CF, Traveling to a 3rd World Country (Dominican Republic)

[anonymous]

Hi my name is haley, i'm 18 with CF and CFRD and will be traveling in two weeks to the Dominican Republic

I was wondering if anyone on the board had traveled there or to a similar place and if you have any tips, basically concerning Cf and staying healthy.

I'm going to a travel clinic next week, and will probably be getting a tetanus and hep A vaccine, which I i'm not worried about. The thought of prophilactic malaria medication was brought up, but I'm not sure I'd want to take more medication than I already do. Has anyone else run into this situation?


Anyways, If anybody has any thoughts, comments, tips, they'd be greatly appreciated.

 

[Mockingbird]

Take the Malaria medication. Trust me, you don't want to be catching anything. Do you mind if I ask why you are going? i'm just curious. I went to China a few years back; not just to the cities, but a lot of the remote areas as well. I'm very glad I went, it was an amazing experience.

The only other advice i can give is watch what you eat. I got pretty sick quite a few times in China. It's unpleasant enough having to go to the bathroom into a concrete hole in the ground that hadn't been cleaned for God knows how long, Far more unpleasant to do that 20 times a day.

Take care. =-)

Jarod
22 w/cf

 

[anonymous]

Jarrod,
Thanks for your response!! I'm simply going on a well deserved vacation, staying at a house that's right on the ocean! And yes, it seems as though I should probably air on the side of safety and take the malaria drugs. Like you mentioned, I've been instructed to only drink bottled water and other bottled beverages, and to watch what I eat.

When you went to China, actually going to and from, did they give you any trouble about the medicines/nebs/etc you had with you?
I've had a letter prepared by my doctor, stating that I have CF and need to carry such and such with me...but you never know!!!

Thanks,
Haley

 

[anonymous]

Haley: I have travelled many times out of the contry and I carry a letter stating I have CF and the drugs and compresor, nebulizer and flutter are items I carry becaue of the CF. I have NEVER had to show the letter and I have been traveling out of the USA for the last 11+ years. BUT, do carry the letter and carry all your meds and nebs etc. on your carry on, do not pack it in the suitcase.

Have a blast!

Jennifer
33yrs old with CF

 

[Mockingbird]

Yeah, i never had a problem. =-) Of course, I had everything carry-on, so it was easier for me to get out without being checked.

Another thing I thought of is watch your money and you passport! Do you have one of those belt-wallets, or whatever they're called? Be sure to get something you can hide stuff like that in, because it is absolutely necessary. I had a friend who went... um, somewhere in Africa, I think, and she'd be on the bus (which was packed with people so you couldn't even turn around) and she would feel people searcing for her money and passport. I had a couple incidents, too, but nothing like that. Anyway, people can be very very crafty when it comes to stealing money. =-)

Also, I don't know how it is in the Dominican Republic, but I was told never to give money to beggars, especially children beggars. It sounds harsh, I know, but there are people who will kidnap children and use them to beg in the streets. The children never get the money they beg for, it all goes to the scum-bag kidnapper. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-mad.gif" border="0">

Jarod
22 w/cf

 

[anonymous]

Hi Haley!

My name is Amy I am 31 w/CF. I just returned from the Domincan Republic and this was my second time going. I had a blast!!!I went December 2003 and went March 6 2005- March 13, 2005. I didn't gey anti-malarial medication or any vaccines prior to going. The bugs were not an issue. The only time there would be an issue is if you did the safari excursion which is surrounded by forest and standing water which anywhere would have bugs (mosquitos). I did not get sick from the food. My only suggestion to you is don't drink the water out of the tap in your room. I t's ok to shower. I brushed my teeth with bottled water which the resort provides. I stayed at an all inclusive, the Iberostar Bavaro in Punta Cana. It's very clean and they offer a wide variety of food.
My doctor didn't suggest vaccines or anti-malarial meds. Again this is my expereince, so consult your doctor and do what's best for you. Any questions feel free to ask.

Amy 31w/cf

 

[jaime]

Hi Haley,
I have been to the Dominican Republic twice. The first time a few years ago I went to the jungle part of the country and lived in a house in the mountains for a week with a friend of mine who was temporarily living there. It was absolutely beautiful! What an amazing country and a great adventure. I didnt take any medication or vaccinations before the trip. The only thing, as was already mentioned, is DO NOT DRINK THE WATER. My friend who was living there for a year got an intestinal ameba and it was terrible- she lost tons of weight and stuff- definately something you dont want as a CFer. The second time I went was to a resort in Punta Cana. The resort was totally American and there was nothing to worry about there.
As far as meds go, I have been out of the country on numerous occasions and have never run into any problems with meds or treatments. But its always good to have that Dr note just in case.
Anyways, have a blast....Im sure being on the beach for a while will be wonderful!!
What part are you going to?

 

[NoDayButToday]

My friend without CF recently went to the Dominican Republic and had to take malaria pills for a time before and after going. Since she has a 'healthy' body compared to us and was still required to take them, you probably still will want to

 

[anonymous]

Hi,
I have been to Africa, Indonesia, Maledives,Sri Lanka and also the Dominican Republik several times and I got diarroe only once, although I eat fresh fruit(or drink freshly squeezed fruit juice, coke with icecubes), salads not only in the hotel restaurants, but also "on the street". I take oral antibiotics every day and I think, this is a good protection for most bacteria in food/drinks. My boyfriend gets diarroe nearly every time for some days... I just don´t drink water from the bathroom, and don´t use it for teeth-brushing either.

I am of course vaccinated against polio,tetanus, hepatitis A, diphterie and also Thypus and yellow fever(Africa) and also took Lariam against Malaria some times.Luckily I did never have any difficulties with the vaccination and do also have no problems with Lariam (many people get problems like depression while taking it).You should ask a special doctor for "tropical medicine", if you do really need something against Malaria, because sometimes there is no risk when you stay in a beach-hotel, not going to certain areas in a country.
The Dominican Republik is a beautiful island, I did whale watching at Samana, went to the waterfall of El Limon by jeep and horse, did a horseback-riding-tour with swimming in a creek and so on.
If you are also taking antibiotics all the time, be careful, that you don´t get an allergy against the sun, some of them can cause that.
Of course a nice vacation always depends on how your health is at that time. If you feel good and breath easily, go ahead. If you don´t get enough oxygen by breathing, can hardly walk and your lungs are really "full" of mucus, better stay at home.
If you have cfrd as well, make shure, you will have a refrigerator in your hotel room, have enough insulin and everything with you and -of course- carry all important medication in your hand-luggage!Do also test your blood sugar more often, because the hot weather, new food and being more active can change your normal levels.

Have fun

Uli, 42, Germany,cf/cfrd