Anybody get sick day after a flight?
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: somewhere in F, hopefully
Posts: 670
Anybody get sick day after a flight?
This seems to happen to me occasionally, and it's not jet lag...I'm talking about 2 hour flights. This has been going on since I started flying two-three days/week for the last four years.
There are times when I am sick for 1-2 days after flying...lightheadedness, headache, weakness, fatigue, slight nausea. This is a not a virus. It's the same thing every time, and it takes a couple days to get rid of it.
Anybody else experience this? I'm thinking sick air syndrome or something.
There are times when I am sick for 1-2 days after flying...lightheadedness, headache, weakness, fatigue, slight nausea. This is a not a virus. It's the same thing every time, and it takes a couple days to get rid of it.
Anybody else experience this? I'm thinking sick air syndrome or something.
#2
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: RST
Programs: NWA WorldPerks SE, HiltonHHonors Blue
Posts: 42
Sounds like you could be dehydrated. The air they circulate on planes is extremely dry, and it can really make some people dehydrated. Are you drinking plenty of fluids before and during your flight? That really makes a big difference when I fly.
#3
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: New York City
Posts: 3,999
This seems to happen to me occasionally, and it's not jet lag...I'm talking about 2 hour flights. This has been going on since I started flying two-three days/week for the last four years.
There are times when I am sick for 1-2 days after flying...lightheadedness, headache, weakness, fatigue, slight nausea. This is a not a virus. It's the same thing every time, and it takes a couple days to get rid of it.
Anybody else experience this? I'm thinking sick air syndrome or something.
There are times when I am sick for 1-2 days after flying...lightheadedness, headache, weakness, fatigue, slight nausea. This is a not a virus. It's the same thing every time, and it takes a couple days to get rid of it.
Anybody else experience this? I'm thinking sick air syndrome or something.
#4
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: ORD, MKE, MDW
Programs: Marriott Lifetime Platinum, AAdvantage Gold, Air Canada Elite, Avis Pref Select, Hertz Gold,
Posts: 1,844
I've been a business flyer for nearly 30 years. I've never heard of a sick day after a routine flight, but I did hear the pax behind me recently talking about what I thought was a great, enlightened company implemented by their employer.
Employees get a minimum of 12 hours from the time their flight lands before they're expected to be in their office. Regardless of when the scheduled arrival time was supposed to be. Great for the day after an evening of delays. All that's required is that a message be left informing the office of the situation.
Employees get a minimum of 12 hours from the time their flight lands before they're expected to be in their office. Regardless of when the scheduled arrival time was supposed to be. Great for the day after an evening of delays. All that's required is that a message be left informing the office of the situation.
#5
Join Date: May 2007
Location: PHL
Programs: US/*A, Marriott, ICH, Budget, Avis
Posts: 762
Employees get a minimum of 12 hours from the time their flight lands before they're expected to be in their office. Regardless of when the scheduled arrival time was supposed to be. Great for the day after an evening of delays. All that's required is that a message be left informing the office of the situation.
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Somewhere between here and there...
Programs: WWF, Appalachian Mountain Club
Posts: 11,595
Originally Posted by tkarre
Sounds like you could be dehydrated. The air they circulate on planes is extremely dry, and it can really make some people dehydrated. Are you drinking plenty of fluids before and during your flight? That really makes a big difference when I fly.
#7
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: UK - Cymru
Programs: Emirates Skywards Gold, Hilton HHonors Gold, QF (currently some base metal), LH, Star Alliance, CSA
Posts: 854
There's an east test for dehydration - just pinch up the skin on the back of
your hand, if it stays in a ridge and takes a little while to go back to its
normal position, then that is a danger sign.
Keep up the fluids!
your hand, if it stays in a ridge and takes a little while to go back to its
normal position, then that is a danger sign.
Keep up the fluids!
#9
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 1
It may well be altitude sickness...
http://www.healthline.com/health/fit...ckness-flights
http://wikitravel.org/en/Altitude_sickness
http://www.healthline.com/health/fit...ckness-flights
http://wikitravel.org/en/Altitude_sickness
#10
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Scotland - ABZ
Programs: Qantas LTG, BA-Blue, KLM -Gold, SAS - Silver
Posts: 2,053
Employees get a minimum of 12 hours from the time their flight lands before they're expected to be in their office. Regardless of when the scheduled arrival time was supposed to be.
#11
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 2
I get sick the day after every flight
sunnyjl, New to this forum. I was diagnosed with Lyme and Morgellons in February 2006. Even a one-hour flight puts me flat on my back the day after the flight. Sometimes I'm sick for 4 or 5 days.
I am not picking up bacteria on the plane or in the airport; the bugs are already in me and they love the low oxygen on a flight and maybe the air presurizing. Cipro seems to help me get back on my feet but this last flight it did not help.
My guess is that it's not the Lyme spirochete, but one of the co-infections of Lyme. I am CDC positive for Lyme but testing for Bartonella and Babesia was negative, for what it's worth.
I think the infection that causes me problems flying may be Mycoplasma. There is a lab that can successfully test for mycoplasma, however, I must be off all herbs and medications for one month before testing. I don't think I could live through that month without meds.
Are you continuing to get sick after a flight? Or, is anyone else? I can find so little info regarding this symptom of flying.
I am not picking up bacteria on the plane or in the airport; the bugs are already in me and they love the low oxygen on a flight and maybe the air presurizing. Cipro seems to help me get back on my feet but this last flight it did not help.
My guess is that it's not the Lyme spirochete, but one of the co-infections of Lyme. I am CDC positive for Lyme but testing for Bartonella and Babesia was negative, for what it's worth.
I think the infection that causes me problems flying may be Mycoplasma. There is a lab that can successfully test for mycoplasma, however, I must be off all herbs and medications for one month before testing. I don't think I could live through that month without meds.
Are you continuing to get sick after a flight? Or, is anyone else? I can find so little info regarding this symptom of flying.
#12
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Venice, Florida
Programs: Hilton Diamond
Posts: 2,607
FYI, for those who experience ear pain or discomfort with air travel, try a warn compress over ear( it will open up Eustachian tube) and some nasal spray. Who ever said decongestants is on the right track^
#13
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: LHR
Programs: Accor PLT,Thai Silver, HH Dia, SPG Titanium (LT Gold), Aegean Gold, BA Silver
Posts: 5,114
I used to travel long haul when I was far younger and for every weekend I was away the company gave me a day off or a day in lieu. Those days and those companies are now, unfortunately, few and far between.
#14
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: somewhere in F, hopefully
Posts: 670
Thanks for the reply. I don't have these problems anymore. I think it was either dehydration (I'm more careful to drink plenty of fluids/water when traveling now), or else it was just being physically run down from the constant being on the go.
I hope you get well soon! Traveling is pure misery when you aren't healthy...
I hope you get well soon! Traveling is pure misery when you aren't healthy...