by thinkmarsh | Jan 24, 2018 | Kilimanjaro, product review, travel
I am really starting to get excited about my upcoming holidays. The ski slopes of Verbier are getting dumped with powder, more women are signing up for our Kilimanjaro climb, and I am pretty sure I want to scuba dive in Thailand. There are so many adventures to be had and not enough time to plan them all.
Turns out when you travel to tropical places (which is something my husband and I rarely do), you need to do a bit of research and planning to make sure you are prepared with adequate vaccinations and medications. With my trips to Tanzania, Thailand, and Cambodia coming up, I contacted the Walk-In Clinic to see what jabs I would need to be safe.
You may remember that I had a wellwoman physical with the Walk-In clinic over the summer. I found utilizing a private practice gave me the luxury of time. I could talk to the doctor in depth without feeling pressured to fit all my questions in within the 15 minute time slot. Luckily for me, the clinic was able to book me in for to their travel clinic service with in a week. The clinic offers a consultation appointment, where you speak to someone to review what you will need, or simply request a vaccine that is unavailable at your local GP. They also have regional packages destinations such as Africa, India and South & Central America.
When I booked in, I was warned that I would need a consultation first and then a follow up appointment for my jabs. I took the this to mean a 15 minute conversation during which we would order my jabs and then a needle sticking session on another day. I couldn’t have been more wrong. I had an entire hour to go through the travel advice website, NaTHNaC, line by line for my different destinations. My doctor and I discussed the benefits and possible side effects, plus what I have had in the past. We looked at all three countries, made a list and then reviewed the vaccine schedule for each as some require several doses at different time points to be effective.
My big tip, no matter where you are headed, is to book a travel clinic appointment six to eight weeks ahead of time in case your vaccine needs to be ordered, requires several doses, or it takes a while build immunity. In addition, you should know what vaccines you have had previously and when. Some vaccines will last your entire life while others need periodic updating.
For my Kilimanjaro trip, there is also a malaria risk below 1800 meters. My doctor was able to discuss the different medications available and what would suit me. The side effects of some can be scary, including depression and hallucinations. As I am already on a SSRI, this ruled out Lariam, which you only have to take once a week. We agree upon the antibiotic doxycycline, which is in the tetracycline family. In high school, I had horrible acne and was on tetracycline for a while. I don’t remember any unbearable physical side effects (aside from being prone to sunburn) so I am very comfortable with the choice. The downside is remembering to take it every day and I have to keep taking it up for four weeks after my return. Our destinations in Thailand (Bangkok and Phuket) are ‘low to no risk’ which do not require malaria prophylaxis.
The last thing I wanted to discuss was altitude sickness. Out of everything that could possibly impact my trip, I am most worried about this. It seems to be very unpredictable as to who is affected. Fit, fat, skinny, strong, young, old- there is no way to know. Anecdotally, I have heard low blood pressure makes you more susceptible as well as not acclimatizing properly. People report feeling severely hungover with a bad headache, nausea, vomiting, and being really tired. For all the energy and planning I have put into this trip, it would be a shame not to see the sunrise at 5895 meters (19,341 feet). Unfortunately, the doctor didn’t know much about the condition and could not recommend whether I should carry the medicine, let alone take it prophylactically. Crowd sourced side effects from my Adventure Queens Facebook group include pins and needles feeling and having to pee a lot. Since I am not good at peeing outside, this is a worry for me. My doctor was going to do a bit more research before my next appointment in two weeks time so we can talk about it again.
On this visit, I got Hepatitis A, a rabies booster, and cholera vaccinations. I would have got Hepatitis B too, but there is a global shortage of the vaccine. The cholera will require another dose at my next visit (which is just an effervescent drink) and meningitis. At the same time, I will pick up my prescriptions for my anti-malaria pills and altitude sickness tablets. Because most of my Kilimanjaro trip will be on the side of a mountain, we took greater precautions with more vaccines which will also cover my trip to Thailand and Cambodia. Remember though, it is up to you and your doctor to discuss and agree what is right for you.
If you have any experience with climbing and/or altitude sickness, please leave me a comment below with your experience. I am eager to learn as much as I can before the trip.
Many thanks to the Walk-In Clinic for their support of my trek to Kilimanjaro. Services provided were complimentary, but all opinions and views are my own. Please speak to your GP about your travel plans rather than follow my advice and experiences. I am not a medical professional, just a biology nerd.
by Mollie Millington | Dec 1, 2017 | beauty, healing, product review
My skin is pretty sensitive. I have a skin allergy which NHS doctors say manifests as eczema. I get little clear blisters that are itchy and eventually weep. Over the last 10 years, I have used topical steroids on and off to help keep the symptoms under control. At its worst, my hands are severely covered with open wounds and possible staph infections. My skin is more sensitive when seasons change too so it is important that I take proper care of my hands when autumn turns to winter.
Last year, I had an eye doctor appointment to renew my drivers licence that diagnosed me with cataracts. Everyone was surprised with the news as I am not even 40 years old. My mom spoke to a few of her colleagues from the hospital and discovered that long term steroid use can potentially cause cataracts. Since only the strongest topical steroid (Dermovate) heals my flare ups (along with special soaps, lotions, shampoos, to avoid the ingredients I am allergic to), I am keen to find alternatives to help me manage the condition. In fact, my current episode started over a year ago, and still persists.
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| Current state my hands |
A few weeks ago, I as sent some samples of Dermalex Eczema. It is meant to treat eczema by replenishing the moisture and healing the skin’s natural barrier. I was keen to try it out. Since receiving the samples, I used the steroid cream in the evening before I go to bed as it will maximise the contact time. When I leave the house in the morning, I apply the Dermalex. It is very thick and doesn’t have a fragrance. It rubs into my skin easily without leaving a greasy or oily feel. With the combo, my skin has been really good without any new flare ups larger than a 5p coin (stress sometimes exacerbates the condition). There is another sample in my bag for application during the day.
Other tips to keep your hands healthy as winter arrives:
- Avoid an ethanol-based hand sanitizer as this will dry out your skin. So will hot tap water when washing your hands. Opt for warm water instead.
- If you need to wash your hands, apply a moisturiser afterwards to keep the skin hydrated. Keep travel sized lotions handy wherever you might wash your hands. My Dermalex is only 30g.
- Drink plenty of water throughout the day. In the summer, we get hot and water seems more necessary. We still need to drink it in the winter!
- Protect to your hands from the cold by wearing mittens or gloves when you are outside. The cold wind can dry them out and cause them to be chapped, which is a break in your skin’s natural barrier.
- If your house is very dry, invest in a humidifier to keep moisture in the air. Or keep a ceramic or metal pan of water on the radiator (please be careful not to use anything flammable!)
Any cuts or cracks in the skin are not only painful, but also allow a place for infectious materials to enter the body. When my hands were at their most severe, I found it really embarrassing to shake hands with people or to offer to cook food. I was also scratching my hands a lot, which looked a bit mad! Now that I have the knowledge and tools I need for proper hand health, I can be confident that a big flare up will not occur. I think Dermalex will be a key part of this plan too.
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| One of my more severe flare ups last year |
Thanks to Dermalex for giving me a sample to try. All opinions are honest and my own.
by thinkmarsh | Dec 1, 2017 | beauty, healing, product review
My skin is pretty sensitive. I have a skin allergy which NHS doctors say manifests as eczema. I get little clear blisters that are itchy and eventually weep. Over the last 10 years, I have used topical steroids on and off to help keep the symptoms under control. At its worst, my hands are severely covered with open wounds and possible staph infections. My skin is more sensitive when seasons change too so it is important that I take proper care of my hands when autumn turns to winter.
Last year, I had an eye doctor appointment to renew my drivers licence that diagnosed me with cataracts. Everyone was surprised with the news as I am not even 40 years old. My mom spoke to a few of her colleagues from the hospital and discovered that long term steroid use can potentially cause cataracts. Since only the strongest topical steroid (Dermovate) heals my flare ups (along with special soaps, lotions, shampoos, to avoid the ingredients I am allergic to), I am keen to find alternatives to help me manage the condition. In fact, my current episode started over a year ago, and still persists.
|
| Current state my hands |
A few weeks ago, I as sent some samples of Dermalex Eczema. It is meant to treat eczema by replenishing the moisture and healing the skin’s natural barrier. I was keen to try it out. Since receiving the samples, I used the steroid cream in the evening before I go to bed as it will maximise the contact time. When I leave the house in the morning, I apply the Dermalex. It is very thick and doesn’t have a fragrance. It rubs into my skin easily without leaving a greasy or oily feel. With the combo, my skin has been really good without any new flare ups larger than a 5p coin (stress sometimes exacerbates the condition). There is another sample in my bag for application during the day.
Other tips to keep your hands healthy as winter arrives:
- Avoid an ethanol-based hand sanitizer as this will dry out your skin. So will hot tap water when washing your hands. Opt for warm water instead.
- If you need to wash your hands, apply a moisturiser afterwards to keep the skin hydrated. Keep travel sized lotions handy wherever you might wash your hands. My Dermalex is only 30g.
- Drink plenty of water throughout the day. In the summer, we get hot and water seems more necessary. We still need to drink it in the winter!
- Protect to your hands from the cold by wearing mittens or gloves when you are outside. The cold wind can dry them out and cause them to be chapped, which is a break in your skin’s natural barrier.
- If your house is very dry, invest in a humidifier to keep moisture in the air. Or keep a ceramic or metal pan of water on the radiator (please be careful not to use anything flammable!)
Any cuts or cracks in the skin are not only painful, but also allow a place for infectious materials to enter the body. When my hands were at their most severe, I found it really embarrassing to shake hands with people or to offer to cook food. I was also scratching my hands a lot, which looked a bit mad! Now that I have the knowledge and tools I need for proper hand health, I can be confident that a big flare up will not occur. I think Dermalex will be a key part of this plan too.
|
| One of my more severe flare ups last year |
Thanks to Dermalex for giving me a sample to try. All opinions are honest and my own.
by Mollie Millington | Nov 15, 2017 | product review, self care, sleep
Central London has a new place to recharge and relax.
Pop & Rest is a new boutique studio in central London near Monument. When they first contacted me, I was intrigued about the concept. A place where I can nap? During the day? I was in. At my new work building, I have yet to discover a secret place to nap on the rare occasion where I overcommit myself and sacrifice my sleep.
On Thursday morning, I made my way down to their building. Unfortunately, I got a bit lost in Bank Station which made me arrive right at noon. The building has a reception desk, so I suggest that you arrive five minutes before your appointment in order for the Pop & Rest team to collect you.
I was escorted to their space, which was dimly light with electric tea light “candles”. The room is kept at 20 degrees Celsius as that has been proven to be the best temperature to fall asleep to, according to the Pop & Rest team. I was shown to my ‘pod’ which was made of cubicle walls enclosing a bed, nightstand with lamp, and a place to hang my jacket. The door was an accordion door for privacy. The walls did not go all the way up to the ceiling, but I was told this would be happening soon. There was also a little booklet on the nightstand, giving some tips on how to make the most out of your time in the pod, whether it be for napping, mediation, or relaxing.
The host explained that he would wake me up in 30 minutes, all I needed to do was get into bed. I took off my shoes and curled into the “half crawl” position recommended by the booklet. I opted not to use the blindfold or ear plugs. The bed was super comfortable, as were the pillows. Even though I was in jeans and a hoodie, I was still comfortable. My FitBit didn’t record me as sleeping, and I don’t think I did either. I was too worried about whether I would indeed fall asleep, how the host would wake me up, and all the crap I had to do when I got back to work.
Even though I didn’t officially sleep, I felt very chilled out when the host gently knocked on my door to wake me up. I took a minute to stretch out and put my shoes back on. I admit, my main concern was whether or not they change the sheets! I learned that it takes only two minutes to do so and yes, they change them after every booking.
Another service Pop & Rest offers is a shower facility. There are four shower cubicles and lockers to store your items. Towels and toiletries are provided by Pop & Rest, which means you don’t need to carry around extra things with you.
The business model for Pop & Rest has does very well in Spain, and I think will do in London too. Not only can freelancers or athletes use the space for catching 40 winks or cleaning up, but people travelling into and out of London can too. I was thrilled to learn that Pop & Rest are looking to open another site near my work at St. Pancras station due to the proximity to the Eurostar station.
I cannot wait to return to Pop & Rest the next time I have a long day of work booked in. If you are going to try, my top tips would be:
- Arrive 5-10 minutes early to check in with reception.
- Wear comfy clothes if you plan on sleeping or pack some pj’s.
- Book in for 60 minutes rather than 30. It just didn’t seem like long enough, even though a 20 minute nap can improve performance by 34% (according to Pop & Rest).
- They offer free coffee, tea and fruit. Place an order before your nap for a pick-me-up on the way out.
If you decide to book in, please let Pop & Rest know you heard about them through me. I really hope this model takes off because I love a good nap and you should too. Having a place to rest without having to travel all the way back home is a great way to recharge without loosing time on a commute. It is also much more economical than renting a hotel bed for a few hours. People who work multiple jobs, students, freelancers, those headed for a night out and more will soon be seeking out a pod. Hopefully, Pop & Rest start offering monthly memberships or multi-packs soon. A 30 minute nap is only £9 and worth every pence.
Thanks to Pop & Rest for inviting me along for a complimentary experience. All opinions are honest and my own.
by thinkmarsh | Nov 15, 2017 | product review, self care, sleep
Central London has a new place to recharge and relax.
Pop & Rest is a new boutique studio in central London near Monument. When they first contacted me, I was intrigued about the concept. A place where I can nap? During the day? I was in. At my new work building, I have yet to discover a secret place to nap on the rare occasion where I overcommit myself and sacrifice my sleep.
On Thursday morning, I made my way down to their building. Unfortunately, I got a bit lost in Bank Station which made me arrive right at noon. The building has a reception desk, so I suggest that you arrive five minutes before your appointment in order for the Pop & Rest team to collect you.
I was escorted to their space, which was dimly light with electric tea light “candles”. The room is kept at 20 degrees Celsius as that has been proven to be the best temperature to fall asleep to, according to the Pop & Rest team. I was shown to my ‘pod’ which was made of cubicle walls enclosing a bed, nightstand with lamp, and a place to hang my jacket. The door was an accordion door for privacy. The walls did not go all the way up to the ceiling, but I was told this would be happening soon. There was also a little booklet on the nightstand, giving some tips on how to make the most out of your time in the pod, whether it be for napping, mediation, or relaxing.
The host explained that he would wake me up in 30 minutes, all I needed to do was get into bed. I took off my shoes and curled into the “half crawl” position recommended by the booklet. I opted not to use the blindfold or ear plugs. The bed was super comfortable, as were the pillows. Even though I was in jeans and a hoodie, I was still comfortable. My FitBit didn’t record me as sleeping, and I don’t think I did either. I was too worried about whether I would indeed fall asleep, how the host would wake me up, and all the crap I had to do when I got back to work.
Even though I didn’t officially sleep, I felt very chilled out when the host gently knocked on my door to wake me up. I took a minute to stretch out and put my shoes back on. I admit, my main concern was whether or not they change the sheets! I learned that it takes only two minutes to do so and yes, they change them after every booking.
Another service Pop & Rest offers is a shower facility. There are four shower cubicles and lockers to store your items. Towels and toiletries are provided by Pop & Rest, which means you don’t need to carry around extra things with you.
The business model for Pop & Rest has does very well in Spain, and I think will do in London too. Not only can freelancers or athletes use the space for catching 40 winks or cleaning up, but people travelling into and out of London can too. I was thrilled to learn that Pop & Rest are looking to open another site near my work at St. Pancras station due to the proximity to the Eurostar station.
I cannot wait to return to Pop & Rest the next time I have a long day of work booked in. If you are going to try, my top tips would be:
- Arrive 5-10 minutes early to check in with reception.
- Wear comfy clothes if you plan on sleeping or pack some pj’s.
- Book in for 60 minutes rather than 30. It just didn’t seem like long enough, even though a 20 minute nap can improve performance by 34% (according to Pop & Rest).
- They offer free coffee, tea and fruit. Place an order before your nap for a pick-me-up on the way out.
If you decide to book in, please let Pop & Rest know you heard about them through me. I really hope this model takes off because I love a good nap and you should too. Having a place to rest without having to travel all the way back home is a great way to recharge without loosing time on a commute. It is also much more economical than renting a hotel bed for a few hours. People who work multiple jobs, students, freelancers, those headed for a night out and more will soon be seeking out a pod. Hopefully, Pop & Rest start offering monthly memberships or multi-packs soon. A 30 minute nap is only £9 and worth every pence.
Thanks to Pop & Rest for inviting me along for a complimentary experience. All opinions are honest and my own.
by thinkmarsh | Oct 23, 2017 | clothes, product review
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| Mammut shorts on the move |
About a third of my wardrobe is activewear. I tend to prefer technical fabrics over cotton because I have trouble regulating my body temperature and prefer to wash things after wearing a few times to reduce my impact on the environment. As I have mentioned before, I like to trial test products a few times before I let you know what I think. Here are a few pieces I have been trying over the last few months.
The first are Mammut MTR 71 Shorts, which I found to be super versatile. I used them for marathon training, indoor cycling, dog walks, and plain old home workouts. Having the inner shorts helped prevent chafing between my thighs when I had longer runs planned. There is a small zippered pocket in the back on the waist and a key pocket on the inside front. The fabric is breathable and very stretchy due to the spandex component. The large was a little big on my thighs so I found the inner shorts would sometimes ride up. I think if I had the mediums, it would have been fine. There is also an antimicrobial treatment to the fabric to reduce odor, which means you can pack light on a camping trip without having to worry about worrying about the smell.
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| Mammut shorts and my OgiYogi hoody |
My OgiYogi hoody and leggings came to me in May. We had such a fantastic summer, I haven’t had a chance to wear these until recently. I am so sad because they are truly amazing! The leggings fit perfectly and are great at balancing my body temperature when I start sweating. I also found the print flattering event though I normally avoid horizontal stripes. The merino and bamboo hoody is super soft and warm, with a concealed zip and thumbholes (check it out in the above photos). It has pockets and a longer length torso. I do wish the zipper would open from the bottom because the longer length has to fit over my hips which it does but I don’t think it is super flattering. I guarantee I will be living in these pieces this autumn for running, spinning, and lifting. And sitting on the couch while I write blog posts.
You might not know that Hunkemoller sells more than lingerie. They recently started offering sportswear in a variety of styles (including a Blogger line). I received a black Hunkemoller top with a mesh back panel in early 2017 and have found a ton is uses for it. The front is a solid piece of black fabric with a normal crew neck. When we went to Cape Town, it was a beach cover up and a cute top to wear to the bar.
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| Breakfast on the deck before swim time |
The back really is the fun bit. In London, I use it as a layer to go to the gym over a bright sports bra. Unfortunately, this particular top isn’t available any more but there are new lines offered several times a year.
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| Ready for a night out |
If you have any questions about these pieces, leave a comment below and I will get back to you as soon as I can.
Thank you to all of the brands for providing me with samples to try. All opinions are honest and my own.
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