Avoiding stomach problems in the west

[AnnMorin]

Ok, I gather that you should not drink the water in Mexico, including softdrinks with ice-I guess that includes frozen drinks made with ice too? So is it unsafe to go to the Playa de Sol beach open bar and buffet? What about in Grand Cayman is the water safe there? Thanks Ann

 

[rgionet]

bump!!

 

[AnnMorin]

What does "bump" mean? I have seen this alot on the boards and must not be "up" on the acronyms.

 

[Michelle]

A bump is a reply to a post to move it to the top of the board so that someone who knows the answer can see it and post to it...my reply just "bumped" this thread! Which is great, because I would like to know the answer too!

 

[Wavegirl]

Water in Cayman is all Reverse Osmosis so very safe

 

[RellingTwin]

There are different opinions on the water in Cozumel. I have been reading a board at www.cozumelmycozumel.com and there are many who say the water problems on Mainland Mexico do NOT apply to Cozumel because the underground water is from a different source.This seems to be the most popular opinion.......BUT then there are the horror stories.So we must ask...is it from the ice in the drinks, or the BOOZE in the drinks (if you overdo it) that makes people sick.
I would hate to spend any time sick during a vacation I had waited for for so long. SO....I plan on being careful. Bottled or canned drinks, cooked food, and no fresh produce. I also will bring pepto bismol, tums, and Imodium

 

[Pugdog007]

We drank frozen drinks from Fat Tuesday's and TGI Friday's in Cozumel... no problems. Just stick with the familiar.

 

[tkd lisa]

This reminds me a little of the thread on the water in Disney World that pops up periodically on the theme park page.

I think the concern with stomach problems on the Western comes from the fact that there seemed to be a 24 hour bug going around on the first one, and several people mentioned it (including me). Our DS (8 1/2) got it, and I can attest that he didn't drink anything in Cozumel except one canned coke directly out of the can. In Grand Cayman he drank some of a bottled fruit juice. Really unlikely either one caused the problem.

I think that it's a combination of eating unusually rich foods, being in the sun a lot, and a small confined space that transfers germs easily (and the pools have got to be a serious breeding ground!!).

I wouldn't really sweat it too much. There probably won't be much you can do to prevent a bug from biting you (pun intended!), and if you do get it, it's likely to pass relatively quickly.

 

[Judgekw]

I have been to the Cayman islands at least five times with and without kids and with other family members. No one has ever gotten the slightest bit ill and we all drink and eat everything, including tap water. You will see when you get there, but it is extremely clean and Americanized. More so in my opinion than the Virgin Islands. As far as Cozumel I have been there probably about 8 times and you do have to be careful. Check out the buffet does it look as if things are fresh and kept cold. In my opinion it is not just the water that gets you ill but a more lax attitude toward food preparation and temperatures. Having said that we always chew two pepto bismal tablets before eating in Cozumel. We have never gotten ill. This was on the advice of my doctor. He said it coats the stomach and really works. I do know many people who have gotten ill in Cozumel, but we have not with this method. We then eat pretty much everything besides a lot of fresh produce and we do avoid tap water but we drink frozen drinks and drinks with ice. I think it would be hard to get sick from one day in port unless you make some really bad choices. Use your common sense and take the pepto bismal if you are worried. You will have a great time in both ports. They are both so different, but a lot of fun.

 

[AnnMorin]

I like the pepto idea, I will bring some (and some immodium in case) I thought you got sick from some type of protozoa in their water? Maybe that is only mainland mexico?

 

[SusanB]

I was very interested in hearing responses to this question too. We'll be on the western cruise July 20 and have signed up for the Tulum excursion. It includes a box lunch and drink. I called DCL to inquire if the lunch was from DCL or a local vendor. Sad to say, it is from a local vendor. I'm really hesitant to eat it because when visiting Cancun several years ago, I got really sick - don't want to repeat that. I'm actually tempted to take something from the ship with us on this excursion.
Anyone out there been on this excursion? How was the lunch? Any comments would be greatly appreciated, I'm really worried about this part of the trip!

 

[RellingTwin]

Susan..you have another option. Bring some food from the ship with you. Remember to take along some zip lock bags and get either something from room service or something from the buffet breakfast. Put your food in a small soft sided cooler/lunch box alsone with a ziplock full of ice, and you're all set! I am sure the berervages are canned or bottleled, so you will not have to worry with drinks.

 

[Kajunswty]

You can believe any excursion you book throught the cruise line will have safe food and water. Anything else I would be careful!

 

[SusanB]

My thoughts were running along the same lines as Relling Twin suggested. I know it's a pain dragging along food and bottled water, but better safe than sorry! I've been sick on vacation before and don't want to repeat that!
Thanks for the response!

 

[4crusinransiers]

First of all let me say that my husband, my boys 9 and 11 as myself have traveled all over mexico and extensivly on Southern mexico (were ruin hoppers and divers) We have traveled to very remote non touristy areas and always pack in our own water.
We have never had a problem. We try to be somewhat careful but not paroniad. Touristy areas like Cozumel are usually pretty safe. Most food eaterys use purifyed water for ice cubes and frozen drinks and rinse there produce in a sanitizing agent.
All you have to do is ask. In fact we will be dining at "Panchos Backyard when we port in Cozumel instead of eating on the boat
for dinner. My boys are dying for REAL mexican food, not the Tex mex stuff we get here in the states.
Heres a great tip. If drinking a bottle of pop, use a straw, sometimes the water and ice they use to cool it is not purified.
And another tip~~~~Mexico is safer than most of our larger US citys. Have fun!

 

[Psiklops]

DW and I were on the May 11th sailing and neither of us got the "bug" that many others did. We did the Tulum excursion and had the boxed lunch and didn't have any problems. We did, however, avoid the apple, but many others on the trip ate it and I can attest that no alien creatures burst from their chests within the next hour or so that we were all together

For dinner we ate at Carlos 'n Charlies and imbibed in many of the frozen drinks. We had no problem whatsoever with any of the food or the drinks. Now, I know that Carlos 'n Charlies is a chain, so they probably take better precautions, but this is one of the reasons we went there (plus it's within staggering distance of the ship)

- Jim

 

[VondaP]

I live in a border city in West Texas, we are approximately 10 minutes from Mexico. I thought I would post an article in todays newspaper by Dr. Michael Pinon.


Beware of Montezuma's Revenge


Whether it's Mexico, Machu Picchu or Morocco, international summer travel season is here. While the sidewalk cafes, the fabled lost cities and the exotic nightclubs may be hard to resist, travel isn't without its headaches or medical disasters. If traveling doesn't get you in your wallet, it'll get you in the stomach if you are not prepared.

Whether you know it as Montezumas's Revenge, Delhi Belly or Katmandu Quickstep, Travelers Diahrrea or TD can be your worst travel nightmare.

When international travel became more widespread after World War II, the fact that many travelers were struck with diahrrea was originally somewhat of a mystery. However, it is now clear that TD is due to a variety of bacteria, viruses and protozoa that are accidentally ingested by eating or drinking contaminated food or water.

While popular guidebooks recommend "boil it, peel it or forget it" travelers still become ill despite their best efforts.

Make certain that food is thoroughly cooked - the hotter the better - and I'm talking heat, not spice!

Avoid everything raw: oysters, shellfish and meat including raw fruits and vegetables, except those that can be peeled, and then peel them yourself. Avoid dishes containing raw or undercooked eggs such as mayonnaise, hollandaise sauce and custards.

Consider drinking only "safe" beverages such as bottled water and carbonated drinks, beer, wine, hot coffee, and hot tea. Avoid ice in beverages, and use only bottled water when brushing your teeth. Wash your hands thoroughly, especially before eating and after trips to the restroom.

There is a substantial risk that Montezuma's Revenge will occur while away from medical help; therefore, travelers should be able to diagnose and treat themselves if medical help is not available. Obtain prescription antibiotics from your physician to take with you to combat TD and pack symptom-relieving medications such as Imodium and Pepto Bismol.

If you experience the sudden onset of diarrhea with abdominal discomfort or distention, it's probably bacterial and you can treat it with Cipro 500mg, doxycycline 100mg, or Bactrim DS twice daily for three days. In contrast the protoxoal diarrheas, mainly Giardia and Entamoeba histolytica, come on more gradually and include a rumbly, gassy feeling and upper abdominal discomfort with fatigue. These pathogens can be treated with Metronidazole 250mg three times daily for five days. Whatever the cause, fluid replacement with electrolytes is essential to avoid becoming dehydrated.

Careful travel planning can help you circumvent the worse of worst-case scenarios if you encounter Montezuma's unassuming wrath.

I hope this helps. My husband travels to the interior of Mexco (Leon) quite often and we keep these meds on hand. We can obtain them across the border without a script. Dh has needed them occasionally and they work wonders.

Vonda