My first trip report...

[jruane44]

Glad to hear you're alright. Did you lose any weight.

[cozmikgirl]

i have a question, a friend of mines son (3 years) has been having diarrhea almost everyday except for 2 or 3 regular bms since they returned from the DR on Dec 29. Should she take him to the doctor? He doesn't have any other symptoms..ie fever or anything like that

[vince1956]

Originally Posted by cozmikgirl

i have a question, a friend of mines son (3 years) has been having diarrhea almost everyday except for 2 or 3 regular bms since they returned from the DR on Dec 29. Should she take him to the doctor? He doesn't have any other symptoms..ie fever or anything like that

I would take him to a doctor if it was my son btw were you in a AI

[cozmikgirl]

yes...but i think if he did get something it was from the pizza he ate at the airport..because he was fine the rest of the time

[canadiangirl858]

Yes she should take him to the doctor. Children dehydrate very quickly.

[El Tigre]

MAR - My doc suspects that fish came in contact with rat/mice urine or fieces. But what puzzles him is that the bacteria should have died when they friend the fish. Unless it was fried, sitting there and was heated up which I don't think is the case because they cook the food out in the open for people to see and I've never seen a microwave there.

Cobraboy - Not sure what kind of fish it was. I didn't ask. It was breaded and then fried. Like fish fillet in a way. This was the first time I ordered this. The other times I ate there I always ordered a whole fish. Either one pound or 2 pound red snapper or mero (how do you say mero in English?).

Sky - I was a bit reluctant at first to post the name of the place but what the heck - it was at Andre's Restaurant on the main beach. Like I said I have eaten there MANY MANY times and never got sick. But, always ordered a whole fish opposed to breaded fish fillet pieces.

Azabache - I indicated that to the doc and he said that perhaps they are immune to it. I've always heard how foreigners are always more vulnurable. I guess this is true.

[El Tigre]

Originally Posted by jruane44

Glad to hear you're alright. Did you lose any weight.

Hell yes. I was only given liquids during my hospital stay. Lost 10 pounds but put it right back. I started eating normally two days after I got out of the hospital.

[A.Hidalgo]

That was some ordeal. Glad you are well again. Question were there any thoughts about this could be my last moment on this earth? Here is to a better next New Years day.

[M.A.R.]

But Alex if it was ciguatera poisoning I think I read that even if you cook the fish the poison does't die. I ate fish in the DR once in Cofresi, a whole fried fish, sooo delicious but now I don't think I eating anything down there,
Ciguatera poisoning is caused by small reef fish eating a dinoflagelate carrying tetradoxidin. The small fish are eaten by bigger ones on the reefs. Some 500 different varieties are affected. Cooking does not destroy the poison. The antidote is Manitol, which is a simple sugar solution given as as injection. This reduces the brain swelling which is the reason for the strange symptoms (including reversal of hot/cold sensations) I became aware of ciguatera several years ago in Costambar when 23 people including the restaurant owner became very ill. Sometimes tourists get it & return home, & their doctor does not realize what the problem is. Tetradoxidin is one of the most poisonous chemicals known. Deep sea fish are not affected & are safe to eat. Reef fish are often poisonous. We do not eat fish at all when in the DR as the results can be devastating. by Canadian Bob

[miguel]

Perhaps "My Trips To The Bathroom" is a better tittle, hehe.

Man, this reminds me of "La Toma" in San Cristobal, where, after eating something, I got so sick that I thought I was going to die. Shyt, not even Mom Elana's sopitas and care made me feel better.

At least you got better while over there. I was not that lucky.

Anyways, glad you made it.