How I deal with getting sick when traveling
by The Longest Way Home ~ July 17th, 2009. Filed under: How to live overseas.
Filippina Lady thinking in Puerto Princessa, The Philippines (click to enlarge)
I was in Sabang in the Philippines getting ready for a trek along a monkey trail when I woke up during the night with a fever. It got worse. But that’s all next week …
In Pakistan I was projectile vomiting purple ooze …
In France and Spain I tore muscles in my leg …
In Africa, well … you name it I had it …
Now all that may or may not sound like a lot. But if you consider I’ve been traveling nearly 4.5 years now, I’ve done pretty well illness wise. The odd cold and bad kebab aside.
But when Illness does hit when traveling, it can be a pain. And, usually I have something to do and don’t want to miss. Or I am alone in a remote area.
I wrote up a personal Travel Medical woes page here. It covers a lot more than here. But here are some pointers I work from. Again this is my own personal medical check list.
Healthy Travel: Asia & India by Lonely Planet - I carry it
1) I carry a small medical book called Lonely Planet’s Healthy Travel: Asia & India I wrote up a review for it on my Travel Review section if you’d like to have a look. The book is a great resource for me in that if a stomach bug just won’t go away, it gives suggestions and, I keep forgetting what my temperature is meant to be!?
2) I carry a thermometer: one of those plastic ones. They don’t break so easily. I’ve rarely used it, but in the case of the below. It’s been important.
3) I am conscious and aware of Malaria zones. This is one bad thing I do not want to have in a remote area alone, again. There’s a lot of online advise about this, but a tropical disease clinic and getting the advice of a doctor who works in this field was of great help. It’s especially true as I’ve been through several different types of malaria zones.
4) I keep hydrated. One of the biggest causes of worsening illness in the tropics is a lack of water. And I sweat like crazy anyway so I drink plenty of water. And when sick, I’m not tight with my money and so I part with money for bottled water.
5) I tell everyone I am sick, like an old granny. Why? Simple. If things get bad, someone will notice me missing. They will knock on my door knowing I am sick, and not just trying to kick me out because I haven’t paid the bills. Moreover I’ve had people bringing me water, food, and supplies out of genuine care in many places.
6) I am really paranoid when buying medicine over the counter in another country, especially developing countries. Fake medicine is everywhere. I check what I am buying carefully. Making sure the packaging is sound, there’s strong print, and if at all possible I buy a brand name that I recognize. I also carry a who’s who of supplies with me that I know are real.
7) If it gets bad I seek out the help of a medical professional. I am not a doctor, and neither is anyone else online. I try getting to a big city if I am in a remote area. It’s easier that way. Expats can help here, as they generally have been around long enough to know where to go for a good doctor. My next choice is either the British Council or an embassy. I usually just call and ask for a recommended list of doctors.
These are some of the basics I use when I get sick on the road. In every country there seems to be something new, though in the Philippines I’ve noticed that I’ve not been a sick even for a day. The odd bad portion of adobo aside. Moreover I’ve notice when a Filipino get’s a cold, it’s the end of the world for them! They tend to keel over faster than most others. That said, they have tough stomachs!
Coming Soon:
The monkey trail in Sabang, trying to get to the world’s longest underground river with a fever!
(disclaimer: the above information is based on my own personal experiences. I do not recommend anyone to follow what I do. However I do recommend anyone with any concerns with travel illness or sickness before, during or after traveling to consult with a qualified medical practitioner.)
|
|
|
|
Feel free to leave a comment below!
Some related articles you might like:
July 18th, 2009
You did not mention anything about mosquito netting? Is a mosquito bar or netting very useful, especially when going to bed? How about the Philippines? Is a mosquito bar good for use over your bed?
[Reply]
The Longest Way Home Reply:
July 18th, 2009
@Simon Yea I carry a load of broad spectrums too.
In fact I’m carrying far too much at the moment! Only been sick once in the Philippines, unfortunately I didn’t have my med bag with me at the time! That’s a good point about Tamiflu. Never thought of it as a regular flu protector, just heard about it recently with the H1N1 stuff.
@Gary In West Africa yes a Mosquito net saved me, and others plenty of times. To be honest in all my time in the Philippines I’ve not come across Malaria. There are Mosquitos, but not so voracious. By Mosquito bar I’m not sure if you mean the smoking incense type, or bar as in hanging bar? Not seen the incense coils for sale. Even in Africa I was not a fan of them. Preferred the net. A fan if you have electricity works wonders too.
[Reply]
July 18th, 2009
Sound advice. I also like to carry a broad-spectrum antibiotic as these can be difficult to find and vital should infection occur. I have also recently started travelling with Tamiflu and this has already saved me from influenza on one occasion. It’s powerful stuff though and should only be used when absolutely necessary.
[Reply]
July 19th, 2009
Thanks. A mosquito bar is a rectangular canopy used over a camping cot or regular bed. Visit this link for picture: here
[Reply]
The Longest Way Home Reply:
July 19th, 2009
ah yea, i recognise it. I used a similar one in africa. But just use string to attach it to the wall and pull it out from the bed a bit. I prefer this type if staying in a place for a while.
[Reply]
July 21st, 2009
Good advice, I am going to buy that lonely Planet book before I leave on my next trip.
[Reply]
The Longest Way Home Reply:
July 21st, 2009
Cheers. Yep, that book saved me quite a few times. Really small too. Lives in a corner of my backpack.
[Reply]