Hello everyone,
I previously posted this question and didn't get much of a response so I thought I would try it again. Thank you to those who did respond. I hate to be a pest, however, I'm concerned about my risk of frequent infections and I'm wondering if anyone else has ever been a flight attendant, on Enbrel, and had great difficulty with staying healthy.
Thank you so much for your time and attention.
KIMM
< =text/>_popupControl(); OK ai am not a flight attendant, but I will try to answer your question. Enbrel does suppress your immune system, but with good hygiene, youreally shouldn't have too much of a problem. Lots of good old fashioned handwashing and also using hand sanitizer. They make little size bottles of hand sanitizer you can slip into a pocket. I would also recommend some type of multi vitamin or vitamin supplements that you take daily. As always, check with your doc before starting any over the counter meds or vitamins.
We are at a slight increased risk to pick up more bugs, but really with prevention, you can avoid a lot of the nasty germies out there.
How exciting, being a flight attendant! I hope you get to travel to interesting destinations.
What Liz has said is so true. I just want to add a word of caution to NOT take echinacea or Airborne or any other immune system boosters, because that will work against your RA treatment.
Bath and Body Works sells hand lotion that has a sanitizer in it, which I like to use. It kills germs, and conditions your skin instead of drying it out as most sanitizers do.
Hi Kimm. I saw your first post on this subject, but hoped that some of our group with more active knowledge of flying would be able to help more than I.
The only other concern that I would have would be the recirculated air quality. However, the air problem may have been taken care of over the years. I really hope that this is the case. It does sound like it could be a very interesting job, with the possibility of seeing new and exciting places and meeting some interesting people.
I know that the recirculated air presented a real concern to flight attendants in the past. I don't get to travel as much as I used to, so I haven't kept up on that problem much. Maybe that would be something you could ask about.
Good Luck. It sounds like it could be an interesting career! Please let us know what you decide.
Be well, Nini
I am a teacher and have the same sort of worries. I do carry around the hand sanitizer and wash my hands like there is no tomorrow. I, thankfully have been ok so far, but I do worry about the whole flu season though.
Kimm, Ihave only been on Enbrel for 4 weeks now. Like Shelly I am also a teacher. I have been carrying around hand sanitizer and I haven't gotten sick. I thought for sure I would get sick imediately (because I am always sick) so far I have felt great.
I don't know if teaching has the same risk as being on an airplane, but I do see A LOT of snotty noses each day.
I hope you are able to take the enbrel with out a problem.
Thank you all so much for your response to Enbrel and flying. To those of you who are teachers, I respect teaching for so many reasons. Especially the ability to hang in there when exposed to all sorts of nasty green noses and the like. I am also an RN and have been exposed to so many awful diseases and have managed to stay well so far. However, I am now in another phase of my life (RA and Enbrel) and I'm hoping I'll have the wisdom and physical strength to do this job.Kim,
I also work in the airline industry! Although I do not fly very often anymore because of a position change. I did fly 3-4 days a week before I was diagnosed. I have flow 6-7 times in the last 6 months while on Remicade and have not even felt off in the slightest. I can understand your concerns but as you have probably read we are all sooooo different.
I love to fly and would not hessitate if given the chance to fly often again. Feel free to PM me if I can answer any questions in the future. Good luck with your new career.
Jay
I, too, am a teacher and have not had any problems. I use the hand