Mama Zebra Travels

Having been around 20 years since I had last flown, I had a few things to learn when it came to flying again. Was I scared? Not in the least. I had remembered enough about the flights to know I would be fine. The hardest part on that aspect was convincing my family that they would be OK.

I’m talking about the amount of people crowded into a small space. With a number of who knows what germs in an even smaller radius making their way to a zebra who has an immune deficiency among other conditions. How does one stay healthy in that environment? Especially zebras?

I set to work research tips and found it lacking. Thankfully, my cousin had a few tips and I discovered a few of my own on this journey. So here they are, my 5 tips for the plane ride:

1: Hand Sanitizer and/or Disinfectant Wipes

Always pack these two when traveling. The wipes come in quite handy to wiping things down. Wipe the air knob down; the tray, seatbelt…anything you can think you might touch. Use hand sanitizer before eating the delicious cookies they hand out (or whichever snack you choose). And obviously, after you use the restroom. Yes they have soap and water but we ended up with a bathroom on one plane that was pretty gross.

2. Air flow

Remember those air knobs I talked about in the 1st tip? Well, you want to turn that knob on full blast and pointed directly at you. This helps keep air going. Any potential germs will (hopefully) stay away with the air push that’s going around you. I am not a medical advisor so I have no way of knowing if it does keep even a fraction of germs away, but it DID help me breathe better (which was good for the TBM) Be warned: it might make you a little cold, so layer up if needed.

3. Drink Water

Water bottles like these are easy to carry and refill, making hydration while traveling much easier.

Staying hydrated is essential. Since you can’t bring in fluids (except in minimal quantity) through security, get yourself a refillable water bottle like the one in the above picture. Leave it empty while going through security then fill it up at a refill station prior to boarding. Sip on it throughout the flight and when the flight attendant comes offering free drinks: get a cup of plain water. No ice. Then simply top off your bottle with it. (Yes, you can still have coffee or whatever you prefer).

In staying hydrated, you’ll avoid the dry throat feeling as well as getting the proper fluid intake for the day. With the air on full blast, it’s actually a good thing to be sipping on water. And SIP! Don’t guzzle or you will have to use that tiny bathroom that may have a clogged sink.

4. Compression Socks

Compression Socks can be fun and bright while adding needed support for the POTS zebra.

Yep, these little cuties! When I heard that compression socks help with POTS, I wanted to cry. All I could think about were those ugly black socks my uncle wears. “I’m supposed to wear THOSE?” Ugh… But, my mom found some really cute ones for me. I do admit, they have worked wonders.

Sitting for periods of time, especially for a few hours can increase risk of blood clots. We don’t need that on top of everything. Not only do they work for those suffering from POTS (helps circulate blood better) But those with immune deficiencies that infuse. One of the side effects that can result from my immune boosting medication, is in fact, blood clots. This one is definitely a win win. Especially if you’re like me and really just don’t want to bother getting up to stretch.

5. Gate Check Your Carry-on

Gate checking a carry-on can save a lot of time and effort in keeping track of everything and everyone.

This one could be controversial, but I found it helpful. Especially since we had a larger group (9 total) including two five year olds to keep tabs on, a stroller for each family and a personal bag each for all of us. That’s a lot to try and juggle. Even for a group of 9.

So when they needed some volunteers to gate check the carry ons for free due to lack of overhead storage space, we jumped at the chance. It freed up hands and unloaded some stress. (Let’s say we won’t be taking near the amount of bags next go round). Just make sure you take out any medication and any electronic items prior to checking. Leave space in your personal bag to shove them in.

There you have it. 5 tips lumped into one setting. If you have done some of these, what were your experiences? Have you tried, or done something different that worked for you? I would love to hear it! Just comment below and tell us your experiences on the airplane.

My name is Emily and I am a Christian mama to 3 wonderful and entertaining kids. We have 3 dogs and 2 cats that keep us busy as well. Although I am a single parent, I am blessed to have the help of my wonderful mother.

Often times when the kids are at school, you will find me caring for the critters, catching up on devotionals, baking and testing out new recipes. You might also catch me doing a little bit of writing, which has moved into this blog. Writing and chatting a little on another favorite activity…traveling.

Traveling: Yep, you guessed it. I have always had a desire to travel. As a kid growing up in the beautiful and spacious state of Montana, we tended to stick around close to home. Exploring the state and seeing the historical sites. Thanks to a family graduation, 6th grade class trip and our church youth group, I saw parts of Canada. From my first amusement park in Calgary to seeing the drills of the RCMP Academy in Regina and youth convention at the Bible College… I managed to see parts of Canada I hadn’t expected to ever see.

Current and Future Travels Now that I am older, I have expanded my travel desires: Walt Disney World and…Europe. I’m talking France, Switzerland, the UK… you name it and I’m game! I’ll even go to Antarctica on a cruise given the opportunity.

Zebra? That covers the mama and traveling part of the name, but what about the zebra? How did that come in the name? Let me give you a bit of my backstory.

Growing up, I was often sick. Since birth, I was constantly in and out of hospitals. Born at 2 & 1/2 months premature, I developed my first case of pneumonia 2 weeks old in the NICU. The cycle continued as I got older. At 7 it intensified. Thankfully, a nurse had some suspicions and got me referred to a pulmonologist who did a bronchoscopy. There was a web growing across my trachea. He zapped it, and a year or so later, had to zap it again. However, the hospitalization cycle continued into my adulthood.

1st Diagnosis Move forward to 2011-2012. By then I had 2 young kids. I became severely ill while on a family vacation out of state. Thankfully, my mom got us home and I went to my primary doctor. I was treated for an intestinal issue but after a month of not getting back to ‘normal’, he referred me to internal medicine. After a series of tests, that doctor had an answer: I was diagnosed with Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome aka POTS.

2nd Diagnosis. Jump ahead 5 years. Still dealt with POTS but the lung issues did not disappear. In fact, it intensified. Not just bronchitis and pneumonia but different junk growing inside my lungs. Like aspergillus (a fungus) and the herpes cold sore virus. Really? Who does that? Apparently, I do. Not once- but twice… In a year.

My primary pulmonologist admitted me into the hospital for a round of iv fluids to crush the virus inside my lungs then left the other pulmonologists, who were rotating rounds in the hospital, take care of me. After multitudes of tests, seven days in the hospital and 3 pulmonologists later, I had an answer for the frequent lung issues. Due to my premature birth, I had TracheoBronchiallMalacia, or TBM.

There’s more?! It didn’t end there. Because I had so many reoccurring illnesses, my primary doctor referred me to an immunologist. She did her own set of tests and 3 months after my TBM diagnosis, I had another blow. I had an immune deficiency. Specifically: IgG.

2 lifetime and lifechanging diagnosis within 3 months. That was a hard pill to swallow let alone take in the information on both. Wait- what information? All I had were 2 small pamphlets that each provider had given me when I received my diagnosis.

Zebras… After extensive research, most of which had been difficult to find, I became aware that people with uncommon or rare diseases/conditions are called zebras. The medical article I read listed a number of conditions. I happened to have 3 of them.

Why call it zebra? According to the Immune Deficiency Foundation website, “in the medical field ‘when you hear hoofbeats think horses not zebras.” Meaning: doctors usually focus on the most likely diagnosis rather than the unlikely.

What’s In a Name? And Why? Once I came to terms with my conditions, I still had to embrace the fact that I had to make lifelong adjustments. I still wanted to travel, but I let my body be a door stopper. I was letting life pass by and (I fully admit!) kind of resented those who took the opportunity to travel. That is, until this last summer. My cousin and his family were visiting and, before I knew exactly how it happened, we were booking a trip to go on vacation together. Once it was booked, I began to research ways to stay healthy while away. There would be long flights, crowded parks, and just an abundance of…people…and germs…

The more I looked, the less I seemed to find. I resorted to my social media support groups. It was then that I started coming up with the idea of a traveling blog specifically for the zebras out there. I’m here to help other zebras find their inner strength to go on the trip of their dreams. I’ll be sharing tips, tricks and trips.

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