Asthma and cruising

[mcubed]

Hi everyone - this is my first post, so I appreciate your help! My DH, DD (who will be 4) and I booked our first cruise to the Mex Riviera on Princess for this fall. I just found out my DD has asthma and now I am concerned about the room. How do I go about making sure that the linens (All) have been washed properly, that there is minimal dust in the room, etc. I don't want to be a pain, but this will have everything to do with the success of our trip and my DD's health. Will they allow me to bring some kind of air purifier? Has anyone else had this concern or issue? Thanks, in advance for your assistance in helping me figure this out!:confused:

[Cathy p]

Your cabin is not going to be anywhere near hopital type, however, I have asthma and this will be my 3rd cruise. I have never had a problem nor an attack. The best think to do is talk with her doctor and make sure she has the appropriate medicine. I am sure everything will be just fine. Enjoy and stop worrying.

[esther e]

Exactly. Bring all your meds. I have asthma yet never had a problem on a ship. It's when I get off and back home that I have problems:eek:

[mcubed]

Thanks Kathy and Esther. You made me relax a bit, especially since you have asthma, too and it hasn't effected you on your cruises. I appreciate it a lot!:)

[melika091900]

the rooms are usually pretty clean,, but i would bring one of those swifter dusters.. so you can get the disposable things for them, and they are really good at trapping the dust,, and also some wipes to wipe things down, just in case...

hope this recommendation helps

Melissa

[BallFour4]

The types of asthma vary by oral medicine requirements and inhalers.

 

Inhalers are in two classes; rescue and daily use.

 

I would take that advice of the others and take all your meds in your carry on luggage. Take them on the plane with you, take them up the gangway.

 

Make sure the labels are on the bottles, and if your inhaler came in a box have the pharmacist re-label the actual inhaler if you no longer have the box.

 

The dust and air quality at sea are not any more volatile than around your home. A little more mold and mildew exist, and some smoke odors around the casinos and clubs can be strong.

 

At 48 and with a 17 year old daughter we both take oral meds for daily control and carry our albuterol for rescue needs. Both of us run aboard the ship and have never needed the inhaler.

 

Enjoy the cruise, asthma under control is a minor part of our lives.

[kitty9]

I have severe asthma, only 48% lung function left, and I've been on 49 cruises and, knock on wood, I've not had a problem. I just take my meds and hope for the best. There's also a doctor on board if things get out of control. I had to go to the med center on one cruise and use a nebulizer. Actually, I feel better on cruises, out at sea, than I do at home.

[NAS-KARR]

I'm ANOTHER WITH ASTHMA and NEVER-NEVER had a problem while on board ship unless I try to run up stairs like an idiot.

CIAO,

[Quilting_Cruiser]

I have asthma as well and have never had a problem on any of our cruises. I take my inhaler with me--no issue with taking prescription medications on board. There are designated smoking areas--just familiarize yourself with where they are and keep her away from those areas.

 

Have a wonderful cruise!!

 

Jayne

 

:)

[sross6019]

I also have asthma, seasonal type, and agree with the above posts. Take the meds with you and ask your doctor if there is anything extra you may need to do. I have found that I do better breathing while I am on a cruise than at home. It may be due to the sea air, higher humindity, or just being on vactation with less stress. If you are interested in bringing a humidifier, contact the cruise line and ask them. Each line has a help line for medical/disability questions. On RCCL they have been very helpful in answering my questions on what I could bring and what they would provide.

[JerseyGem]

mcubed: Welcome! You'll find lots of advice and hints here at CruiseCritic- of course all medical advice should be reviewed by your doctor first!

 

My DD also has asthma. Do you know what your DD's triggers are yet? (If you're just finding out about her asthma, you may not know them all for a while.) Whenever we travel, I always take an allergy cover (encasing) for our pillows, plus my own pillowcases (that have been washed in allergen-removing detergents- there are several on the market). I put the encasing cover right over the ship's pillows (without removing their pillowsase), and then our own pillowcase on top. In the morning, I unzip the encasing and slip it and the pillowcase off together and put them into a drawer until bedtime. I don't worry too much about the sheets or blankets, but you could certainly take a twin sheet set to slip on top of the existing ones- and even a small blanket. Just make sure you put them away each AM, or they might disappear when the cabin steward changes your sheets.

 

My DD also reacts to mold, so I usually carry a Clorox "pen" or a small bottle of mold-remover (you may need to find a brand that won't also be a trigger). Then if the shower area has any mold, I can easily neutralize it asap. Ship's are very prone to mold- all that water around! LOL.

 

Other posters have given you good advice re meds. Always hand carry them, take back-ups (in case the inhaler drops & cracks). Does she need to nebulize daily? If so, verify that your ship does indeed have a neb (and always bring your own neb-kit and meds) or even consider bringing your own nebulizer.

 

My DD's asthma doc always gave me a prednisone regimen (& pills) to use if her asthma started to get out of control. Although we frequently took an air cleaner with us on land vacations, I've never taken one on a cruise.

 

With a little extra care, you'll all be able to have a wonderful and healthy cruise.

[mousetravel]

I have been on 2 cruises and have a daughter with asthma. Have not had any problems. Can you get a portable nebulizer? I have one and it is perfect travel size. BUT, I haven't had to use it on the cruises. Take inhaler and any other meds in your carry-on bag.

[mcubed]

Thank you so much everyone for the great tips and advice. It is truly appreciated. We are still finding out what her triggers are, so that additional knowledge I am sure will help us make good decisions. Is there a way to "save" posts to your profile so they may be easily referred to at a later date? I don't want to lose this one.

 

Thanks again!

[JerseyGem]

I hope someone else explains how to save posts! I haven't figured it out yet. When I find something I want to keep, I "cut and paste" (to Word or to an email that I then send to myself). Good luck!

[SoBeGirl]

I just took a cruise after much research, because I too have very bad asthma and sensitivities to smoke and perfumes. Cruise critic posts mentioned Celebrity as a good choice. They have a 'no smoking on balconies' policy and confine smoking to very very limited areas. I still was worried about the room and carpeting, etc. I told Celebrity my problem and my room was perfectly fine. The online room description mentioned an aroma therapy dispenser (choke, choke) but they assured me they would take it out of my room. I guess I am not the only one with this disability because they were able to accommodate me. I was on the Reflections, which also is a newer ship, which may have helped. Being that I am super sensitive, I was very surprised that I had no issues at all.

[attilamom1217]

Lie SoBeGirl, I recommend Celebrity. Celebrity only has a couple of smoking areas - Port side, deck 5, part of the Sunset Bar area, etc. No smoking on the balconies and none in the Casino.

 

Carnival, on the other hand, allows smoking on the balconies and casino. Although the 4 year old won't be gambling, you might have to walk through the casino to get from point A to point B.

 

I too have asthma and have not had a problem.

[MommaBear55]

I also have severe asthma with mold and dust mite allergies and many triggers, including tobacco smoke. I have never had problems on a cruise (except once). In fact, most spaces are cleaner than my home!

 

The one problem I had was when I was already in the middle of a horrible flare. I had all my usual meds, my rescue meds and my nebulizer. It was a very low key cruise for me but I enjoyed having my family around me and sitting in the sun.

 

We often traveled with our three kids who had asthma. Talk to you DD's doctor and come up with an asthma plan, if you haven't already. That way you will know what to do when she has issues and when to take her to the clinic.

 

Have fun!

[crzndeb]

I'm curious as to how a 7 year old thread is being resurrected, since the search feature is down?

[SadieN]

I'm curious as to how a 7 year old thread is being resurrected, since the search feature is down?

 

Google?

[attilamom1217]

I'm curious as to how a 7 year old thread is being resurrected, since the search feature is down?

 

this is too funny. i saw the thread, answered, but never checked the dates. the person i quoted apparently resurrected it, but I didn't notice. I guess lesson learned for me is to check the posting dates!!!!!!!!!!

[Hlitner]

Just keep DD far away from the casino and other areas of the ship (mostly on the outside decks) where they still allow smoking. Cigarette and Cigar smoke are the last thing you want an asthmatic to breathe.

 

Hank

[greatam]

I have never had a problem on a cruise. BUT as someone who had asthma as a child, thought it was a recurrence of asthma in my 50's, a disease that has now morphed into COPD symptoms and I was diagnosed with lung cancer November 2012 (which is totally capsulized and I am taking NO treatment), I kind of feel like I know the terrain.

 

IMHO the VERY best thing you can take with you is a portable nebulizer and a supply of albuterol tubes (precription most of the time except it is available at clinics and in Mexico as brand name drugs). I take this handy little machine EVERYWHERE. http://justnebulizers.com/traveler-portable-compressor-nebulizer-system.html

 

Grocery shopping in my bag, to a concert this last Friday night just in case, in my car ALWAYS, any place I go. The $150 was well worth it. Runs on a battery, plugs into your car's DC plug ins or your house AC. Best thing I have ever found other than Primatene Mist which is no longer available unless you bootleg it in from Europe and even then you might not get ephinephrine. A couple of hits off this nebulizer is so much better than the piss poor inhalers available now, I can't describe it.

 

At least I know the albuterol is REAL because I get it at the local pharmacy for cheap.

 

JMHO

Edited February 19, 2014 by greatam