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Fear of flying and of a flare with a new job opportunity

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Posted 10/28/2011 12:22 AM (GMT 0)
I got a call today on a job that would require a move to the west coast. The company said they were going to fly me out to meet with them. I am terrified of flying, a CD flare, not being able to eat like a professional in front of professionals. What if I get stuck in a bathroom? Am I capable of taking a new job long distance without a flare and losing everything? Help!

Cindy
Posted 10/28/2011 1:58 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Cindy, How are you feeling? Are you currently coming out of a flare? Would it be a good job (or better job)? I also have to fly from New England to CA in 3 weeks, so even that has me scared. It's for business, just a one week trip, so I wanted to say, I understand just what you are saying. I'm in a very active flare. But for me, I'm gonna do it, I have to. Course it's easier for me, cause it's not a decision thing for me - I don't have to STAY there. But I keep plugging along until the day they send me home, cause I completely fail. That's just me, hope you come to a decision that you can live with. Would you regret it if you don't -- the "what might have been"?? If so, and if you are well enough -- then GO!! Good luck whatever you decide, everyone here will be pulling for you, either way!
NDBC
10 years with Crohns
Posted 10/28/2011 2:54 AM (GMT 0)
Cindy, if you work with your docs, I suspect that you can find some help on all of these issues. A mild sedative would go a long way to helping with your fear of flying. Perhaps you might even relax and take a short nap. If the flight is long enough you might even be able to take an Ambien and sleep four hours. I've certainly done that to avoid jetlag.

I've had gut trouble my whole life and it's been pretty bad, on and off, since my teens. In over 30 years the only time I've ever been at a loss to find something I can eat was at a Mexican restaurant, because I just can't tolerate pepper. I've been in business meetings where a meal was served and most often I can eat whatever was served. Certainly there were times I ate things I shouldn't have, but that was by choice. I could have skipped those items. I've never once had anyone pay any attention to what I picked out or ate around. Everyone everywhere has likes, dislikes and things they just can't eat.

Can you Use imodium to stop or slow down the D? I am lucky enough that it always works for me. Sure I might have to pop an extra dose, but if I have imodium, I can usually avoid the "stuck in the bathroom" scenario. A few times when I knew I was flaring up and had meetings all day I just took the immodium proactively and it always got me through.

YOU ARE A STRONG, POWERFUL, SMART WOMAN WHO OTHERS WANT TO HAVE AROUND. Use that power to build up your confidence and self esteem and talk with your docs about ways to avoid the pitfalls you are so worried about. Options are out there that can get most of us through the average day. Sure, a flare might happen, but you can't worry yourself into one - just go ahead and live your life. Plan for the possibilities and don't waste too much time on the what ifs. You decide what's best for you and then go for it, or not. Carpe Diem!

Posted 10/28/2011 4:39 AM (GMT 0)
Go for it Cindy. Nothing ventured nothing gained. If it is a job you really want I think you must try. Lots of toilets on the plane and try to get a late or very early flight so that traffic won't be an issue.......
Posted 10/28/2011 5:05 AM (GMT 0)
hi there...i deal with this all the time with my job- i don't eat before i fly, take xanax and immodium (and my pain meds) so i usually fall asleep on plane. a few times i've had to use the br...i get back there get all set and nothing...great...once i hung out back wthere with hte flight attendants talking for over an hour in case i had to go so i wasn't walking back and forth...i told them i had kidney stones...i do but that wasn't why- just seems a bit better than sorry i might have to poop 5 times. try to get a seat on the aisle by the bathrooms- that way you're close, know when there's no one waiting etc...as far as meetings- i always try to hit the head right before. if i do need to go then i have to go- oh well...sucks but nothing i can do. meals are ok most of the time they are close by the office or hotel so as long as i'm careful i can make it back to hotel/office. a few times i've had to use restaurant br's- oh well. not the best scenario but...if the restaurant is a drive away i'll 1- come up with an excuse not to go 2- not eat...good luck and don't let this stupid disease keep you from a better job!
Posted 10/28/2011 3:29 PM (GMT 0)
I will talk to my doctor about some xanax or something? Will it make me impaired to change planes or make me look like a druggy when I get off the plane and meet new people? I did wake up this morning with my bowels all a mess and nauseated..My last trip was a long one to Dallas..I had to take a pill an hour into my trip because of D, but I watched my diet the whole trip and was alright..I did not end up in the bathroom during the conference or certification testing, which was my concern. I was unsure of a plane ride with plane changes..I was already imaging myself stuck in the bathroom and missing a flight change! My last two job changes have gone smooth with a little D problem in the beginning that I hide fairly well! The new job would be in las vegas which I have never lived out of the central plains?? It is the opportunity I have been looking for career advancement wise and pay wise. I had a bad reaction to altitude on a trip to Colorado and few years ago and spent the whole time bedfast in the condo while my family had fun..I was worried about having the same reaction to flying if not worse?? My bowels are kind of unpredictable at times..I have learned to live with it, and I almost missed my oldest son's high school graduation because of being stuck in the bathroom..I could wake up fine for the trip or wake up with nausea and bowel spasms???
Cindy
Posted 10/28/2011 8:05 PM (GMT 0)
Cindy, do you have an antispasmotic for when you do get spasms? If you don't, you definitely need one. If you do, talk to your Doc about increasing the dose if the spasms get bad. I've been using Pamine Forte (Methscopalamine) but there are several others like Bentyl and Levsin. Although they want me taking this 3 times a day, I only do so when I'm really having problems. When my gut settles down I stop it. And then there are days like yesterday where I was having terrible esophageal spasms. Man those are even worse than the gut cramps! The spasms go all the way up into my throat and cause one of the "head freeze" type headaches toboot. SO yesterday evening I popped 3 of those antispasmotics and that did the trick. It's funny how I have learned to differentiate the different levels of spasms in both ny gut and my esophagus and just know whether I need 1, 2 or 3 pills. I suspect your GI might not like this use of the meds, but hey, we all know that we have to learn to do whatever we need to keep on trucking. I have a box full of all sorts of meds and I use them according to what I need.

Nobody here can possibly tell you how you will respond to something like xanax, lorazepam, valium or any other sedative. The only thing to do is get a script and try it on a day you can be home to judge your own unique response. I know that I thrive and even function better on most of my meds, yet I have friends who take 1 tylenol and sleep 4 hours. Everyone has there own response to all meds. I cetainly hope that you can find one that works well enough without any lasting drawbacks.

These meds are really great to help you relax on a plane ride and perhaps you could take them at a lower dose during your trip to help alleviate the stress involved in both such a big change in your life and the worries about the DD.

Posted 10/29/2011 1:25 AM (GMT 0)
Lot of cheap real estate in LV by the way
Posted 10/29/2011 3:25 AM (GMT 0)
But millions of people in the desert..I have lived in the central plains all my life! It would be an adventure in my 40's..especially with this DD!! I might opt for the Xanax for the flight..I may want to try it first..This was good advice!! I do have a stock of antispasmodics other than Imodium..I don't have to take them all the time! There was a time when they were a daily necessity..A donnitol and phenegren cocktail to keep the food from coming up and out! I to have suffered with esophageal spasms..When I first started getting them, I thought it was cardiac trouble! My coworkers and husband were convincing me today my high altitude severe sickness in Colorado would not equal a plane ride?? I hated the traffic in Dallas on my last trip..You can't just exit the freeway easily to get to a bathroom..I thought about this on I-30..I am glad I have people to talk to about these kind of issues!
Cindy
Posted 10/29/2011 4:53 AM (GMT 0)

cindywchrones said...
My coworkers and husband were convincing me today my high altitude severe sickness in Colorado would not equal a plane ride??

I'm not sure what you mean. I think you're saying that you're worried about the effects of the lower pressure in the plane on your gut. Am I right?

If that's one of the problems you're worried about. I certainly won't tell you that it's nothing to worry about. I am convinced that a 2.5 hr flight I took a few years back certainly set off my gut. When I fly to Hawaii to visit my sister my feet and ankles swell, so why would I exclude some inflammation in my gut? What I can tell you is that over the last 30 years I have flown dozens and dozens of times and not had a problem after any flight except one. That one time I wasn't feeling all too hot before I boarded and I'm sure that was a factor in the misery that I had while on vacation. Luckily that trip was to visit Dad and not a real vacation where I missed out on sightseeing or any other fun stuff.

My sister went to college on Hawaii 25yrs ago and never came home. I've flown the direct Newark to Honolulu at least 10 times roundtrip and the only swelling I ever had was from the ankles down. Not too bad for an 11 hour trip. However, I wasn't doing well before my last 2 trips so I did take pred before the flights. I used the model that I was prescribed before a CT with contrast after I had an allergic reaction during a previous CT scan. I think I took 30mg the night before, 30mg the morning of the flight and 30mg the evening after the fllight. The first time it worked like a charm and I had no problems after my flight out or my flight home. This last trip was just miserable all around, but I had been headed into a flare before I left, so I can't say my trick didn't work. For all I know it may well have kept me from getting worse. What I do know id that I had a scope last Tuesday and my GI found 2 areas of scarring from "significant" inflammation. I never had this before and am convinced that this is the result of the misery I was in from June through Sept.

Anyway, this worked well for me and like most Crohnies, I almost always have some pred laying around. The good thing is that even at a high dose, if you only use it 2 or 3 times you don't have to worry about a taper and unless you have severe reactions to pred, it's not likely that you'd have any side effects worth complaining about. So, there's my food for thought, for tonight anyway. LOL

 

Posted 10/29/2011 8:02 PM (GMT 0)
I am a long term predisone user Feb will be 3 years. I am currently on 10mg..I had a severe high altitude reaction when I took my family to Colorado Winter Park a few years ago..I was condo and bed bound the entire trip..I could not even stand up..This is my fear of flying that I will react the same way..My husband insists I will not have the same reaction in the air! My bowels do get irritable when I travel by car..I usually can watch my diet which I am doing gluten free successfully for a few months now..I did fly as a child without a problem, but I have not been on a plane since I was 17..I am going to call my doctor about premedication on Monday for air travel..I have always been afraid of taking a cruise because of motion sickness..My sister had severe vomiting and dizziness her whole cruise experience...My bowels can be very tempermental without warning. I want to create a good impression.
Cindy
Posted 10/29/2011 8:04 PM (GMT 0)
I do have a stockpile of antispasmotics and phenegren on hand..
Cindy
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