Date: 201912
Local time of day: 1201-1800
Location: ZZZ.ARTCC, US
Aircraft: B737-900
Operator: Air Carrier
Operating under: Part 121
Flight plan: IFR
Mission: Passenger
Flight phase: Descent
Airspace: Class A ZZZ
ATC / advisory: Center ZZZ
Reporter organization: Air Carrier
Reporter function: Flight Attendant (On Duty)
Reporter qualification: Flight Attendant Current
Human factors: Communication Breakdown; Physiological - Other
Anomaly: Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Illness / Injury; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Smoke / Fire / Fumes / Odor
Detector: Person Flight Attendant
When detected: In-flight
Result: Aircraft Equipment Problem Dissipated; Flight Crew Overcame Equipment Problem
Contributing factors: Aircraft
Primary problem: Aircraft

Narrative: Preparing for arrival into ZZZ; top of descent; myself (Flight Attendant C) and Flight Attendant B standing in aft galley getting ready to take our jumpseat. An odor that's stays in the gallery area that is very strong smells of dirty socks. This lasted for about 1 minute. The Flight Attendant B asked me what is this smell and I told her I knew for sure it's an air quality the odor of dirty socks was so strong. Within moments I started feeling nauseous and my throat was irritated and sore to swallow. I called the Flight Attendant A to give them the information; Captain said they were busy preparing for landing [and] we would discuss it on the ground. Once we deplaned the Captain was off the aircraft and waiting to go to the van in the general boarding area. I asked the crew getting on the plane [if] they talked to the Captain regarding the air quality we had. They said no. I walked over to the Captain and asked him did he write up the air quality? He says to me did you write it up? I said no I thought we were going to discuss once we landed...this is where I get frustrated. He says since I didn't give him a cabin discrepancy he didn't write it up and turns and walks away. I walked back over to the outbound crew and gave them a narrative of what happened. At this point I'm thinking crew is gone I'll take a different shuttle to hotel. So the Flight Attendant B and I headed towards [shuttle] pick up and the crew is waiting for us. As we wait for [the] shuttle; the Captain at this point seems aware of my concerns and said he would write it up and forward to us. He also said the 'scent' could have shut the aircraft down for minimum of 6 hours. That's when I realized I have to be the voice for myself on this air quality. I get to my hotel room and I'm just not feeling well I talked to the other flight attendants and explain I would be calling [Company Medical]. I contact [Company Medical] and maybe I'm feeling better and rest; call them later advise me to go to nearest hospital. I then spent 6 hours in ER with confirmed...diagnosis occupational exposure to polluted air. Extensive blood work and 2 rounds of IV the doctor was satisfied with my blood work and release me to hotel with follow up with my primary doctor.  Captain should have taken my air quality report much more seriously. I felt the Captain did not take my air quality serious and calling it a scent was an insult to my 20 years of flying.




Synopsis: B737-900 Flight Attendant reported a strong smell of dirty socks on descent.