We've Been Shot!

This past week, August 25 - 30 has been hectic!

First huge item for Monday was going to the Capital Care Travellers Clinic to find out what shots we needed and what meds. We had already gotten the first 2 shots for Hep A&B, but needed to have the 3rd still, 6 months after the second. That would make the date not quite before we leave, but we were going to fake it!!

Well, once we got to the travellers clinic, any anxiety I had about health problems were NOT dimished by the LOUD TV they had in the waiting room which recyled a tape over and over and over describing every terrible way you can get sick, AND, my favorite, every colorful description possible on "Delhi Belly", "Turkey Trots" and "Montezuma's Revenge" - take your pick!!! Well, its' a topic I know a lot about anyway, so the added facts and color commentary were NOT soothing!!! Imodium, don't fail me now!!

Next we saw a nurse. She proceeded to show us a map of South Africa and started in on what we needed. Compliments on having the first 2 shots for Hep A&B, but said we MUST be AT LEAST 6 months between second and third, and if there is any doubt about that ( there is!), we should leave the third until we return. She said we are covered with the first 2, and taking the 3rd too soon negates having a lifetime immunity!

She told us we also needed a shot for tetanus/diptheria (combined in one shot, and a shot for typhoid - she shot us! Then we would need to take Cipro with us, a prescription antibiotic drug for diarrhea caused by bacteria, and a presription drug for treatment of general bacterial illness like bronchitis/pneumonia. Also some Tylenol 1, because it has some codeine in it - good to stop diarrhea, mosquito repellant with a high percentage of Deet (purchased from them!) - passed on the bed netting they sell - I presume that's what you get in the private game reserve that costs a million $$$$$$ a night, for craps sake!

I had also been having some tooth pain the week before, so our dentist gave me a prescription for some pennicillan just in case, and a miracle cream that zapped the stress canker I had!! On Monday AM, before going to the traveller's clinic in the PM, I had been to my dermatologist for a prescription for cream to put on bites (I react to bites) and, my favorite, a new Epipen (mine was past date)because I will go into anaphylactic shock from wasp bites. This is a gizmo I have to carry at all times and if bitten, either myself, or some kind soul with me, must take the lid off the pen and jab the needle into my thigh for an injection of epinephrine to keep your heart going (and give me a panic attack in the process!). That will be Nurse Denis's job - pray I don't need it!

Then there was the big one - MALARIA! All of the options were outlined, but if you don't want hallucinations and bad side effects, you opt for Malarone - the expensive one. We had heard a rumor that it was $45 a pill, but I think it was actually about $5 a pill. We start on it one day before we go to Zululand, which is just on the border of the malaria area, then we go from there to Kruger National Park, so we keep taking one a day right through the time at Kruger and then for a nother week after leaving - the week we are in Scotland! We were told only 1-3% experience side effects, so I am going with a positive attitude, but often with meds I AM the 1-3% - hope not this time!!

Then the clinic suggests you take any over the counter meds you use here, with you ie: tylenol,zantac,imodium,gravol, gastrolite powder packets for electrolite rehydration in case of diarrhea,etc. YIIIIIIIKES - I have been to the pharmacy at least 5 times!

The problem is that you have to make sure you carry all of this stuff in your carry-on in case your luggage gets lost permanently! I am a very organized person for my travel stuff - I have wonderful clear zip cases from Mtn. Equip. Comp. that I put the meds in - one for prescription, one for over-the-counter and another one for my own stuff I take. Tom has another of his meds.

I must say this has been the most stressful part of getting ready for this trip. The clothes etc. have been easy, but I have found getting and packing all these meds was stressful for me - we will probably never need them, except for the malaria, but smart travellers should always have them.

The nurse at the clinic was very knowledgable and told us everyone who travels anywhere today should have these shots. Hep A&B in particular, every traveller should have tetanus and the others are good. These bugs are everywhere she said, not just in unusual countries. Certainly Mexico travellers and Caribbean travellers should have them, and even the US and central Europe have these things. Tom and I got very sick in Portugal while being incredibly careful how we ate and drank - we came back, and after taking samples to the lab for a month, they found we had picked up - through food - an intestinal parasite that is endemic there - NICE!!

I have been sick all 3 times I have been in the Caribbean (it is waaaay too dirty there for me to go back)including when we stayed in the world famous Atlantis Resort in Nassau - we drank the bottled water they gave us in the hotel, got really sick and when I came back and still had a bottle of their water, the Dr. pointed out that it may be the La De Da Atlantis, but one check of the bottle and there is nothing about it being purified or being spring water - often they are filled out of a tap or hose somewhere - NO MORE CARIBBEAN for me!!!

Same thing for the Virgin Islands - came back sick!

Do you see why I am such a huge Maui fan - just relax, eat the food and drink the water. Never had so much as a stomach ache there - love it!!!!! Tom has qualified for the Manulife Top Performers conference in Puerto Rico in May, so guess we will be medically good to go!!!!!!!

Well, we've covered the illness bases. Tom thinks we may get stopped at the border for running an import drug business (tee hee). I just hate the damn room they take up in my bag!!

Next, on to putting the clothes in the suitcase - they're on the bed, now how much room will they take - OF COURSE I'M NOT TAKING TOO MUCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!