Summer is finally here, and with it, the adventure beckons. Almost every young singer in my practice has plans for the summer—a course, a workshop, perhaps a whole summer spent abroad. This is an opportunity to devote yourself to specific areas of your craft, whether immersing in a new language or learning an opera for performance. And it often takes place in a beautiful European town with lots of things to see and do away from courses, exams, and juries. Hooray for summer!
But be sure your summer adventure is a healthy one, not only vocally but physically. In this column, I would like to give you some suggestions to make sure it all goes well on your trip.
First, from the medical point of view, consider your normal medications, whatever they may be—whether blood pressure meds, asthma inhalers, or birth control pills. You should refill them to make sure you have enough and take them with you in your personal carry-on luggage. Medications may be difficult to refill in Europe, especially if you have specific needs on meds that work for you, where a substitute may not be as effective (such as for migraine medications). Again, carry these on your person in the plane. Don’t leave them in your suitcase. If you have certain supplements that you like, bring those along also. The availability of local doctors may be an uncertain and even costly proposition, and you should not rely on there being such services, although they are usually available.
I also suggest to my patients that they take a separate “first-aid kit” with them. Doctors in the U.S. cannot prescribe medications in Europe, and it is better to anticipate than to scramble. Ask your regular doctor, if they are willing, to give you a prescription for a one-week course of antibiotics such as amoxicillin or azithromycin, as well as for a short course of steroids (like a Medrol Dosepak)—and ask them to tell you when you should take either. Also take remedies for common problems (insomnia, allergies, reflux, diarrhea, skin irritation, etc.), which you can buy over the counter.
This, of course, implies that you have a regular ENT or general doctor who is comfortable doing this. Find out whether you can contact them by e-mail for advice. When I have patients who travel, I often give them my contact information. E-mail and texting is very useful in this situation, and I have received e-mails from around the world, with attached pictures of red tonsils, green phlegm, and other treasures. In this regard, doctors can actually do a lot to help our patients who are abroad.
Another useful item to take along is a set of pictures of your vocal folds. You can get this as a printout from your ENT or as a computer image on your iPhone. Since everyone’s vocal folds are different, it is useful for your emergency visit away from home if the local doctor has a baseline picture for comparison. Some singers have folds that are somewhat irregular, perhaps with a blood vessel or two, perhaps a bit pink. If the local doctor knows what “normal” is for you, there is less chance of inappropriate treatment.
Over the last few years, I have offered every singer whom I strobe the opportunity to take a video image of their larynx and keep it on their iPhone. The image can, of course, be sent to your teacher if you wish. Most importantly, it gives you a visual record against which future examinations can be compared. This, by the way, is also useful if you aren’t traveling but simply choose to consult a different doctor in the future here at home.
If you do get treated abroad, know what that treatment consists of. If you are given an injection, have the doctor explain to you (or write down) what’s in the shot. If you get a prescription, I suggest that you keep the box after the meds are gone, so you can show your doctor back home, in case the question arises. Many of the medications we prescribe here in the U.S. are sold under a different brand name abroad, and there are also meds that you may be given there that are not available here. I would keep any such packaging, no matter whether it comes from a doctor or a pharmacist, since in many European countries the pharmacist can dispense drugs (such as antibiotics) without a medical prescription.
As a final note, be clear on what foods and, more importantly, water are safe to eat and drink. In many parts of the world (although not so much in Europe), the water that comes out of the tap is not the water that you are advised to drink. For singers, with their eternal quest for hydration, this is important. If there is any question of water quality, buy bottled water or at least take a portable water purifier bottle, which has a carbon filter that renders questionable water potable.
Most importantly, have fun! Your summer program is an opportunity to focus on what you love most, with an invigorating immersion in a new language and culture. You will get a unique opportunity to look at what you do from a new perspective. And we’ll see you back in the fall!
