My New Doctor is a Neurotic Hypochondriac

This is not a bad thing. I'm a bit of a hypochondriac myself.

I visited a travel medicine specialist as I will be going to Asia for the first time in April. We decided that I needed 5 vaccinations in order to survive the trip (see, hypochondriac): flu, Tdap (tetinus), Hep A and Typhoid Fever (both food-borne), and Hep B (good for my iron issues).

Here's why I say neurotic: this is the schedule he wrote on a post-it so I remember to take 1 dose of typhoid every other day for 7 days (ie: 4 doses total).

We also discussed drinking water and jet lag, as well as malaria, measles, mumps, and chicken pox. We visited the CDC's web page on travel to Taiwan and discussed Avian flu. I was sternly warned not to touch any dead ducks I might find at the side of the road. He did not even crack a smile when I said "I'll be sure to write that down." Speaking of writing down, I now have a yellow card itemizing all my vaccinations specially designed to fit in my passport. Just for future reference.

Now this might sound a bit crazy, but I am very seriously thinking of making him my GP. With him worrying so much about my health, I think I would worry less. Oh, and he is a fan of email. Does your doctor respond to 1 am emails about your vaccinations? I don't think so. See, neurotic hypochondriac.