Traveler's "Stomach"

leopardlady · #1 07-28-2003, 03:55 PM

Just this month already 3 people have told me stories of getting sick while they were in Punta Cana. Another person told me her boss got E Coli at this resort (which was a 5 star resort).

I know it's common for people to get sick while vacationing in Mexico, but this is the first I am hearing so much of it happening in Punta Cana.

So, in preparing for a trip, armed with Pepto-Bismol, Immodium, and some Cipro as an antibiotic, what else can I do to avoid traveler's stomach ? (besides not drinking the water).

Aren't fruits and vegetables rinsed in water at resorts?

Dolores · #2 07-28-2003, 04:00 PM

Check out
http://dr1.com/travel/prepare/health.shtml

leopardlady · #3 07-28-2003, 04:21 PM

This was extremely helpful !

sjh · #4 07-28-2003, 07:40 PM

I find a good dose of rum or other strong drink on an empty stomach will often cure mild cases.

Jan · #5 07-28-2003, 11:10 PM

My first time in this country was in Punta Cana at an all inclusive there. Me and 3 friends. One of my friends got really sick and yet we all ate the same foods and drank the same drinks. She went to the doctor there and he gave her a shot and some medicina and the next day she was feeling much better and the day after all was good. I did have a funny stomache...not sick but not right...the whole time I was there. But then there has been a few times I've eaten things since I've lived here and got sick too, and both times it was in expensive resturants.
So just go for it! Take a chance. I don't think you'll die unless your in poor health already. Just think of it as a good cleaning out. The doctors in the resorts are prepared to handle it if your sick.

Chirimoya · #6 07-29-2003, 03:03 AM

Buffet food is pretty high risk in any establishment. But I think the real reason for tummy trouble in AI's is that so many overindulge in the unlimited food and drink, combined with the unfamiliar climate.

Chiri

MommC · #7 07-29-2003, 11:02 AM

What most people don't realize is that the average North American diet contains less than 15 grams of fiber and not much Vitamin C.
Get to an AI where you are eating a lot of high fibre fruit and veggies and you're asking for "the trot's" due to the increased fibre. Throw in a lot of fruit juice based drinks and the increased Vitamin C will also give you the runs along with the upset stomach that accompanies it.
Too much fibre, too much Vitamin C and too much fluid will do it every time.
I recommend people who are coming to start taking a 500 mg. Vitamin C tablet daily at least two weeks before arrival as well as increasing their consumption of fruit and veggies. Then when they arrive I tell them to watch their fluid consumption (with the eception of bottled water) and make sure they have a glass of red wine with lunch and dinner.
This helps get their system "accostumed" to the change in diet and the red wine has been scientifically proven to kill any "mild" E-coli or "bad" bugs that may be present.
Works for most everyone!
Hope this helps!!

andy a · #8 07-29-2003, 11:07 AM

That must have been some shot to cure upset stomach.

Dominican "doctors" are shot and pill crazy. They will certainly give them to anyone who will submit - no chance of them simply advising to take it easy for a couple of days.

The Dominican people love it too. I once saw a hypochodriac (there's lots of them) proudly showing her neighbors the 8 (yes, eight) kinds of pills that her doctor had given her.

I've also had Dominicans ask me for pills - any pills - they seem to think that they are magic.

Jan · #9 07-29-2003, 03:04 PM

Thsi si true here...when you even get a little cold everyone tells me to go to the clinic. Take a flu pill. Take antibiotics...and I don't like to take meds when its not necessary.
Really tho..whatever that doc gave my friend made her better fast. I have no idea what it was but her husband was calling him a voodoo doctor! jejeje

leopardlady · #10 07-29-2003, 03:25 PM

information & I am soaking it up. I never heard of the red wine thing as a prevention - sounds pretty good.

I already eat a lot of high fiber cereals and fruit every morning to begin with, but I doubt the resort carries Lactaid Fat Free, lactose free milk though. Will settle for eating mangu for breakfast instead of cereal and gain 10 pounds....