Survived plane ride after 30 years (New York, Woodstock: apartment, home, neighborhood)

[rlrl]

Hi. I'm the one who expressed fear of flying to Atlanta from NY after not having flown for 30 years. Right now I'm in Atlanta with some time to kill so I thought I'd ask those on the board if this was normal about the flight(and i have to return next Monday)

After having an upset gut most of the weekend prior to the 9/8 flight (as well as prior to the flight itself) after we got in the air and the fasten seat belt signs went off I was OK. But when the flight attendants started passing out pretzels and what appeared to be either air sickness bags or napkins, i started to feel ill for about 45 minutes. However after sipping some diet soda and taking Rolaids it eventually subsided and even the heavy turbulence coming in for a landing did not phase me

So was this upset stomach normal(physically related to air travel) or more emotional in nature? Was it wise to have eaten little for breakfast prior to the flight? I won't eat too much prior to the return flight?

Maybe i need to take a Dramamine next time?

God, all that floated thru my mind during the flight were the Turkish Airlines ('74), American Airlines ('79), Pan Am 103('88), TWA 800 ('96) and 9/11 flight disasters rehearsing them all in my mind over and over again, thinking that engaging in such thinking will ensure a safe flight, what a way to fly

well, at least i did it...

thanks for listening

RL

[goldenplover]

well...it sounds to me like the upset stomach was a side effect of being so anxious about flying. My dad gets rid of his fear by talking about EVERY plane crash ever known LOUDLY (his voice carries) as the plane takes off (I always feel bad for the rest of the plane). I, on the other hand, make sure I eat toast for breakfast, or a muffin (something to absorb all that loose stomach acid), then I eat the pretzels on the plane. I also take dramamine (which if you don't get the less-drowsy one, it'll knock you out- it works as a sedative too- they should market that as a selling point ) I take the dramamine because I get motion sick, and I carry a blanket from home with me (a travel size one) so I can sleep on the plane. No worries, you'll be okay.

[analyticalkeys]

It's not just being anxious. The pressure levels of a flight can easily effect your body; depending on.. well, your body. My stomach gets "smaller" after flights.. I don't feel weird at all, but when I try to eat, I can't eat as much. Everyone has their little things.. some, none at all.

So, how's Woodstock doing without me, lol? I'll tell you one thing I never liked about Woodstock.. those built-in drainage gutter things on the sidewalks.. I'd really like to know what they're called; but I'm sure you know what I'm talking about.. they're like on every block!

[rlrl]

about your dad, I might imagine today it could cause trouble for him and others but it certainly makes me laugh

I interpreted the pretzels to mean that they were supposed to combat airsickness and it was hard to know if they were napkins or sickness bags (didn't see any in the seat pockets) they were giving out. I wanted to ask the attendants if it was normal to feel ill but they didn't seem to be too "nurturant" like they were when i flew as a youth so I didn't ask them. Also i didn't want to cause a scene by talking to them(God knows how that would be interpreted). Also the days of my looking out the window and showing off my knowledge of geography("that's the Triboro bridge over there") were looooong gone!!!

thanks for responding!

Rl

[Dark of the Moon]

First of all -- congratulations on making the trip! I'm not a medical professional, but I'm guessing that your queasiness was most likely stress-related. It's probably better to eat lightly before flying, especially if you're nervous, but it's better to have something rather than nothing at all. (And nothing is what you get on most airlines these days ..... )

Do you have an iPod or CD player or something? Listening to some soothing music might help you relax a bit on the return flight.

And look at it this way -- thousands (millions?) of flights are successfully completed every year. It truly IS one of the safest ways to travel.

Have a wonderful time in "Hotlanta," and have a terrific return flight home!

[analyticalkeys]

Originally Posted by rlrl

about your dad, I might imagine today it could cause trouble for him and others but it certainly makes me laugh

I interpreted the pretzels to mean that they were supposed to combat airsickness and it was hard to know if they were napkins or sickness bags (didn't see any in the seat pockets) they were giving out. I wanted to ask the attendants if it was normal to feel ill but they didn't seem to be too "nurturant" like they were when i flew as a youth so I didn't ask them. Also i didn't want to cause a scene by talking to them(God knows how that would be interpreted). Also the days of my looking out the window and showing off my knowledge of geography("that's the Triboro bridge over there") were looooong gone!!!

thanks for responding!

Rl

Oh yea.. you took AirTran! The pretzels helped me with some of my airsickness, but the napkins.. were kind of useless. You get a much better view of New York when you're coming back, rather than departing.

[rlrl]

t's not just being anxious. The pressure levels of a flight can easily effect your body; depending on.. well, your body. My stomach gets "smaller" after flights.. I don't feel weird at all, but when I try to eat, I can't eat as much. Everyone has their little things.. some, none at all.

So, how's Woodstock doing without me, lol? I'll tell you one thing I never liked about Woodstock.. those built-in drainage gutter things on the sidewalks.. I'd really like to know what they're called; but I'm sure you know what I'm talking about.. they're like on every block!

**I've been indoors working with my dad, mom and dad's aides but I just drove to Marietta to get dad's SUV serviced since he's disabled and mom hates driving in this area. Coming back i got a buzz at Starbucks and stopped in at Walmart to get some things for mom before heading home. One good thing about being good at reading maps and knowing how to get around unfamiliar areas is how it can be just as easy as getting around your own home town so it feels really cool. I don't even live here and i made it thru the airport and MARTA like it was NY

the folks live off route 92 by the new Gold's Gym. Are those gutters in this area?

[rlrl]

irst of all -- congratulations on making the trip! I'm not a medical professional, but I'm guessing that your queasiness was most likely stress-related. It's probably better to eat lightly before flying, especially if you're nervous, but it's better to have something rather than nothing at all. (And nothing is what you get on most airlines these days ..... )

Do you have an iPod or CD player or something? Listening to some soothing music might help you relax a bit on the return flight.

And look at it this way -- thousands (millions?) of flights are successfully completed every year. It truly IS one of the safest ways to travel.

Have a wonderful time in "Hotlanta," and have a terrific return flight home!
[+] Rate this post positively

**thanks! Yes. I listened to an old 80's group called "OMD" which was kind of relaxing but when I was going to listen to a CD by the old disco group Chic, I chose not to listen because the recording was from 1979, the same year of the American Airlines flight 191 disaster at O Hare Airport (the engine fell off the wing during take off). And the MAD magazine I bought at Borders in LaGuardia did not make me laugh as it did in the 70's

But I'm glad I'm here the climate is cool and i know i will lose 5 pounds here before going back to NY!!!

[analyticalkeys]

Originally Posted by rlrl

t's not just being anxious. The pressure levels of a flight can easily effect your body; depending on.. well, your body. My stomach gets "smaller" after flights.. I don't feel weird at all, but when I try to eat, I can't eat as much. Everyone has their little things.. some, none at all.

So, how's Woodstock doing without me, lol? I'll tell you one thing I never liked about Woodstock.. those built-in drainage gutter things on the sidewalks.. I'd really like to know what they're called; but I'm sure you know what I'm talking about.. they're like on every block!

**I've been indoors working with my dad, mom and dad's aides but I just drove to Marietta to get dad's SUV serviced since he's disabled and mom hates driving in this area. Coming back i got a buzz at Starbucks and stopped in at Walmart to get some things for mom before heading home. One good thing about being good at reading maps and knowing how to get around unfamiliar areas is how it can be just as easy as getting around your own home town so it feels really cool. I don't even live here and i made it thru the airport and MARTA like it was NY

the folks live off route 92 by the new Gold's Gym. Are those gutters in this area?

Ahh.. I see, I was around route 92.. but going the other way, right near the speedway. They seemed to be everywhere in that area, especially in the subdivisions. Here's a really bad picture of a hill, but you can see them on the side between the road, and the "sidewalk".. it's hard to grasp them in a picture, but when you're walking.. you keep falling into them, especially if you're from here, because you're not used to them being there!

[rlrl]

yeah, hundreds of planes fly over my neighborhood and there are never any mishaps so it's reassuring. what was weird was that the plane took off in an easterly direction when we were going to Ga so i guess the plane circled over at some point to the south and then west but i certainly wasn't looking!!

...on second thought maybe i got sidetracked when the pilot told us before we took off that we would be cruising at an altitude of either 14,000 or 40,000 feet(I couldn't quite hear him). when the fasten belts sign turned off he said we were at 40,000 feet (@8 miles up). i think that did it!! 8 miles., jeez, that's the distance from my apartment in Riverdale to the Triboro Bridge!!