HELP! Scared to fly!

[crystalmom]

Hi everybody....I need some reassurance or something. I am flying on Wednesday and am totally panicing about the whole thing. I haven't flown since I was 15 (before the panic attacks started really bad) and now I am 28, and I have to be calm and cool, because my son is coming and I don't dare put my fears onto him. This is all very spontaneous.


My mom was watching my son (4 years old) last weekend while I was at work, and they watched "Free Willy". Well, my kid is ENTHROLLED by this whole whale thing now. So, out of nowhere, my mom decides that my grandma, my mom, my son, and I are going to fly to Vancouver for a few days for a little vacation. It is only an hour flight (I am in Alberta) but I am totally paranoid about v* while on the plane, or having panic attacks so bad that my son becomes scared.


Can anybody help me with this one??? Any suggestions would be great! Thanks guys! [img]smileys/smilies_04.gif[/img]


Crystal

[youngemet222]

I am having the same problem right now because my parents are forcing me to fly to Tennesee from California.


You should be fine, as long as there is no storm. I mean, someone could get sick even with not a lot of turbulance or no storm, but those are people who are prone to motion sickness. Besides, it is only an hour flight, so it should be over before you know it. Try not to think of it. I have never gotten sick on a plane and have never seen anyone who has. Occasionally, there is going to be someone who gets sick, but that, again, is if they are particuarly prone to it. You should be fine! If you are concerned, I'd take some Dramamine or something just in case.


-Lizard

[carri]

ABSOLUTELY definitely without a doubt I would take some travel sick medication! And maybe a relaxant..like lorazepam or valium, just a small dose.


I have flown quite a few times recently and I find taking the travel sick pills puts my mind at rest, and the calming pill (small dose) takes the edge of the whole thing!! I still think about it a lot, but pump in all the right words...particularly...if anything sicky happens I will deal with it..I will handle it.


I like to sit by the window so I have some privacy!! And distance myself from others. Always put on the headset and watch movies etc..shorter flights might not have that??? Not sure. If it gets real bumpy head to the loo..take a long stretched out wee!


Good luck!

[peachfeet]

Hi Crystalmom,


I can relate to how you’re feeling. I've flown too manytimes that eventually it lost it’s appeal. California to Florida, California to New York City, Florida to North Dakota, etc. There remains one simple, beautiful fact: one hour flight on a plane accumulates to nothing. It goes so quickly you don't even realize it. It's the six hour flights that get to me. </3 I don't normally take Dramamine because I've never experienced motion sickness from the plane. Planes remain stable in air. Their weight is balanced and something that big has high resilience. They fly high enough (I believe 30,000) in the air above clouds and anything that could cause a problem - there is sails calmly. They don't rock, and honest to the Lord you don't even feel you're moving!


If there was to be turbulence, it merely shakes the plane but not enough to stir panic. It normally never lasts, neither. All the times I've flown I've never once saw someone get sick. They do have sickness bags, by law, but thankfully no one has ever used one in my presence. I personally enjoy flying! I would bring a book, request for a pillow and blanket, recline and relax. They serve complimentary drinks so don't be shy.


Hope you enjoy your flight! You will get some anxiety, but that's to be expected in anticipation for the flight. I get that all the time and sometimes I feel like I'm going to pee my pants despite all the times I've flown and nothing has happened. Good luck, and trust me. Even if you wanted to get sick on the plane, it's almost impossible.

[matchstix]

Yeah, travel pills or anti sickness pills are the best thing you can do, also, you should probably give some travel pils to your son too.. Honestly, an hour flight will be fine, itll take 15 mins to get up there, then theyll serve u a drink, then before u know it it'll be 20 mins till landiong and it'll all be over, if you haven't v* on a plane before, you shouldn't start now, just try n look forward to the holiday, it sound like a nice plan [img]smileys/smilies_02.gif[/img]

[samara's on tv]

Yeah the last time I flew somewhere I was afraid, I had to fly from Ohio down to Florida and I was freaking out about getting sick or seeing someone else get sick. But I wrapped myself up in a book and luckily I was able to bring a laptop with me so I watched a movie. An hour flight isn't that bad, I'm sure you'll be fine. I hope you have fun!


~Monica

[crystalmom]

Thanks everyone for your advice, and reassurance. I did buy some motion sickness pills today (just in case) and I already have lorazepam with me all the time anyway. I think my son will be just fine, he seems to love crazy things like rollar-coasters (not really big, obviously) and all the rides at carnivals. I won't give him any, unless he gets sick on the way there, then on the way home, I'll give him some. I'm hoping for clear skies, b/c we are flying right over the rockies, and would LOVE to see that from way up.


So, THANKS ALL! I'll let you know how it goes!


Crystal

[r311dude]

I jumped out of a plane today. If an emet can jump out of a plane, than we can ride in one too.


G'luck with everything. Everyone else has already given really good advice, better than mine =)


Enjoy the trip.

[sage]

I'm in Canada as well (hey - Vancouver - woo hoo)...anyway, I always ask the doctor for Ativan (which I think, is a form of lorazepam) for flying. It calms me down totally AND it's an anti-emetic as well, so...bonus. Anyway, people don't get sick on planes any more than anywhere else. Ask anyone who flies a lot. Yes, occasionally someone does, but so does someone occasionally at the theatre, in school or in church or at work....wherever. The point is that you're in a closed place with a crowd, so the odds are the same as any closed place with a crowd - not very high...it's only a remote possibility.


Besides, the flight is indeed only an hour (I've flown it lots) and the ride is always smooth - no big headwinds, or the gulf stream to fly over or whatever...just a nice smooth ride for an hour. By the time you get up to altitude, have a glass of gingerale...it's time to land. It's no sweat!


Enjoy your vacation. Vancouver is great this time of year!

[kimmyc24]

Well I'm flying to Cape Town in South Africain less than 3 weeks, and its going to be a 13 hr flight, stopping off in Amsterdam, then boarding again and flying the rest of the 6000 mile journey!


It never used to bother me at all, before I started having panic attacks. And I usually try and get an isle seat, so that if someone next to me v*, orI feel sick, I can get up and run to the loo..I feel too closed in at the window, and worry that I wouldnt have time to ask the person next to me to move.


Luckily this time i'm flying with my boyfriend, so hopefully having him next to me will keep me calm and distracted.


I agree with Peachfeet - when you are up there you do feel like you arent even moving, and turbulence is occasional and doesnt last long, so there shouldn't be any reason why you or anyone else feels/gets ill.


Good luck and enjoy your holiday!


Kimmy xx

[crystalmom]

As the day approaches, my anxiety is sky high (sorry - pun)! I feel n* and panicy, and don't want to eat, but am light headed from NOT eating. Actually started packing and things, b/c I have to work till 9pm tommorrow night and feel like I won't have any time to do everythingI need to do. I'm sure I'll be fine, but I think I'll need the gravol (Anti-emetic) and the darn ativan (lorazepam). Is lorazepam really an anti-emetic? I had no idea. Cool! Thanks for all your support and suggestions.


Crystal[img]smileys/smilies_02.gif[/img]

[sage]

Crystal,


Indeed it is - trust me. We use it in the hospital as such...Ativan as an anti-emetic, I mean. I would not take Gravol as well - you'll feel funny with both, and the Gravol isnt' necessary. The Ativan prevents vomiting really well. If I were you, I'd take an Ativan from now until you fly...small enough amounts that you're calmer, but not fast asleep. Then double the dose about 3 or 4 hours before flight time. You'll be in la la land and afraid of nothing. NEVERTHELESS, please check this with your doctor as to dosage and how often you can take it (I never advise anyone to take medical advice off the internet - lol!)


Have a great trip! Let us know how it went!

[fabulouspaula]

I'm in the same boat... I'm in Calgary and I'm flying to Victoria ina few weeks for University. I fly a few times a year, and every time, I'm really nervous in the weeks before the flight. I panic on the plane for 10 minutes, and then I totally calm down and really enjoy it- and I wonder why I was ever afraid in the first place. Then my the end of the trip I'm afraid again. Anyway, I can almost guarantee that it won't be nearly as bad as you thought. My 13 year old brother (who is also slightly emetophobic) flew to China this week, a 13 hour flight. And NO problems. So try to relax, and enjoy Van City!

[lewisr]

I just found out that my cheapo company is making me fly cross-country
on a 6am departure one day followed by a redeye return the next.



I really need to be able to sleep thru that redeye, as well as
possible. Unfortunately, it's not even a non-stop flight, so I will
need to be awake and lucid enough to get to my connection after about
4.5 hours in the air.



Would two dramamine (original, not the less-drowsy) do a good job of
helping me sleep and not be n* or motion sick? Would it then make it
impossible for me to function in the connecting airport though?



Thanks in advance,

Lewis