Took my mask off on the aeroplane AIBU

[Tsubasa1]

I was on a 5-hour flight recently alone with my two kids under 3. I once every few years might suffer from travel sickness and unfortunately on this day it was the worst I've ever had. I believe it may have been caused by having to wear the mask on the aeroplane. I used 20+ sickbags and felt better during the last hour (vomited for 4 hours, 5th hour was better).
I felt really bad but after I started vomiting I couldn't physically put my mask on because I couldn't breath and it made me gag. The air stewards were furiously coming and telling me to put my mask on every 5-10 mins. I had tears in my eyes during all of this and to be honest I can't comprehend how little compassion they had. They kept coming until I firmly said I would be putting my mask on when I felt better. I was keeping my distance from everyone and had no one sitting in front of me, behind or next to me (apart from my children). I didn't have a fever and it had I had been checked before boarding the plane. AIBU to think there was no reason to harrass me while I was throwing up with my face in a bag? Are you scared of people who don't wear masks? Would you go up to someone ill and tell them to put their mask on?

@TheFirstRuleOfAIBUClub

Although I do really want to ask you hooves what you would do if you saw someone requiring medical attention involving mask removal. I shan't derail this thread, I might possibly start one to ask in general. No doubt you will appear!

I disagree that it's uncommon to see posters saying that those most vulnerable to Covid were going to die soon anyway - it's said on most threads and often multiple times.

As for the question about giving first aid - I honestly don't know what I would do.

Even in hospitals doctors and nurses don't go rushing in to give assistance without PPE on so it will depend on the situation. If it's possible to give aid without getting close to the face then I would. If CPR were necessary and no one else could do it then I would give chest compressions but I would be really concerned. I wouldn't not do it though.

I'm not sure why the onus here is being placed on the shielded to prove how much of a sacrifice they are prepared to make towards their fellow man though. Why isn't it up to everyone?

@Hearhoovesthinkzebras
Thank you for answering - my question (if you meant my specific question? Or the thread?) was nothing to do with shielding, it was a general question as I genuinely wonder how members of the public would react in a medical emergency involving masks.

Hopefully we never have to find out.

[quote TheFirstRuleOfAIBUClub]@Hearhoovesthinkzebras
Thank you for answering - my question (if you meant my specific question? Or the thread?) was nothing to do with shielding, it was a general question as I genuinely wonder how members of the public would react in a medical emergency involving masks.

Hopefully we never have to find out.[/quote]
Sorry, I am shielding hence why I responded in those terms because you addressed the question specifically to me. Shielding adds another layer to it I guess. Pre Covid I wouldn't have hesitated to provide first aid or CPR but now that comes with additional risk to me and I honestly don't know how I would feel. I couldn't just ignore the situation but I would be concerned about the risk.

YANBU. That was utterly ridiculous. How can you wear a mask while vomiting?

@NoWordForFluffy

Of course it's legal to go on holiday, but considering all the specifics of this tale I think it was unwise on several levels.

I disagree with the second sentence of your post, but won't resort to name calling. It's fine to disagree. It's also human to make decisions then regret them later. With hindsight maybe OP will view things differently.

@yeOldeTrout

How did OP get thru 20+ sickbags? I mean, eventually you empty out, no?

Yeh, she emptied them out the window... 🙄

Oh, just noticed my message got deleted. Bit puzzling as I wasn't abusive, I was just questionning the wisdom of OP taking a non essential flight, considering all the factors involved. I've seen many worse posts allowed to stand. Ah well.

Weren’t you questioning whether the OP was a genuine poster

Sorry, you shouldn't be flying in that case

Yabu. Sorry, but travel sickness doesn't work just every 5 years like that!!! My ds who's 5 gets travel sick badly, just flown today....he managed a mask in-between! It's tough, but if you're not prepared to adhere, you shouldn't be flying. The flight attendants were right to press it, they have the safety of all passengers to consider.

So sorry you was treated this way.
I am exempt due to asthma and have card from Asthma UK, I am already worrying how people will perceive this.

YANBU, they were being hysterical jobsworths. What did they suppose you should do, puke through the sodding mask?
I do hope you've flagged their behaviour to their company OP.

@PablosHoney Yes, I did also question whether the OP was trolling - perhaps that's why they deleted it. I didn't recognise the OP's user name, so began to wonder about whether she was genuine, but couldn't check her history of posting as I haven't paid for the premium service.

I'm immensely pro mask wearing, had full on arguments on social media about the edict to wear in shops from today with the, "I don't want to/it infringes my human rights" brigade but... YANBU. You can't keep taking the same mask off and on without risking more contamination, you can't throw up in a mask, you didn't expect to be air sick. Flight attendant was being unsympathetic and unreasonable.

That sounds truly awful, OP. I occasionally get air sick and it's the worst. I can't imagine trying to look after two tots at the same time, and also being hassled by staff.

I feel like the flight crew could have gently asked you to keep the mask on as much as you could between vomiting episodes and supported you to do your best with it, while also giving you some sympathy for your situation.

Maybe try Kwells for your next flight? They work a treat for me.

My friends call me the COVID police because I am very compliant on all things mask. However, this is ridiculous! How can you feasibly wear a mask when you’re throwing up!

If you’d have got on the plane with a tummy bug then I’d say YABU but clearly that’s not the case

My god this thread is bonkers. How the hell is someone supposed to wear a mask if they're vomiting. As people have said, there are exemptions for many medical reasons and I imagine that includes sudden current medical reasons such as vomiting as well as long term conditions. Plus of course the fact you can take your mask off on transport whilst eating and drinking.

And I say that as someone firmly in favour of course for everyone wearing masks unless there are very specific reasons not to (and not all those selfish people who are planning to print off a bit of paper saying they're exempt just because they don't fancy it).

Travel sickness tablets!? I never travel without taking them first because when I get sick it's crippling and I can't manage my kids too. I don't always get sick but when I do it lasts the whole day even long after the journey finished. Why if you knew you get sick would you risk it?

I can see both sides - yes wearing a mask while being sick is impossible and I know having something on your face can make it worse.
BUT
They have a duty to protect other passengers, no fever is not the all clear from carrying covid and if you pretty much had the mask off the whole flight I could understand they were annoyed. Especially as it all could have been avoided by a kwells. Some work in 10 mins so even once it starts you can take it to stop it. Also travel bands if you can't take medication.

Yes they could have been more understanding but knowing you get travel sick and not taking a preventative was silly

I feel for you OP. I’m so sorry you received no help from the cabin crew.
I can’t believe how things have changed in a matter of a few months.
You’ve done nothing wrong. How come some people are exempt: ie asthma sufferers etc ? They are a high risk aren’t they?
So if some people are exempt due to their medical condition why couldn’t the cabin crew use their common sense and allowed OP not to wear a mask given her state?
I would have complained!

I don't see how you could wear a mask if you're sick. That said the irrational side of me would have been so annoyed with you being on that plane vomiting even if it wasn't your fault!

LadyoftheManners - it's interesting that you perceive the cabin crew, who let her be as soon as she promised to put the mask back on when she was feeling better, as hysterical jobsworths who should be castigated by their employer. Why so? Just because a complete stranger who is clearly a bit hysterical about the situation she was in posts to complain about it? Nobody vomits continuously for 4 hours, so I would be surprised if she was actually being asked to put on her mask while in the process of vomiting, also surprised if she was actually checking her watch to see how often they were telling her to put her mask back on if she was vomiting at the time, surprised if she really did work her way through 20+ sick bags (was it those hysterical jobsworths providing her with them, or was she wandering the aisles herself?), and surprised she had the energy to tell them she would put the mask back on when she felt better if she was vomiting while speaking. Clearly she had a bad experience and is upset, but there is not enough evidence here to suggest the cabin crew were being jobsworths. There is some evidence of exaggeration, though.

[quote Defenbaker]@PablosHoney Yes, I did also question whether the OP was trolling - perhaps that's why they deleted it. I didn't recognise the OP's user name, so began to wonder about whether she was genuine, but couldn't check her history of posting as I haven't paid for the premium service.[/quote]
You don't need premium service to search for a persons previous posts. Just click the search function, enter the username and you would see the OP has posted many many times.

Its also worth remembering it's MN policy that you don't troll hunt. If you suspect a post to be a troll just report it and walk away.

I used 20+ sickbags and felt better during the last hour (vomited for 4 hours, 5th hour was better)

You eat/drink too much!

I know you’re here for people to tell you YANBU but you are. And of course I don’t blame the staff for telling you to put your mask back on. The virus is airborne and the masks are required to fly at the moment, for good reason.

This doesn’t mean I don’t empathise with your situation, however I also empathise with everyone else around you.

There are precautions you could have taken (I'm also a vomiter).

Did you actually clarify to the staff that it was travel sickness or did you leave them terrified it was something else?

Unless this flight was a necessary flight you shouldn't be travelling anyway and no, holidays are not mandatory travel.

I also feel sorry for your kids having to sit through that. Get some antiemetic off your GP next time.