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Oh, I didn't tell you about the last time we flew together?
Matt's really embarrassed and sensitive about this story, but he gave me permission to tell you.
*THIS IS A GOOD STORY. YOU'LL WANT TO READ:
Matt passed out right before takeoff. Yeah, I was holding Cole (about 8 months at the time) and pushed the call button for help. We were literally next in line to take off and the attendant came on the intercom and said to push the button again if this was an emergency, if someone was "bleeding or unconscious". I pushed the button again in a panic. The people around me started gasping. A rude, flamboyant, girly-man flight attendant (yeah, you know the kind) started walking back, so I yelled for water because I was freaked out and that's what Matt kept saying to get him right before we went UNCONSCIOUS! So, girly-man didn't even come closer that 10 feet to see what was wrong. He just turned around briskly, threw his arms in the air and said, "Oh GOSH! She just wants WATER!", and stormed off. Luckily a sweet girl next to me offered to hold Cole as a tried to lift my unconscious husband from his slumped position.
As we were gaining speed he finally came-to. White as a ghost, he was confused and very sick. After we were in the air a different flight attendant (thank goodness) came and wrote up a report of what happened. They thought that we were, get this- TRYING to delay the flight on purpose! SERIOUSLY!? The passengers around us were livid with the "girly-man". In the mean time Matt wasn't doing so hot. He was almost translucent and was having a hard time breathing. As if things couldn't get worse, he had to have oxygen hooked up to his face. Trust me, Matt would have given ANYTHING to have not had the attention! A blessed man sitting in front of us was a chiropractor and came to sit next to Matt. He took his pulse through the whole flight and was truly so wonderful. He even held two of Matt's barf bags for him!
To make a long story short, Matt was fine in the end and slept the rest of the day. Don't worry, Jet Blue heard my complaint more than once, but unfortunately they didn't care and I never heard back from them again.
So, my dear friends. What do I DO?! As much as I love traveling and going on trips, I feel so bad for poor Matt! He's just miserable and extremely motion sick. Well, I've come to the conclusion that it's not just motion sickness, I think he gets "travel anxiety" as I like to call it. Any suggestions? Herbs? Meds? HELP!
*THIS IS A GOOD STORY. YOU'LL WANT TO READ:
Matt passed out right before takeoff. Yeah, I was holding Cole (about 8 months at the time) and pushed the call button for help. We were literally next in line to take off and the attendant came on the intercom and said to push the button again if this was an emergency, if someone was "bleeding or unconscious". I pushed the button again in a panic. The people around me started gasping. A rude, flamboyant, girly-man flight attendant (yeah, you know the kind) started walking back, so I yelled for water because I was freaked out and that's what Matt kept saying to get him right before we went UNCONSCIOUS! So, girly-man didn't even come closer that 10 feet to see what was wrong. He just turned around briskly, threw his arms in the air and said, "Oh GOSH! She just wants WATER!", and stormed off. Luckily a sweet girl next to me offered to hold Cole as a tried to lift my unconscious husband from his slumped position.
As we were gaining speed he finally came-to. White as a ghost, he was confused and very sick. After we were in the air a different flight attendant (thank goodness) came and wrote up a report of what happened. They thought that we were, get this- TRYING to delay the flight on purpose! SERIOUSLY!? The passengers around us were livid with the "girly-man". In the mean time Matt wasn't doing so hot. He was almost translucent and was having a hard time breathing. As if things couldn't get worse, he had to have oxygen hooked up to his face. Trust me, Matt would have given ANYTHING to have not had the attention! A blessed man sitting in front of us was a chiropractor and came to sit next to Matt. He took his pulse through the whole flight and was truly so wonderful. He even held two of Matt's barf bags for him!
To make a long story short, Matt was fine in the end and slept the rest of the day. Don't worry, Jet Blue heard my complaint more than once, but unfortunately they didn't care and I never heard back from them again.
So, my dear friends. What do I DO?! As much as I love traveling and going on trips, I feel so bad for poor Matt! He's just miserable and extremely motion sick. Well, I've come to the conclusion that it's not just motion sickness, I think he gets "travel anxiety" as I like to call it. Any suggestions? Herbs? Meds? HELP!
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22 comments:
I'm not so sure about the passing out thing, but I come from a motion sick family. We discovered sea bands, they are sold at Walgreens and places like that.
Anyway, they are basically sweat bands with these a little ball attached to them that you place on a pressure point on your wrist when you wear them. And by doing so, it hits a pressure point that makes you not get motion sick. Sounds weird huh? But honestly, my 12 year old sister has used them for years now and doesn't throw up on road trips anymore. Look into it at least!
http://www.sea-band.com/seaband.htm
Does he take dramamine? My uncle has the same problem, and I remember how miserable he was when we flew across the country for a family reunion. Dramamine helps him though.
As for that flight attendant - oh my gosh! I totally know the type you are talking about and I can't believe Jet Blue never got back to you. If I were you, I would post a link to this post on Jet Blue's facebook page just to make some noise. I would also submit your story to Christopher Elliott - he is a journalist in the travel section of newspapers nationwide, and he has a Sunday column called The Travel Troubleshooter, where readers submit their travel problems and he contacts travel companies on their behalf, and almost always recovers a full refund.
Do let me know what happens!
can you get him those patches? I think they come in pill form as well.
I don't know much about motion sickness, but boy do I get travel anxiety -- when flying at least.
I start to get very woozy, light headed, pale, heart starts racing, palms sweat, crying... the whole shebang (ok, minus the passing out part).
When I was younger I would try and drug myself up with Benadryl so I could sleep through the take off and flight (not exactly the best plan), but the last couple of times I've flown I was able to take some anti-anxiety medication (Xanax to be exact) and it helped me tremendously. I was still a little freaked out, but it really really helped dull my nerves and thus prevented most of my issues.
Check with Rachel. She got some homeopathic stuff from Julie to go to Israel. She can advise from experience! Good luck Matt!
i am really, really sorry to hear that. i can just really feel for him (and the previous commenter) because i also get severe travel anxiety which then makes me feel nauseous. i have had a couple of close calls but nothing bad yet. it got a lot better when i got married and had a buddy to hold my hand when i started feeling sick, but it still sucks. i second the dramamine and sea bands. the sea bands were great for a boating trip and i haven't tried them on a plane yet but it worked like a charm.
also (embarrassing to admit) i sing primary songs in my head. hahaha. it helps work me through it! haha.
good luck!!! and let us know if anything you hear works so i can use it next time :)
Hey Heather!
My SIL has EXTREME flying anxiety and motion sickness. She lived in Japan & thailand for a few years and they always traveled back to the states for christmas and summer vaca. It was horrbile for her. But on her last trip she went to a session of hypnosis right before she left (somewhere in Utah County) and she said it worked wonders! She was VERY reluctant that it would work but she was willing to try anything! Let me know if you want a # and I will give her a ring.
I get motion sickness but this sounds so much worse.
Of course I am no doctor but it does sound like he has some travel anxiety. A doctor could probably write a prescription for a low dose of valium or xanax to calm his nerves. I have taken it for travel anxiety and you don't feel much different, just more relaxed so panic doesn't set in.
Another blessing, you have made me aware of, that I can be thankful for - I don't get motion sickness and I have no anxieties about flying...
The advice you have already been given sounds great, so I won't be giving you any more (since I don't have any advice or experience). :-)
i have no advice (maybe some sea sick motion pills??), but i just have to say that the fact that the girly man flight attended thought you just wanted water had me CRACKING up.
i love you heather, better luck next time matt!!
I would try the patches. I have used those for flying and they work really well. Is there also some kind of anti-anxiety meds he could take? I would talk to his Dr. Good luck! Motion sickness is the worst!
I don't get anxiety but I do get motion sick. I take childrens dramamine because the adult kind knocks me on my butt.
So sorry Matt! Good luck on this next trip.
Also ginger, any type, will help with the motion sick. They make a candy called "ginger chews" and they are a super thick ginger taffy almost like sap. I love them.
I know other people have mentioned this, but my dad gets really motion sick, and he always takes dramamine, then just tries to fall asleep as soon as getting on a plane or boat. In cars, he just absolutely has to be the driver, it's the only way he won't get sick.
I am so mad at that guy. Honestly, I have swearwords in my head about him.
Sorry Matt. Sorry Heather! That must have been scary! I hope you can figure something out.
oh no! I have no advice for this (at least not any you've ever heard). I get motion sickness and made a terrible mess of myself the last time I flew, but I've never experienced passing out!
It can be horrifying and tramatic for an adult to experience, and I really feel for you guys.
I know I won't fly again without dramamine, I've realized the barf bags don't cut it, I need a trash bag ready, and no more white skirts on a plane :/
dramamine works for me. it also makes me sleepy so maybe it would work for him too. he could probably sleep through the whole flight no problem. :) good luck!
Hey Heather. I just read that story out loud to Brenan. It is hilarious and so sad both at the same time. Dang Jet Blue! I say we all boycott them. Anyway, I felt obligated to add my 2 cents because I have had the same issue. Remember when Brenan and I went to Taiwan 2 Christmases ago? Ya, barfed for 2 whole hours during the flight - Brenan was fanning me for like the whole 14 hour flight. poor guy. Anyway, I use dramamine (the drowsy kind/original formula so I do fall asleep) and seabands as well. It's probably mostly psychological (reduces 'flight anxiety') but it's so worth it.
Thanks for sharing that story, and thanks to matt for granting permission of the sharing!
OH I just wrote a post about how you need to complain and then reread your post closer. You could go to the better business bureau or attorney general or even the news. Those have helped me or people I know in the past when the company doesn't care! :)
I feel so bad for your husband, that is so humiliating! I can't believe Jet Blue did NOTHING. I have really seen a downfall in their service lately. From a Nurses prospective it does sound like more than just motion sickness. I don't think just dramamine is enough. His symptoms are severe. I would defiantly get a prescription drug for anxiety-I have some anxiety and have taken Diazapam, which I really like. He may also need to learn some relaxation techniques. He should realize that alot of people suffer from those types of symptoms and unfortunately it can often be uncontrollable with out some medication at first. There are also many types of anxiety. I would have him go to a specialist. Also as a spouse you could learn what to do if this happens again. Like knowing the recovery position for if he every passes out again. Some say that cold water isn't always the best method for waking someone who is passed out up because you don't want to get water in their airway if they don't wake up. Also recognizing signs and symptoms before he passes out to prevent it. And what to do to prevent him from passing out. Like head down between the legs and deep breaths. Anyway I have said WAY WAY too much. Hope you figure out what works best for your situation.
If you really want to be dysfunctional - you can do what my husband does...drives. Yep. We don't go anywhere that he can't drive to. So annoying! How am I supposed to get to Europe? Hope you find a good solution.
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