The Medicine Chest

Being prepared with a few medications is wise.  After all, we are trying to do what amounts to an athletic event in somewhat hostile conditions and we need to be at the top of our game.

La tourista, Montezumas revenge, or what ever you want to call it, can happen.  The natural microbial background in Mexico is different than at home.  To lessen the chance of ingestion, use only treated or bottled water, eat only cooked foods, eat only self peeled fruit and vegetables , do not use ice in drinks, and keep your hands out of your mouth.  The most frequent source of trouble is the raw tomato, onion, and pepper relishes present at all restaurants.  Despite precautions it can still happen.  La tourista presents as watery diarrhea and cramps.  It will keep you from fishing and near a bathroom.  Immodium (Loperamide) is an over the counter anti-diarrheal that will stem the tide but it will not cure you.  You will also have flu like fever and nausea.  In general, you will be quite sick.  It will take almost two weeks to run its natural course but there is a quick and easy cure.  A 500 mg tablet of Ciprofloxacin will make you feel much better in six hours.  It should be taken every 12 hours for about two days.  You will be back on your feet and having fun quickly.  It does make you a little more sun sensitive so be sure to cover up well when on the beaches.  You will need to get a prescription for this from your doctor and I wouldn't go on a trip without about a dozen tablets.

An oxymoron to the above is constipation.  The Mexican diet includes very little roughage.  You will tend to eat a lot of protein in the form of seafood.  Stir in a little dehydration and you have the perfect recipe for pluggage.   Bring some fiber tablets and use them everyday.  Eat some fruit when you get the chance.  Avoid dehydration.

Walking miles in the sand and making hundreds of casts will make you sore and achy.  It's difficult to fish effectively when you are hurting.  I call Naproxen (Aleve) the breakfast of champions.  Two tablets every 12 hours will keep you from being stiff and sore the next day.  It also reduces the likelihood of inflammation of muscles and joints.  I find that I can fish several more hours per day when I use Naproxen.  It's cheap and easily available.  Bring some and use it.

Walking miles in salt-water soaked pants will give you an irritating and uncomfortable groin and upper thigh rash.  This is painful and miserable.  You will walk like a cowboy.  Bring some Desitin diaper rash cream (with zinc oxide).  Apply this to your groin and upper thigh area every day before hitting the beaches.  I also put a small tube in my lumbar pack in case I need to reapply it.  Forget it just one day and I bet you won't forget it again!

Cuts, scrapes, and blisters can happen.  Bring some "triple antibiotic cream" and carry it with you on the beaches.  Band-aids should be the heavy-duty flexible cloth type.

Follow the Boy Scout motto. "Be Prepared".