PAX Pox 2013

aikoe

Last year there was a thread about who got what kind of PAX Pox, and I considered myself lucky to come out perfectly fine. This year, I'm holed up in my hotel room, missing the last day of the con and nursing gatorade and saltines. That's right, I got PAX Poisoning (of the food variety). For future reference, if the food court pizza looks undercooked, it is, and if you wonder if it's ok to eat, it isn't. Also, drink the damn water, constantly. Dehydration makes food poisoning even worse.

Who else got some type of PAX disease? Is anyone else nursing PAX Poisoning, or was I just exceedingly unlucky?

<Omicron-8643>

Oh man, I've been feeling that dehydration hard. I've been guzzling water like all get out and between walking and dance parties, it hasn't been enough. Was the air drier in the BCEC this year? It has been pretty nippy so it makes sense.

Mr Uppercut

I had to skip Saturday because I was sick. Though I think that was due to taking too much caffeine on Friday. I'm just not used to it.

Porkchop

I had some stomach issues both Friday and Saturday night. Not sure if it was due to the odd scheduling of my meals, the con Fried Dough, or what. But thankfully it was pretty minor and mostly just cost me some sleep Fri night and made me later than anticipated on Sunday morn.

Lazorz

Dehydration was a killer here. I feel fine at Prime, but East was awful. It might've been because the only sources of water in the convention were either horribly overpriced bottles or ratchety water fountains. It felt dirty having to give in to MCCA's prices just so I wouldn't pass out.

BinaryPie

Lazorz wrote: »

Dehydration was a killer here. I feel fine at Prime, but East was awful. It might've been because the only sources of water in the convention were either horribly overpriced bottles or ratchety water fountains. It felt dirty having to give in to MCCA's prices just so I wouldn't pass out.

As far as I saw, all the theaters and line rooms had water coolers with plastic cups. I didn't see many people put them to use though. I definitely did.

JayDfromMA

Made it out ok. Lots of devs had hand sanitizer and I saw some (like the awesome guys at the Dust booth) wiping everything down constantly. I also was sure to pack water and Gatorade to keep hydrated from walking (read: to nurse my hangovers)

deathsquirrel

my 5th PAX and my first coming out of it healthier than when I started.

AcidicPlague

I'm not sure if it is a PAX pox or just unfortunate coincidental timing, but I woke up this morning and had to go full 360 exorcist on my bathroom. No other symptoms or discomfort, just straight puking until there was nothing left and then some. So .. keep an eye out for that, heh.

miker525

had a bit of the Pax stomach poisoning each morning but other then that I seem to be fine...for now...thank god

Namrok

The overwhelming dryness of Boston played serious havoc on my throat and nose. No amount of water was enought. Went through 3 or 4 water bottles a day. Ended up with a sinus infection last night. Not sure its pax related though. Same shit I always come down with in this kind of weather when I'm not careful.

Axon

It certainly was dry....and cold. It was brutal outside at night, especially when the wind picked up. I'm sure those conditions didn't do anyone any favors.

Smoogy

Unscathed for me, except lack of sleep! People complaining of dehydration have only themselves to blame. All you had to do was fill up a water bottle at one of the bubblers inside any room.

And I thought it was really only cold on Friday night. It was kind of crazy flying back into the DC area from Boston, but it was colder here and snowing while Boston was sunny and cool.

Daenyth

I'm ashamed to say that me and mine were possibly bearers of the pax pox this year, coming into it all with coughs and sneezes and fevers, but I am glad to say that at least we're healthy now...

Le_Goat

Namrok wrote: »

The overwhelming dryness of Boston played serious havoc on my throat and nose. No amount of water was enought. Went through 3 or 4 water bottles a day. Ended up with a sinus infection last night. Not sure its pax related though. Same shit I always come down with in this kind of weather when I'm not careful.

Next time, use nasal saline spray. While I can't stand the feeling of snorting watery spray, it definitely helps the dryness factor with your nasal cavity, which in turns helps with the throat. Also, the spray is wicked cheap.

miker525 wrote: »

had a bit of the Pax stomach poisoning each morning but other then that I seem to be fine...for now...thank god

Are you sure that you weren't just nursing a hangover?

koolaroo

Saterday and Sunday night I had some really nasty stomach pains but they always passed after an hour or so. I'm guess it had to do with all the mountain dew I drank.

Popinski

Keep Hydrated and stay away from the food at the Expo.
My tips to success.

Azimuth

Other than the expected consequences from drinking too much on the Pokecrawl, no ill effects here.

Shadowfire

Axon wrote: »

It certainly was dry....and cold. It was brutal outside at night, especially when the wind picked up. I'm sure those conditions didn't do anyone any favors.

I can always tell what direction people are driving/flying from to get to PAX. Personally, I enjoyed being able to go out without a coat or sweater all weekend!

AlpineAntic

I picked up something from PAX. Body aches, coughing, scratchy throat, and a bit of a fever. I feel like crap.

Le_Goat

AlpineAntic wrote: »

I picked up something from PAX. Body aches, coughing, scratchy throat, and a bit of a fever. I feel like crap.

...and yet you're totally going to do it again next year

AlpineAntic

ABSOLUTELY! Hooked on PAX! It was my first time and I had a blast. Even though I'm a local, I will rent a hotel next year. Driving was a pain in the ass everyday

EQV

Caught a cold Sunday.

I REGRET NOTHING

miker525

Le_Goat wrote: »

miker525 wrote: »

had a bit of the Pax stomach poisoning each morning but other then that I seem to be fine...for now...thank god

Are you sure that you weren't just nursing a hangover?

Totally could have been that also. Probably a mix. I know the food there doesn't generally agree with my stomach

d.TFFoS

Have a dry throat and slight cold, but nothing too serious.

Last year I ended up with a sinus infection. So this is a major success, I think.

Coppatop

I have some sort of chest cold. The only symptoms I have are a sort of raspy and congested feeling in my chest, and a sore throat. Probably because I only slept for about 8 hours total from when I woke up on Thursday morning to when I finally got to sleep in my own bed last night.

zillabunny

I'm sorta sad it's over but other than that I feel great!

Lindsay Lohan

I thought I had a case this morning... Was feeling crappy with a horrible headache. It got worse and worse and then I figured out it was in my tooth. Apparently I have a nasty tooth infection and now have an antibiotic to take in preparation for having it pulled. Thank God it didn't hit over the weekend!

Uncleangry

I was working in the ACAM room and thought all would be well. We had massive amounts of hand sanitizer, I had a recent flu shot and as always a healthy regime of vitamins and water. Saturday night I was hit with the most vicious viral attack I have ever felt in my life. I sadly missed Sunday, but I will be back next year. I think I may grab that box of nitrile gloves that I almost brought this year.

Clix

I've been on the rebound of a cold/flu for the last week. I just have that persistent cough that won't completely go away, and sometimes a runny nose.

I felt terrible the other day when in the expo hall I bent over to sneeze and a snot rocket launched itself onto the floor. I mean, what can you do? Cone off the area and request a haz-mat crew? I carried on and hoped that nobody slipped on it. Yeah, I know I'm gross.

Krissta

AlpineAntic wrote: »

ABSOLUTELY! Hooked on PAX! It was my first time and I had a blast. Even though I'm a local, I will rent a hotel next year. Driving was a pain in the ass everyday

Yup, I live in NH, and it's only an hour drive to Boston, but after we went the first year, we said we would always get a hotel room.

galatea

One day later and other than utter exhaustion, so far so good. I don't know if I have ever been so tired in my life - three days on my feet and two restless nights on a hotel room floor wiped me out. I should have taken Monday off work, and will do that next year - as it was, I was so tired that I cried twice for stupid reasons and ended up coming home early "sick" once my essential work was done for the day.

I'm headed to bed shortly and am making extra certain I take my vitamins the next few days and keep myself hydrated. Hopefully I'll completely avoid catching the pox. Right now I'm feeling heartburn and a little nausea from all the coffee I drank last night and today to keep myself going. Bleh.

natedoggcata

I felt like I was coming down with a cold on Sunday but it was probably just the fact that I was so exhausted. I love PAX but seriously by Sunday I would barely move. My feet and legs hurt SO much that I was sitting down most of the day. Thats the first time in my three years at PAX that I felt that bad. I still enjoyed the day.

Like I said in the other thread the food and water prices at PAX are disgustingly high... perhaps even to the point where its a health issue. The food is lazily cooked cause they constantly have to cook food all day that im not surprised people got sick from it being undercooked. The fact that its so high probably also causes people to skip eating cause they dont want to pay such high prices for such disgusting food and they dont want to leave to get outside food cause then they miss valuable PAX time. I kept myself plenty dehydrated however. I bought a GIANT water bottle at a gas station and kept filling it at the water fountain throughout the day

Axon

Shadowfire wrote: »

Axon wrote: »

It certainly was dry....and cold. It was brutal outside at night, especially when the wind picked up. I'm sure those conditions didn't do anyone any favors.

I can always tell what direction people are driving/flying from to get to PAX. Personally, I enjoyed being able to go out without a coat or sweater all weekend!

Heh, well, I'm actually from NYC and I thought it was cold. I'm a skinny guy and we were outside for almost an hour on Saturday; it wasn't bone chilling, dead of winter -77 cold, but it was cold enough. I understand what you're saying though: put me in 98 degree weather, and I'm the one laughing. :P

Le_Goat

I'm thinking PAX might want to get Airborne to sponsor next year, lol.

AcidicPlague

flatline

EVERYONE needs to know the 4-3-2-1 rule for cons.

At the least, EVERY DAY you need to get 4 hours of sleep, drink 3 bottles of water, eat 2 meals, and take 1 shower.

Lindsay Lohan

flatline wrote: »

EVERYONE needs to know the 4-3-2-1 rule for cons.

At the least, EVERY DAY you need to get 4 hours of sleep, drink 3 bottles of water, eat 2 meals, and take 1 shower.

I don't know if this is the best place to highlight this, but the no-doze pill people and the 5 hr energy people made me slightly uncomfortable in this regard. I'd admit that I'm a coffee drinker but to me the overall message of unlimited free caffeine pills and shots while people had to pay $3 for a bottle of water to avoid dehydration really didn't send the right message about avoiding illness at Pax.

flatline

Lindsey Lohan wrote: »

flatline wrote: »

EVERYONE needs to know the 4-3-2-1 rule for cons.

At the least, EVERY DAY you need to get 4 hours of sleep, drink 3 bottles of water, eat 2 meals, and take 1 shower.

I don't know if this is the best place to highlight this, but the no-doze pill people and the 5 hr energy people made me slightly uncomfortable in this regard. I'd admit that I'm a coffee drinker but to me the overall message of unlimited free caffeine pills and shots while people had to pay $3 for a bottle of water to avoid dehydration really didn't send the right message about avoiding illness at Pax.

Totally agree, but they're trying to increase brand awareness, not attendee health (clearly). People do need to realize that just because they drink 93 ounces of soda and coffee doesn't mean they will stay hydrated.

The biggest joke to me was that a 20oz bottle of water cost $3.50, while the mini-food courts between tabletop and the expo hall sold 16.9oz bottles for $2. The best thing you can do though is bring a Nalgene or similar reusable bottle and take advantage of the fountains.

MidnyghtChilde

It was extremely dry in the BCEC this year - more so than years past. I always end PAX with a hoarse voice from so much talking and screaming and excitement, this year was worse. I was also awful about water, after being so careful in years past, definitely a mistake.

The 5 hour energies don't bother me so much because honestly, they don't work. They have nothing in them that really gives much energy, scientifically they're equivalent to a cup of coffee (http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/index.php/5-hour-energy/). The caffeine pills though kind of bothered me - those are easy to abuse and can be just plain dangerous. And since the food courts were doing free-refills on soda around the BCEC - namely the ones around and near Tabletop and freeplay - it just asks for trouble with caffiene overdose.

I seem to have escaped PaxPox myself, just a general con-crud from bodily abuse of not enough water and less-than-stellar-health foods (even though I packed a giant bag of healthy snacks and breakfast, I'm just getting old and sensitive >.<). My hubby seems to have gotten a sinus/respiratory cold we're hoping isn't PaxPox. I did see someone on Twitter this morning reporting having gotten pneumonia at PaxEast...so let's hope that isn't the viral variety.

LesStewart

Fortunately, I was able to enjoy all that PAX had to offer without any problems....until I had to leave. I felt terribly nauseous on the Silver Line back to Logan and while I was waiting for my delayed flight back to Toronto, I was violently sick three times. I even had the wonderful experience Mike described on PATV where....the point of exit was sometimes hard to determine. He's totally right; that is a call you don't want to get wrong.

Although it certainly coloured my view of waiting in airports, I have to say that it didn't burnish my fond memories of my first PAX. Thanks to everyone who make my vacation to Boston so fantastic that I could be brutally ill and still regard the trip as the highlight of my year.