If you are like me, you are thankful for modern medicines such as Benadryl, Zyrtec, and hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil), and for the ability to make healthy choices such as practicing yoga, making appropriate food selections, and using liberal amounts of sunscreen. I have noticed that, when I pay attention to making healthy choices before I travel, my travel plans can weather just about any storm that comes my way.
So what healthy choices might pave the way for a smoother trip? For me, it’s about seriously considering the vacation environment itself. Will I be in constant heat and humidity like Akumal, Mexico and an Eastern Caribbean cruise, or in a cooler and more damp environment such as the Pacific Northwest or the Rocky Mountains of Colorado? Will I be walking, hiking, climbing or relaxing with a good book?
After I have identified the natural implications of the travel environment, that’s when I move to the “what if” scenarios and decide what else I might need to bring with me. This is an important step in my planning because, if I have a painful symptoms flare, I want to be able to meet my own needs while still experiencing much of what the location has to offer. This might mean that I take additional muscle rub for my neck or one of those bandanas that have the absorbent beads inside to cool myself off in the heat and sun. I might need to bring clothing with UV Protection, a wide-brimmed hat or small umbrella to avoid the harsh effects of the sun. The more prepared I am, the better I am at being able to focus on my vacation.
With the logistical items related to the vacation’s climate and geology taken care of, I then move on to the health and safety planning phase. What might I encounter in locations such as Italy, New Orleans, Louisiana, or the Dominican Republic? I am not a hypochondriac by any stretch of the imagination, but I do like to plan ahead and travel well prepared for meeting needs of a short-term illness or minor injury. Experience may be the best teacher, so please allow me to share a few experiences from travels over the past five years:
- While vacationing in the Dominican Republic for a destination wedding, I was bitten on the back of my let by a large centipede. I originally thought it was a sting from a wasp, but a visit to the resort doctor later that evening revealed that the creepy bug crawling down the back of my leg was actually a centipede. The bite took place on Saona Island, more than an hour away from an ice pack or medical attention. The ocean provided cool water to ease the sting, but I had remembered my Epi-Pen and Benadryl and was able to care for the bite without using the epinephrine. And, that doctor visit? While she was a very nice and thorough physician, she said that I had more medications with me than she could have provided from her clinic, and that there actually was an anti-venom that could lessen the blistering pain, but it was 2 hours away by car. Let’s just say that I kept with the Tylenol, Neosporin, and Benadryl regimen and returned home several days later with minimal pain.
- Just last summer, while wandering the streets of Rome, Italy with our dear friends, I felt a sting on the back of my hand. Fortunately, I have no major allergy to wasps. Once again, I was able to slather on Benadryl cream and take oral Benadryl and Tylenol to help weather the swelling and pain.
- A few years ago, we were in New Orleans, Louisiana for a long weekend. We noticed fuzzy caterpillars all over the city and had even photographed several. At one point of the trip, Steven started slapping his ankle through his jeans. Within a few seconds, a fuzzy caterpillar fell from his pant leg. Unfortunately, he broke out in blistery burns in each place the caterpillar had touched him. The Benadryl and Tylenol sure came in handy for the remainder of that trip, and it took a prescription cream to finally heal the burn spots, nearly 3 weeks later.
As a couple, we make sure we have a small pharmacy with us, especially for unexpected and painful bites and stings. Sure, we have taken many trips where we did not need any items from our first aid kit, but at least those medications and supplies were available, just in case.
I’m sure our fellow travelers have their own ways to prepare for travel. Not everyone reacts to bites, stings, or scrapes like we do, nor can everyone take the same medications we do, so the pre-travel prep should be adjusted, based on the needs of each individual (e.g., I am allergic to NSAIDS and don’t usually carry Ibuprofen). What recommendations would you share with fellow travelers? Feel free to share in the comments section below.
Until next time, Happy Walking!
Walks Your Way