divediva

I just got all my shots for my October/November trip.
We are going to Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, borders of Burma and Laos, then onto
Siem Reap, Cambodia for 3 nites before ending with a week in Koh Pgangan and Koh Tao for some scuba diving.
My doctor strongly recommended both Hepatitis
A and Thypoid shots, as well as a polio (its been 4 decades since my first shot and boosters are now recommended) as well as a flu shot.
I felt like a pin cushion and both my arms hurt although i have not had any adverse
reactions. I was suprised that all the shots could be given at once.
In addition, I got my prescription for Maladrone, the anti malarial drug suggested for my travel areas.
Just wanted to let all my fellow travelers know the current recommendations.

emtravel

Divediva,
we are done with second part Hep A and B. Hurt only one day. Did not have any other reaction and my husband did not have it either.
We also got thyphoid. Got Malarone too. Ask your dr for antibiotic Cypro just in case you will get some bacterial infection. When you will be in Chiang Mai/Bkk? We will be first week of October.

divediva

aloha emtravel...
we will be in bkk oct 14, 15, 16, then again on nov 1-3.if you are there when i am, please let me know

emtravel

Divediva,
sorry, we are in Thailand Oct 3-10, will miss you there.
Have a great trip!!

TracyB

I just got my shots for India..We already got the hep A and B several years ago, but got the Typhoid and Dyptheria as they expired...Ouch, sore arm..Also got Malerone and Cypro, so I guess we are all set!!

annmcd

We are travelling in December and my doc recommended a flu shot as well since he said the chances of getting the flu are high after being locked in a large box with 400 people for 20 hours. Made sense to me.

emtravel

we take flu shots anyway in winter, so I agree it would not hurt no matter where you are!
happy travels!

divediva

3 days of discomfort, mainly from the flu shot and we are ready to go...one more month,
what other meds are recommended for 4 week trip????
we are putting together out travel kit.

emtravel

as TracyB said, Malarone, CYpro, also add immodium. Cypro works only for bacterial infection, not virus.

Kathie

Take along any over the counter medications you take from time to time (tylenol, ibuprofen, an antihistimine, a decongestant, etc.) It is wise to have some immodium just in case (and know when and when not to use it), and most travel docs will prescribe an antibiotic and give you instructions as to how and when to use it. As noted above, antibiotics are not effective against viral infections. My travel doc no longer prescribes Cipro to take along as she belives it is so over-prescribed that it's not maximally effective, but my friend's doc does still prescribe it.

susanwr

My arms hurt - as in feeling like I was punched - for a week! No other reaction though.

My husband and I also got shots for meningitis (recommended for India) and tetenus.

Budget Travel magazine says Xifaxan for traveler's diarrhea (TD) is newly approved in the US. Supposed to be safer than prescription Cipro and better than OTC Immodium.

The kicker was that we paid $416 for the shots from the FL Dept of Public Health PLUS we have to pay for malaria pills, which are over $100 for each us us.

All this, and everyone seems to say we'll get TD no matter what we eat.
Sigh.

Kathie

"Everyone" says you'll get TD ? Not if you're careful. I travel regularly to SE Asia (and other places) and I NEVER get it. I do observe water precautions, don't eat from street stalls, wash my hands regularly, etc.

sandi

"Everyone" - I haven't gotten TD anywhere I've traveled, nor have my travel partners (male and female). Kathie is absolutely right - be cautious and drink only bottled water, no street foods and wash hands - especially the last item, regardless where you are, home included!