Traveling with Allergies!
Your dying to take that dream vacation to the beach, the mountains, a country abroad BUT you're afraid you could actually die taking it! To many the allergic people this is an unrentless fear!
They say a vacation is great for the soul! It's a break from the insanity of working to many hours, running to endless events, and taking care of everyone else except yourself but how do you plan a vacation when you have to worry about being exposed to deadly allergens? Well, it's possible! I'm not going to say it's easy but it is possible. And once you get into a routine, it becomes your traveling norm.
Now, to burst your bubble, let me warn you that it may not be a good idea to go to an exotic island without stable healthcare or tromp through some gorgeous rain forest in tropical paradise such as Brazil but you can still vacation in amazing locales. I tried the "risky" vacation and stayed in a village in Alaska that was two hours from the mainland (meaning no healthcare) and only reachable by bush plane. And yes, I had a reaction. I took this vacation a few years after the onset of idiopathic anaphylaxis. Actually, I did not have an IA diagnosis at the time. The doctors were still trying to figure out what I was allergic too while not realizing that I was just dealing with a histamine bucket that was continously spilling over. It was a good thing that a high dose of Benedryl and an EpiPen brought me back to the safe side. I vowed never to be that far away from a hospital again and I haven't and I won't. Ever! I've since become to allergic to nuts/treenuts and fish which can be a flyer's nightmare.
The nut allergies started about eight years ago. I was very fearful that I never fly again because peanuts were always a snack handed out on planes. However, I knew that flying would not be an option so in 2012 I decided to take flight and test out this scary situation and I'm glad to report, it went off without a reaction. In 2014, I again flew across country without incident. The first flight was with Spirit and the second with Delta. Now, let me say, it doesn't mean that I won't be nervous every time I fly but I think being nervous will keep me safer. There are several in-air reactions every year that we don't hear about in the news so it is imperative that you take your allergies seriously. For me, I fearful that there will nut traces on the seats or a passenger near me will open a nutty package. Airlines serve nuts and nut laced products and fellow fliers bring nut laced products on flight. So here's what I do....research, research, research! Check out all the airlines flying to your destination and then review their Passengers with Disabilities Policy. Both Spirit and Delta, let us board early and wipe everything down with sanitizer wipes. I place baby crib sheets (sounds crazy, I know) on my seat and whomever I'm traveling with. They fit perfectly and cover the entire seat surface. In fact, one of the flight attendants thought it was a brilliant hygiene idea. No plane flu for use! I let the reservation agent, the gate attendant and the plane attendants know of my allergies and by law they have to create a three-row in front and back buffer zone. And, I wore an embarrassing face mask which I decided to deal with instead of be ashamed of. And, I flew both ways successfully! I will admit that I will be nervous every time I fly but I will not let my allergy ground me. If I can drive in a reasonable time, I will but if I really want to go somewhere, I will fly it it's too far to reasonably drive.
So, here is my process: I call the airlines before buying my ticket and have a conversation with them about their nut policies. Some are better than others. Delta was fabulous for me and even made an in flight announce stating they would not be serving nuts and asked passengers not to open nut products. No airline can guarantee you an allergy-free flight however some will attempt to provide you a safe flight as much as they can. Click to read about some of the major airlines policies http://foodallergies.about.com/od/outandabout/a/Airline-Food-Allergy-Policies.htm. I arrive at the gate an hour early, let the gate attendant know I'm there and they let me board as soon as the plane is available. I pre-board and have my traveling partner whipe EVERYTHING down. Then, I settle in with my ugly mask and some gloves. There are now some cool scarves out that have filters built in so in the future I won't have to wear that ugly mask I get from the hardware store. The one I'm familar with is called the Scough. Then, at the end of my flight, I absolutely let the attendants know how appreciative I am of there accomdations. I do this out of appreciation, respect and praise to them so hopefully they will continue practicing this for other passengers. There are thousands flying with allergies and the airlines really do want an uneventful flight so being your own advocate is important.
Lodging and eating out: I absolutely always try and stay places with a kitchen or at least a microwave and fridge. It's a must. I do not trust restaurants so therefore avoid eating at them as much as possible. Also, with MCAS, our triggers vary so what is bothering me today may not bother me tomorrow and vice versa. I do not prefer to have this change occur in a restaurant. It's happened before and is a complete mojo killer. I do okay with breakfast food so I will eat out for breakfast. I usually stick to poached eggs and oatmeal (I so predictable) because neither of these food items are fried or cooked on grills. They are bland and usually cooked alone. Otherwise, I make my own food which saves money is so much healthier. I make sure I wash all utensils and dishes if they are supplied by the place I stay at. Hey! It's about being safe. Some of you may choose to eat in restaurants and if so talk to your server and make sure they know your allergies. You may also choose to speak with the chef. More and more restaurants are recognizing allergic patrons.
I also locate and document nearby medical centers and hospitals and I don't go anywhere without my Epi and Benedryl. The Spibelt is awesome! It's super small and fits around your waist (like a fanny pack except it's not), or in your purse and you don't even know it's there. Don't let the size fool you! You can fit everything you need medically in this thing and also your cell phone if it's not the size of a small tablet. I always tell people that the Spibelt holds everything including the kitchen sink. I recently went to NYC and we stayed in an apartment. We recently visited NYC and stayed in an apartment vacation rental. There was a grocery store around the corner. I took a backpack, filled with my "can" eats and hit the pavement. Of course, everyone else enjoyed the great New York food joints but I got to travel and didn't starve.
I live in the U.S. and as much as I'd like to explore other continents, I've decided that there is endless beauty and fabulous opportunities here so it's where I choose to travel. I would like to travel to Ireland and the Netherlands someday to see my native lands but for now, I'll stay US bound. I've made a choice to not let my pain in the arse MCAS keep me from traveling, I just do so carefully and hope that my body cooperates. I've decided to take the stance that I could have an allergic reaction while vacationing however I could have one while sitting in my living room watching T.V. so I may as well vacation. Just know your location, surroundings and what your going to eat.
I would love to hear what some of you fellow travelers have found helpful in keeping safe so please share!
Your dying to take that dream vacation to the beach, the mountains, a country abroad BUT you're afraid you could actually die taking it! To many the allergic people this is an unrentless fear!
They say a vacation is great for the soul! It's a break from the insanity of working to many hours, running to endless events, and taking care of everyone else except yourself but how do you plan a vacation when you have to worry about being exposed to deadly allergens? Well, it's possible! I'm not going to say it's easy but it is possible. And once you get into a routine, it becomes your traveling norm.
Now, to burst your bubble, let me warn you that it may not be a good idea to go to an exotic island without stable healthcare or tromp through some gorgeous rain forest in tropical paradise such as Brazil but you can still vacation in amazing locales. I tried the "risky" vacation and stayed in a village in Alaska that was two hours from the mainland (meaning no healthcare) and only reachable by bush plane. And yes, I had a reaction. I took this vacation a few years after the onset of idiopathic anaphylaxis. Actually, I did not have an IA diagnosis at the time. The doctors were still trying to figure out what I was allergic too while not realizing that I was just dealing with a histamine bucket that was continously spilling over. It was a good thing that a high dose of Benedryl and an EpiPen brought me back to the safe side. I vowed never to be that far away from a hospital again and I haven't and I won't. Ever! I've since become to allergic to nuts/treenuts and fish which can be a flyer's nightmare.
The nut allergies started about eight years ago. I was very fearful that I never fly again because peanuts were always a snack handed out on planes. However, I knew that flying would not be an option so in 2012 I decided to take flight and test out this scary situation and I'm glad to report, it went off without a reaction. In 2014, I again flew across country without incident. The first flight was with Spirit and the second with Delta. Now, let me say, it doesn't mean that I won't be nervous every time I fly but I think being nervous will keep me safer. There are several in-air reactions every year that we don't hear about in the news so it is imperative that you take your allergies seriously. For me, I fearful that there will nut traces on the seats or a passenger near me will open a nutty package. Airlines serve nuts and nut laced products and fellow fliers bring nut laced products on flight. So here's what I do....research, research, research! Check out all the airlines flying to your destination and then review their Passengers with Disabilities Policy. Both Spirit and Delta, let us board early and wipe everything down with sanitizer wipes. I place baby crib sheets (sounds crazy, I know) on my seat and whomever I'm traveling with. They fit perfectly and cover the entire seat surface. In fact, one of the flight attendants thought it was a brilliant hygiene idea. No plane flu for use! I let the reservation agent, the gate attendant and the plane attendants know of my allergies and by law they have to create a three-row in front and back buffer zone. And, I wore an embarrassing face mask which I decided to deal with instead of be ashamed of. And, I flew both ways successfully! I will admit that I will be nervous every time I fly but I will not let my allergy ground me. If I can drive in a reasonable time, I will but if I really want to go somewhere, I will fly it it's too far to reasonably drive.
So, here is my process: I call the airlines before buying my ticket and have a conversation with them about their nut policies. Some are better than others. Delta was fabulous for me and even made an in flight announce stating they would not be serving nuts and asked passengers not to open nut products. No airline can guarantee you an allergy-free flight however some will attempt to provide you a safe flight as much as they can. Click to read about some of the major airlines policies http://foodallergies.about.com/od/outandabout/a/Airline-Food-Allergy-Policies.htm. I arrive at the gate an hour early, let the gate attendant know I'm there and they let me board as soon as the plane is available. I pre-board and have my traveling partner whipe EVERYTHING down. Then, I settle in with my ugly mask and some gloves. There are now some cool scarves out that have filters built in so in the future I won't have to wear that ugly mask I get from the hardware store. The one I'm familar with is called the Scough. Then, at the end of my flight, I absolutely let the attendants know how appreciative I am of there accomdations. I do this out of appreciation, respect and praise to them so hopefully they will continue practicing this for other passengers. There are thousands flying with allergies and the airlines really do want an uneventful flight so being your own advocate is important.
Lodging and eating out: I absolutely always try and stay places with a kitchen or at least a microwave and fridge. It's a must. I do not trust restaurants so therefore avoid eating at them as much as possible. Also, with MCAS, our triggers vary so what is bothering me today may not bother me tomorrow and vice versa. I do not prefer to have this change occur in a restaurant. It's happened before and is a complete mojo killer. I do okay with breakfast food so I will eat out for breakfast. I usually stick to poached eggs and oatmeal (I so predictable) because neither of these food items are fried or cooked on grills. They are bland and usually cooked alone. Otherwise, I make my own food which saves money is so much healthier. I make sure I wash all utensils and dishes if they are supplied by the place I stay at. Hey! It's about being safe. Some of you may choose to eat in restaurants and if so talk to your server and make sure they know your allergies. You may also choose to speak with the chef. More and more restaurants are recognizing allergic patrons.
I also locate and document nearby medical centers and hospitals and I don't go anywhere without my Epi and Benedryl. The Spibelt is awesome! It's super small and fits around your waist (like a fanny pack except it's not), or in your purse and you don't even know it's there. Don't let the size fool you! You can fit everything you need medically in this thing and also your cell phone if it's not the size of a small tablet. I always tell people that the Spibelt holds everything including the kitchen sink. I recently went to NYC and we stayed in an apartment. We recently visited NYC and stayed in an apartment vacation rental. There was a grocery store around the corner. I took a backpack, filled with my "can" eats and hit the pavement. Of course, everyone else enjoyed the great New York food joints but I got to travel and didn't starve.
I live in the U.S. and as much as I'd like to explore other continents, I've decided that there is endless beauty and fabulous opportunities here so it's where I choose to travel. I would like to travel to Ireland and the Netherlands someday to see my native lands but for now, I'll stay US bound. I've made a choice to not let my pain in the arse MCAS keep me from traveling, I just do so carefully and hope that my body cooperates. I've decided to take the stance that I could have an allergic reaction while vacationing however I could have one while sitting in my living room watching T.V. so I may as well vacation. Just know your location, surroundings and what your going to eat.
I would love to hear what some of you fellow travelers have found helpful in keeping safe so please share!
