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Posted 4/28/2009 9:24 PM (GMT 0)
I get my 2nd dose of Remicade on May 7th and I'm supposed to fly from TX to NJ on the 8th. Should I be worried/cancel or is that a ridiculous concern?
Posted 4/29/2009 12:13 AM (GMT 0)
More tough decisions for you!
I'm flying home from DC tomorrow (2nd infusion for me is thursday). I'll wear a mask if I find someplace that sells them...although I understand they don't always help...
For you: don't decide yet, watch & wait.
Posted 4/29/2009 12:20 AM (GMT 0)
I hate flying even when there is no swine flu. The air is old and stale on a plane.

Posted 4/29/2009 12:58 PM (GMT 0)
I just don't know how panicked to be! I'm not sure of flying to begin with because of my colitis and having been hospitalized twice in the last 3 weeks!
Posted 4/29/2009 1:58 PM (GMT 0)
Well, since I've been getting infusions, I've flown all over the US, plus to Europe. I haven't been sick yet (knock on wood!) but I try to Zicam my nose before I get on the plane and wash my hands whenever I can...also keep them away from nose, mouth, and ears. I'm not sure yet what to think about this swine flu; I had it back in 1976, but I did recover -- these days I'm not sure if it's the media hyping or if it's a real problem. ***sigh*** Good luck with the flight. Oh, I should also add that I shower before going to bed after I get off of a plane or even when I know a flu or cold is going around the office. Just being a little cautious, eh? :-)


Posted 4/29/2009 3:33 PM (GMT 0)
I guess I shouldn't be so paranoid. If anything since I'm flaring I'm just nervous about flying and not having access to the bathroom if I need it. That's the scariest part!
Posted 4/29/2009 3:41 PM (GMT 0)
Make sure to get an aisle seat as close to a bathroom as you can!

If you look on your ticket/receipt, it should say what kind of plane you'll be flying on. Then, go to this website
http://www.seatguru.com/
where you can look at a map of the plane and figure out where the bathrooms are.

While sitting in the back of the plane can suck (bumpier and takes forver to get off), if there's a bathroom in the rear it's great from an access standpoint because the beverage cart is less likely to be blocking your path.

Also, have you thought about some counseling or taking an anti-anxiety med? I'm not being mean or judgmental, but you do seem very anxious about things. I had a problem with post-partum anxiety after my son was born and was prescribed 25mg (the lowest dose) of Zoloft. It made a huge difference very quickly, and decided to go ahead and keep taking it after I was diagnosed with UC and since I was hoping I'd have job interviews coming up. I think I'll stay on it for another few months at least and try to quit, but if it turns out I have problems with anxiety again, I'll go back on it.
Posted 4/29/2009 3:47 PM (GMT 0)
Hey Shelly; I don't think your being paranoid, just cautious. I was like that too when I first started getting my treatments, and then it just sort of became habit. Many of my friends try to steer clear of me when they are sick, but hey, you can get those germs from just about anywhere. How are you doing since starting the infusions?

Posted 4/29/2009 5:12 PM (GMT 0)
Lonielane, I don't know if the Remicade works that fast but I just had it a week ago today and I really am feeling better but I was on IV steroids at the hospital and that gave me a boost last time as well. Can 1 treatment work that fast? I'm waiting for approval for my 2nd treatment next week.
Posted 4/29/2009 5:21 PM (GMT 0)
Well, this was just how I reacted to it....but the very next day the blood and mucous stopped; and the day after that, I had no urgency. I've never looked back. And I can honestly say I was so sick at this time I would have tried anything. There are still some days where I just don't feel well, but I just say it's the UC and chalk it up to that. Glad to hear you are feeling better!

Posted 4/29/2009 6:00 PM (GMT 0)
Carol,

Wow, I didn't realize it could actually be the Remicade that worked so quickly! I haven't had any blood since the hospital. the frequency is way down, the urgency is still there but much better. The cramping is MUCH better! Would you ever consider quitting the Remicade now that you are in remission?

I guess I pretty much knew it was Remicade or surgery so I chose Remicade.

Michelle
Posted 4/29/2009 6:09 PM (GMT 0)
Well, I consider it a maintenance med now, and I'm doing so well and life is good, so I don't want to alter anything! The thought of going back to the way things were...well, I just don't even want to imagine it. If things change with the Remi and I get symptoms back, I may consider a change. But I think of it this way; I don't take any other meds other than the Remi, and I'm otherwise healthy except for the UC. For 50 yrs. old that isn't too bad! :-)

Posted 4/29/2009 6:35 PM (GMT 0)
If you are worried about swine flu and flying just think about all the flight attendants that fly every day. Are they cropping up with it? When I fly, I use zicam nasal swabs and a dot of anti bac gel right at the entrance to my nose. I also use anti bac gel at my seat after using the bathroom. Many people are afraid to fly and want to spend as little time in the little bathroom as possible so few wash their hands. If you wash your hands and then touch the same doors its like you didn't wash your hands. So I opt for the gel at my seat instead.
Posted 4/30/2009 6:46 PM (GMT 0)
I think the Remicade had immediate results for me too. I'm not yet changing my behavior...but that will take a while after 25 years! I don't know how to be normal!

I agree, Michelle, if you are not just trying to sort things out but are actually panicked about your disease, your treatment, the flu...you might benefit from some med for that.
Posted 4/30/2009 6:54 PM (GMT 0)
Antibacterial gel would have no effect on a flu virus. Be sure you are well hydrated, including your nasal passages. You might want to tuck some saline nasal spray in that little baggie with your carry-on liquids to help keep the mucus membranes in your nose from drying out. Dry nose and mouth membranes are more easily susceptible to bacteria and viruses.
Posted 4/30/2009 6:58 PM (GMT 0)
Of course, you are right! I think my husband was planning on getting me a case of it, and I wasn't thinking it through. Although if it makes him feel better, I could just go along with it...

My doc said just rush in for tamiflu if I start to feel flu-like symptoms, just like any other flu.
You can't outrun someone else's sneeze, as you have probably been hearing on the news.
Posted 4/30/2009 7:09 PM (GMT 0)
The "antibacterial" hand cleaners actually do work for a lot of viruses because of the alcohol in them. Some viruses, in addition to their protein coat, also have and additional "envelope" around them that's made of a phospholipid, and these are susceptible to alcohol. Those without the envelop are usually not. The article I read said that the influenza virus is susceptible to alcohol.
Posted 5/1/2009 2:31 AM (GMT 0)

fruitgirl said...
Make sure to get an aisle seat as close to a bathroom as you can!

If you look on your ticket/receipt, it should say what kind of plane you'll be flying on. Then, go to this website
http://www.seatguru.com/
where you can look at a map of the plane and figure out where the bathrooms are.

While sitting in the back of the plane can suck (bumpier and takes forver to get off), if there's a bathroom in the rear it's great from an access standpoint because the beverage cart is less likely to be blocking your path.

Also, have you thought about some counseling or taking an anti-anxiety med? I'm not being mean or judgmental, but you do seem very anxious about things. I had a problem with post-partum anxiety after my son was born and was prescribed 25mg (the lowest dose) of Zoloft. It made a huge difference very quickly, and decided to go ahead and keep taking it after I was diagnosed with UC and since I was hoping I'd have job interviews coming up. I think I'll stay on it for another few months at least and try to quit, but if it turns out I have problems with anxiety again, I'll go back on it.

I'm not anxious I'm actually nervous from experience. Four years ago I had a terrible flare of my UC and this was my first experience with prednisone. During my 2 month's on prednisone I had bronchitis, a severe sinus infection, strep throat and finally what was referred to as a "life threatening" case of bi-lateral pneumonia that I spent a week in the hospital for unable to breathe and on oxygen 24/7 with over 3 months until I fully recovered. The doctors attributed all of the illness (since I was always very healthy, never got sick, and got all of these during prednisone therapy) to prednisone. So when I had to start taking prednisone 6 weeks ago I became nervous about getting sick again. The difference (this time) is that my UC has been what has had me super sick. I've been running fevers for 2 months, hospitalized twice in the last month (total of 8 days) for my UC and they had me sign more consent forms than going for a mortgage to start Remicade treatment. Since the Remicade is new to me, I have no idea if I'm going to start getting sick with everything under the sun. I am a mom of 2 and I've already spent enough time being sick and getting help with my kids. I've been "in bed sick" most of the last 2 months and I'm just starting to feel better over the last few days. I'm supposed to fly to a family communion next Friday and given I've only been feeling better for a few days and this pandemic, I'm concerned. I've only been fever free for about 6 days! I'm just very tired of being sick!
Posted 5/1/2009 2:38 AM (GMT 0)
I wanted to add that even if there wasn't swine flu I was wondering about flying due to urgency. They do NOT want you to use the bathroom when the seatbelt sign is on, during take off, during landing, turbulence, drink cart, etc. When I am not flaring, I can wait, but not sure I can wait if the bathroom is occupied or I can't use it.

Also, I am not a germaphob. I'm not particularly good about hand sanitizing, not touching, etc. I touch my nose/mouth/eyes constantly, it's just habit and very hard to change! I've never gotten sick after being on an airplane before but I have heard that it is one of the most common ways to get sick.
Posted 5/1/2009 3:04 AM (GMT 0)
Use it when you need it. Ask forgiveness instead of permission. The only time it's really a problem, from my experience, is when they are taxi-ing out to the runway. They have to pull out of line, and that pisses them off!

My boss swears by emergen-C and he travels constantly all over the country. My hubby likes Airborne.
Posted 5/1/2009 4:04 AM (GMT 0)
Shelliesv, that makes a lot more sense now! I can understand why you're nervous given your past experience.
Posted 9/18/2009 5:00 PM (GMT 0)
Shelliesv,

My heart goes out to you. I just took my first Remicade treatment on 08/27/09 and the second one on 09/10/2009. Within two days the bleeding and mucus stopped. I felt so much better. I had been off of work for six weeks and just plain sick. I have a fistula and they say the Remicade can sometimes heal them. I am praying that it heals it because I sure don't want to have another surgery. Last year I had to have a illeostomy, then a fistula surgery, then the reversal of the illeostomy and stricture surgery. I was a little worried about all the side effects from Remicade and the fact that you can get infections and sickness easily but I can't live without it.

I have been a little worried about the swine flu as well. If I take EmergenC or Airborne does that help not get that stuff? I just don't know.

Laura
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