Nervous and stressed about Florida trip

[netmum]

We are about to embark on our 9th trip to the States (4th with children), flying in two weeks with AA to Miami, staying in a villa in Orlando for three weeks. Although I love going, I feel more stressed about going each year, mainly due to:

1) DVT - I have varicose veins and healthwise have not been feeling great for a while now (although the doctors say it is just stress), so worry about my health whilst flying and abroad.[V]

2) Threat to security during flight

3) Last year my son was sick all the way home, so worried that he will be sick again for 9 hours!![xx(]

4) The 'mystery illness' that is emerging at the moment.

Once I get there I will be ok (until I worry about coming home).

Is anyone else going soon? Has anyone else thought about cancelling or changing dates?

Any reassurance or advice greatfully received!![8D], as I am starting to wonder if it is worth all the stress.

Rebecca

[athurstance]

We go to Orlando in 19 days although we're flying this weekend aswell but only to Jersey. We'll be in Florida at the same time.
I'm not worried particularly. Some tips.

1) For avoiding problems with DVT - which is still very rare - make sure you drink plenty of water, don't drink alcohol, take 1/2 an aspirin every morning for a few days before and after the flight (unless you have a stomach ulcer or similar), get up and walk around as often as you can (I get up and go to the loo every hour or so and wander about a bit stretching in that larger bit of space at the back of the plane), wear support socks (you can get them at Boots at the airport if you forget to get some before), rotate your ankles every 15 minutes, and point and flex your feet - this helps to get the blood flowing.

2) The risk of anything happening are so small as not to worry about. Statistically you are far more likely to be killed on the way to the airport in your car (and also it is true that statistically you are more likely to be kicked to death by a donkey than killed in an air crash).

3) Children do sometimes get sick on flights if they have other minor illnesses such as a cold or blocked ears so try treating any of these if they show up during your holiday. As with all things with children they are very unpredictable and chances are it was just a one off and he'll be fine.

4) The nasty pnuemonia bug which is present in Hong Kong has only shown itself outside HK so far in health professionals who were directly treating patients infected. There was a professor on the news last night saying there is absolutely no reason to worry about this when travelling by air.

These days when we all travel so much - and so much further than before - there always seem to be worries and scare stories going around. You know - because you've made 9 trips already - that it's perfectly safe.
Have a great holiday


Angela

[roger]

We are going in 2 weeks.

I can't really comment about the DVT, apart from follow the exercises suggested on the plane.

In terms of security, personally I think now is probably safer than it has ever been to fly - we have flown to the US 7 times since September 11th, and security is VERY tight.

My daughter (Charlotte) has started getting sickness each time we fly (only coming home) - we are just going to make sure she has some travel sickness tablets this time.

The mystery illness - I wouldn't worry - I rekon you have more chance of winning the Lottery Jackpot then contracting that illness. You could get that whether in the UK or US, and I believe most cases are with people who have been to the far East recently.

Part of the fun of a holiday to me is the excitment before hand, so don't ruin it by worrying! Just look forward to it.

[Biggus]

Netmum,
We are going this Sat morning - flying AA to Orlando via Miami, then returning via Boston. Yes it is in the back of my mind that things might go horribly wrong in the Gulf, but 6 months planning and a large wedge of cash is too much to lose, not once have we considered changing dates or cancelling - I will not be beaten by a terrorist threat - it is the uncertainty and concern that the terrorist elements around the world feed off. I am a firm believer in fate and 'whatever will be will be' - if it is my time to go then so be it!! 9/11 happened when we were last in the US and that didn't stop me having fun - I felt somewhat guilty while a nation mourned, but the 'they will not beat me' attitude saw us through. Roll on a fantastic trip this time around.

[janny]

Hi Netmum whilst I am not a medical person I feel sure that the more you worry about your trip in the next two weeks the worse things wiil seem .Try to concentrate on the fabulous time you and your family are going to have when you are in Florida.
Make sure you move around the plane at least once an hour on your flight and keep yourself cool.
Security has never been tighter in the airports as it is now and chances of something untoward happening is minute.
The fact that your son was ill all the way home last time was probably just one of those things but it may be worth getting some travel sickness medicine to give him before you return.

As far as I have heard the mystery illness is based in the east and is in this country because someone from an eastern country had already contracted it.

Spend the next two weeks conjuring up pictures of sunshine , mickey,and of your children having the time of their lives.Try to put all other thoughts out of your -not easy I know-and be reassured that all the theme parks have great security measures in place so you can enjoy your holiday.
As a final thought-If you cancel or change your dates then all the things you are worried about now will still be there-won't they?

[fiona]

Hi Rebecca

Can I suggest you get these sexy new stockings that are all the rage in Boots - wait til you see them! They are similar to those used after an operation in hospital and are very good for stopping the swelling up of the ankles.

My GP suggested I take an aspirin before flying, and as I have a history of internal bleeding and have been advised not to take aspirin, he suggested the new one that is coated in something specifically for people with these problems - Boots are very helpful - you'd think I worked for them or something!

When your sone was sick was it travel sickness or something else? If it was travel sickness then you can give him something for it. If it was a bug probably lots of reassurance and distraction of something to do will help.

Security - our experience is that everything is being searched very carefully and you do feel very secure nowadays. (We last travelled out in January.)

Regarding the new "bug" - at the moment it seems to be coming from the Far East. Once they can locate the bugs in it then they can treat it. It seems that the elderly and those already ill are particularly vulnerable, everyone else will feel rather ill but will make full recovery - or at least that is what I saw on the BBC news yesterday.

Hope this helps. And relax - you'll have a great time!!

[Claire]

Hello Rebecca

Sorry you are feeling so stressed.

I am going to Orlando next week (taking my mother and father) and have no intention of cancelling - if the plane is going, we will be on it!

With regard to DVT, have you thought of buying some of the flight socks? You can buy them at Boots or any chemist and, whilst they do make your feet a bit hot, I always wear them for peace of mind and an added bonus is that my feet do not swell at all. I also take a small aspirin for a couple of days before I fly to thin my blood (remember to take it with food, or it will make you feel horrid). I have a friend who has actually had a DVT. If she wants to fly anywhere, she just makes sure she takes aspirin and wears socks - although she goes a little further and wears the surgical stockings you see people wearing in hospital. They might not look pretty, but if they save your life, who cares.

Whilst you can never be 100% certain of your security during the flight, airlines and airports have done huge amounts recently to try and alleviate this fear. Remember that statistically you are more likely to be killed in your car getting to the airport than you are when flying.

I can't help you with the flying sickness bit, but I know there have been posts on here about travelling with children who are sick. I always take travel pills before a flight - if nothing else they at least help me to sleep for a bit!

The mystery illness is a worry, but I think it is being blown out of all proportion by the media. I work with people who have travelled back from Hong Kong this week and they could not understand what all the fuss was about as they had seen nothing. The problem is that when travelling in a plane passengers are breathing recycled air, so the chances of picking up a cold, etc increase. I understand, however, that airlines have been told to disinfect their aircraft to try and stop this mystery illness from spreading.

So, is all the stress worth it?? You bet it is!! Get on that plane and have a wonderful time.

CLAIRE

[imported_n/a]

can i suggest although what is going on at the moment it still should not stop you going on your holiday to florida try not to think of all the bad things then once your there really enjoy yourselves i m going in 4 months in the summer months and i wont be worrying about a thing because i cant wait to get away from england for a few weeks.
good luck with your holiday when did you say your flying.

[steph_goodrum]

Hi Rebecca
Hopefully you are feeling a bit more reassured now with all the positive advice you've received.
DVT can happen anytime, my sisters mil died from it 18 months ago a week after arriving in Devon from Kent, so cars can be just as responsible and when you think how many miles most of us clock up each year we'd never sleep if we worried too much about it.
My friends daughter for 15 years was always travelsick on the way home from holiday but never on the way there, we put it down to a couple of weeks of less sleep and more "treats" fizzy drinks etc than she had when she was at home, we just always made sure there was enough emergency supplies in the way of clothes wipes, bottled water etc to last till we got home and took it in turns to look after her.
As regarding the threat to security either on the flight or when there, a couple of people I've spoken to have said "when your time is up, it's up, and if it my time I'd rather be enjoying a fantastic holiday in the sun than stuck behind my desk at work!" which is a good lesson for us all I think.

[phil moloney]

Hello Rebecca,
1. DVT do as above and bring the aspirin for the return journey with you, you can get it there but they are not as big into it as we are.
2. Security You'll find the security checks are reassuring.Its probably safer now to travel.
3. My kids get travel sickness with anxiety and overtiredness. Ask your GP, I have been know to give one of them piriton its an antihistamine and it helps to relax him and make him sleep. I use it for his allergies.
4. the mystery illness - Get well rested before you travel Mabe a weeks vitamins? A few good meals and some sunshine in Orlando will have you right coming home.
Enjoy your trip!
Phil