Medical Information from Marie, Our Team Medic
On a medical note, I went to the Travel Clinic this week, and, as you and Ann told me already, 50 percent of us will get traveller’s diarrhea. Research shows that we can dramatically reduce our chances - down to 14 % I think - of getting it if we all take 2 Pepto Bismal tabs four times a day. The only people who should NOT take Pepto Bismal are those have aspirin allergy, kidney failure, gout, or are taking an anticoagulant. (one person in our group at least is on an anticoagulant). One down side, Pepto Bismol commonly causes blackening of the tongue and stool and may constipate you. The reason I think it would be a good idea for us all to take Pepto is that the treatment for TD is Cipro, which I don’t have enough of for 50 % of us, and also, when elderly folks (I include myself in this group)take Cipro we are at fairly high risk of developing Claustridium Difficile, a miserable and difficult to treat form of diarrhea. So there you have it - choose your poison as they say.
Please bring either enough Pepto Bismal to take 8 a day, or your own doctor-prescribed medication for TD. I am bringing extra immodium and some Cipro.
Second medical thing - did everyone get their typhoid vaccination? We all need it.
