Hydrate, Hydrate, Hydrate

Tammy's trip to Peru

I have traveled to six continents and a dozen countries but found that Peru was in many ways the most challenging.  Rather than travelling as a regular tourist, I volunteered for a medical mission, teaching dental education and assisting a Peruvian doctor in Iquitos, Peru.  Not knowing  Spanish, I had taken a six week class before I left, but found it didn’t help me much in dealing with the natives in that environment.  By the end of the first week I felt like I should be one of the patients.  I had traveler’s diarrhea.  I drank several bottles of water and Gatorade so it wouldn’t get any worse.  I also ended up with a fungal spot on my forehead and neck.  I am sure it had something to do with the over 600 patients that were seen in the clinic, many of whom had fungal disease.  The hot and humid weather just exacerbated the condition.   From the beginning of the trip I took vitamin C and zinc tablets to prevent any cold but I still ended up with a sore throat and the start of a cold.

The next part of my journey took me to Puno where the altitude is about 4000 meters or over 13,000 ft.  I took a decongestant for the plane ride which helped with my cold but I did find myself feeling dizzy and had trouble breathing because of the altitude.  Coca tea is the local remedy to help ease the affects of the altitude so that became my drink of choice.  I was in Puno for two days and was able to sightsee but didn’t feel 100%.

After leaving Puno I went to Cusco and Machu Picchu which was over 11,000 feet and was feeling much better.  I hiked up Waynapicchu, the peak above the ancient city of Machu Picchu, but only had a small amount of water.  This was a big mistake.  After 6 hours of hiking with no food and not much water I found myself vomiting and unable to keep any liquids down.  I went to a clinic in town with my new friend Elizabeth, who was able to interpret for me.  The medical personnel wanted to give me an IV and an injection to stop the vomiting.  I didn’t have confidence in this recommendation, so I was given pills instead and instructed to drink Gatorade with slow sips along with chicken soup.  After paying less then a dollar for an office visit, Elizabeth and I left to get chicken soup but just the smell in the restaurant made me ill.  We ran into our guide from Machu Picchu and he took us to a private clinic.  This place was much better and the staff spoke a little English.  I was given an injection for the vomiting and some electrolyte liquid.  I waited there until my train left to go back to Cusco.  The office visit cost about 40 dollars. After a missed train and a train that didn’t go directly to Cusco, I was dropped off in a small town trying to find someone who spoke English to drive me back to Cusco.  Still feeling sick, I got a ride in the back of a van with about 10 other people.  After 2 hours, exhausted and hungry, I was back in the main square of Cusco.  There I was finally able to get some chicken soup.   On the 20 minute walk to my hotel, I now found I had a new best friend, a stray dog. Attracted by the smell of my soup, he shadowed me the whole way.  I finally threw him a piece of bread and was able to save the soup for myself.

After the trip, it took my system about 3 weeks to return to normal.  What I would suggest to anyone considering a trip to high altitude countries such as Peru would be to take a medication call Diamox prior to and during your trip.  It is a prescription medication and does have some side effects so consult with your doctor.  Even though I saw a travel nurse before my trip and did receive recommended vaccinations, the Diamox was never mentioned.  I would also recommend some kind of GI (gastrointestinal) support like Culturelle.  This restores the levels of good bacteria in your intestines and stimulates the immune system.  I would definitely hydrate, hydrate, and hydrate.  Alcohol or caffeine is not recommended in high altitude areas.

People have asked me if I would ever want to go back to Peru.  My answer is “yes”.  Peru is a beautiful country with wonderful people and spectacular scenery but as in many developing countries there are certain medical precautions you should be aware of.  I will not forget, despite the discomfort of not feeling well, a healthy attitude is one of the best things any traveler can take along.

Editors Note: 
Culturella is a product that can be purchased from Vitamin Research Products …. www.vrp.com  I can endorse Culturella and have used it for the past 7 years on my trips around the world.  It also restores “good” bacteria after occasional use of antibiotics. Every capsule contains at least 30 billion live, active cells of Lactobacillus GG.  The best part of this product for the traveler is it doesn’t need refrigeration.  Don’t leave home without your Culturella.   

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