· If you've never travelled before the odds are that you'll pick up some sort of tummy bug early on in the trip. Usually, it will just mean you're tired, unwell and loose for a couple of days. Often there is nothing wrong with the food and your stomach is just not used to it. If you are travelling around countries with poor hygiene, it could get a bit more serious and you might have to start to watch what you're eating.
· Sometimes the problem doesn't go away and you'll be losing a lot of water. Remember to stay hydrated as much as possible and go and visit the doctor. Even if you're not up to eating try a variety of drinks instead of a meal. Twice when I was at my lowest ebb I was saved by pineapple. Fresh fruit and canned juice were all I could keep down. Worth remembering if you ever get like that.
· Travel isn't much fun when you are sick. You have no patience and little interest in your surroundings. Nothing is enjoyable and just keeping up can be a real struggle. It pays to carry some medication that will slow your system down if you need to take a long trip with little or no toilet access. In India five of us took 110 Lomotil tablets in 2 months. We couldn't have got by without them. I've tried Imodium but they don't seem to help much.
· They are worth carrying in countries that are renowned for stomach upsets. Places which attract unkind epithets like Bali Belly, Delhi Belly, Rangoon Runs, Montezuma's Revenge and Pharaoh's Revenge should give you some idea of what you're in for. Although things seem to be more hygienic these days. Pills are good for peace of mind on bus trips and other activities that keep you far from toilets when you have ten second syndrome. 99% of the time it won't be a problem.
· Of course, the number one health precaution is to get Travel Insurance. Get this as soon as you have forked out for your air ticket in case there are any problems. Try to ensure you are covered for any adventurous activities you may be doing, including riding motorbikes. The main reason for getting it is if you have to be medevacked back home. Read the fine print before buying. Pay for an extra week just in case you get delayed.
· Some credit cards will provide free travel insurance if you pay for your airline tickets with them. They may need to be activated before you go and also, they may have certain conditions not favourable to you.
· Any incidents involving an excess of alcohol or illegal drugs won't be covered. Pre-existing conditions may be hard to cover. If you're unsure of anything call the insurer before buying the policy.
· It can be difficult to get insurance for people over 80, but there are some around. Shop around and get the best deal.
· Take enough of your prescription medications to last the trip and get a letter from your doctor authorising you to have them.
· I don't get pre-trip injections or take anti-malarial pills with me for most countries. Unless you're going to be living in the jungle or going to a yellow fever country you should be okay. Talk to your GP if you're worried or go and see your local travel doctor.
· Yellow fever injections last ten years and are required by some African and South American countries.
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Cupping, it's great - Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
· With mosquitoes it is best not to get bitten at all. Get a room or bungalow with fly screens. At dawn and (mainly) dusk cover up and put on mozzie spray, use mosquito coils etc. Malaria pills taken for extended periods aren't good for you and breathing in mosquito coil smoke all night isn't either. Not to mention burning the place down. Mosquito nets are hot, stuffy and if you get a few mosquitos caught in there it can be as bad as not having one.
· Avoiding sunburn, wearing a hat, sunglasses and staying hydrated are basic things to remember. Some people seem to forget to pack their common sense when they go away.
· Avoid monkeys and rabid dogs, you don't want either of them biting you. I once looked on horrified when I saw a young girl offer an ice cream to a Sun Bear with big claws in a cage at the back of a petrol station. Fortunately, the bear loved ice cream.
· Use bottled water to clean your teeth or just spit the tap stuff out. If you run out of water in the shower or shaving in the sink you can rinse off with the water in the toilet cistern. It's as clean as the water you've been using. Or perhaps some ice from the fridge.
· If you are travelling in the tropics, you may find that any little cut or scratch you get on your legs and feet doesn't heal and keeps getting bigger. Also, when snorkelling around coral living organisms can get in any little cuts and sores and cause ulcers. They can be hard to get rid of and often don't respond to treatment until you get home. One treatment is a Betadine Bath.
· A burn from a motorbike exhaust pipe can be hard to heal in the tropics too. The trick is to get a bandage that has been treated with Vaseline so it doesn’t rip the healing skin off every time you change the bandage.
· A first aid kit could contain Betadine, Lomotil, band aids, mosquito spray, sun tan lotion, Tiger Balm, aspro clear, nail clippers, Berocca, your medications and eye drops. You don't have to go overboard as the pharmacy and convenience stores stock most items. In Asia you don't always need a prescription to get medication over the counter from the pharmacy.
· Massages are a great way to relax and enjoy a break from the heat and enjoy some cooling air-con and a cold drink. A foot massage or Reflexology is great as you get a really comfy chair to sit on. Stick prodding is optional. Be careful if they turn chiropractor on you and want to start cracking necks. They don't really know what they are doing so just stop them. I don't trust their podiatry skills either and have learnt the hard way with several ingrown toenails.
· There is a large range of massage and treatments available including Thai, Swedish, Hilot, Reflexology, Ayurvedic, Hot Stone, Fire Foot, Cupping, Chocolate, Raki, Shiatsu and Deep Tissue as well as some X rated ones like Prostate. They generally leave you with a feeling of wellbeing and are worth trying. Unless it's a professional place it's probably best for women to stick to women masseuses. Less chance of accidental groping happening.
· Hot Springs are another pleasurable way to boost your health. It's hard to beat the feeling of soaking in a hot water pool out in the open with a fantastic view of mother nature. Relaxation at its best. There are numerous rules of etiquette you will need to learn if you are at a public spa.
· If you do get sick a day or two in bed keeping up your fluids is usually enough. If do you need to go to the doctor, dentist or hospital try to get a recommendation from a friend or someone at the hotel. You may need to transfer to a main city if it's serious. Generally, though you'll probably have nothing more than a runny nose or bum to worry about.