Hello!

Welcome to our mid-life crisis! These are the chronicles of Laura and Patrick, their young son Jack, and their goofball Labrador Retriever named Evinrude (Rudy), as they travelled the Sea of Cortez and the Pacific coast of mainland Mexico in their catamaran. We went cruising in search of a change of pace, a closer knit family, and peace of mind. We found all three and more. The fun all started in October, 2008 and nearly four years later the Mexican adventure came to an end August 3rd, 2012. With our mid-life crisis cured in Mexico, we are excited to start a new adventure - life back in America.

Candeleros Chico

Candeleros Chico
Just another beautiful day at anchor on the Baja. 2010

Dolphins at play in the bow wake 2011

Dolphins at play in the bow wake  2011

Saturday, March 24, 2012

Amibas y Lombrices

Well, it's a topic that you won't hear a lot about in blogs - amoebas and worms. But hey! we live in Mexico, folks. They happen. The longer you live here, the more likely you are to be affected. You can get amoebas and/or worms from bad water, under-washed fruits and veggies, undercooked meat, bad hygiene, touching something that someone with bad hygine has touched, touching someone else who is infected, or even just from the street dust that covers everything that might have the eggs of the parasites attached (remember all those stray dogs and cats I've talked about?).
About a week ago, I "went off my feed." The first day, I was nauseous and very tired. The second day, I felt hungry but whenever I ate anything I doubled over with terrible cramps. On the 3rd day, the Big D entered my life and I had to stay very close to a bathroom. The entire time, I was very lethargic and tired, but had no fever. I knew I had gotten into something. I've had the same experience once before while we were on the Baja. I learned about Vermox Plus then. So I knew just what to try first. Long live Vermox Plus!
Vermox Plus is an over the counter medication sold here in Mexico. There are several different brands of medication available here that do the same thing. Some are stronger than others. I like Vermox Plus since it is very simple to use. With just two pills, it kills amoebas and worms. Within three days of taking the dose, I was pretty much back to normal - no nausea, no pain after eating, no cramps, no diarrhea. Yeah!
In fact, I've heard that many Mexicans and people who live in Mexico take a medication like Vermox every six months, just to de-parasite, even without symptoms. While we haven't started that regime on Just a Minute, it is the first thing I try when I get a long-lasting stomach issue going on. Some stomach issues strike and clear up quickly. Some start up and stay until you get treatment. Both times I had stomach issues that lasted more than a day, Vermox Plus worked to cure me, but I know it doesn't work for everyone.
Of course, once you kill all the bad things in your tummy, you've have also killed a lot of the good bacteria. So then you take Yakult. I love these little things. Yakult is sold everywhere in Mexico in grocery stores. They are tasty little shots of all the good bacteria that your stomach needs to function well. They are just big enough to be a swallow or two. They taste like little orange-creamsicles.
An obvious disclaimer: I am not a doctor and have no medical training. Please consult your physician before taking Vermox Plus to make sure it safe and necessary for you.

7 comments:

  1. Wonderful stuff, it comes in "sugar-free" also!

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  2. Hi Pam,
    I had a bet with myself that you would write a comment on this post, having lived months in Mexico in a colonia. It is amazingly effective for certain problems. And Sugar Free! who knew?
    Laura

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  3. Whoa! We'll be sure to stock up on some Vermox Plus for sure. Thanks so much for writing about both the great Mexico days (sunny, surfing, etc) as well as these 'not so great' Mexico days. The knowledge sharing is certainly appreciated!
    Thanks,
    Katie and Mark
    www.ControlledJibe.com

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  4. If you are going to be in the far north for hurricane season, it is a good idea to stock up on things like Vermox Plus, and even some simple antibiotics like Cephalexina. There is no pharmacy in La Bay village and no drugs available except at a small state-run clinic with very limited resources. Cephalixina is good for skin infections which is the main thing we have had problems with in the summer for both us (infected bug bites) and or dog Rudy (to stop hot spots and for sting ray wound.) Hot, humid environment means easy infections.
    Laura

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  5. I have never had Yakult and feel that I have been cheated. Vermox Plus is mandatory when traveling abroad. Lots of new goobers being introduced to your system.

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  6. Hi Meri and Jesse!
    It's so good to hear from you. Oh, the Yakult! It's really good. Almost like an ice cream treat and good for you! Why save them for when you have a tummy problem?
    You were definitely cheated Meri, but El Salvadore may have something similar.
    Laura

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