I love to travel and because of that one of my favourite movies is The Secret Life of Walter Mitty.
Like Water, I didn’t have a lot of opportunity to fulfill my travel and adventure dreams until I was almost in my thirties. Growing up with a single mom like Walter did, meant we didn’t have the money to travel. When I was in my early twenties I was in a series of relationships that put my travel bug on hold. A regret I certainly have…. Tip: Find a mate that you share common passions with – like travel!
When I met my future husband at 25, I found out we shared the travel bug (thank god!). Together we traveled fairly extensively before and after kids. Since leaving the corporate world and starting my own business my life has been much more flexible for traveling as I don’t have a vacation days or policy to slow me down!
Some of our favourite trips together have been:
- Italy
- France
- Belize/Mexico
- Spain
- Switzerland
- Portugal
- New York City
- New Orleans
- Miami
One of the most exciting and adventurous trips I took was in my early thirties to Xcalak, Mexico
We drove 5 hours from Cancun to the Belize border. Crossed 2 military check points and arrived at a beach front villa which we shared with two other couple friends. To prepare for this trip I took malaria pills and hepatitis shots and kept a reactive diarrhea medication in my first aid kit. I didn’t know about Dukoral – an oral vaccine taken to protect from travelers’ diarrhea and/or cholera. I was largely unprotected from a common traveler’s affliction – Traveler’s Diarrhea.
When we arrived at our destination there was no power, only generators and no phones – only a CB radio with party lines to communicate. There was also miles and miles of untapped beaches on the second largest barrier reef in the world. From the plane it looked like you are looking at under-water islands.
Once settled, we mainly did three things: Eat, drink and skin diving.
Each night took us to a local restaurant where there was no menu. Dinner consisted of whatever was available. The food was pretty fresh and tasted amazing. Not surprising though, one day I did come down with diarrhea and my only relief was Imodium and let me tell you…. it wasn’t enough! Why didn’t I know about Dukoral back then? I don’t know! I was super prepared for the trip. I even went to a clinic to get shots!
Lessons learned. I would definitely safe guard my trip now with Dukoral.
So what kind of traveller are you? Prepared? Adventurous? Sporty?
Find out your travel style now with this cool quiz.
By taking this quiz you can win a $1000 Air Canada gift card to get you traveling or a Go Pro Camera. Be sure to SHARE with your friends for extra entries and have a chance to win one of 6 weekly prizes of a $100 Neutrogena Travel Pack.
About Dukoral:
DUKORAL®* is indicated for the prevention of and protection against travellers’ diarrhea and/or cholera in adults and children 2 years of age and older who will be visiting areas where there is a risk of contracting travellers’ diarrhea caused by enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) or cholera caused by V. cholerae. Protection against diarrhea caused by ETEC starts about one week after the 2nd dose and lasts for about 3 months. Protection against cholera starts about one week after the 2nd dose and last for about 2 years for patients over 6 years of age. A booster dose is required beyond 3 months for travellers’ diarrhea and 6 months (patients 2 to 6 years of age) or 2 years (patients over 6 years of age) for cholera.
To help you remember when to take your dose, you can download a free app for your smartphone here. This app will program the dates for each dose into your smartphone, so you can check one more item off of your to-do list.
Where to get Dukoral?
Vaccines411.ca is a useful website which may help you find a location that offers DUKORAL®. Other locations may be offering this vaccine. Talk to your doctor or healthcare professional, including your pharmacist.
Talk to your doctor or healthcare professional, including your pharmacist, today to find out how to help protect yourself against travellers’ diarrhea and if DUKORAL® is right for you.
You do not need a prescription for DUKORAL® for protection against travellers’ diarrhea, unless you are a Quebec resident. In Canada, if you are taking DUKORAL® for protection against cholera, the vaccine does require a prescription. DUKORAL® is available at your pharmacy, doctor’s office or travel clinic. The DUKORAL® vaccine must be stored in a refrigerator at 2° to 8°C.
For protection against travellers’ diarrhea, a primary immunization requires 2 doses taken orally at least 1 week (up to 6 weeks) apart, with the last dose taken at least 1 week before travel. Full dosing information is available: http://www.dukoralcanada.com/taking-dukoral
Did you Know?
Over half of travellers’ who visit high-risk destinations like Mexico, the Caribbean and Africa will be affected by travellers’ diarrhea caused by Enterotoxigenic E. Coli (ETEC). However a recent survey has revealed that four out of five (79 per cent) Canadians are not as travel savvy as they should be about the potential causes, symptoms and risks of an ETEC infection. Bacterial enteropathogens, such as ETEC, are thought to cause approximately 80 per cent of cases of travellers’ diarrhea, which is characterized by a sudden onset of symptoms including fever, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain and diarrhea.