Rolo on Tour

One of the things you have to think about before starting a trip like I do is the question, what medicaments you need to bring. As I had absolutely no experience in travelling I was  looking for advice in the internet and in books and I ended up getting nearly everything I saw recommended. So my medical reservoir looks now like this:

How can I help you?

What I did not think about was the fact, that the people giving these advices may want to be more on the safe side. Also, unless you are spending let’s say 4 weeks in the jungle or in the Himalaya, you will usually be in civilized areas, where you can hardly avoid running into pharmacies. So, if you need something, you can normally just go to the pharmacy and buy it. Also in some countries you can buy the medication per pill, so if you need like let´s say only 2 pills of something, you don´t need to buy the whole package of maybe 20 pills like in Germany.
Concluding you should just take those things with you, that would really improve your well-being that much, when let’s say the next doctor or pharmacy is 1 or 2 days away.
Sorting the stuff I got with me by importance, I arrive at the following recommendations:

1. Imodium: In my opinion the most important thing to bring. Travelling in some not so developed countries at some point you will get food poisoning. And then you don’t want to spend all day on the toilet (especially if you are on a bus ride or hiking in the middle of nowhere), which this will keep you from doing. A must-bring!
2. Ear plugs: Ok they do not quite fit in the category, but I will mention them anyway :-). Sleeping in dorms, you will encounter snorers and in order to get some sleep you will absolutely need earplugs.
3. Wound desinfectant: I do not know how I ended up accidentally bringing two of those bottles. I have used it only once I think, but I guess it’s a good thing to have around.
4. Plasters: They weigh nothing and are absolutely helpful, so take them.
5. Malarone Malaria stand-by medication: Travelling through areas with possible risk of getting Malaria you have to think about how to fight that. One way is taking pills in advance. As there are some severe side effects I decided for the second way consisting in taking some pills with me, which are only to be used in case I get some of the symptoms associated with Malaria and there is no doctor nearby. Good thing my health insurance even paid for those! Anyway, which precautions to be taken for Malaria should be discussed with your doctor in advance.
6. Electrolyte drink: Although it tastes like vomit, this is a helpful thing in case you got diarrhea. Brought a little bit too many of them, though.
7. Paracetamol: Against fever or pain and a thing to bring, I guess. But 20 pills seems too much to me.
8. Fenistil: Helps treating sunburn and easing the itch you get from mosquito bites. I’m glad I have it with me.
9. Hametum topical: Helps healing some minor wounds.
10. Tape: Can be useful in lots of ways.
11. ACC Akut: Dissolve those and drink it in case you got cough. It also really tastes good 🙂
12. Lemocin: Against a sore throat and also really tasty.
13. I don’t know the english word, but it’s something to put on wounds. As it does hardly add any weight, take it.
14. Sagrotan Hand antiseptic: No weight and maybe there might me a situation where you are glad to have them. I have not been in that situation so far though. Also in case my hands are that dirty and I want to use the antiseptic I would need to search my bagpack before with those hands, which may not be the best idea anyway..
15. Some bag to put all those stuff in.
16. A list describing the content of the bag and explanations about when to use what thing in 3 languages. As I brought some stuff I had no idea what it was for I needed to remind myself in case I lost the package insert.
17. Ear drops: Buy them in case you need them (or if you go diving a lot maybe), but don’t bring them in advance, as you will probably not need them. As well, in case you do and there is no pharmacy it will not get that bad.
18. Eye drops: No sense in bringing them in my opinion, unless you often have problems with your eyes.
19. Anti-allergy pills: Dito, unless you often have problems with allergies.
20. Cream against fungal skin disorder: I read that I should bring it and that’s why I did. But again applying the same reasoning I don’t see the necessity.
21. Pills against sea sickness: Unless you start your trip with a 4-week-ferry ride, you don´t want to bring them in advance but rather think about purchasing them before you get on a boat. I bought mine before going on the ship to Puerto Natales. They also can help you sleep 😉
22. Pills against altitude sickness: You are flying from sea level into La Paz? Ok, buy them in advance. If not, think about when it really could be necessary. For example I bought mine before climbing up to 6000 metres.

Concluding, I think that Numbers 1-7 and 15 are necessary, Numbers 8-14 and 16 are helpful and the other ones are superfluous. So if I went again on a trip like this, I would bring that stuff:

My recommendation

Of course what you should as well do is consult some doctor with knowledge in that area about the question which vaccinations you need. And you should do that in time (let’s say 6 months before takeoff), as some of those need several shots. For example I got vaccinations against yellow fever, typhoid fever, Hepatitis and rabies.

Also think about additional health insurance, as normally your regular health insurance will not cover any costs abroad. Sure you can take all these meds with you, but if really something severe happens, they will not help you and in that case I am sure you don’t want to take the costs!

And finally I am not a doctor, so don’t nail me on anything I said. If you are one and see some flaws in my writing please correct me!

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