[pct-l] Help???

[reynolds@iLAN.com (Reynolds, WT)]

I use the antibiotics and pain killers as you suggest. If I need either I
scrub the hike.

Tom

-----Original Message-----
From: Jim Mayer [mailto:jmayer@rochester.rr.com]
Sent: Sunday, March 25, 2001 3:48 PM
To: Reynolds, WT; 'Valerie'; pct-l@mailman.backcountry.net
Subject: Re: [pct-l] Help???


Hi,

I carry both painkillers and antibiotics, but my philosophy of use for the
antibiotics is different that what I think Tom is suggesting (of course, I
could have misunderstood him... always a good possibility!).  Anyway, I
carry a broad spectrum antibiotic, but only a few days supply.  The reason I
don't carry a full course is that if I EVER feel that I need to start taking
them (or the serious pain killers, for that matter), I'll be on my way off
the trail.  In my non-professional opinion (maybe a doctor on the list would
like to comment), in these days of resistant bacteria the use of antibiotics
has gotten far too technical for folks to self-treat with them.
Furthermore, antibiotics do NOTHING for viral infections, and it is not
always clear how to tell the difference (and sometimes both are present at
the same time).

So why do I carry antibiotics at all?  Mostly in case of a severe, dirty,
open wound.  If I thought it would take more than a day to get to an
emergency room I'd start taking antibiotics in the hope of staving off a
massive infection.

Conservatively,

-- Jim

----- Original Message -----
From: "Reynolds, WT" <reynolds@ilan.com>
To: "'Valerie'" <latte94@foothill.net>; <pct-l@mailman.backcountry.net>
Sent: Friday, March 23, 2001 1:29 PM
Subject: RE: [pct-l] Help???


> Antibiotics and serious pain killers. You rarely need it but when you do
you
> need a LOT. If you get hurt and have to walk out on a bum whatever you
will
> need a Vicodine every 2 hours for as long as you need to walk. If you get
> sick you need PenVK 500 mg 4 times a day for 7 days.
>