Flying with or after a cold

[Greenrememberedhills]

Hi

Please can anyone advise? Ihave just started a cold yesterday with a sore throat. I’m flying in 10 days time- a nearly 3 hour flight to Italy. Should I be ok? I haven’t flown with COPD before.

Thank you.

[skischool]

Go.GO.GO no reason not to fly,with mild copd you don't even have to worry about oxygen levels,you are a normal person with a badge called copd you have recently picked up and there is no reason you shouldn't lead a normal life.Go and enjoy yourself............regards Ski's and Scruffy x

[Caspiana in reply to skischool]

🎉👏

[Caspiana]

Hello Greenrememberedhills . 👋

I heartily second skischool in this. GO!!!!! Enjoy it. In ten days your cold will be long gone!!! Have a lovely slice of pizzetta for me.

Fai un buon viaggio!! ✈🍕😊

Cas xx 🌞

[Greenrememberedhills]

Thank you. My COPD is moderate. Higher end of moderate usually and lower end with an exacerbation.

I don’t use oxygen, although I had it three or four occasions last autumn for one bad exacerbation.

[Lady11 in reply to Greenrememberedhills]

Go see your doctor before u go ..

[Robin77]

See your doctor now and take whatever preventive action you usually take if you anticipate trouble?

Then just go!

Italy has good public hospitals too, you know, if anything should go amiss. Just go to the nearest Pronto Soccorso. You might have to wait but people will be professional and lovely and these days you probably won't even need your phrase book / translation app.

Weather is perfect now.

[Greenrememberedhills]

I think I will contact my doctor. Thanks all, this is reassuring.

[ChaOliver]

I fly to US (about 8 plus hours) with a cold ...often No problems. Just use your inhalers when needed. Have a great time.

[Hidden]

Well 10 days you have time to look after yourself energetically and get over it. Should you feel worse or breathless do consult your GP.

If you are still blocked up, ask the GP/pharmacist if you can use a decongestant spray. I used to do that as I got earache and anyway you always take your reliever 15 mns before the flight and during the flight if you feel the need to.

Try not to worry because stress is not good for your immune system!!

Can we have holiday pictures when you come back please? 😉😊

Take care!!

[Greenrememberedhills]

You have all been fantastic and really reassured me x

[soulsaver]

You'll be fine. Make sure you have your EHIC card & medical travel insurance just in case...

[Robin77 in reply to soulsaver]

Good point. I need to check on EHIC card in Italy but actually have a feeling that all Pronto Soccorso care is FREE to everybody at point of delivery.

As far as I know, everybody is treated free, even undocumented migrants in difficulties. I collapsed in public a year or so ago, got whizzed to hospital where lots of expensive sophisticated cardiology things were done with shiny new expensive machines - and no charges.

Anyway, I'll check re EHIC cards.

[piping]

Hello from Australia!How did you manage to get health insurance?Am not on oxygen but am stage 4.....regards Peter

[Greenrememberedhills in reply to piping]

I don’t know, but possibly because im stage 2. I took the insurance out a couple of weeks ago, though. Maybe I should check again.

[Catnip]

Greetings

Do as everyone says, but also make sure you have an emergency supply of whatever meds you take for exacerbations. Better the pills in your hand, than looking for a doctor!

Catnip

[Greenrememberedhills]

Yes I was planning to take penicillin, prednisolone, my regular two inhalers and ventolin. No room for anything else!

[Ergendl]

I have moderate COPD. My last trip to Italy, I checked my sp02 readings through the flight there and back and had no dip in my usual readings. I did use NasalGuard Cold and Flu block before the flight and Vick's First Defence after the flight to try to avoid picking up anyone else's bugs on the flight.

Have a good trip and enjoy yourself.

[Greenrememberedhills in reply to Ergendl]

Thank you. That’s helpful to know. Are sp02 Reading’s the peak flow ones? Or is that SATs?

[Ergendl in reply to Greenrememberedhills]

After others suggested it on this site, I got a little device called an oximeter from Amazon that you clip on your finger. It sends a light through your fingernail and takes readings of the oxygenation of your blood; plus it monitors your pulse. Mine cost about £18 about 3 years ago. It's very portable and simple to use. While they may not be as accurate as the ones in hospitals and surgeries, they are useful for comparing like with like. So if the oximeter gave me a good reading yesterday and the day before, but a poor reading today, I know that either the air quality is not very good, or I've got a chest infection, or I've been overdoing things far too much (or maybe a combination of the three).

[jsjskclan]

Go for it and enjoy I have Copd and need oxygen to fly.. perhaps ask gp for recovery pack I have emergency standby meds prednisolone and amoxicillin to take in case a chest infection flares up when I’m away xx