Getting Ready for A Trip That Isn't to Be...Not Yet

Getting ready for a trip that we will have to re-schedule leaves me with mixed emotions.
We will only lose our travel insurance $$$ which isn't too bad. We always get it, but this is the first time ever to have to use it.

The trip we have started perparing us for will be a grand tour of China. We were scheduled to leave April 14th. That isn't going to happen~ BOO HOO

Have had two Doctors agree, I have totally worn out one of my hips and both agree, there will be no way I can do this agressive trip. Am scheduled for a total hip replacement March 11th. As I said, mixed emotions...mostly happy they will do it so quickly as I have places to go and things to do.

Because immunizations required are good for five years, we kept our appointment with a Travel Doctor today. He was wonderful.
He is a specialist in maintaining health of people who travel around the world.

He took a full hour with us and was the first time we had a physical exam done before all the vaccines. He also taught a couple of phrases in Chinese (How are you?) and (Thank you). I wrote them down in my little book~ He told us the people will receive us with a happy face if/when we say a few words to them in Chinese. (Don't you know they are smiling at our accents?)

He sent us for:

~Japanese Influenza Vaccination, of all things...
~ PPD (TB) due to all our recent international travel...needed to check.
~ Hep B
~ Hep A is still good from our Africa trip.
~ Typhoid (ours was outdated)
~ Rabies vaccine is required for traveling through the entire country ~ however, he said not to pet animals there...and excused that one. (WHEW)
~ Everything else was up to date.

THEN...we asked and he gave us the SHINGLES VACCINE...
which is new and highly advisable to everyone.

We understand that Shingles is one of the more painful experiences one can have..and continues for about 2 months.
ASK YOUR DOCTOR FOR ONE TOO.