Traveling...
Most people don't think that I can have arthritis at all, let alone such severe arthritis, because I'm 25. In reality, I've had it since I was 14, and I've been on meds for it the whole time. I haven't had a full immune system in 11 years. This means all kinds of complications in everyday life, but it can be even more complicated for traveling.
Other people get on planes, hear someone coughing, and get annoyed that they might get a cold. I hear someone coughing, and the first thing that goes through my mind is "please please don't let it be TB"... If I ever get TB, I need to go off any and all immuno-suppressants. That means I'd need to go through the rest of my life without any medications to help my arthritis, except for over the counter pain meds which don't really help. That's what went through my mind recently, on a flight back from Las Vegas. You're in a confined space, and all you can do is hope it will all turn out okay. Of course, that's not the only worry, if I get the flu I could die. It's that simple. People die every year from the flu, and the people who die are very young, very old, or have a low immune system (me). I've gotten bronchitis and pneumonia at the same time, which nearly put me down. Then there's the 'cleanliness' or lack thereof on flights. I can't fight off infections easily, I've gotten staph and mrsa, and our local hospital can't handle it. All of these things go through my mind when I'm traveling...
Luckily, with the last flight, I just got a bad cold. I say just, it'll take me a while to get over it, but it's not overly life threatening. I'm in between my shots, so I won't even have to think about postponing it, which is nice.
I guess my take away is this; if you're traveling with a cold, people will give you bad looks, but all in all, it happens. I don't like getting a cold, but I'll probably be okay. Please, don't travel with the flu, or if you do, wear a mask. If you suspect TB, test for it, and DO NOT get on a plane if you have it, and it's not in remission. Just keep in mind that it's not just other 'regular' people you're exposing it to, it's people like me. Thanks! :)
Other people get on planes, hear someone coughing, and get annoyed that they might get a cold. I hear someone coughing, and the first thing that goes through my mind is "please please don't let it be TB"... If I ever get TB, I need to go off any and all immuno-suppressants. That means I'd need to go through the rest of my life without any medications to help my arthritis, except for over the counter pain meds which don't really help. That's what went through my mind recently, on a flight back from Las Vegas. You're in a confined space, and all you can do is hope it will all turn out okay. Of course, that's not the only worry, if I get the flu I could die. It's that simple. People die every year from the flu, and the people who die are very young, very old, or have a low immune system (me). I've gotten bronchitis and pneumonia at the same time, which nearly put me down. Then there's the 'cleanliness' or lack thereof on flights. I can't fight off infections easily, I've gotten staph and mrsa, and our local hospital can't handle it. All of these things go through my mind when I'm traveling...
Luckily, with the last flight, I just got a bad cold. I say just, it'll take me a while to get over it, but it's not overly life threatening. I'm in between my shots, so I won't even have to think about postponing it, which is nice.
I guess my take away is this; if you're traveling with a cold, people will give you bad looks, but all in all, it happens. I don't like getting a cold, but I'll probably be okay. Please, don't travel with the flu, or if you do, wear a mask. If you suspect TB, test for it, and DO NOT get on a plane if you have it, and it's not in remission. Just keep in mind that it's not just other 'regular' people you're exposing it to, it's people like me. Thanks! :)
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