Why You Should Visit Your Doctor Before You Travel
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The last thing you want to worry about when you set sail is your health and the health of everyone on board. Encountering a medical situation while at sea or in a remote location can be scary and any destination you travel to is going to have its unique health risks and potential infections that your body and immune system are just not equipped to handle. Visiting your regular doctor at home before you leave can help mitigate some of that risk. I’ve compiled a list of reasons why a doctor’s appointment should be on everyone’s checklist before you sail away.
1. Your doctor can help you get an overall sense of your current health
There are many factors that can affect your health as a traveler. Having a visit with your physician can lay bare some truths about your expectations on what you would like to do while you are away. If you don’t have a primary care doctor or just haven’t been in for a checkup in a while, now is a good time to make that effort. Your age and overall health will be a big determinant in what activities you will feel comfortable doing and which ones you may want to leave for someone else to enjoy. Your doctor will have knowledge of your medical history and any health conditions you currently have, so make sure you share your ideas of some activities with them. This can help you decide what kinds of things you will feel comfortable participating in. Your doctor will also examine you to determine if you have any health conditions that you were unaware of and that may need monitoring or treatment. It’s better to know before you go than to find out when you’re far away from home and a doctor you trust.
You should bring up any and all health concerns to your doctor during this visit. Don’t feel embarrassed about anything. They have heard it all! You are certainly not the first nor will you be the last to bring up a sensitive topic. Make sure you mention any special health needs too: if you are pregnant or trying to conceive, any allergies to food you may have, and sexual health just to name a few.
2. Vaccines
Travel and routine vaccinations are going to be one of the most important things your doctor will talk to you about. Your doctor should have a record of your vaccine history and can update you on any that you may be due for. Routine vaccinations keep you healthy and safe from diseases that may not be of concern in the U.S. but are still very common in other parts of the world. Travel vaccine recommendations will also be made based on where you plan to go. Some countries even have vaccine requirements that you must comply with in order to even step foot in their country. The CDC has a full list of vaccine recommendations based on your destinations. It’s a good idea to check out the site first before heading to your appointment so you’ll know what to expect. Your physician may administer some for you or send you in the direction of your local pharmacy or a travel clinic which specializes in travel vaccines.
When you make your appointment keep in mind the timing for when you are planning to leave. You should schedule your visit at least 4-6 weeks prior to departure. Vaccines take time to work and your body needs time to produce those antibodies. Visiting your doctor too close to when you are departing could leave you vulnerable to disease because any vaccines given have not had enough time to give you full protection.
3. Having enough of your medications while away
If you are on a prescription medication, you know that you usually receive only 1 month or 3 months at a time. You’ll have to talk to your doctor about how long you will be traveling so they can ensure that you will have plenty to last you for the duration of your trip and then some. It’s always a good idea to carry a little extra just in case of delays which we all know happen pretty frequently when traveling by boat. You will also have to talk to your insurance company as well as your pharmacy to coordinate getting enough of all your prescriptions. Read this article for a more in depth conversation on how to accomplish this. Unfortunately, some insurance companies will not budge on their quantity dispensing rules so you may have to pay out of pocket for some of your meds. If that is the case, search the internet for manufacturer coupons if you’re taking a brand medication or try a site like GoodRx.com for discounts on generics.
You want to try your best to avoid buying prescription medications in a foreign country. Yes, getting a prescription in another country can be done but it will take some research and a little bit of leg work on your part. You may have to see a doctor licensed in that country first (this is the case in the states) before you can fill a prescription. There may be language barriers to work through too and confusion and misunderstandings when it comes to medical care can be costly. Counterfeit medications can be a problem as well as name discrepancies. What one medication is called in the US may be called something different in another country. To save yourself a lot of time and energy, it’s usually best to leave home with all you may need than to try to get it along the way.
4. Preventative medications
Your doctor can also prescribe or recommend some medications to take with you just in case something pops up. Things like having Dramamine on hand in case of seasickness or antibiotics for an infection may be warranted. It’s so much easier (and comforting) to know you have options on board with you when you are not feeling well instead of trying to navigate through a foreign medical system. Your doctor can lay out clear instructions for you on when and how to use certain medications so you won’t feel overwhelmed when a situation presents itself.
See how important visiting your doctor before you set sail can be? They can give you lots and lots of information so don’t be afraid to write it all down. It can be easy to forget something your doctor said months ago. I know preparing to leave can feel overwhelming and the to-do list may seem never-ending but make sure you make your health a priority. You’ve worked hard to make this dream of sailing away a reality. Visiting your doctor is just one step towards making it happen!
Sail healthy and stay well!