lolo
04-06-2009, 08:19 PM
Hello! I first posted this in the "General Discussion" forum, but wanted to post it here, too. I received a few replies with good advice, but I also wanted to get the opinion of a pilot. We leave in 2 days and are flying AirTran.
I have flown several times, but not since 1997. I don't like any part of flying, and everything about the flight terrifies me. This will be the first time that my children have flown (8 & 4), and I am trying so hard not to show any fears to them, but I think that this is even exhausting me more! My kids are so excited to be able to fly, and I really want this to be an incredible experience for them!
My biggest fear is, I'm sure, is not too common. I suffer from heart issues where my heart will skip beats. This happens out of the blue, and I have no control over it when it does happen. When it happens, though, I feel short of breath and light-headed. I have been to my Dr. for this who says that the skipped beats are not severe enough to do anything about, and that I can live a perfectly healthy, normal life with them. The last time I flew in '97, I did not have this problem.
I have been a life-long sufferer of panic attacks, and I know how to help myself through them, but I am extremely worried that in-flight I will have an "episode" with my heart. I am worried that the decreased oxygen supply will either cause one or make one worse. My husband loves to fly and reminds me all of the time that there is plenty of oxygen on airplanes, but it's not helping! Please, please, please, I need help to make myself realize that enough oxygen will be there!
Even writing this out makes me see how silly it sounds, but it is truly overwhelming me! We are taking our first family vacation (to Disney), and I am finding it hard to even get excited about the "happiest place on earth." Last week, I even asked my husband if we could cancel our trip - all because I'm worried about the oxygen on the plane! Any help would be truly appreciated! Thanks!
I have flown several times, but not since 1997. I don't like any part of flying, and everything about the flight terrifies me. This will be the first time that my children have flown (8 & 4), and I am trying so hard not to show any fears to them, but I think that this is even exhausting me more! My kids are so excited to be able to fly, and I really want this to be an incredible experience for them!
My biggest fear is, I'm sure, is not too common. I suffer from heart issues where my heart will skip beats. This happens out of the blue, and I have no control over it when it does happen. When it happens, though, I feel short of breath and light-headed. I have been to my Dr. for this who says that the skipped beats are not severe enough to do anything about, and that I can live a perfectly healthy, normal life with them. The last time I flew in '97, I did not have this problem.
I have been a life-long sufferer of panic attacks, and I know how to help myself through them, but I am extremely worried that in-flight I will have an "episode" with my heart. I am worried that the decreased oxygen supply will either cause one or make one worse. My husband loves to fly and reminds me all of the time that there is plenty of oxygen on airplanes, but it's not helping! Please, please, please, I need help to make myself realize that enough oxygen will be there!
Even writing this out makes me see how silly it sounds, but it is truly overwhelming me! We are taking our first family vacation (to Disney), and I am finding it hard to even get excited about the "happiest place on earth." Last week, I even asked my husband if we could cancel our trip - all because I'm worried about the oxygen on the plane! Any help would be truly appreciated! Thanks!