My Health Ordeal in Malaysia

Our journey began with two long-haul flights from the UK to Malaysia via Doha. Each leg was about eight hours. On the second flight, my husband Papi and I were seated in the middle aisle. Unluckily for me, I sat beside a discreet young man, who appeared to be making sure not to attract attention to himself. With partial deafness in my right ear, I didn’t realise he was delicately sneezing, coughing and sniffling throughout the flight until six hours after we departed and I had already napped with my face turned directly toward him.

By the time Papi informed me that the young man was presenting symptoms, it was too late. However, I threw my sleep mask over my mouth and nose as a makeshift face covering and prayed that I didn’t contract any symptoms. But deep down, I knew, something had already taken hold.

The man didn’t wear a mask, he didn’t take any medications from what I could observe and he appeared to make no effort to reduce his symptoms (I was using my Sherlock Holmes sensibilities to perform some serious detective work at this point). He just sat in his seat undisturbed, not drawing attention to himself. If Papi hadn’t of told me he presented symptoms, I would have been none the wiser. The nurse in me tried to see it from his point of view. Maybe he feared he wouldn’t be able to fly if the flight attendants found out he was ill or they did not want to create a commotion in front of the other passengers if they were forced to leave the plane. But I also couldn’t help but feel frustrated. His lack of consideration was about to ruin my entire trip.

THE ILLNESS TAKES HOLD

A few days later, I developed a sore throat. It wasn’t severe, just a scratch that lingered suspiciously around my Adam’s apple. It felt like something was waiting, biding its time like a hideous creature lurking in the woods, waiting for its pray to make a wrong turn. I hoped my body could fight it off but I was wrong.

During an insightful guided tour in Ubud, Bali (which I would recommend if you’re heading that way), our guide handed us a local rice and coconut sweet wrapped in a pancake roll. It was delicious however within an hour, my body erupted into what I could only describe as a volcano slowly ripping the insides out of my body. My stomach swelled like I was nine months pregnant. I broke into sweats, my muscles trembling and cramps punching the inside of my gut, making me feel like I had completed ten boxing rounds with Mr Mike Tyson.

Days passed with me flat on the bed, unable to leave the hotel. The tropical heat became unbearable and eating and drinking intensified my symptoms. My face turned pale and dark shadows developed under my eyes. Something I’d eaten, likely coconut, was triggering a full-blown allergic reaction. Ironically, I’d been suspicious of coconut before, and now I was almost certain: Coconut smoothie had caused my food poisoning in Thailand a year earlier. However on this occasion, it didn’t feel like food poisoning but a full blown virus I had caught from that guy on the plane, and it was triggered by the reaction from the coconut rice sweet wrapped in the pancake roll.

By the time we reached Singapore, I was battling a chest infection, utterly drained. I even left my phone on the plane thanks to the sheer exhaustion and jet lag on the return flight home. It was a trip I was not going to forget in a hurry.

TRAVELLING WHILE SICK: THE WAKE UP CALL!

At just five days into our trip, I looked and felt like the Michelin Man. Thankfully, as a travel health nurse, I knew what to do. I managed my symptoms with antihistamines, eyedrops, and other medications I had packed, plus travel insurance just in case I needed medical assistance. Luckily I didn’t get to that point in my illness.

BUT WHAT ABOUT YOU? THE EVERYDAY TRAVELLER?

What if you're not medically trained? Getting sick abroad can be scary and sometimes it can be dangerous.

My Must Have Travel Health Kit

Here are my essential travel health tips. Pack these and be prepared:

Medications

• Paracetamol, ibuprofen, antihistamines: The basics for pain, fever, and allergies.

• Check for interactions if you take any regular medications or if you are allergic to any foods or medicines.

• Antibiotics: Only if recommended by your doctor or travel clinic. Good for food poisoning or malaria prevention, but don’t self-prescribe.

Sterile Equipment

• Carry clean needles: If travelling to rural or under-resourced areas, especially where medical hygiene might be questionable.

Rehydration

• Oral rehydration sachets: Essential if you experience vomiting or diarrhoea. They restore lost electrolytes quickly.

• Bottled Water Only: No tap water, no brushing teeth with tap water and be cautious with ice in drinks. Ice may be frozen from unfiltered water

Mosquito Protection

• High-strength mosquito spray: Especially vital in dengue or Zika-prone regions.

Travel Insurance

• Visit Compare the Market website: Compare the many different travel insurance policies and see which one best suits you and the trip you are about to take. Do your research and make sure you’re covered for the essentials. And always read the fine print!.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Getting sick while traveling isn't just inconvenient, it can derail your entire travel experience. Take it from me, preparation is everything. Illness doesn’t wait for convenience, and it definitely doesn’t care about your itinerary.

I hope my experience helps you travel smarter and safer.

For more tips, stories, and survival guides from the road, check out my other blogs or follow me on TikTok, Instagram and YouTube.

Safe Travels & Stay Healthy!