Supposed to Fly in Less Than 24 hrs!!!

[ddee]

I am brand new to this site, I found it late last night as I was looking for help in deciding whether to fly or not as I'm completely in a panic about getting on a plane.

I need to fly at 9 am tomorrow from Toronto to Phoeniz for business. Our yearly meeting is in Arizona this year which is not the easiest to drive to, but I considered it.

I have flown before, but not in over 10 years and never alone. It's not the fear of crashing that has me freaked out, it's more of being trapped/loss of control.

I have to make a decision within hours of what I'm going to do. My ticket is refundable. I'm struggling as I hate how this fear is controlling me, but it is still winning. Even though the ticket is refundable, I'm concerned if I don't go that this could be a career limiting or ending decision as everyone else is going to the meeting, including the new person who's been on the job for 2 weeks.

I'm worried about the amount of turbulence as well!

I have 1 mg of Ativan to take along with Gravol, but it's still not helping me decide.

Help please!!!

[Barb-SAN]

Hi ddee, and Welcome!:welcome2:
I hope you've had a chance to read some of the other posts on this site. I'd like to specifically direct you to this thread, and post that Aerobat Barb wrote for another person with "last minute panic". http://www.takingflight.us/forums/showthread.php?t=9708

Is there anyone else going from your company that you are friends with that you could confide in, and perhaps plan to sit together on the plane? Or at least talk to each other while waiting to board, so you don't feel so "alone"?

I'd highly recommend meeting the pilots before your flight as well. We have a letter of introduction you can use, linked here: http://www.takingflight.us/content/TFAirlineLetter.pdf

Please keep us posted, and good luck! Thinking of driving, Yikes...that is a LONG drive from Toronto to Arizona and back...and would you even get there in time now for the conference? Plus consider the fatigue factor of so many hours on the road. Flying will be just a few hours (3 or 4?)....and you can just sit back and let the pilots do the work while you sleep, chat with your seatmate, look out the window, read a good book, listen to calming music, etc.

[otbc1994]

You're going to get on the plane, you're going to be fine.

It might be uncomfortable, but you will be fine.

I don't like the loss of control either, but if I were in control of the plane, we wouldn't get very far, so not worth worrying about that.

Why not try preparing for the meeting on the plane? This will either:

1) take your mind off it

or

2) put you to sleep in about 10 minutes!

If you don't get on that plane, then, yes, your fear is controlling you. If you aren't going to get on that plane tomorrow, when are you going to do it?

[aerobat]

Hi, ddee,

I have only a minute to say hello and thank Barb-SAN for linking the post I made recently to another new member. I would like to have the time to say many of the same things to you personally! :) But I'm a flight instructor and have to hurry off to a lesson (yes, in the sky, where I now love to be). I will be back around 8PM tonight and if you have responded, or want to PM me (I'll get an email notification), I'll be around for the evening and will do my best to help you. So will other wise people here.

This decision to fly takes courage, and courage doesn't pop up in our lives without pain and determination. And, I might add, an opportunity.

I sincerely hope you decide to fly. In the meantime, soak up as many suggestions as you can about trickery and writing yourself a heroic script. The only kind of control we need as airline passengers is control over our feelings about flying. The pilots will get us there safely. Please consider meeting them as you board.

There's that famous quote: "the only thing we have to fear is fear itself".

The trickery will help you alleviate that--even on short notice.

Back later! Keep the faith. What I said to cmartin is yours to keep also. :thumbsup:

[ddee]

Thank you for all your responses and for the positive thoughts. I'm still on the fence, even more so as I just returned from the doctor and confirmed and I an ear infection, fluid in my ear, sinus infection and eye infection. I had a bad cold/virus 10 days ago that didn't completely go away. The doctor said the ear would be painful to fly and has also given me a note not to fly.

Yet, I'm still feeling conflicted about making the right decision for me. I want to "win" this fight, yet I also want to be healthy.

I trust the plane, crew, etc., it's my own reactions of panic and fear that make my own inner battle. I'm travelling alone, no one else from my company is on my flight.

An hour or two and I will have to make a decision of what's the best thing to do....

[Barb-SAN]

Ah, that does complicate the decision, doesn't it? If you have a Dr's note...that would mean that you wouldn't lose your job if you didn't go, right? Did your Dr. say your ear would "just" be painful, or that you might also risk rupturing an eardrum? Can you equalize pressure or are your ears completely stopped up? Wouldn't a sinus infection also cause pain in your sinuses with changes in air pressure?

Personally...I'm a big wuss when it comes to illness...and would not fly with an ear & sinus infection. But that's me...

I do think that having a painful experience on the plane due to illness may make it harder to overcome fear of flying. Having not flown in ten years, I think it would be more ideal to have your "first ungrounding" flight when you are healthy.

Just wondering...are you expected to make a contribution/presentation at this meeting? Any option of participating remotely, e.g. by Skype?

[aerobat]

Yet, I'm still feeling conflicted about making the right decision for me. I want to "win" this fight, yet I also want to be healthy.

I trust the plane, crew, etc., it's my own reactions of panic and fear that make my own inner battle. I'm travelling alone, no one else from my company is on my flight.


Under the circumstances, with fluid in your ear, perhaps you should not fly. :( I have done it with a sinus infection and had no long-lasting effects, but it was hard for me to equalize the pressure for a couple of days thereafter. Airline pilots are not allowed to fly with colds or sinus problems.

But given your determination to beat the fear, you might consider a compromise: turn in your doctor's note to your boss, stay home, communicate with the people in Phoenix however possible, and commit to flying very soon after you are well. This would probably be best done as a practice flight--a short one-day or overnight roundtrip to some other city--maybe to visit a friend? But it should have very few outside obligations, in order to remove excess pressure. And in the interim, you can do the real work to get ready. We can help you with that.

If your main issue is claustrophobia, are you also uncomfortable on elevators? That can actually be a good thing ;) because it provides controlled "workspace". Can you give us more info on your past experience with flying?

If you decide to go this time, then best of great good fortune! :tiphat: You might even find that the process of speaking up about this and getting some support makes a surprising amount of difference. :)

[Dachiri]

If you do decide to fly, given your medical situation, there are several things you should do to make yourself as comfortable as possible (I've flown in your situation before). First, I looooooove mentholated cough drops for congestion relief. While there are relatively pleasant flavors out there (spearmint and cherry) I find the nasty blue peppermint ones are the best at clearing me out. Drink LOTS of fluids, that will help you clear yourself out (water is best, hot tea provides a nice steam that also helps clear you out). Take any medication your doc prescribed. Antibiotics can knock out the worst of a sinus/ear infection in about 24 hours.

Check with your doc or even a nurses' line or something to see if you can take some Mucinex with whatever other medications you've been given. I love this stuff, it's really magical for congestion. Also, ibuprofen reduces sinus swelling and can make you feel much better. But be SURE to check with a medical professional before mixing these meds with anything you've been prescribed, including any meds you have for anxiety.

While on the plane, hot tea is great for clearing things out. I would request a cup right before you begin decent, as that is the WORST part if you're feeling stuffed up (going up actually makes the pressure more tolerable, in my experience). When I flew all congested, I also made a few trips to the restroom and placed towels drenched in hot water over my nose to steam out the congestion. Especially if you use this trick, and even if you don't, consider dabbing a bit of Burt's Bees Res-Q ointment around your nose. It will prevent/cure any chapping and contains either menthol or something similar that will help open up your sinuses. The Burt's is non-medicinal and topical, so you should be good to go on that one. And, most importantly, chew gum, yawn, whatever works for you to equalize pressure FREQUENTLY on descent, to prevent any painful pressure equalizations. Keep some tissues on hand for descent as you'll probably need to blow your nose a few times on the way down.

While we never encourage giving in to the monster, it might make sense to tackle the beast at a time when you're not worrying about feeling crappy and stressing out about other things. Is there any way that you could delay your flight by a few days so that you'll feel better before going?

[ddee]

Hello,

I am thrilled with the support and advise I've received from everyone! It's truly made me feel like I have a fighting chance of overcoming this fear.

At this time, my doctor said that I would've been risking damage to my eardrum, aside from the discomfort of the ears and sinus congestion. After a huge amount of internal pressure I made the call not to take this trip. I was attending a yearly sales meeting, not having to present anything, and any materials can be sent to me. I think I would've have the trip had I been healthy.

I am actually not starting to think of a way to work to face my fear, on my terms, to a location of my choosing (like a vacation). I'm considering Vegas or St. Maarten, perhaps in October.

I don't have any problems riding elevators (although I'd be upset if I ever got stuck). I don't take anxiety medication (I only had it to fly with). Now I just need to do the work and prepare for a flight.

The biggest issue for me seems to be feeling stuck in the plane, crammed together with other people. I think I would feel more comfortable in business class as it's few people with a little more room. The expensive part makes that out of reach though.

Ddee