Flying tomorrow......help!

I don't know where the exclamation Mark came from.

I haven't flown for some years and also like Loopylou get travel sickness! even in a car.

As we speak my DS is flying to Hong Kong on a Literary Tour and I keep checking on Flight Tracker which country he us flying over and at what height and what speed. To be honest I find it quite reassuring to do that. The first thing I will do tomorrow is switch on the computer and check the flight out.

Our next door neighbour is a BA Pilot and he is so laid back that if ever I do fly again I want him to be in the cockpit.

Anyway have a lovely hols Katek

The cork analogy is similar to the explanation given to me by cabin crew when I was very nervous, The young steward said very matter of factly " we are just flying over the top of clouds". As he continued to see to passenger needs and serve drinks etc I concluded that if he wasn't concerned neither should I be.

It's not that I mind flying, it's that turbulence makes me very sick, despite travel tablets, wrist bands, sitting over the wings etc, etc. I have horribly sensitive sense of balance (I can't stand upright with my eyes closed, let alone balance on one leg )
However, listening to something/anything with ear phones does seem to help as does not sitting by a window.

Not going to put me off though!

There's an excellent book called "Flying with Confidence" (recommended by Gransnet a couple of years ago) written by a BA pilot and a psychologist. It really helped me before we flew to see our daughter in Australia, which I was very nervous about. The piece I particularly remember, describing turbulence, is roughly as follows: "Imagine the plane is a cork, bobbing about on the surface of a river. Sometimes the water is rough and the cork bobbles up and down quite dramatically, then it smooths out again. But all absolutely safe." Now I always keep that picture in my mind when flying and it really does help!

Dear Katek, would you mind sharing your good news re. new inhalers? Is this

Hello Katek, years ago I came across some advice re. fears from Dr. Claire Weeks who was a very good health writer with her excellent advice. What she said was "face it, accept it and float over it" I have found this so helpful and always sit quiet and say it to myself.

Hope it helps.

I just try to imagine I am sitting in a coach, and when thereis bit of turbulence, we are going over a bumpy road. It's the taking off and landing I don't like. Well done for doing it enjoy your holiday, we are off to Gran Caneria tomorrow. X

Well done katek - now enjoy

Hilda not eating at all on the plane may be a mistake. Granted the aircraft food doesn't tempt you, and the trolley is full of things you don't want, but if you took with you a small amount of something light that you know you will enjoy and digest easily, you might feel better. And always drink a lot of water dehydration can give you a headache.

HildaW that sounds much like a migraine, poor you.

Sympathies KatyK, I do not fly well on the outward journey wherever its to or for however long so fully understand your trepidations. Its not a fear....I just get so darn ill. I'm fine coming home and am leaping about emptying the suitcase and loading washing machine as soon as in the door, yet on a recent trip to US I arrived having been sick on plane and with an untreatable blinding headache (I tried everything). Then spent two days in hotel room sleeping, not eating and just generally feeling dreadful. I have yet to find a cause and would love anyone's insight.
When I finally loose the headache and the tummy settles down (no fun hurling on an empty stomach - I do not eat on the plane of course) I am able to get on with the holiday and can tuck into local food and walk for miles! Its got to the point where we have to build these two extra days into any trip nowadays.

Several years ago when going through a bad patch I was given some Prozac and my GP suggested a holiday may be good. When I said I didn't like flying he gave me 5 tabs of something else which now I can't recall, just for the flight. The pharmacist was very surprised and remarked something about not taking them together. Well I did and the double Gin mentioned and the flight was ok. I don't fly now or holiday at all but still wouldn't like flying.

The answer is gin. Ask for a triple when the Tucker Chucker comes round with the trolley and before you know it, you will be landing in Palma

Have a great time.

If you ask the captain nicely will he just sail back to the UK for you at the end of the cruise?

Well done!
I was like you and found that sticking in earphones and listening to music or an audiobook switched me off beautifully- if music I read a good book at the same time.

Have a wonderful holiday and hopefully you'll be completely blessed out for the return flight.

Well done - you did it!

Well, I'm here on the back deck of a very large ship with enough food being consumed to sink it! Flight wasn't the best experience but hey, I'm here and I didn't run up and down the aisle screaming! ( Felt like it but gritted teeth and breathed deeply) I'm not going to think of return flight until I have to. Sufficient unto the day....
Thanks for encouraging words-I'll prob be back on next Sat for return journey

The first was to Katek

Did you keep asking the cabin crew 'are we there yet?'

We get those Grannyknot as they practice their low flying up the valley

Ooh marmark please no, a plane skimming the rooftops is the stuff of a recurring nightmare I have.

A Valium,and a couple of glasses of wine,that's the only way I could fly.
But apparently it's the safest way to travel.
Just wish they could just skim the rooftops instead of going so bleddy high.

Good luck Katek, you'll be fine. I'm sure I have heard somewhere that if you mention to the air hostess that you are a nervous flier, that they will be sympathetic and keep an eye on you. Enjoy your holiday

Up at 4 so off to bed to try and get a few hours sleep. Thanks for wise words everyone-hopefully the anticipation is worse than the event!