Meds to take on a cruise, if you get Covid

[justafem]

We have a bag of meds we bring with every cruise.  Cold/flu meds (normally night and day formulas) have been a part of that travel bags for 20 years since hubs got sick at disneyland and I had to pay 6x retail for cold meds at the hotel store.  

 

I also tell people I have the meds and give them away as needed.  Sometimes I go home with all I've brought, sometimes I'm empty. 

 

Same with seasickness pills, 2 different types as you really don't know which version is going to work if your really really seasick.

 

And a pack of GOOD tissues.  Ship tissue sucks!

[Itchy&Scratchy]

5 hours ago, Ron the Rev said:

If you get dehydrated an easy remedy is to open up a can of coke to let the fizz out ,say overnight out of the fridge, it's got every thing in it to hydrate you.

but it's caffeinated. Wouldn't Sprite or ginger ale be a bit better?

Not sure why anyone would drink a flat warm coke to rehydrate.

[Itchy&Scratchy]

glitch

Edited December 4, 2022 by Itchy&Scratchy

[nini]

Add Saline Spray. We buy the 3 pack from Costco. This really helps when you become a mucous factory!

[Keksie]

On 12/4/2022 at 9:49 AM, Itchy&Scratchy said:

but it's caffeinated. Wouldn't Sprite or ginger ale be a bit better?

Not sure why anyone would drink a flat warm coke to rehydrate.

When I was little the Dr. prescribed coke syrup for me if I had stomach upsets.  Mom would get it at the soda fountain in the pharmacy.  It worked like a charm and to this day if I get nauseous a flat coke still works.  If I had to get a shot at the Dr. Mom would take me to the same soda fountain for a sundae.  They also had a candy aisle in the pharmacy and sometimes I would get a nickel to pick out some penny candy.  

[Itchy&Scratchy]

2 minutes ago, Keksie said:

When I was little the Dr. prescribed coke syrup for me if I had stomach upsets.

they probably had completely different ingredients in it then. 🙂

Do what works for you, of course.

[Shelly97060]

It’s a good idea to bring some OTC meds with you.  In the past I recall the ship ore had some items your could buy ( NyQuil, cough meds) but on Diamond right now the only meds they have in the store are Tylenol, Tums, Bonine, and Dramamine. Nothing to help with any sort of cough or congestion.  So bring it from home! 

[Mary loves to travel]

3 hours ago, Keksie said:

When I was little the Dr. prescribed coke syrup for me if I had stomach upsets.  Mom would get it at the soda fountain in the pharmacy.  It worked like a charm and to this day if I get nauseous a flat coke still works.  If I had to get a shot at the Dr. Mom would take me to the same soda fountain for a sundae.  They also had a candy aisle in the pharmacy and sometimes I would get a nickel to pick out some penny candy.  

when the kids had their wisdom teeth out, the oral surgeon said to have a warm can of coke ready for them to sip when they got home.

[Hlitner]

WOW  this thread reads like a hypochondriacs dream list of cures :).  Is suppressing a cough a good thing?  It is a question you might want to ask your physician or, even better, a pulmonologist.  

Nyquil?  I wonder how many folks have read the list of its inactive ingredients:

• Acesulfame potassium
• Alcohol 10%
• Citric acid
• D&C Yellow No. 10
• FD&C Green No. 3
• FD&C Yellow No. 6
• Flavor
• High fructose corn syrup
• Polyethylene glycol
• Propylene glycol
• Purified water
• Saccharin sodium
• Sodium citrate

 

My goodness, a bottle of Jack Daniels might be a healthier solution :).

[buckeye7]

On 12/4/2022 at 9:27 AM, justafem said:

Same with seasickness pills, 2 different types as you really don't know which version is going to work if your really really seasick.

What are the two different types? I only know about Bonine (and patches which ended up a disaster for me, so I won’t wear them again.) Always looking for new solutions, as someone who loves to cruise but gets extreme motion sickness.

[pris993]

On 12/3/2022 at 1:13 PM, JoRoy218 said:

Yes re: sneezing/coughing at buffet! Ugh! Packing those gloves are a great idea! 

If I saw this, would walk away from the buffet...tell staff as well to replace food items.

[justafem]

5 hours ago, Hlitner said:

WOW  this thread reads like a hypochondriacs dream list of cures :).  Is suppressing a cough a good thing?  It is a question you might want to ask your physician or, even better, a pulmonologist.  

Nyquil?  I wonder how many folks have read the list of its inactive ingredients:

• Acesulfame potassium
• Alcohol 10%
• Citric acid
• D&C Yellow No. 10
• FD&C Green No. 3
• FD&C Yellow No. 6
• Flavor
• High fructose corn syrup
• Polyethylene glycol
• Propylene glycol
• Purified water
• Saccharin sodium
• Sodium citrate

 

My goodness, a bottle of Jack Daniels might be a healthier solution :).

When I get sick, I want all the chemicals.  All of them.  Cover it up and make me feel human!

 

And a little Jack never hurt anyone either!

[justafem]

5 hours ago, buckeye7 said:

What are the two different types? I only know about Bonine (and patches which ended up a disaster for me, so I won’t wear them again.) Always looking for new solutions, as someone who loves to cruise but gets extreme motion sickness.

Old school, AKA sleep until it over dramamine and the newer, less drowsy formula.  I bring the chewables for fast relief.  

[Markanddonna]

Just a fyi, many ships are not carrying ANY over the counter medications in the gift shop. That was true on last month's cruise. Only personal care items like toothpaste, sanitary products, diapers were onthe shelves. The ships want everyone to go to the medical center. We carry a sizable medical kit.

[Schoifmom]

On 12/7/2022 at 8:58 AM, Shelly97060 said:

It’s a good idea to bring some OTC meds with you.  In the past I recall the ship ore had some items your could buy ( NyQuil, cough meds) but on Diamond right now the only meds they have in the store are Tylenol, Tums, Bonine, and Dramamine. Nothing to help with any sort of cough or congestion.  So bring it from home! 

That's because they want everyone with any type of "cold" symptoms to go to the medical center and be tested for Covid.

[seagunthera]

7 hours ago, Markanddonna said:

Just a fyi, many ships are not carrying ANY over the counter medications in the gift shop. That was true on last month's cruise. Only personal care items like toothpaste, sanitary products, diapers were onthe shelves. The ships want everyone to go to the medical center. We carry a sizable medical kit.

This was true during all 3 of my sailings with Princess this year. As such, a small medicine cabinet I shall bring!  Hitting the ship's doctor for such meds is expensive, not to mention time consuming,ing. 

[Joebucks]

19 hours ago, Hlitner said:

WOW  this thread reads like a hypochondriacs dream list of cures :).  Is suppressing a cough a good thing?  It is a question you might want to ask your physician or, even better, a pulmonologist.  

Nyquil?  I wonder how many folks have read the list of its inactive ingredients:

• Acesulfame potassium
• Alcohol 10%
• Citric acid
• D&C Yellow No. 10
• FD&C Green No. 3
• FD&C Yellow No. 6
• Flavor
• High fructose corn syrup
• Polyethylene glycol
• Propylene glycol
• Purified water
• Saccharin sodium
• Sodium citrate

 

My goodness, a bottle of Jack Daniels might be a healthier solution :).

 

I always get a chuckle when people have these kinds of concerns. Then go on a vacation and eat a ton of junk food and drink cocktails all day. There's a lack of concern for real health and what many put into their bodies. It's all about what popular culture or the news tells them.

 

Anyways, when I'm sick, Dayquil and Nyquil (Severe) are all I need. Ever since I've been taking supplements (like 5000 iu vit d) the amount of times I've gotten sick has plummeted, and when I do, it's mild.

[Keksie]

20 hours ago, Hlitner said:

WOW  this thread reads like a hypochondriacs dream list of cures :).  Is suppressing a cough a good thing?  It is a question you might want to ask your physician or, even better, a pulmonologist.  

Nyquil?  I wonder how many folks have read the list of its inactive ingredients:

• Acesulfame potassium
• Alcohol 10%
• Citric acid
• D&C Yellow No. 10
• FD&C Green No. 3
• FD&C Yellow No. 6
• Flavor
• High fructose corn syrup
• Polyethylene glycol
• Propylene glycol
• Purified water
• Saccharin sodium
• Sodium citrate

 

My goodness, a bottle of Jack Daniels might be a healthier solution :).

It is if you don't want to get sent to medical for a test!

[Markanddonna]

While we are very aware of the importance of receiving or having appropriate medications, I hope anyone who is sick who be courteous enough to mask up. I gave the stinkeye to an unmasked "wet hacker" behind me in line and she claimed it was allergies. Flu, Covid, RSV, bronchitis maybe. Not allergies. 

[Mum2Mercury]

I always bring a first aid kit with very simple needs:  Bonnie, aspirin, and a few other basics.  I bring Dayquil /Nyquil capsules; at home I would have a larger selection so I could target just a cough or just sniffle -- but on the ship I just bring the "shotgun med" that hits a bunch of symptoms.  

 

Since Covid began, I have brought Covid tests -- my husband did develop a cold, and we were glad to be able to ascertain it was NOT Covid in our own cabin. 

 

 

[CruiserLucas]

On 12/3/2022 at 3:49 PM, TrojanGal said:

The last two times I had Covid (not on a cruise but at home) OTC meds did not work for me except a nighttime med like Nyquil to help me sleep better. My symptoms were all sinus and fatigue, no cough. For me, extra tissues like the travel Kleenex packs are a must.

That was also my experience when I finally encountered our Lady of Perpetual Suffering. Nyquill helped knock me out enough, otherwise my neck stiffness and headache kept me up. Other OTC stuff wasn't very helpful. Even my go-to Aleve that always relieves my aches and pains didn't help with Covid pain for whatever reason.

What helped my tonsils and eventually sinuses, and I don't think I saw it in the previous lists, was Zicam lozenges. Zinc is thought to inhibit virus production and that's their claim to shortening your period of illness, but its not proven. Like other remedies I think take it with a grain of salt, my own experience is also just anecdotal.

[Donald]

When you contract COVID on a cruise, is it really a good idea to medically mask the symptoms, avoid a doctor’s visit, and continue to infect your fellow passengers and the crew ?

[sandiego1]

7 hours ago, Donald said:

When you contract COVID on a cruise, is it really a good idea to medically mask the symptoms, avoid a doctor’s visit, and continue to infect your fellow passengers and the crew ?

We are bringing meds on our cruise to help alleviate symptoms of COVID to help us feel better. Not to mask symptoms or to infect others. We would quarantine in our room and notify medical. The concern is the ship doesn’t sell all of the OTC stuff one may need if ill. You can get prescriptions filled at medical, but not necessarily all the OTC you would need.

[lifes-a-beach]

I always use a simple mathematical formula for the meds I bring, no matter their purpose.  Number of days x the number of doses per 24 hours x the number of people I am responsible for packing for (usually 2) = the correct amount of that medicine.  Do this with each medicine you might need.  I never, ever depend on the ship or any port to have what I should be bringing, in the correct amount.   Thankfully, I rarely need any of it but there have been times that I needed all of it and didn't run out. 

[mom says]

On 12/7/2022 at 10:06 PM, Hlitner said:

Is suppressing a cough a good thing?  It is a question you might want to ask your physician or, even better, a pulmonologist.  

No need to recruit a specialist for such a simple question. Just ask a Mom. You use cough suppressants for a bad, DRY, cough. You use an expectorant for a phlegmy, wet cough.