted in the UK and we'll all turn into crackheads. The Aussies seem less bothered. Saying that, I tried to buy some (Nurofen Cold & Flu, not crack!) at a chemist/pharmacy in Sydney airport and the pharmacist said she'd only sell it to me if I had a person travelling with me vouch for my identity. I kid you not. I said but I'm travelling alone and surely my passport is enough as ID?! She said no and wouldn't sell it to me!! The mind boggles.....

... which proves exactly nothing.

Maybe you caught the germs from them, maybe they are immune due to past exposure.

See a real doctor, not an internet group, and get professional advice, then follow it. Ask specifically if you are contagious, and if you are, be a decent human and don't inflict your germs on hundreds of strangers.

I was in Boots today and stocking up on decongestants (or trying to) and they literally stopped me buying various combinations of things because it was illegal for me to do so!!! I kid you not the nanny state indeed...

Thank you for your sage advice - in case you didn't know the NHS is in a mess anyway and I don't think it fair to take up their valuable time with my poxy illness. I called up the GP who said I was being very sensible about my approach that I am unlikely to be contagious and that the best thing for me would be ten days relaxing in a hot climate! She said take the decongestants and Vicks menthol stick, inhale etc. In her opinion it would be totally wrong of me to cancel my trip unless I was considerably worse as the stress of cancelling the trip and losing the money bound to make me worse. If my symptoms don't improve in the next 10 days go and see a doctor. She chuckled at the thought of me being told to wear a mask and cancel my trip and thought sense of humours and proportions were sorely lacking...

You're right, if a GP tries to diagnose
over the phone then clearly whatever medical system that GP is in is a mess. Assessing whether the patient is contagious? Of course you can do that over the phone! Then determine what the patient wants to hear - that going on the trip is
and that not doing exactly what the patient wants - traveling while sick - would
Normally doctors say things like dehydration, untreated infection, exposure to secondary germs and the like might make you worse. It's a rare doctor that would say the stress of canceling a trip could cause an infection to worsen.

Every time I read a post like the OP's, I think of Liu Jianlun and the consequences of his decision to travel while ill.

Agree with the comments by CDTraveler. One of my great regrets was minimizing my symptoms when I was about to embark on an international long haul trip. I thought it was no big deal and could ignore my cold and sinus symptoms. I got progressively sicker when I arrived at my destination. Wound up with pneumonia and was pretty much out of commission for 2 months.

And back in the real world.... it is simply not realistic, practical or financially viable for the vast majority of people to cancel travel plans, especially significant ones like this, because they've got a cold.

It absolutely stinks if you end up sitting next to someone with a cold, but frankly that's a risk of taking public transport.

How do you know it's a cold? Maybe flu? Maybe pneumonia? It's usually a good idea to seek medical advice, and not over the phone. If OP does indeed have something serious she may end up being hospitalised in a foreign country. Hopefully she has the financial means or good insurance to cover this.

I think every adult knows when they have a cold and I'm sure no one cancels their trip because of it - or wears a mask the moment they have a sniffle. Not sure why everyone is beating up the OP.

Colds and influenza are both contagious before symptoms even begin but only for about a week after that - OP is past that point.

I would go to physically see the doctor though if at all possible. I know when I get a cold it often ends up with a secondary sinus infection, which is very hard to knock out without antibiotics. Such is not uncommon (as well as bronchitis) so it wouldn't hurt to be physically examined. Also the doc could presumably prescribe the real pseudoephedrine decongestant as opposed to the OTC decongestant with the useless phenylephrine.

Thank you for your support. I have some pseudoephedrine that Boots provided and fingers toes etc I feel a bit better.

I appreciate and welcome the fact that we live in a democracy where we can speak however I do that I have been pilloried and made to feel as if I am Public Enemy No 1 rather than somebody who has had a bad cold and was seeking some advice and feel a tad victimised and bullied. We all need a sense of humour and proportion in this life and I feel that some of the posters in this thread lack both and are indeed as thoughtless as

It is because there is in our grand world a group of judgmental and condescending twerps who feel the need to impose their narrow and self-serving world view on complete strangers.

There probably isn't a flight going anywhere that doesn't have someone on it with a cold or other minor malaise. Might even be me sometimes. It's part of the package when taking public transit.

My advice to the OP is to go if YOU feel up to it and ignore the advice to wear a mask or what constitutes a "decent human being." Drink plenty of fluids and cover your mouth when you cough.

I am pleased that the OP is feeling better.
Closing the thread
Obscure2k
TravelBuzz Moderator