New Places to Visit, New Risks to Consider

Having done most of my travel in places similar to the US, I am a little surprised when the tour office suggests that I check with my doctor about vaccines.  It occurs to me that’s probably a good idea whenever I travel, but I’ve never done it.  Now I learn many hospitals have Travel Clinics that specialize in immunization and care before and after foreign travel.  So I make my appointment.

The doctor in the Travel Clinic suggests I have vaccines for typhoid, hepatitis A and B; she recommends altitude sickness medication and sea-sickness prevention patches.  I’m ok with the vaccines, and I know I need sea-sickness medication.  I’m not okay with the altitude sickness tablets.

“You are going from ground level to an altitude of almost two miles.  If your body doesn’t adjust to lower oxygen of those elevations you can suffer severe headaches, nausea, and even swelling of the brain and lungs.  I’m giving you a prescription for altitude sickness medication.”

Quito, where we will begin our trip, is in the mountains, well over 9,000 feet high.  That’s about 9,000 feet higher than the place I spend most of my time.  And there are places to visit that have even greater altitude.

View from  Pichincha Volcano (altitude about 15,700 feet) in Quito, Ecuador

Ironically the side effects of altitude sickness medication can include headaches, nausea, dizziness, blurred vision, drowsiness.... I make a compromise that I don’t disclose.  I’ll pick up the prescription.  But I’ll rely on the experienced guides to help me cope with the vicissitudes of travel.  And if they and I both feel that maybe I’m not handling the altitude well,  I’ll see what they suggest first. 

I get my vaccines, take my packet of information, and stop at the pharmacy for the prescriptions.  As he hands me the altitude sickness medication, the pharmacist takes me aside and warns me to be very careful about taking it.   I nod.  This will be going to the bottom of the bag.

The next day I go for a walk in sea-level Arlington with a friend.  We don’t even go up any hills and after 20 minutes I am anxiously exhausted.  As we retreat to my porch for a rest, I tell her about my doctor visit.  And she looks at me with wonder and says,  “You had how many vaccines and you wonder why you’re tired?”

Just the beginning of another exciting adventure.

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