LD_Logo
Search
Close this search box.

Flare-ups caused by a cold/flu and plane rides

By Mikhaila

So I’ve noticed more and more that when I get sick I get a flare up. I knew this before but it’s changed a bit.

I used to get sick every single time I flew. It would be a fever and it would last about two days. Sometimes it would evolve into bronchitis. Literally every time I flew. It happened to dad too. We’d travel, be in bed for 2 days with a fever, and then be fine. So I started wearing masks on planes and boom, problem solved. It was hard to believe because I thought there was a period of time after you catch something where you don’t show symptoms, and I’d literally be sick as soon as I left the plane (basically). But the mask thing worked.

When I went super low carb I thought I was invincible and didn’t wear a mask on a plane to Europe. I had the fever by the time I got to Prague. It evolved into bronchitis over the next three weeks.

Anyway, now that I’m only eating beef, salt, and water. I feel invincible yet again. So I stopped wearing a mask. Because I don’t learn apparently, and masks are annoying. When I went to Hawaii in May I had diarrhea for about 5 days after the plane ride. I thought it was because of the beef there (I bought beef from Costco). Now I’m not so sure… I’ll have to test out Costco beef again. I think it’s from the plane ride. I just got back from a family vacation and the same thing has happened. Scarlett caught something too this time which is how I realized what was going on. It looks like that fever I used to get after planes has changed into something else. It’s pretty minor, mostly just diarrhea and an overall icky feeling. I’m getting better now but here’s what happens when I catch a cold or get a flu:

  • diarrhea for about 5 days (or other flu/cold symptoms)
  • my skin breaks out (I have a breakout on my chin and chest and shoulders right now)
  • arthritic flare up (my right elbow is killing me and my right big toe is swollen, and I can feel it in my right pinky) this NEVER happens unless I eat something wrong or I’m sick.
  • body odour (I never have body odour unless I eat something wrong or I catch something)
  • minor mood dip and minor lower back pain (these symptoms never show up separated)
  • overall restless feeling
  • Brain fog

I hardly ever get sick on this diet. I used to be sick all the time. I basically had bronchitis most of the time. I’m hardly ever sick and now when I’m sick I can barely tell. But I do get autoimmune symptoms when it happens. And if I’m in a plane, I never get away with it without catching something. How strange is that? Also pretty gross. Anyway, it’s a not a big deal, I’m fine. I’ve been sauna-ing it out. But if you start getting symptoms after a plane ride, same. A medical mask seems to solve it for me.

I’m going to LA next week and I’ll wear a mask and see if it happens again.

Join the Conversation

74 Comments

  1. We always get sick on planes…all that reciruculated air…all those people…all those contagions…from every place the plane has been. As with hospitals, which have hard to get rid of resident beasties, my guess is that airplanes are continuously contaminated. I’ve never worn a mask on a plane, but it’s a good idea. Maybe planes should hand them out as a precautionary measure.

    1. Yeah, planes are gross. They could at least hand them out to people who are visibly ill… I pack them, I’ll just start using them again. They’re annoying but not as annoying as getting sick!

  2. Hi Mikhaila.
    It seems to happen on planes? I wonder if EMF could be a variable here? Basically a plane is a metal tube, with wifi signals bouncing around inside, sounds like a microwave oven! 😉 Maybe that weakens your body, so you’re more susceptible to bacteria/virus (hence the mask helps) You might like to try putting a bare foot (skin) on the metal support of the seat in front of you as this will ground you to the planes ground, and so you’ll be invisible to the wifi (and other EMF) in the plane and it won’t affect you. To test it out though it wouldn’t make sense to wear the mask as you wouldn’t know if it was effective or not.On the other hand, if airplanes still spray pesticides https://www.sott.net/article/297034-Airlines-spraying-fliers-with-pesticides-inside-the-plane then maybe a mask IS a good idea also.

  3. An insurance executive told me that the airlines don’t routinely clean and disinfect the air systems on planes as thoroughly as they needed to in the past when smoking on board was allowed. To avoid plane-borne illness carry a small vial of apple cider vinegar to add to water to gargle with both immediately before and after flying. Both my husband and I have done this for the past several years and have been able to stay healthy when flying.

  4. Cabin air is drier than normal, for a few reasons, and this dries out your mucous membranes which are one of your first lines of defense. Couple that with breathing the same (recycled) air as 100-200 people in an enclosed space for an extended time, and I think that’s the simplest answer — a general immunological response. Besides a mask, I think there’s a company out there that sells a gel you can squirt up your nose.

  5. So sorry that you got so sick from travelling. It would be nice if you could just catch a break! I am curious about the mask thing so please keep us updated next time you travel. Also post a picture of yourself wearing the mask please! Just want to see what kind you wear. Thanks.

Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *