Getting sick abroad

Getting sick is bad, but getting sick while you're abroad is worse.  Without the comforts of your own home, familiar doctors, or medical care you can trust, getting sick while in a foreign country can be a scary situation.

A number of incidents pass through my mind as I type this.  Vomiting in a bag on a bus in Phnom Penh surrounded by people but being too sick to care, being attended to by random Thai boat man on board a longtail boat after stepping on a sea urchin in Koh Phi Phi, being the sickest I've ever been in my life in Singapore and trying not to throw up in the passport line to get into Malaysia, almost passing out on the streets of Hoi An after being violently ill all night, that time we thought John had malaria in Laos, having the infamous "Delhi Belly" in India, going to the hospital with Greg's brother in the Czech Republic after he broke his leg, John going to the hospital in Borneo to get pus drained out of his arm after a wound became infected...

Over our last holiday to Cambodia and Thailand, we were all sick with a stomach bug and Roger ended up needing to go to the hospital in Phuket.  Luckily he ended up being ok, but it was scary to be in a foreign land with no idea where to turn.  Fortunately, the medical care that he received there was excellent and probably better than a lot of hospitals in Canada. 

Based on my experience, I can offer the following tips if you find yourself sick overseas:

1.  Take action right away
-  Don't wait until it gets worse!  Seek out a pharmacy or hospital, pop some pills, drink some purified water, sleep it off.  If you don't deal with it right away you may find yourself in far worse condition.

2.  Carry medicine with you
-  Visit a travel clinic before you go abroad to get medicine for illnesses that you may encounter on your trip.  Carrying medicine you can buy over the counter like Tylenol or Gravol is a good idea as it can help you start to feel better sooner.  Gravol can help prevent motion sickness also.

3.  Get health insurance before your trip
-  We are eligible to receive health insurance while overseas, and it has come in handy before.  John got reimbursed for medical care he received in Malaysia and Vietnam after our Borneo trip.  Our friend Will got injured playing baseball in Vietnam and required knee surgery - luckily covered by insurance.  Health insurance will give you peace of mind and save you money!

4.  Don't be afraid to ask for help
-  If you don't know where to turn, ask someone.  A local can point you in the direction of a hospital.  Trust that pharmacist on the side of the road in Nepal - they may give you magical pills that can take your stomach cramps away.  No ambulance available in Phuket?  Ask a driver to take you to the nearest hospital in his tuk tuk.  Tell your fellow travel companions that you're sick and need them to help you get something to drink or find a place to rest.  Don't be afraid to ask for help if you need it!