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You're right that you should not brush your teeth with tap water. Also, try to keep your mouth closed when showering. Washing your hands frequently, especially after handling money, may also be helpful.
"If water is not clean no food is safe strictly speaking "
No, food can be prepared safely in Mexico, even in places where the local tap water is polluted. Tap water can be sanitized with heat or bleach, and of course cheap, safe bottled water is sold in large "garagones" to households and restaurants. So with caution, luck, and some personal antibodies (perhaps developed during prior illnesses), foreigners can potentially travel or live in Mexico for extended periods without getting sick.
When experiencing diarrhea I've found it helpful to rest and drink lots of liquid, such as Sprite, dehydration fluids from pharmacies, or bottled water. So far,I have had good luck flushing infections through me instead of taking medicines which suppress that healing process. Of course, if I were dehydrating, simultaneously vomiting, or were ill for more than than a few days I'd visit a doctor.
After taking antibiotics for any condition, I later work active culture yogurt into my diet, hopefully accelerating re-population of my gut by healthy critters. I would wait until my stomach felt better before doing that, however.
Propolis is like gold for this kind of thing, 'propolio' in Spanish, ask for it at any tienda naturista.
The drops always work well for me and now I carry some of the solid kind with me when I'm in Mexico. Also ginger tea, if you can get the loose kind (suelto) not in tea bags.
And if you are where there is coconut water, the more mature coconuts (the big ones with a heavier shellm it's what I've seen almost everywhere) is well worth the price.
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stomach problem
In Mexico now (Ciudad Del Carmen, Compache). Has been here for three days. Had diarrhea the second day (only once). Went to a doctor and he prescribed Lacteol fort. It stopped. But my stomach isn't feeling right. Periodically I feel stomach cramps and regurgitation. I had the local plain yogurt with dry fruit every morning in the hotel. Should I change my morning diet?3
Go back to the local doc or try a different one. I can't remember the regimen they put me on or I would share it. The only thing I remember is I was eating saltine crackers and drinking coke. You have to restrict what you eat until your stomach recovers. Avoid dairy. I don't think yogurt would normally be a problem, but can't remember for sure. Sorry I'm not more help.6
"The hotel provides bottled water even for brushing the teeth although I have not been using it. Perhaps I should start".You're right that you should not brush your teeth with tap water. Also, try to keep your mouth closed when showering. Washing your hands frequently, especially after handling money, may also be helpful.
"If water is not clean no food is safe strictly speaking "
No, food can be prepared safely in Mexico, even in places where the local tap water is polluted. Tap water can be sanitized with heat or bleach, and of course cheap, safe bottled water is sold in large "garagones" to households and restaurants. So with caution, luck, and some personal antibodies (perhaps developed during prior illnesses), foreigners can potentially travel or live in Mexico for extended periods without getting sick.
When experiencing diarrhea I've found it helpful to rest and drink lots of liquid, such as Sprite, dehydration fluids from pharmacies, or bottled water. So far,I have had good luck flushing infections through me instead of taking medicines which suppress that healing process. Of course, if I were dehydrating, simultaneously vomiting, or were ill for more than than a few days I'd visit a doctor.
After taking antibiotics for any condition, I later work active culture yogurt into my diet, hopefully accelerating re-population of my gut by healthy critters. I would wait until my stomach felt better before doing that, however.
7
Few tourists stay in Cuidad del Carmen, Campeche. Perhaps you'd like to post a message telling us where you're staying and what you're doing while you recover. I stayed there for one night a couple of years ago just to break up my trip between Campeche and Villahermosa. I stayed at an unremarkable hotel near the bus station for approx 180 MXN. In the late afternoon I walked to the centro, and the beachfront (calle 20 o malecon), and looked around. Besides the large number of houses with sloped roofs, and the large number of expensive pickup trucks prowling the waterfront (no doubt Pemex employees at the wheel), I didn't see much of interest.9
Yes. I did that. The doctor next to the famacia was a unassuming young man. No appontment was needed. One patient came out as I was about to go in. My friend recommended to go see him because I also had muscle pain that day I suspect it was the precursor to a flu. The young doctor spent 25 minutes with me and charged only 30 pesos. He prescribed three different medicines one of which is anti-biotics. The anti-diarrhea was the most expensive (about $36). The other two cost only a few dollars.10
The BRAT diet (bananas, rice, applesauce, tea) is good to give your system a rest. This is commonly used for children with diarrhea. My doctor believes in letting it "run" its course for the most part while drinking lots of clear fluids. I would definitely get a stool culture done. I picked up a nasty parasite in Guatemala a few years ago that took several months to treat. Not a good picture.11
There is a bacterium in the food south of the boarder that gringos are not used to. When you get it, it takes over your whole digestive system end to end. I have gooten it twice in Mexico, once horribly 10 years ago in PV. Stay away froma any acidic beverages, juice, soda, and greasy foods like bacon or anything fried. Milk and banana bread really helped me when I was ill. No booze during this time either it will contribute to rippen upyour system worse!13
My two cents:Propolis is like gold for this kind of thing, 'propolio' in Spanish, ask for it at any tienda naturista.
The drops always work well for me and now I carry some of the solid kind with me when I'm in Mexico. Also ginger tea, if you can get the loose kind (suelto) not in tea bags.
And if you are where there is coconut water, the more mature coconuts (the big ones with a heavier shellm it's what I've seen almost everywhere) is well worth the price.
