Thorn Tree travel forum

Messages: 15,440 - Threads: 2,263

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posted
01-May-2003 19:42
by: romanb »

last reply
29-Nov-2009 12:47
by: globe_totting »

52 replies , 37,034 views

Pages 1 2 3 4

Health info to get you started

A huge thanks goes to nutraxfornerves for compiling and updating this list of medical info and links


Disclaimer
The Health Branch is provided "as is". Lonely Planet does not verify or endorse any information on the Health Branch, and we are not responsible for any loss or inconvenience suffered in connection with use of the Thorn Tree or its content. Be very careful before relying on anything said on the Health Branch. Exercise common sense, make your own inquiries and get expert advice. After all, the only source of our medical knowledge is Dr Kildare reruns, and postings may not be from medical professionals.
*Commercial advertising is prohibited. This includes offering to sell or give away any drugs, whether or not a prescripti... more »

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posted
27-Apr-2009 03:57
by: nutraxfornerves »

last reply
08-Dec-2009 06:33
by: fahad89k »

171 replies , 32,102 views

Pages 1 2 3 4 ... 12

Swine flu

US CDC now has a page on Swine Influenza (Flu), including current Health Advisories.Recommendations will help travelers reduce risk of infection and stay healthy.

This is a thread for discussing the current outbreak of swine influenza. Travelers and locals are invited to post updates and other relevant information

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posted
14-Dec-2009 14:18
by: christophinoz »

last reply
15-Dec-2009 03:20
by: nutraxfornerves »

2 replies , 67 views

Keeping eye drops cool in Asia

Hello

I need to take 2 x 25ml bottles of eye drops with me whilst backpacking through Asia which should be kept below 25C (and the closer to fridge temp the better as it's very soothing at this level).

Short of lugging a fridge around, any ideas on suitable cooling/refrigeration methods would be gratefully received.

Ta
Christoph

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posted
12-Dec-2009 08:43
by: rorygemwriter »

last reply
16-Dec-2009 09:31
by: rorygemwriter »

6 replies , 126 views

Hernia aftermath

It's two weeks since my hernia op and I am beginning to feel better. I have my notes and the op was very simple with a 3cm hernia and only fat in the lump. The hospital does not want me back for a CT scan but just a follow up check in January.

So if anyone can help me over:

How soon can I have a bath and a soak without damaging the wound?

Can I do anything about the sensitivity in my lower abdomen? It is painful and irritating to wear trousers and I don't have a dress.

In terms of travel the consultant says there is a 5% chance of recurrance in general and this is very general because there are all sorts of hernia and other variables. What I did not ask is if it recurrs what is the chance of strangualtion which is the important thing I wish to avoid as I hope to be well away from any medical help next year?

In terms of insurance obviously I will declare it but does anyo... more »

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posted
11-Dec-2009 08:30
by: bluejay10 »

last reply
12-Dec-2009 13:46
by: wildbill34 »

3 replies , 100 views

Storing Malarone?

Hi everyone,

I've got my Malarone for my trip to Ghana/Burkina Faso and I leave January 6. The drug information packet says it needs to be stored at 77F, and no lower than 59F (this seems oddly warm).

My problem is that I'm in the Northeastern US and the heat in my apartment is out- it's well below 59F. The travel medicine doctor is on vacation until December 27. Could the Malarone become ineffective if I keep it in my cold apartment until I leave?

I apologize if this is a stupid question. I've never taken an antimalarial before, and I really don't want to be the only person on my trip to get malaria. Thanks for any advice you can offer!

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posted
10-Dec-2009 15:30
by: mimmik »

last reply
12-Dec-2009 07:31
by: Cassiecat »

4 replies , 113 views

Decent, affordable health insurance on return to US?

After many years overseas (yaaay), I've just moved back to the US (hmmmm...) and need to get health insurance (boooo...). I'd love some tips and suggestions from anyone who's been in a similar situation or knows more about the system than I do - I'm a bit boggled by all the info and choices online now.

I'll be working part-time (probably as self-employed, so no insurance through work) and will also be going back to college (part-time and then full-time I hope). Any suggestions for decent health insurance that won't cost me an arm, a leg and a kidney? It'd be great to have some wellness/preventative options (annual exams, girly check-ups, screenings, etc) instead of just emergency stuff, but I may be asking for too much...And I'm sure that dental would be waaay too much to ask for , but why not try anyway? :)

Thanks for any ideas, will also post on the US and Long Haul branches... more »

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posted
09-Dec-2009 23:47
by: chickbabes »

last reply
16-Dec-2009 18:19
by: naturalchemist »

13 replies , 1,171 views

Round the World Trip Vaccinations etc

Hello All,

Me and my boyfriend are going travelling from Feb 7th. We have a round the world ticket and will be covering india, nepal, thailand, laos, cambodia, singapore, australia, NZ, chile, argentina, bolivia, peru, ecuador and brazil.

We have had our boosters for thyphoid, polio, tetnus, diphteria & hep A. We are getting our yellow fever and we will be getting anti-malarials, although we are struggling on which ones to take. The travel clinic recommended doxycilin but my doctors said not to take that one as it is the weakest. I have had a read up on them and I was thinking proguanil sounded ok but I am hoping someone who has taken antimalarials can offer some advice. Why are there so many?

We have also been recommended to get rabies, jap b, hep b, cholera and meningitis acwy (specifically for doing the everest base camp trip. Do you think these are all needed? I would... more »

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posted
09-Dec-2009 21:52
by: laura1701 »

last reply
10-Dec-2009 20:12
by: laura1701 »

3 replies , 125 views

Fitness on the road

Hi, just wondering if anyone has any good tips for keeping fit while on the road? I'm travelling through Asia and Europe for most of next year, and would appreciate some tips of good exercises etc for a fit person wanting to keep up their health and fitness.

Thanks

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posted
09-Dec-2009 19:39
by: summerose12 »

last reply
12-Dec-2009 16:36
by: stephens9042 »

6 replies , 157 views

Psoriasis

Hello...can anybody help me? i have a psoriasis and it's all over my back...i'm looking for some cure for this cause it's making me uncomfortable and it's so itchy. thanks for the help.

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posted
05-Dec-2009 04:50
by: Josephtenzin »

last reply
09-Dec-2009 15:14
by: vistet »

2 replies , 185 views

diamox and hypertension

Does anyone know if individuals taking medication for hypertension can take daimox to conteract the effects of high altitude?

Thank you,

Josephtenzin

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posted
04-Dec-2009 13:56
by: alpineflower »

last reply
04-Dec-2009 23:58
by: qwovadis »

1 replies , 201 views

travelling with bipolar disorder

Hi,

My husband was diagnosed with bipolar disorder earlier this year. We've been together for about 8 years and have always enjoyed travelling together, and have travelled and worked in several countries over the years, including the developing world. It's something we'd hoped to do again at some point, but now we're not sure how it would work as travel insurance seems to be a big issue. Is there anyone out there who has been able to get travel insurance with bipolar disorder? We're based in NZ, so if anyone knows any insurance providers in NZ who might provide insurance, that would be even better. Thanks very much.

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posted
02-Dec-2009 19:38
by: libbyh »

last reply
04-Dec-2009 19:45
by: colleenj »

2 replies , 226 views

Heart

OK, I know the answer to this post is the bleeding obvious "go see your doctor", but humour me for a minute.

What kind of heart condition would NOT show up in a stress/echoECG test? I've had one of those and the only thing they found was a slight fibrillation, which the specialist didn't seem to think was important. However, I am getting odd symptoms (no crushing pain or breathlessness, just hard-to-describe feelings of discomfort and slight nausea). Anything to worry about, or is it likely to be caused by the fibrillation? Yes, yes, I'm going to the doctor soon.

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posted
02-Dec-2009 11:50
by: TravelbugUSA »

last reply
02-Dec-2009 22:19
by: qwovadis »

1 replies , 241 views

Warm face but cold nose!

Right now I am sitting in front of a radiator, sitting on a heating pad and bundled up in layers of clothing.
My face is so hot that my cheeks and forehead look like I am sun burned, yet my nose is still super cold.
I guess maybe I have a circulation problem in my face? I know my nose is the farthest thing out from my face,
but the temperature difference seems a little extreme. My ears almost never get cold, even uncovered with my
hair completely pulled back. My nose is the first thing to get cold, then my feet, then my hands. I can't blame this on
a cold or flu, because it has been happening for at least a few years. No one else in my family has this issue, and my
nose isn't any larger than anyone else's!

I looked for answers on Web MD. The closest thing I could find was Reynauds, but my fingers do not appear to change color.

If this is a circulation problem, is... more »

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posted
01-Dec-2009 10:34
by: whatwouldthedud... »

last reply
09-Dec-2009 17:32
by: sneaker_fish »

17 replies , 604 views

Pages 1 2

Developing psychosis while traveling and smoking pot?

Hey,

i'd like to ask, have any of you ever met or heard of somebody developing psychosis because of smoking pot during their travels? The trigger is supposed to be the combination of thc together with the overwhelming experience.

I really don't want to go into the whole dispute about pot causing everything including your legs falling off, only that my housemate's psychiatrist sent me a message saying he keeps attending cases of people who got shipped back home from countries like India because they turned all crazy over there after doing whatever it is people do there. So I'd like to know whether also somebody else has heard or seen a case like that.

Thank you for all your insights.

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posted
30-Nov-2009 06:28
by: mathilda »

last reply
30-Nov-2009 08:34
by: qwovadis »

1 replies , 285 views

dark circles around the eyes

except for the obviosu, simplistic answer "lack of sleep" is there a more elaborate one to the question "what causes dark rings around the eyes"? i wonder cos i know a girl who has the vilest, red-cloggy rings under her eyes.

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posted
28-Nov-2009 21:58
by: gibletdinner »

last reply
16-Dec-2009 18:24
by: naturalchemist »

4 replies , 331 views

Bites

I've been traveling for the last 6 weeks and have been getting a ton of bites that I'm not sure if I should be worried about.

The worst incident was in Fukuoka, Japan, when I woke up with around 40 bites. Most were clumped together on my arms and lower back so I assume it was bedbugs.

Second incident was in Busan, Korea when I had about 8 bites, all close to each other and on part of my arm that was covered (except when I was sleeping). Probably also bedbugs, right?

Now I am in Beijing, China and have 5 bites on my hands. I am guessing these are mosquito bites because my hands are the only thing that have been uncovered. Are mosquito bites something I should be worried about?

I don't know how to prevent any of this. I am wearing long sleeves and pants during the day, and at hostels I am checking the sheets and mattress before I sleep. I don't know what else I can do. Any ... more »

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posted
28-Nov-2009 09:01
by: Georgia »

last reply
28-Nov-2009 23:03
by: qwovadis »

2 replies , 295 views

Bringing medication into Australia

Hi,
I'm totally confused by the Australian govt website's information on what medication can be brought into the country, and what individual travellers have to do to bring controlled or banned medication in, so if anyone has information, I'd be grateful, as I have to come over from the UK for work for 3 months.

1. My UK doctor prescribes co-proxamol for pain relief for when nothing else works. I believe it's related to codeine, which seems to be banned

2. I take seretide asthma medication - it contains steroids and I'm not sure if they're allowed.

3. The only antibiotic that gets rid of my chest infections is Moxifloxacin but it's banned to bring any antibiotics into Oz. Is it prescribed in Oz?

For the above the Govt website it confusing over whether I need to apply for an import permit or whether just a prescription from my doc is enough

many thanks
cheers
G more »

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