An Ounce of Prevention...

As the time seems to draaag on to receive our travel notice (in this last step of an indeterminate paper pregnancy process), I am ready to stop the nesting and preparing and just have a baby! :)

In my past, I have had the opportunity to be a Brownie Scout, Junior Girl Scout, Cadette and even a Girl Scout Leader. The Scout motto, “Be Prepared” is perhaps one of the most important quests forever present in my thinking processes. Well, I try anyway...

After learning of rains in Hanoi and the concern about the potential disease outbreaks that could follow these intense floods, I researched more with the WHO and CDC websites on specific preventative medications that we might need before the trip.

My sister Cindy has been diligent about her preparation vaccines, medications and visits to an Infectious Disease specialist. Jordan and I have had our primary care physician appointments. I had a preparatory meeting with our international adoption pediatrician to prepare for issues and discuss medications baby Brian might need while in country.

When we went to China to bring Jordan home, she was very ill. She had an upper respiratory infection that required different medications and 3 times a day breathing treatments. We were glad that our hotel in Guangzhou, China had an in-house medical clinic. Boy, was that a stressful time! I felt woefully inadequate in my early caring for her with these illnesses. BTDT. I want to make sure we are prepared for this trip! Did I say that already?

We have all already completed our Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B series of vaccinations. We have had our tetanus, flu shots, polio vaccines, rabies, measles, mumps, and rubella. Jordan got her varicella (chicken pox) vaccine (my mom assures me I had chicken pox everywhere).

We have packed our regular medications and other recommended preventatives. This list includes: Psyllium, Allergy meds, Elimite (for scabies – we were told most of the babies have scabies so we’ll all be treated for it in country), Ibuprofen, Prilosec, Immodium, Pepto-Bismal, Dramamine, Hydrocortizone cream, anti-bacterial cream, bug spray with at least 30% DEET, sunscreen, A&D ointment, Babylax glycerin suppositories, Baby Tylenol, Baby Oragel. I’ve packed my Epi-pen in case of bee stings. To be extra safe I packed Tamiflu and a Z-Pak in case of the flu or bacterial infections in country.

Yesterday, I had a consultation visit with the Passport Health office (they were great!), and learned even more. (When is enough- enough though?)

Post-flooding, the rains and risk of malaria (skeeter-borne) are greater. Although malaria pre-treatment is optional for Viet Nam, I decided that we should get the medication. Jordan’s dosage is a weekly medication called Lariam, and mine is daily for a week called Malarone.

Although typhoid is another optional vaccine, it is prevalent where food or water is contaminated. Again, the flooding presents additional concerns, so Jordan and I both got Typhoid vaccinations yesterday.

I got scopolamine patches for motion-sickness in addition to the Dramamine I had packed.

The possibility of dengue fever (pronounced, “ˈdeŋ- gā”) transmitted from the daytime Aedes Aegypti mosquito and cholera from contaminated food or water is higher post-flooding. Although there is no vaccine for dengue, the symptoms are headache, joint pain and rash. Since we can’t be pre-treated for this, we have to just be alert for any symptoms.

I was given a prescription for Cipro for traveler’s diarrhea (and used to treat cholera) and will follow the prescribed course of Immodium for first 8 hours, Cipro immediately following (if no change), and medical clinic if fever is present.

I’ve learned that there is no U.S. vaccine available for cholera. Cholera is a food and water borne bacteria that causes extreme diarrhea and if not treated, can lead to death within hours. Although antibiotics (like Cipro) may shorten the course of its duration, the immediate treatment is rehydration.

Melatonin (OTC) for jet lag was recommended. I got some Monistat – in case I have to take and have a reaction to any of the other antibiotics.

So, I think short of a plastic bubble, we have had what we need, we will take preventatives for what might be possible, and we will stay in touch with our physicians via internet. Should any of our traveling galactic medical prescriptions be needed, I will follow a professional’s recommendation for diagnosing and dispensing.

For goodness sakes, we are ready to go already!