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Reader's tip

"I always take supplies of antibacterial wipes when I'm travelling - great for grubby looking toilets, tables, door handles, whatever!"
Lily Rice, Canterbury

Dr. Laurence Gerlis
samedaydoctor

Dr Laurence Gerlis is CEO of samedaydoctor, a group of walk-in clinics in the UK. Dr Gerlis is also Medical Director of the Royal National Theatre and looks after many artists in the music business and the performing arts.

Ask Dr. Gerlis
about holiday health

Check our Swine Flu Q&A's , where you can watch Laurence's flu advice video.
He has also worked as a radio and TV doctor, recently appearing on the Alan Titchmarch show on ITV and he is a regular contributor to London's LBC and BBC radio.

Read Laurence's tips on buying travel insurance

health expert

Dr Gerlis, MA, MB, B Chir (Cantab), MRCP (UK), FFPM, is a BUPA-registered specialist and is licensed to practice medicine in France as well as the UK. He graduated with double-first class honours from Clare College Cambridge where he won the William Butler prize in Medicine.

Your questions answered:

I don’t know why, but whenever I go on holiday I suffer with terrible bloating and find my usual clothes don’t fit me comfortably. What could be causing this bloating? And what clothes can I pack to look good and feel comfortable if it does strike?

Women especially find that their intestines pack up on holiday and their bowels stop functioning, which will cause fluid retention, a change of diet also adds to this complication.

I am four months pregnant and planning to go to the USA next month. Are there any risks that I should be aware of whilst travelling when pregnant?

This is generally a good stage of pregnancy to travel – and up to 32 weeks is normally ok for most airlines.  Please make sure you have travel health insurance which covers the USA in case things go wrong and make sure that you inform the insurers you are pregnant so that you have the correct cover.

I am going on holiday to Europe, do I need to take an E111 with me and if so why?

E111 is now out of date and has been replaced by the EHIC card (European Health Insurance Card) which you can apply for online to get free treatment in EU countries. Visit www.EHIC.org to apply.

I am going on holiday to Turkey with my new boyfriend and am worried about getting a dodgy tummy and spending embarrassingly long time in the bathroom, is there anything I can do to avoid this?

Firstly be careful what you eat - Do not eat from street vendors and try to drink bottled water only, pack some Imodium and hope for the best.