If you’re going on vacation, contact your PCP to:

• Ask what to do if somebody in the family or group catches COVID the week before the planned vacation.

• Ask about motion sickness prevention, especially if planning a cruise or if sensitive to motion in trains, buses, or cars.

• Ask about travel vaccinations to see what is recommended and where they are available (drugstores vs public health clinic).

• Ask about using OCPs to move the timing of menstrual periods (need to try it out before traveling, as it's not good to try something for the first time during a trip).

• Ask about STDs and prevention, plus pregnancy prevention (may want to carry Plan B on the trip) if doing "the wild thing(s)" with other travelers or locals.

If doing outdoors stuff, ask your PCP:

• About which bug repellents are best and how to use them safely on children.

• To get a video visit for bug bites, especially if any question of allergic reaction vs. bacterial cellulitis.

• About which sunscreens to use, such as zinc/titanium vs chemical blockers, especially if any allergies to some types of sunscreens.

• About plane flights or water sports, especially if any diving, if there has been a history of lung or blood issues, such as COVID, asthma, thalassemia minor.

• About prevention and treatment for oral herpes triggered by sunshine.

• About sunburn care and poison oak care, and can get a video visit for any such skin problems.

Other summer stuff that always happens that your online PCP can help with:

• Firecracker or fireworks injuries.

• Sports injuries from overuse related to lack of prior conditioning.

• Leg swelling from long rides, which sometimes needs physical massage to move the fluid back into the circulation.

• Leg blood clot risks.

• Diarrhea from unfamiliar diets, unfamiliar local bacteria, or just food poisoning.

• Constipation from unfamiliar bathrooms, altered circadian rhythm, etc. People with any history of constipation need to actively prevent it on trips ... or else things can go bad rapidly.

Make an appointment