How to Travel While Sick and Still Have fun
It happened as it often does, unexpectedly and poorly timed, when I woke up with a sore throat and nasal drip prior to going away. In less than twenty-four hours I was scheduled to accompany my husband on his trade show in Las Vegas. I gargled with a very potent (germ-killing) mouthwash and took a pain reliever but the nasal drip persisted and less than an hour later the sore throat did, too.
Panic stricken at the thought of traveling on a plane for nearly five hours with a sore throat and whatever else was brewing in my body I went to the doctor. Though it was after lunchtime, which meant post walk-in hours, the receptionist took pity on my predicament and said there was an appointment available with one of the doctors at 1:30. I looked at the clock hanging over her head and sighed, “Ten minutes from now. Yes, I’ll take it.” Things were looking up I thought as I swallowed with pain and my head continued to throb. I’d refrained from taking another pain reliever so that the doctor could get an accurate reading.
With my doctor’s notes in hand I purchased the over the counter medicine she recommended. The good news was that I wasn’t prescribed an antibiotic. I hoped it might be a bad attack of allergies with the weather change and my recent travels taking their toll on me. Nonetheless, I packed the OTC items and told myself I’d be better by the time I got to Vegas. At least, that’s the favorable odds that played out in my mind.
That night I didn’t sleep very well. I blamed it on the three-hour time change from Eastern Standard to Pacific Time. In the morning I suggested to my husband that we walk to breakfast. The cigarette smoke in the casino (since it is the gambling mecca of the world it’s impossible to skirt around the casinos in the hotels) did not help my symptoms. Instead it felt like a sea of jelly fish attacking an open wound seeking to drown me in their clutches.
We walked to a fabulous diner, The Pepper Mill. My taste buds were not up to their high caliber so I told my husband, “We must come back again before we leave. Hopefully, tomorrow I’ll be better.” While he was setting up for the trade show I had the luxury of spending the day with my college roommate who lives in Las Vegas. We caught up, though I concede she did most of the talking since my voice was raspy. I chose the Asian restaurant in the hotel for dinner because when I was a kid the spicy hot and sour soup always seemed to cure a sore throat. I ate all of my soup (it went down relatively easy and did temporarily clear my stuffed nose) and should’ve stopped there since I barely touched my main course.
My life long friend bowed out early, “You look and sound like you should be in bed.” After we made plans to have dinner two nights later at Giada’s Restaurant on the strip, she marched me to the hotel store and recommended a nighttime cold medicine. I took the nighttime medicine and slept twelve hours. Feeling somewhat better that morning, I decided to try and have some fun. The windy chilly day was not the pool weather I’d hoped for that weekend, so I went to the casino and tried my luck on the slots. I won $202 on a $20 bill. Suddenly I was invigorated and rather than quitting I played more. I didn’t lose any money, but my throat began to hurt and my nose stuffed up again. Perhaps the smokers at the penny slots I’d been playing should’ve snuffed out their cigarettes so I might enjoy the winning streak I had without getting sick again.
I went outside for some fresh air and took a twenty-minute walk that included a stop at the nearby convenience store for some much needed fluids. Feeling better, I went back to my room for some quiet time. Yes, that’s the distinct opposite of what is found at the vibrant casinos with bells, music, and bright lights thrown about. At least I had an astounding view from my room.
Later I received a text and joined several wives at the hotel bar. I had not one but two cocktails before returning to my room and dozing off.
I woke up took a hot shower and got ready for Cirque Du Soleil’s Michael Jackson One show at 7 pm followed by dinner plans. Half way through the show I started coughing. Thankfully I had bought and packed throat lozenges (not on the doctor’s list) and they helped. (I highly recommend this show that is filled with top-notch talent and extremely entertaining acrobatic fetes performed to the hit music of the legendary King of Pop, Michael Jackson.)
At dinner I was fading fast. After dinner we returned to our hotel, where the Vegas nightlife beat more vigorously than Ricky Ricardo with his Conga drum. Instead of joining the pulsating casino, I went straight to bed.
The following day I woke up feeling less congested and eager to use my scheduled spa day. My massage felt great and the steam/sauna rooms even better. I relaxed at the inviting rooftop pool on the sun filled 80-degree day.
Finally this cold, taking up residency in my body, might be seeing it’s final days. That night I went to dinner with my husband and his clients. We ate at a highly rated Japanese restaurant. My taste buds had returned to enjoy the various seasonings found in the cuisine. Unfortunately, the Sake went down easy and once again the alcohol brought down my resistance. I did not sleep well, but went directly to the spa for a repeat of the steam/sauna experience before finding comfort at the pool under the bright warm desert sun. Eventually, I felt better and met my college roommate for the dinner we had planned. We took the convenient and inexpensive tram to the strip on the breezy evening.
We enjoyed our meal and said our goodbyes at a relatively early hour for Las Vegas. That’s when I should’ve pretended I was at Disney instead of Vegas. Remember, I had that winning voucher. I played the slots again hoping to double or even triple my winnings. Instead I lost that amount and then some. Oh and the cigarettes also drained me.
On our final day I still had the remnants of a cold to take home with me. Had I been more considerate of my rundown body I might’ve left the cold behind. Luckily I’d been to Vegas five times before, or I would’ve been annoyed and upset at not going to the strip with the other wives in our group. I followed my doctor’s advice and both flights did not cause any ear pain or nasal congestion.
Did I have fun traveling with a cold? I had fun in spurts. A reminder that being sick while traveling doesn’t have to defeat one’s enjoyment entirely.
Five things to do while traveling sick
Get the rest needed.Refrain from alcoholBring temporary relief, lozenges, pain relievers, soft tissues, etc.Breathe in fresh air and drink plenty of fluidsStay away from pollutants, i.e. cigarettes, smog, etc.And as the saying goes, quit while you’re ahead, losing while sick is debilitating.
