Health and Travel

Hi All;
I just got back from a consult visit to the tourist clinic. What my plan is this: I have a visit with the tourist immunization MD, then visit my own MD, discuss what was said and suggested and then go back and have the required innoculations. This procedure took alot of convincing of the administration staff to allow but I think it was well worth it and the Dr. that I worked with really appreciated that I chose to be responsible for the health of my family and myself. I went to a fantastic MD, Dr. Steve Debella in Vernon, he was very informed, kind and supportive in my inquiries. My son had febral sizzures as an infant and had a sort of other sizzure till 5 years of age. It was suggested to us years ago that our son should not have immunization for various reasons, advise of homeopathics and naturopathic medicine and following our intuition. Dr. Steve was great, so now I can go to my fantastic doctor, Dr Warren Bell of Salmon Arm and discuss more yet. It just so happens that they know each other, and have been on various organizations regarding natural medicines, world medicines and green life awareness. So they believe what I believe in, so all is great, except the prices of the vaccines, yikes! We figure for this family of 4: 2 adults and 2 kids, it will roughly be about $400.00 per person. This also includes both hepititis and menigitis shots. (which I have actually seen the result of these diseases and it is very not pretty and therefore for me there is no other option except immunization). The price of health in Canada and travel.
Dr. Steve showed me a map with where were certain diseases are more prevalent, the one that struck the most was yellow fever, residing prolificly in the jungle in specificly the country that we will be visiting, Equador. Yellow fever has a 70 % fatality, so we will definitely immunize for that one. The risk is not worth life.
Dr. Steve gave me quite a bit of time and so I asked several other questions of health and first aid. I asked about scorpion stings and snake bites. Here is roughly what he said, in the Baja he felt with scorpions, you probably would not die, but get very swollen and painful and if you get stung seek Medical assistance. Snake bite, do not do the old slash the bite and suck, but use a light tornque to reduce the spread that happens in the lymph. The lymph tissue is just directly under the skin and doesn't require alot of pressure to reduce spreading, so if you are with a disgruntled snake that expresses itself in an oral sort of way, light tornque and transport to hospital for anti-venom. What the hospital will do is this: they will inject anti-venom all around the bite and one more in your butt for insurance. However, I will be informing myself more on the net regarding first aid and natural treatments as a precaution.
He also discussed new information regarding mosquitos and what shocked me was this, Deet is not a carcinogenic. Shocked, I asked him to repeat that comment and he said that new information states this is so. He is very informed, and also very discriminatory in his own medical choices (I did probe for some personal family info) so I tend to be on his side regarding his information, I think he is very honest. They were selling the Watkins mosquito product and also Ben's mosquito (I have never heard of that one before).
Needless to say it was a very good session and I am glad I am doing it this way, I recommend doing a consult before you get your innoculations but remember to make a follow up visit at the same time to ensure you get your shots in before you go, they are very busy and it is getting harder and harder to get appointments and some shots require follow up shots or boosters. There is also a shot called Dukoral which is for ecoli and cholora and that one has to be reshot every 3-4 months.
He also gave me a great deal of reading material, I think mostly because I was wanting to inform myself regarding travel health. Here he gave info for first aid kits, general eating and drinking habits and awareness, and also how to treat diarhea. He was very happy to give this information and wanted more people to be responsible, as he was concerned people are not as aware as they should be when travelling.
He had great inspiration regarding travelling with animals. He travelled with his family and 2 dogs and one rat, and all had a great adventure. Snaps, to his courage.