Real Travel Adventures of Deb and Debb - Part 2 - Travel Health
Blog post cover image: Hand of Fatima, Mali (DA Donnelly, 2011)
This was a makeshift hospital outside my abode in Ansongo, Mali (2011)
A couple of the workers ended up with typhus and recovered after a few of days of intravenous fluids and rest.
There is nothing worse than going on vacation and ending up sick. You feel miserable, may have troubles finding the over-the-counter medications you might be used to taking, or have to go to a foreign hospital. This can be very expensive and extremely stressful. My advice is to be in good health before you go anywhere.
However, there are physical challenges we face when we travel internationally at a mature age. I was much stronger and more fit in my thirties. I wasn’t afraid of being physically capable of trekking across country or up hills or being able to protect myself. Now I’m in the throes of menopause.
I shouldn’t complain. I’ve seen other women have a terrible time during menopause. I haven’t got brain fog, or become overly emotional, or suffer endless bouts of night sweats. The issue I struggle with most now is the additional weight I’ve put on in the past couple of years. I still walk about an hour a day, and I watch what I eat, but my hormones (or lack thereof) have decided on this cruel jest. How will these extra pounds impact what I want to do? I am, however, very fortunate that I don’t really have any significant health issues. I’m more clumsy than prone to illness.
Tighter luggage weight restrictions on airlines have me choosing my sunblock, vitamins and reading glasses over that cute dress I might wear. Just be careful and check if the country you are visiting has any restrictions on medications (particularly pain killers) or requirements for documentation of your prescriptions. I try to also learn the terms for vitamins or supplements in the local language, or even write the word(s) in their language on the bottles to help get through customs. Keep all medications and supplements in their original packaging. Be prepared to have them confiscated anyway. Deb also notes the following general advice, “If you have a health problem, take time to understand your travel medical insurance coverage, and also learn important contacts such as hospital locations, etc.”
This is me kicking butt on my Vietnamese language lessons on Duolingo!
I would also recommend learning the following terms (at a minimum) in the local language of your destination: help, doctor, hospital, pharmacy, and water.
Know your limit and stay within it. This phrase is what I think about now when it comes to planning a vigorous schedule. It is a holiday not a race! I used to want to spend every minute doing something exciting on my vacation. Holidays are expensive and time was short, and I wanted the most bang for my buck. I think maturing means understanding that you don’t need to do everything right now. Try to enjoy the experiences and take care of yourself by not pushing too hard. Deb concurred with this last part saying she also noticed the difference from when she was younger versus travelling as an older woman.
I asked Deb if she had any travel health advice to give, and this is her response. (Deb) I have been pretty lucky as I haven't had any health problems when travelling except on a long flight to Malaysia, I got food poisoning on the plane, possibly from eggs? Or when snorkeling in southern Thailand, I must have swallowed some water and was pretty sick! Lesson learned - to always stay hydrated when flying and eat minimally. When electrolytes are low, you can eat potato chips and pop! Yeah!
I have travelled extensively and have thankfully only been sick twice. I got severe food poisoning while working in the Sinai, and malaria 🦟when living in Mali. I don’t recommend either! I make sure I take immune boosting supplements (1) for a couple of weeks before I travel, and then I take only good probiotics and activated charcoal with me. One of the challenges I have experienced is that when flying for long distances, it is difficult to drink enough water, and you may be eating different foods than you are used to. I can sometimes end up being a bit constipated on arrival. I now carry a couple of tea bags of Traditional Medicinals Organic Smooth Move tea, and that usually does the job.
For mosquito-borne diseases like malaria, dengue, chikungunya, and Japanese encephalitis it is important to protect yourself as best you can. If you are planning a prolonged stay, there are vaccines for dengue and Japanese encephalitis, but you may wish to reduce your risk by using mosquito avoidance measures.(2) There are currently no vaccines for malaria or chikungunya. Prophylaxis medication for malaria is available, but I recommend you discuss with your doctor the long-term use of this and any associated side effects. Check out a travel medical clinic for up-to-date requirements.
I personally have had so many vaccinations (from my time in the military and subsequent travels) that I rarely need anything new. It is still good practice to research potential health issues you might be faced with for the countries you are visiting, and note that some require proof of vaccination.(3)
My Bug Spray
I try to eat as healthy as possible, and use organic products on my skin, so why would I then put some terrible chemical (i.e. DEET) on to try and keep mosquitoes away?
This is my essential oil recipe to keep the bugs away (makes about 60 ml – which meets travel guidelines for liquids)
50 ml witch hazel
10 ml glycerin and rosewater (I use Rougier brand which I find is readily available in Canada.)
15 drops lemongrass essential oil
15 drops lavender essential oil
Using a 100 ml dark glass bottle add the witch hazel, rosewater mix and essential oils. I love the smell of the lemongrass and lavender together. Shake well and apply liberally to exposed skin. Like with the use of all essential oils you should avoid your eye area or open skin. With this natural spray you likely need to reapply more frequently than the toxic kind of bug spray, perhaps around every 2 hours, or as needed. I really like the smell so it doesn’t bother me to reapply. This natural spray is better for me and better for the environment. 💚
Water
Regarding water use in Thailand and Vietnam the following articles proved useful:
Drinking water in Chiang Mai - A Survival Guide
Tap Water in Vietnam – Quality guide for Drinking, Brushing teeth & Washing food
It appears that water should likely be purchased for consumption, but is safe for showering and brushing teeth.
Vegetable Phở
From my favourite Vietnamese restaurant in Calgary - Phở Houz
The food here is so fresh!
Street Food
I LOVE Vietnamese food (thanks to my former boyfriend). I’m really looking forward to trying out local cuisine, and this includes street food. Some people may be wary, and if you are prone to digestive issues you need to make that decision for yourself, but I usually have no problems. Good advice is to make sure the food is hot, and if the stall or restaurant is busy it is usually a reasonable sign it is safe.
I found this Klook blog on 13 Vietnamese Street Food That Are Just To-Die-Pho and it totally made my mouth water!
Pre-arrival research on street food in Chiang Mai brought me to this post on Walkabout Monkey (WaM) Best Chiang Mai Street Food 2024: The Ultimate Guide.
This is what Deb had to say about street food. (Deb) I love to try street food! But once I asked to try something local and ordered what appeared to simply be rice. Initially it was very tasty but then my mouth was on fire as it was so spicy/hot! Lesson learned - beware of what you as a North American can tolerate in the way of spicy/hot versus the locals!!? 🌶️
Deb and I will be sure to highlight the places we ate at and the food we enjoyed during future posts when we are on our trip. By the way, I am up for the spicy/hot challenge!
Happy and healthy travelling!
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Please note that neither Deb nor I are medical doctors. Any of the advice herein is based on our personal experiences. If you choose to take any of the supplements mentioned or try the essential oils, do your own research and/or ask a medical professional. We are also not being sponsored or receiving any payments for endorsing the items mentioned in this article.
(1) I personally take elderberry, curcumin (tumeric), zinc and vitamin C.
(2) Government of Canada advise on Mosquito bite prevention for travellers https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/publications/diseases-conditions/poster-mosquito-bite-prevention-travellers.html
(3) Travel advice from Canada for Vietnam https://travel.gc.ca/destinations/vietnam#health ; for Thailand https://travel.gc.ca/destinations/thailand#health
