Those of you who travel for work a lot

[the_nita]

Suggestions for remedies to quickly expunge headcolds, or at least how to manage them on a ~5 hour flight? I will be bringing pain killers & decongestants, but any recommendations would be good. I need to be functional by then.

Comments

[the_nita]

Dude, at this point, I'll try just about anything.

[micaylah]

Just before the flight drink ONE NeoCitron. On the flight take some Ibuprofen. Sleep a little. When you are on the ground do Otrivin Nasal Mist.

Very temporary, and not so good for you, but you will be functional for your time you're there.

Buckleys also works wonders...if you can keep it down.

[the_nita]

Buckleys always makes me barf - for about 2 hours after it, so yah, not so much.

Thanks, babe.

[micaylah]

It takes me about 10 minutes of concentration and arguing for dominance over my tummy in order for it to stay down, but after that I'm always happy I reigned supreme 'cause it works.

[the_nita]

I've tried that. It just makes the barfing last longer. I'm thinking there's something in the concoction that just hits me the *wrong* way.

[mzrowan]

Pseudoephedrine is your friend! Also, for getting over things faster, I love Cold-Eeze.

Where are you travelling to? If it's the States, bring enough pseudoephedrine to last the trip, because it's stupid hard to get here.

[the_nita]

It's Vegas - yah, I know to bring enough. Whee-fun.

[johno]

Buy/Bring a humidifier then.

Our last trip we were getting chapped lips and sinuses due to the dryness.

It was putting 6-8 liters into the air a day and it was just barely tolerable.

[the_nita]

Can't bring one - stupid restrictions of luggage. Most of the days, I'll also not be *in* my hotel room.
Worst comes to worst, when I *am* there, I'll fill the tub and leave the door open.

[johno]

Try a nasal rinse.

Very weird feeling, but it gets the crap out of your head. The a hit of your drug(s) of choice to keep the build slow.

[the_nita]

Already doing.

[psychedelicbike]

You will need need NEED something that will instantly/nearly instantly relieve nasal and sinus congestion. I find that Otrivin nasal spray works for me, and I will carry one on any plane I take.

The one time that I didn't and was congested, it seriously felt like my eyeballs were being forced out of my head. In scuba diving, that it called a "reverse squeeze," and is a serious concern, which requires special measures to avoid rupturing your eardrum. The pressure change on a flight isn't enough to cause permanent damage (probably), but it will cause a hell of a lot of discomfort.

[the_nita]

Is a liquid - confiscated?

[psychedelicbike]

You are allowed bottles 3oz. and smaller of liquids or gels in your carry-on, as long as they all fit into a 1qt. clear ziplock bag.

For people on this side of the border, that translates into 90ml bottles in a 1l ziplock bag.

Also, I'd suggest taking an empty water bottle through security, and filling it up from one of the water fountains on the "secure" side. Complies with all of the TSA regulations, and you don't have to depend on the flight attendants to stay hydrated.

[the_nita]

Thanks for the sizing reminder. Been just divesting myself of anything liquid (after having had my bloody pot of lip balm confiscated - "but it's not a liquid!").