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I got a question for everyone here. I soon will be going to Lima to visit a gal. Has any of you gotten sick (sh!ts) while in a different country ?? It`s one of my biggest fears while being there. I can remember Steve R. from Michigan always saying no matter what he did, he got sick as heck. I know all the basics, such as don`t drink the water, no fresh fruit, only hot foods. I would think it would ruin the whole trip. Any suggestions or experiences you would like to share would be greatly appreciated. As far as I can remember, I never really heard this topic being discussed here. Later, Evan

... in response to Getting sick while in LA, posted by Evan on Jun 7, 2001

Evan: Here's some more advice that may be helpful. You obviously have the basics about water, certain foods, fruit, etc. You have a better chance of getting "tourista" by eating contaminated food than you do by drinking the local water. Bacteria is the most common cause but viruses and parasites are also to blame. "Tourista" to a lesser extent is caused by jet lag, fatigue, and change of environment. Your best defense is good hygiene. Frequently wash your hands. Take some of those "instant wipes" that contain an anti-bacterial agent and use on your hands prior to eating. Also only eat at places that at least appear clean and where the people practice good hygiene. Hope this helps!

... in response to Getting sick while in LA, posted by Evan on Jun 7, 2001

Evan,
  I had no problems at the airport in Lima when I went to visit my girl [now wife] there. The night I arrived [around 11 pm] it took about an hour to get through immigration because of a long slow line waiting to get my passport checked and stamped. Then only a few more minutes to claim my bags and exit. The time I was there it looked like the only people allowed inside the airport building were those with tickets, along with employees of course. My girl had to wait outside for me. When you exit the building there will be dozens, maybe couple hundred people trying to get you to take their taxi. Even they were kept behind a fence so i was able to spot my wife waving to me in the crowd. Once I met up with her, she protected me from the rest of the soliciters, LOL. When they saw her with me, they pretty much left us alone.
   I would recommend having someone you know meet you at the airport if possible, the taxi crowd won't bother you as much once you exit the building. Someone said the baggage claim area was a zoo, I don't remember it being bad at all.
   
   good luck-

... in response to Getting sick while in LA, posted by Evan on Jun 7, 2001

Ive been to Lima a few times now and will be there again in two weeks. I have never had problems of getting sick there, but i was picky about what i ate. I drank coke with no ice or bottled water for dinner and lunch. At the hotel room i had water, i went and bought several bottles of water from the grocery store. I drank "sin gas" because i cant stand mineral waters it sux! I'd suggest hitting the san isabela (my spelling might be a little off) store to buy the water and snacks. Myself, I brought a few snacks with me though, habit from the army. I never had the raw fish dish there. I dont like sea food that much, i stuck to beef and chicken. I dont think you need shots really, but i went and got mine, i got typhoid and hepatitis A & B, ..i already had some of the others(army)
  Yeahhhh the other guys is right about the taxis, be careful. You need to negotiate the price first before going anywhere. Most time you will pay around 4-7 soles in lima, unless going real far. At the airport they will try to get ya, and charge you like 20 dollars. You need to see if the hotel you are staying at will pick you up or if you have girl there, let her do the talking to the taxi guy....at first i didnt want to take a bus...but then i warmed up to it..i started taking the bus, because was so cheap.2 soles...its not as fast though, and you need to have your girl with you so you dont get lost..........and the airport is a zoo..lol...at the luggage area.....you should see the area where you are going to pick up your bags..its like something you would think of seeing back in the 50's...kind of like a old hanger with cement floor and everyone going crazy to get there bags and go through the check out (customs)....but its no biggie, just got to get yours bags and get in line, which moves pretty quick....ive never been stopped for them to look at my bags.........also, when i went..i dressed plain(t-shirt, jeans, and old tennis shoes, and didnt wear jewlery, and put my wallet in my front pocket. I just didnt want to stick out and be a target, so i left the "bling, bling" stuff home. I also didnt carry a lot money on me either, i left my credit card, passport, and some cash in the safe there at the hotel(just in case i got jacked)....I was with my novia all time, so she kept me in the safe places, but some didnt seem so safe to me ..Lima has some rough areas for sure....Mira Flores is one of the nicer areas and is where i stayed the first couple times, then i found place cheaper and very nice (20 dollars a night) yet still close to mira flores....... i was never messed with when i was there, but i was looking a bit like a thug myself, so maybe thats why......you should be alright, just need to be careful ............Golden.......

... in response to Getting sick while in LA, posted by Evan on Jun 7, 2001

I've never had trouble in LA even with seafood, but I avoid the water. Some of my friends have had big trouble with dairy products including ice cream. I prefer to wash things down with alcohol (cerveza, tequilla, ron, etc.) just to make sure! :o)
-- Jeff S.

... in response to Getting sick while in LA, posted by Evan on Jun 7, 2001

Hi,

I have been to Lima lot's of times.  I have gotten sick only once.  If you make several trips to Peru, getting sick is almost unavoidable, something will get you.  

Here are my tips:

1) carry Imodium with you at all times in your pocket because you never know when it is going to hit you. If it hits you stay hydrated! When in Peru, I always carry a 1/3 roll of toilet paper flattend in my coat pocket (if you are away from your novia)because no public bathroom has TP, it gets stolen.

2) drink only aqua mineral "con gas".  That way you know it is not just tap water put in the bottle.

3) stay away from salads, fresh vegtables and fruits, cooked hot food only!!

4) be very careful about seafood (I know several people who became very sick and required hospital stays in Peru to recover after eating seafood).  This will not be easy in Lima.  My incident came after eating at the nicest restaurant in Lima, the Costa Verde.  So you never know.

Here are some other suggestions for Lima:

1) try some of their famous Pisco Sours, they are great

2) hit some of the Casinos, it is fun to play black jack in Spanish.

Cautions:

Most of Lima is a slum.  Be very careful taking taxis by yourself, especially from the airport to town.  I have to tell you, Lima "feels" more dangerous than any other city I have been in SA including Cali. You are a target.  

The traffic is scary, and the taxi drivers can scare the s*** out of you at times.  Very few traffic lights, each intersection can be a game of chicken.  

One of my business partners had his laptop stolen in the lobby of a major hotel while he was checking in. He set it down to register and it was gone. Be very careful about your stuff at all times. The airport is a zoo, particularly departure, and thieves are everywhere.

You will have to pay an airport exit tax, so be ready for it.

take care,
mike

... in response to Re: Getting sick while in LA, posted by denvermike on Jun 8, 2001

Thanks Mike and Georgina for your help, it`s good to hear from people that had actual experience there. God knows the last thing I want is to get sick, it would ruin the whole trip. I did read up on what JunFanTX was talking about, sounds like a good idea to me, just to be on the safe side.I had already planned on taking a couple of rolls of my favorite TP and a rather large cork and duct tape. I know my girlfriend was going to have me stay in Milaflores, don`t remember the name off hand, but it`s like a apartment hotel for I think $50.00 a day.
The other day, I don`t remember who said it, but they said how they save on meals while in Cali because of making best friends with the toilet. I will take everything into account that was said.
Thanks to everyone !!!  Evan

... in response to Re: Re: Getting sick while in LA, posted by Evan on Jun 8, 2001

WOW , 50.00 !!..you are paying to much chief, .....you can stay at Hostal Torreblanca in Mira flores for 30.00 a night or 45.00 night for their bigger room....its at ave jose pardo 1453 if you want your chica to check it out for you...i stayed there for about two weeks......and then there is Hotel Sans Souchi its 20.00 a night its close to mira flores.....both of these are clean and very nice, cable tv, hot water, and if you want, a fridge........now if you really want to be cheap(like me... lol).... you can stay at bed & breakfast El Museo for 10.00 a night, but no hot water and i didnt feel like i had freedom there, but is cool if you just need place to lay your head for the night....i move around a lot when im there...because im going to see things, ..so i go stay one place, then come back stay at another....another place that is cool for you and your girl to go to, to be alone....is el pueblo...nicceeeee...is about 80.00 dollars a night, and is outside of lima...but its a resort with horses, a lot swimming pools, bowling, and is very pretty......umm barranco is cool too.....lots of places.....if you want i can get more enough on these places...just let me know....Golden

... in response to Re: Re: Re: Getting sick while in LA, posted by Golden on Jun 8, 2001

Golden,

I would like to find out more about your experiences in Peru.  I am at rmjoe@compuserve.com.

James

... in response to Getting sick while in LA, posted by Evan on Jun 7, 2001

Evan,
 I have used it frequently in the Philippines and it always works where some other similar products haven't.  Get the most potent form as I think there are two versions of Imodium.  It can make all the difference between having a fun trip and praying to die!  LOL   And I have been to that point.  On the trip when I went to accompany my wife to her VISA interview, I was absolutely miserable for two days.  Just the day before, I couldn't even stand up, much less function.  The thought of getting on a plane was unbearable!

As soon as you feel the slightest hint of "trouble" take one.   As you quoted SteveR, things other than water can get you, so be careful about little slip ups like getting an ice cube in a coke, or the water used to wash a salad, etc.  
                                        SteveG

... in response to Take a box of Imodium!!!, posted by SteveG on Jun 8, 2001

your body is trying to rid itself of toxins.  you should allow your body to "evacuate" for a day or so before taking Immodium which basically holds everything inside.  if you have to catch a flight that is a different story

... in response to Getting sick while in LA, posted by Evan on Jun 7, 2001

Evan,
I spent about 50 days in Colombia before I ever got sick.I drank the tap water and ate all the food.Even in Cancun,which is supposed to have this modern water system,my stomach was always a little funny.About 5 days before I left last time we got hamburgers from this place my brother in law liked.They have hamburger and deli type meats and onions and who knows what else.I ate them a couple of times before and no problem,but this time 6 of us ate them and only my mother in law did not get sick.My stomach was messed up for days.I have ulcerative colitis that was under control and this got it going and it took about a month to clear up.
In short its not like Mexico.(I was never sicker than one night when I got food poisoning in Puerto Villarta.)You can get bad food but it seems to not happen often and I had no problem with the water.

Pete

... in response to Re: Getting sick while in LA, posted by Pete E on Jun 8, 2001

I was in Cancun one month ago, the water system is only safe to drink in the hotel zone.  In the city is like the rest of mexico, drink at your own risk.  I had dinner several nights in the city at restaurants off the beaten track that some of the locals recommended, no gringos, only drank cokes and cervaza, no lettuce, great food, no problems.
A1A

... in response to Getting sick while in LA, posted by Evan on Jun 7, 2001

Before my first trip to Colombia, I went to my doctor to get some medicine in case I got a case of 'tourista', and he gave me Cipro or Lomodil, which will take care of the problem en seguida.  

Looking back, it was actually funny because I thought I was gonna have to get a bunch of shots for Malaria, Yellow Fever, African Sleeping sickness or something...not to mention I was worried about getting bit by the infamous 'green mamba' of SA...

Later,
Mike

www.sparhard.com/colombia.htm

... in response to Get some CIPRO, posted by JunFanTX on Jun 8, 2001

...we got bit by the "Hot Latina Mamba" instead...LOL..

HD

... in response to Getting sick while in LA, posted by Evan on Jun 7, 2001

I've been to Lima a few times and never had a problem. I did avoid the water though, after having problems with it in other countries I thought that would be a good idea.

I had the ceviche a few times, never made me sick, but the taste takes some getting used to. It's raw fish in Lemon/lime juice with bean sprouts and some other vegy's

Good luck!

Doug

... in response to Getting sick while in LA, posted by Evan on Jun 7, 2001

Evan,

Your mileage will vary. I never got sick during my nine days in Medellin. I drank the water and ate fruit from stalls (although the fruit was peeled.) So, sure take precautions. You might or might not get sick. It might be the case that the water in Medellin is extra clean and Lima's might not be. Dunno.

Sol

... in response to Getting sick while in LA, posted by Evan on Jun 7, 2001

Tell your gal to help you with that. There are going to be many cases maybe that you go to a house invited for lunch or dinner and in Peru, the ceviche is the rule for tourist. It is a tipical dish made with raw fish and it is very likely they would like for you to try it. So just tell your gal about the difference between the food and the water and she can help you apologizing to people if you can't eat some foods. You can feel bad about telling people that you can't eat it. When my husband go there and people invite us for dinner, before the dinner I tell people please only hot foods. How ever, he never got sick in Lima. Also when you brush your teeths use mineral water that you can get in any corner. We careful with the salads, too.

Good luck and keep us posted.