Though it is true that I travelled 1 year North and Central America, about 8 years South Asia (India and all neighboring countries) and 1 1/2 years overland from North to South of Africa - am also pretty certain to know my health difficulties really started with 4 plasmodium falciparum malarias caught in Central Africa. And which let me to leave this continent I liked the most, because otherwise I would already be death 20 years ago.
However, having travelled so much - and now with illness for recuperation on yearly vacations - I've always met a lot of aging travellers being in better shape. Travelling does expose to infections which in those countries do cause high infant-mortality. And when westerners travel there later in life they might come down for the same reasons, just later. But not particularly with ME/CFS, and any anectodal answer to such questions of its forum can be taken even less than observational.
Again, after so many posts appearently taking association of travelling with ME/CFS as a clear causation, I feel to have to clarify once more: Long after travelling I got really sick with a 60% walking-disabilty 10 years ago (from a PAD and a 80% stenosis at the abdominal aorta). 7 years ago it got worse due to a bad chronic bronchits lasting a whole year, earning me even a COPD diagnosis. After which I got so desperate, along with these conditions being on a long hope-less job-search, that I drew the towel. And after so many years flew to an Indian beach again, to try to at least cure the bronchitis with fresh sea-air.
Which worked after 5 month there. Though really got worse first, in that I had constant fevers (last time I had that was more than 20 years ago with malaria), nausea, diarhea and vomiting for a whole month. Probably a thypoid fever. Since this intervention worked so well for me, I repeated my 6 weeks vacations each deepest winter there. About 4 years ago I had complete remission of my walking-disabilty (while the COPD improved that much, no more monitoring needed; both are considered non-reversible diseases by conventional medicine). Only thereby realizing I had a constant problem with PEM, a symptoms for which I before have been non-cognoizant due to my other bad symptoms being so predominant. Also with lot of pacing, since 2 years I haven't experienced any PEM anymore.
These recuperative vacations to the South-Indian beach since 7 years added very beneficial interventions in my case, only difficult to get at home:
- More whole body sun-exposures then ever possible the whole year in central Europe.
- Swimming time not limited through colder water temperatures.
- Direct contact to nature: earth, water, wind and animals 24/7. Minimal online time.
- Leisurely and meaningful social interactions.
- Access to affordable traditional Ayurvedic preparations. Also LDN.
- Plenty of time to immerse in the here and now.
- ...
I hate to be a dream smasher especially for some place I think is magical but with all that we have going on its a risk I wouldn't advise. I know people go and do ok but I also think its roulette...… and not safe for the already compromised. maybe Thailand?
Of corse, travelling does come with encounter of risks not found at home, though there are more immetiate and deathly risks in travelling than ME/CFS. And vis-versa. Therefore I think anyone has to evaluate the risks and make a responsible decision oneself.
To me in Thailand of the countless countries visited (including civil-war countries), I had the most dangerous encounter. Though being there only for a week waiting for a meditation visa for Burma, once eating a veggie soup in a street cafe, 2 Thai girls joined without being asked. Despite my extensive experience in strange cultural differences something happened never before or after: They asked if they could join in my bowl of soup. Being the open and welcoming fellow I am, I agreed to that to me really strange request. Only to see from the corner of my eyes moments later one spoon with a tomato disappearing under the table, and then put in the bowel again. That night I went to bed fasted.
Risk are always real. Deathly risks. Also at home.
you would never want to be bare foot anywhere in India but sand is often the worst.
I always do, at least on the beach before and after mid-day heats it up to unbearable hot. Sometimes I did end up stepping on holy cow-dung though..
