Monteczuma's Revenge

[Sainters7]

So I got back from Mexico about a week ago, and I'm still suffering from what I've been told is refered to as "Monteczuma's Revenge". At first I thought it was just a jokey name for an upset stomach after eating rich Mexican food, but I've realized today its an actual sickness. I've had it since two Thursdays ago, and it doesn't seem to be letting up. I'm not dehydrated, nor am I feverish. But I'm definitely weak and kind of dizzy, and I'm having to go to the bathroom alot(which is quite soupy...I know, thanks for sharing right?), thought I'm not going as much as I used to be. And it doesn't hurt at all when I go.

At first I thought I could just wait this out and it would eventually go away. But after reading about it today, it sounds like I may have to go to the doctor and go on medication. Has anyone else had this before? What did you do about it, let nature take its course or go see a doctor?

[Coach]

Guy 1: "Hey! Hows the diarrhea?!"
Guy 2: (as girls in hot tub move away) "I...It's fine...I took the Imodium!"

[Nancy]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Traveler%27s_diarrhea

[Sainters7]

Originally Posted by Nancy

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Traveler%27s_diarrhea

Thanks. Sounds like I should probably go see someone. I'm really not too worried about it, as I definitely have no fever/nausea, etc, just a bad case of the craps and some dizziness and weakness. My buddy said when he came back from Mexico he had it for a good three weeks, and it finally just went away. But I'd rather not mess around with it, as it has been 1.5 weeks now. May as well get myself checked out just to be sure.

I had never been to Mexico before, I'm a total rook at this. So I didnt know how big a deal it actually is, which is why I was curious to hear how many people on here have had it(I'm sure theres a few, it sounds pretty common), and what they did about it.

[Shin Pad]

You have my sympathy.

I was in Mexico in 2004 and got sick on the food there. I've never been right since. I am still being treated for digestive system problems to this day and they all stem from my trip to Mexico. I'm hoping they have found something that will keep my symptoms in check, but I will more than likely have to be on medication for it for a long time yet. Like you, I can't be too far from a toilet at any time. This really upsets me, as I take care of myself - I'm an exercise nut, and I usually eat properly. Anyway, hopefully you don't have what I got.

[StoneCole]

I thought it was just a roller coaster at knott's...

[Sparks]

I had the same problem in Mexico, but we were lucky enough have brought along some antibiotics. I'm sure you can get some specifically for this, and it'll go away pretty much right away.

[Kybosh]

You definitely need to go see a doctor about this because it could be something more serious. It may be bacterial or maybe some kind of parasite. Due to this, you need to have proper medication or it won't work. Go to your doctor, seriously. If you wait too long some parasites will become a lifelong friend.

[Sainters7]

Thanks for the advice guys(and girls)! My buddy is laughin at me for wanting to go to the doctor, he said his went away in two weeks and he was completely fine. But after hearing some of the horror stories on here, I'd rather get my balls broken a little and turn out ok, rather than suffer through a lifetime of making sure I'm close to a bathroom...

[Table 5]

why does your buddy think that being sick for two weeks is totally normal? sounds like a guy i would totally ignore on all matters of health.

[Ruttiger]

So not to de-rail this thread, but taking it one step further, is there any way to prevent this? I'm going down in December and have got all my Twinrix shots in order, but this is a different deal altogether. How do I prevent three weeks on the toilet after I get back??

[fredr123]

I got super sick about two days after we got back from Mexico. It was easily the sickest I've ever been. Fever, sweats, stuff coming out of both ends. I was either passed out or in the bathroom for a good week. After a day or so of it not letting up, my wife made me see a doc. I got some meds to treat e. coli and got better. Eventually.

The doctor said that next time he could prescribe those pills ahead of time to help prevent some of this. I wish I could remember what the meds were but we're talking 4 or 5 years ago now. Sorry.

[GoinAllTheWay]

Wow, that would suck. I have been to Mexico several times and never had a problem. /knocks on wood

I hear eating a lot of yogurt before going helps prepare your stomach.

[Canada 02]

take charcoal tablets; they are great at mopping up the toxins thats turning your stomach inside out

kaopectate works similar and available otc

[Tron_fdc]

Go to a doctor, he'll prescribe you antibiotics and it will clear up in a day or two.

I had the same thing happen to me when I went, and i walked around for 2 weeks afraid to fart. Which was a cryin shame, because there's nothing better (IMO) than a good ol burrito belch that shakes the rafters of your house.

[CGYTransplant]

Originally Posted by Ruttiger

So not to de-rail this thread, but taking it one step further, is there any way to prevent this? I'm going down in December and have got all my Twinrix shots in order, but this is a different deal altogether. How do I prevent three weeks on the toilet after I get back??

There's no guarantee, no matter where you travel. And, especially in mexico, you can still get things like parasites, even if you're super careful.

But, in general:

-Don't drink the water unless you know it's been purified. Most of the resorts will be okay, but if you're out on the town, stay away from the water...this includes ice.

-Don't eat anything that hasn't been cooked, or any fruit you can't peel (and it has to be a thick peel- think bananas, not apples)

-Don't gorge yourself on fruit. YOu'd be amazed at what excess insoluble fibre can do to you.

-If you can help it, avoid the buffets unless the food is fresh.

-Limit your alcohol intake.

-Keep your hands out of your mouth, and use Purell before you eat.

-Don't take random antibiotics if you haven't been diagnosed with something. Antibiotics are indiscriminate killers- they'll get rid of the bad bugs as well as the good gut flora you need to keep the baddies in check. That would be okay, if you only have ONE harmful bug in you....but, if you have a bacteria AND a virus, taking the antibiotics can make you worse, by killing off the good gut bugs, leaving you with decreased immune function to fight the virus. And, if you have a virus to begin with, the antibiotics are useless against it, so you're killing gut flora for nothing. Gut flora can take up to 2 years to properly repoplulate (re-poop-ulate?), so be careful.

-There is some anecdotal (i.e. no scientific studies done) evidence that taking probiotics can help decrease your chances of getting sick, or decrease the severity of your symptoms. The Theory is that you're introducing way more good gut flora into your intestine, which will help fight off any baddies.

-Bring good magazines/reading material, and work out some system with your buddies (i.e "If I'm not there for 3 pm happy hour, come check on me) so that you have something to do in the bathroom if you do get sick, and so that someone will come check on you to make sure you're not getting too dehydrated or anything.

I've always packed a couple of sleeves of crackers and some gatorade powder with me just for this purpose- I can rehydrate, get some electrolites, and have some dry crackers if I get sick. Worked wonders when I visited Guatemala. Also, make sure you pack Immodium, and some Pepto Bismol, just in case you have to stuff yourself up to make it on the plane ride home. Avoid doing this unless you HAVE to, though....your body is expelling things for a reason, and stopping that process can be more harmful than good.

[Sainters7]

Originally Posted by Tron_fdc

Go to a doctor, he'll prescribe you antibiotics and it will clear up in a day or two.

I had the same thing happen to me when I went, and i walked around for 2 weeks afraid to fart. Which was a cryin shame, because there's nothing better (IMO) than a good ol burrito belch that shakes the rafters of your house.

I hear ya buddy. I'm in a computer lab at the U of A right now with cuties on computers all around me, sharding would really suck. Especially considering I gotta catch the jam-packed University Express bus back to my car

[Sainters7]

Originally Posted by CGYTransplant

There's no guarantee, no matter where you travel. And, especially in mexico, you can still get things like parasites, even if you're super careful.

But, in general:

-Don't drink the water unless you know it's been purified. Most of the resorts will be okay, but if you're out on the town, stay away from the water...this includes ice.

-Don't eat anything that hasn't been cooked, or any fruit you can't peel (and it has to be a thick peel- think bananas, not apples)

-Don't gorge yourself on fruit. YOu'd be amazed at what excess insoluble fibre can do to you.

-If you can help it, avoid the buffets unless the food is fresh.

-Limit your alcohol intake.

-Keep your hands out of your mouth, and use Purell before you eat.

-Don't take...

Lots of great points here. I'm pretty sure the water/ice thing is what happened to me. I was really careful the whole trip, even brushing my teeth with bottled water. And on the resort I'm pretty sure the water there was safe anyways, considering it was a 5-star resort and every single person I met was from California(so they'd obviously be succeptible to the same illness if it was just Mexican public water).

But one night we decided to go into town for dinner, and I got a pina colada with dinner. I'm sure this is what did me in, as within the next 12 hours I went to the bathroom 9 times(and not the kind that you can do in an alley), and was nauseous as hell.

Me and the girl are planning on going to Mexico this spring, if we go into town I'm definitely sticking to bottled beers, not to mention I'm getting my shots before we go.

[troutman]

Is it Atahualpa's revenge in the Andes?

I got real sick in Ecuador/Amazon - the native woman where I was staying made me a medicine from jungle plants - tasted like dish water, but cured me right away.

[dubc80]

Originally Posted by Sainters7

So I got back from Mexico about a week ago, and I'm still suffering from what I've been told is refered to as "Monteczuma's Revenge". At first I thought it was just a jokey name for an upset stomach after eating rich Mexican food, but I've realized today its an actual sickness. I've had it since two Thursdays ago, and it doesn't seem to be letting up. I'm not dehydrated, nor am I feverish. But I'm definitely weak and kind of dizzy, and I'm having to go to the bathroom alot(which is quite soupy...I know, thanks for sharing right?), thought I'm not going as much as I used to be. And it doesn't hurt at all when I go.

At first I thought I could just wait this out and it would eventually go away. But after reading about it today, it sounds like I may have to go to the doctor and go on medication. Has anyone else had this before? What did you do about it, let nature take its course or go see a doctor?

A bunch of friends and I went down to Puerto Vallarta for Reading Week in 2002 and a bunch of us got sick as well.

It was humerous watching 4-5 people make a mad dash for the washroom on the flight home, immediatley after the seatbelt sign turned off. Haha. I also pretty much watched the 2002 Salt Lake City gold medal hockey game from my toilet. LOL.
After eating anything that week, I could almost predict to the minute when I'd have a serious case of ass pee.

I had similar symptoms to you and went to a doctor who made me take a stool sample. (Yeah, gross, I know...)!. They provided some antibiotics and after 1-2 weeks I was fine.

I'd say go see a doctor to get it cleared up ASAP.