[pct-l] Giardia

[Shauna]

Giardia has a way of hitting you again and again.. just when you think you
are well it comes back.   Then you become immune.

On Sat, 15 Sep 2007 14:53:03 -0700, "carl myhill" <carl at litsl.com> had this
to say:

>32 miles from White Pass I got pretty bad diarrhea. So bad, in fact, that I
>couldn't drink fluids without them making a very rapid exit. I was pretty
>scared being so far from a road, and the wrong side of Knife Edge. While I
>felt OK I made miles. Being sick reduced the mileage I could do to the point
>where I would run out of food if I was too slack. What's more, 32 miles
>without fluid is a LONG WAY.
>
>I made 6 miles and was very pleased to catch OJ and Ricola. The latter had
>immodium which I think saved me, certainly the squits stopped and I could
>drink again, just a little. I hiked on a bit delirious and then slept for an
>hour or so. Luckily I did Knife Edge at the end of the day so the adrenalin
>carried me across that. In the end I made 20 miles.
>
>I arrived in Packwood on Friday. No internet there on Friday or Saturday. I
>watched TV for a couple of days. Ate 15 doughnuts, 2 huge pots of yogurt and
>all kinds of junk. Whatever I ate make me BLOAT hugely. When I went for a
>little walk I felt pretty sick.
>
>I had heard a lot of rumours about Giardia and was quite worried. I thought
>I should hitch to a clinic or go and gets some drugs from Urgent Care. I
>didnt want to be irresponsible and hike out already unfit.
>
>When I finally got onto the internet on Sunday I read up on Giardia. I read
>various things including:
>- avoid simple sugars
>- reduce milk intake (yogurt seemed ok and I fancied the extra GOOD bacteria
>in my gut)
>- giardia is self limiting and usually goes away by itself
>- incubation is about 8 days (I would have been in the UK if that were true)
>
>I felt better on Monday and also bumped into TeaTree and NAFTA, which
>cheered me up. I hiked out Tuesday and felt fine.
>
>I don't know if I had Giardia or not but I was pretty unwell.
>
>What I learned:
>1. CARRY IMMODIUM (My first aid kit has little wipes for when you get stung
>by an insect - cursing works fine for that!!! When I cant hold any fluid, I
>cannot curse my way out of it!!!!)
>2. These things often sort themselves out
>
>I feel fine now, just a week later (though am somewhat sulphurous smelling
>at times I'm afraid)
>
>Litsl
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