Very sick after Punta Cana

I just got back two days ago from a 5 night trip to an all inclusive in Punta Cana. The day before I came home I woke up with bad cramps and wht felt like a light fever. Now I'm home for two days. The fevers come and go. The cramps come and go. It's been non stop diaherria. Will this just go away or do i need to go to the er? I have no insurance btw. Anybody else have experience with this?

• You got the AIDS, OP.

• You may have cholera, it is endemic (though unreported) there. Get to a hospital if it gets any worse.

• OP, I don't go to places where I would be exposed to cholera, malaria, and dengue fever. I'm too old for that bullshit, ain't got no time for that.

• Really R1. Do you think that is witty? funny? insightful? appropriate? You should take your keyboard and shove it right the fuck up your piss slit.

• Get some Immodium stat. The thing you have to be careful of is not getting dehydrated. You may want to get some electrolytes (sports drink type thing) and stay hydrated.

• You've probably got food poisioning - fairly common in 'resort' destinations especially Club Med places. You did get your vaccinations before you went didn't you? Hep A and Typhiod are standard for there.

• Don't worry about insurance--if you have cholera, a university hospital will want you off the streets. Contact your agent (you should have done this before you left, honestly) about the risks in Punta Cana for cholera.

• If you have diarrhea, fever and severe cramps you need to see a doctor straight away.

• OP did you drink any water there other than bottled?

• It's food poisoning. Just stay hydrated. There's a mixture of salt and sugar water you can make yourself that will help. Just Google around to find the exact measurements and give yourself a couple of days. And take immodium in the mean time.

• [quote]Get some Immodium stat. Bad advice. The diarrhea is ridding the body of whatever germ he picked up--keeping it inside is a bad idea. Go to the doctor, OP. You've probably just got a case of turista, which I recall from a trip to Puerto Vallarta, and while it is really miserable, it doesn't last long.

• OP, I hope you feel better and get to a university hospital. But here's what I don't understand: you don't have basic insurance, and yet you traveled to an 'exotic' locale. Not being able to afford insurance tells you to stay close to home. You wouldn't drive across country without car insurance, would you? Therefore, don't travel far from home without health insurance.

• Does your toilet bowl look like it's been pebble dashed, OP?

• [quote]do i need to go to the er? I have no insurance btw No. You can go to a walk in clinic. They will probably give you a script for cipro or flagyl R12, stfu. Most accidents and illnesses occur at home or very close to home

• My ex got a horrible case of food poisoning after a trip to Punta Cana at a low budget all-inclusive Sandals resort. The country is so impoverished that I have the feeling they re-use food that sits out on a buffet all day in the hot sun. Unlike my ex, I did not eat any meat during our trip. That might've been what saved me from a similar fate. I felt guilty the entire time I was there because the people have so little. When we were far enough out in the water, the locals would approach us begging us to bring them something to eat. I would NEVER go back.

  White%20Guilt

• thank you R11, for pointing that out. Why on earth would you want to inhibit your body's natural response by taking Immodium.....very bad idea!

• You know when you have food poisoning, it's beyond having cramps and shoots out both ends. If OP has food poisoning I doubt he would be okay enough to post here, unless he likes to sit in his own shit. Anywhoo, the CDC has been warning people about a cholera outbreak in the DR for a year. It's starting to get pretty bad, from what I hear. Your travel agent may or may not tell you this, and certainly not the DR Tourism Assoc. OP, I would restrict my trips to Dollywood and Seaworld in the future.

• OP, you need to go to the dr. You probably have some sort of bug and you may need antibiotics. It could be any number of things including e-coli. Do not take immodium unless a dr. directs you to do so. You may very well need to get everything out!!!!

• There are many emerging diseases out there waiting to attach themselves to first-world populations. Understand something, people: we are in the midst of global climate change. That means new bugs, viruses, and diseases will be popping up. Personally, I would stay close to home although the SARS is being discovered in the UK again. So, one never knows. But the comfort of home and familiar locales makes suffering a bit easier. Stay away from tropical locations--diseases and pathogens will be popping up soon and they won't be pretty.

  shut-in germaphobe

• Op here, the diarrhea has lightened up a bit. Not going quite as much but when I do it's still water. I took an amoxicillin I had around the house. Hoping that will improve my condition by tomorrow. If not I will find a clinic. Might as well start asking for clinic suggestions in NYC now right ?

  Op

• What kind of skanky hustler ass did you eat over there OP?

• Just one Argentinian bj...

  Op

• OP, taking one amoxicillin is kinda like pissing on a fire hoping to put it out. You need an entire course of antibiotics from your doctor to get rid of this bug.

• This is why I carry a stash of Cipro right next to the Viagra on my DR trips.

  Rush

• No I have a whole bottle amoxicillin I plan on taking.

  Op

• Why would you take an antibiotic without even being diagnosed, OP? Are you retarded?

• Do NOT get Immodium. You need to let the diarrhea run it course. Thing like Immodium stop the bad stuff from leaving your boy. You don't want that. Drink liquids and soups and rest. Don't eat anything that will bind you up.

• OP, don't waste the antiobiotics on this. You have an intestinal issue and antiibiotics don't work for things like this.

• Montezuma's revenge.

• Why are people suggesting a university hospital?

• I'm guessing Giardiasis? My grad school advisor got it every time he went to Indonesia. Got to a doctor.

• Jesus Christ what is wrong with you people? Cholera? OP, you traveled to a place where it's not safe to eat uncooked foods or drink the water. Now you've got the shits. When I got them in Mexico, my doctor wouldn't prescribe antibiotics without doing a culture to determine what bacteria was happening in there - she made me just ride it out. 3 weeks. I didn't die.You won't either.

• What the hell is up with Punta Cana? I never heard of it until about a year and a half ago. One of my friends went there last year on her honeymoon and now another couple I know is going there later this year. When the fuck did Punta Cana become the "it" vacation destination???

• Your grad school advisor probably licked every ass in Djakarta.

• What is the sudden attraction to going to Punta Cana? It sounds like a third world country. I have seen pictures of the place away from the resort area and it is beyond gross and scary.

  Anonymous

• Get well soon OP! Wishing you a speedy recovery.

• I went to Punta Cana a couple of years ago. Its attraction to me was that it was touted as the go-to for Europeans and Canadians more than ugly Americans (which was true, for the most part). I was in a "luxury" resort that didn't allow kids so the privacy and lack of crowds was nice, but the food there was terrible and the service left a lot to be desired. Won't go back. Still a third world shithole no matter which way you slice it.

• OP, you shouldn't be taking ANY antibiotics without a Dr telling you to. Good way to get an infection that is antibiotic-resistant. It sounds like nothing more than a stomach bug from food or water. Do NOT take Imodium as you want your system to flush out all the bad stuff... not keep it in. Increase your liquid intake and perhaps take some Gatorade or something that has electolytes in it. If you were eating a lot of fish, it's possible that you have a condition (I can't remember what the locals call it) where the toxins that white fish have consumed via the food chain gets into your system. It works its way out eventually. If you go to the Dr, make sure you mention where you traveled and when things kicked in. Don't worry about cholera.

• giardia

• You are in for a miserable ride. Giardia most likely and most Doctors will not prescribe for this without a stool sample, liquid or not and then waiting for the results. Then most likely Flagyl, one of the nastiest medications going. One of the reasons they won't prescribe before is because the medication required is wicked on the body and guts and even mental processes to take and many are unable to withstand the full course of treatment. Stick it out. Public Health cares about these things. Does the US have a Public Health Department? Some day you will have healthcare! Congratulations America. Fair warning. Flagyl is not fun. Americans on DL are such delicate boys. Tsk, Tsking about the Dominican Republic and Cuba and Mexico as vacation destinations, but lusting after their men once they come ashore I guess. Hypocrites. I don't like third world tourist destinations much, but not because of the unsavory natives. Canadians do like the DR and Cuba though for the lack of Americans. Who needs their shitty crassness on top of other discomforts ? Good luck with the giardia OP. As many others have said do not take Imodium before seeing a physician, and drink some Gatorade. You are about to lose at least 15 pounds and miss two weeks of work but you will live. Get some insurance and your very own GP, if that is allowed in your country.

  all%20inclusive%20

• Dengue

• [quote]Giardia most likely I had Giardia for almost a year once (after a false negative test), and while it was unpleasant I never had a fever. I just went a lot, and--upside!--stayed very, very lean no matter what I ate (it inhibits the way you digest fats). My doctor prescibed me cipro before a trip to India, in case I needed it while backpacking and didn't have access to a doctor. Never got sick there, but Mexico...yikes. Montezuma's Revenge is no joke.

  r11

• R40, I like your style. I'm an American but find your post to be humorous and spot-on. Kudos!

• Guys and girls, Again, I want to stress something about climate change. It will unleash diseases that were more isolated and unheard of in previous years. Please, stop and think before you go tropical, or vacation in a poor country. There is even a TB epidemic in downtown LA, per the Drudge Report. Do the research. Consider the risks. And before you go, have a plan for when you come home and may need medical care. Climate change doesn't have to be dramatic or theeatrical but more subtle, and will require us all to work around it. That means the imposition of not traveling where we want to, unless we are willing to get sick. This is very serious stuff. Be well people, and get better, OP.

  feel better dear

• So those foreign tourists at the Cecil were exposed to corpse water AND TB? So much for Destination L.A.

• The word is out for travelers to never, ever, stay downtown but instead stay on the westside (Santa Monica, West Los Angeles, Culver City, etc). Pay the extra bucks and stay somewhere decent, and if you have to go downtown than take a bus, tour group, or rent a car. But never stay downtown. It's as bad as walking around the Tenderloin *shudders*

• Travelers need to know that there are cities in the US that you cannot 'budget' and still stay safe. San Francisco, LA, NY, Chicago--if you cannot afford mid-priced accomodations don't do it. It won't be some kind of 'adventure' to brag about. Save your money until you can afford a safer and more pleasant trip. The old days of roughing it and having fun are OVAH.

• Yes you need an anti-biotic. Don't take immodium it makes you feel worse! It's probably a water born thing. I get them when I travel sometimes. I got sick in Turkey, Mexico, and even Texas from drinking water. Yes, I am a delicate flower.

• [quote] Unlike my ex, I did not eat any meat during our trip. That might've been what saved me from a similar fate. Doubtful. Most "vacation" food poisoning comes from food that has been sprayed with contaminated water, stored in water or irrigated with contaminated water while growing in the field. Think green salad, fruit, vegetable side dishes. Another big source of food poisoning are creams, custards, buttercream frosting. Lastly there is contaminated seafood and meat.

• There's been a TB epidemic on NYC since the 1920s. It was kept under control, but not eradicated, by public health nurses until 1980 when the public health nurses were cut. Then came drug-resistant TB -- brought to you by budget cutting. Public health is one sector where austerity measures have resulted in the deaths of millions. If they hadn't been cut in the late 70s-1980, they'd have otter AIDS sooner and agitated for treatment. But it was morning in America.... All the bad news had to go away, so PH nurses were sent away...

• Hotel rates in CA are disgusting. They charge for Internet access. They charge for parking. They have all kinds of fees tacked on so their population doesn't have to pay their fair share of property taxes. No wonder people from other parts of the world choose a place like the Cecil.

• [quote] Then most likely Flagyl, one of the nastiest medications going.One of the reasons they won't prescribe before is because the medication required is wicked on the body and guts and even mental processes to take and many are unable to withstand the full course of treatment. I don't think I've ever had a patient say they couldn't withstand the full course of flagyl. I've had patients taking flagyl that drank alcohol (despite being warned by me 2 - 3 times not to) that got very sick

• Feeling a lot better everyone. Thanks for your comments and concern.

  Op

• [quote]OP, you need to go to the dr. Actually, going there seemed to be the source of the problem. Going back isn't going to help.

• Filthy water, filthy food--and e-coli evahwhere! All-inclusive!

  Swim%20in%20a%20sewer%3F%20Prettied%20up%20slops%3F%20Study%20up%20before%20next

• OP, go to a health food store and get a good probiotic. After the diarrhea and antibiotic, you'll need some probiotics to restore your colons good bacteria.

• Fever doesn't seem to be associated with cholera. (see link). Plus, Punta Cana is a long way away from the areas of the Dominican where cholera has broken out... due largely to the chaos of Haiti in any event. It is highly unlikely you've got anything other than food poisoning or gastroenteritis. Stay hydrated and rest your stomach. I came back from a South American country in the last two weeks with a horrible case of gastroenteritis and I felt fevered as part of it. The pharmacist here told me if possible, avoid Immodium as long as you can because the diharrea is your body getting the toxins out. Something with electrolytes will help with the hydration. Don't be afraid to go the the doctor if you feel seriously unwell but odds are this is a simple bug.

  http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001348/

• Same thing with me...a week in st. Maarten and Turks & Caicos.

• Laughing at "per the Drudge Report." Honey, do you think there is some kind of invisible barrier between "good" and "bad" neighborhoods that would keep TB (an airborne illness) in downtown L.A. and away from you as long as you roll up your windows, lock the car doors, and stay 10 blocks away from any brown people? Has political conservatism literally become a degenerative brain disease? And if you haven't gone to a doctor OP, go. You need professional care if you are still sick at this point, not wilidly spiraling speculation by hysterical queens.

• Why the hell would anyone who can't afford insurance go on a vacation - to an all-inclusive resort no less.

• I never get sick in Western Europe

  I%20never%20get%20sick%20in%20Western%20Europe

• Is this you OP?

  http://www.gaytube.com/media/59060/Great_Fucking_time_in_Punta_Cana/

  SissyBear

• My partner just had a nasty case of some kind of stomach bug and the doc recommended something called the BRAT (bananas-rice-applesauce-toast) diet to help control the diarrhea:

  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BRAT_diet

• R33/R35 - Punta Cana was hot in mid-late 90s for about 10 years. It's no longer hot anymore cuz it's so "done". I can't believe you haven't heard of people going to Dominican Republic for vacation. It's like the Acapulco of the 60's and 70's.

• Some people just go on holiday in winter to lie on a beach in the sun, not for bragging rights. How tedious you must be at a dinner table, R64.

• Wow, Missy Op can take an all-inclusive to Punta Cana, but she can't buy health insurance. That's a social commentary begging to be written.