The problem with dive trips

[Scott M]

Heading for Belize this saturday, booked months and months ago.................

This past Sunday I'm at my daughters softball game and I start to feel a little off. Not sick but just run down a little. Hmmmm, knowing myself well enough I know somethings coming on but it could just be the weather. Monday comes around and I'm still feeling run down so I hit the vitamins, drinking orange juice and plan to getting to bed a little earlier that night. As I am going on vacation I can not take anytime off to rest so I have to go to work. Tuesday rolls around and I'm no better. With me, when I start to get sick my eyes start to hurt then I can feel a little something in my chest. Thats how it always starts. Anyway, I go to the Doctor and he knows me by now, he knows I have something in the works. He prescribes me a Z-pack. It's tuesday so I should fine by thursday/friday or at least feeling better since I caught it early enough, right? Well it's thursday morning and I'm no better. I can feel tightness in my chest, eyes still hurt and still run down. No coughing and no sinus issues yet.

So now what to do? We have to leave friday night to head for a hotel to catch a very early saturday flight. I do not want to be stuck in Belize and sick and I do not want to stick my dive buddy and leave him alone or ruin his trip plus it's a double room. Maybe by Saturday with the Z-pack I'll be fine, maybe not but I have to make a decision today or tomorrow morning at the latest.

We make these plans with the best of intentions but you just can not control some things.

Frustrating...

[ETnScuba]

We make these plans with the best of intentions but you just can not control some things.
Frustrating...

I know how you feel.

On Friday the 6th, my family and I (non-diving wife and JrOw certified daughter) made a four hour drive to catch a plane from Atlanta to Houston where we got on the red eye to Bonaire. We arrived, got our truck and made it to our room by 7:30am. My daughter was too exhausted to do the 9:30 orientation, so we waited for the 2:30 session. After completing this she finally made her first warm water dive after months of anticipation. We kept it cut it short - about 30 minutes - since she was still pretty worn out.
The next morning we made a second dive in which she called early because she couldn't clear her left ear. That afternoon she was in the midst of a full blown head cold. Six months of planning, completing speciality courses and quarry check out dives and she was surface bound after only two dives from the dock at the dive operation.
I was able to get a seat on a boat trip and found a buddy in a similar circumstance as I was so I did get to do some shore dives. The good news is that she recovered enough to do three dives on Thursday before our no fly day on Friday.

[REII]

Hey Scott;

Not much you can do. Take care of yourself as best as you can. At least you went to the doctor which was a smart move.

Where are you going in Belize? I love Belize. A beautiful place, and wonderful people.

I hope you feel better.

TOM

[Scott M]

I know how you feel.

On Friday the 6th, my family and I (non-diving wife and JrOw certified daughter) made a four hour drive to catch a plane from Atlanta to Houston where we got on the red eye to Bonaire. We arrived, got our truck and made it to our room by 7:30am. My daughter was too exhausted to do the 9:30 orientation, so we waited for the 2:30 session. After completing this she finally made her first warm water dive after months of anticipation. We kept it cut it short - about 30 minutes - since she was still pretty worn out.
The next morning we made a second dive in which she called early because she couldn't clear her left ear. That afternoon she was in the midst of a full blown head cold. Six months of planning, completing speciality courses and quarry check out dives and she was surface bound after only two dives from the dock at the dive operation.
I was able to get a seat on a boat trip and found a buddy in a similar circumstance as I was so I did get to do some shore dives. The good news is that she recovered enough to do three dives on Thursday before our no fly day on Friday.

It's always hard when stuff like that comes up. Thankfully you were able to get some dives in so not a total lose. We went to Curacao two years ago. One of our group was comig off a cold and thought he would be OK. Turned out he couldn't and ended up sitting for the whole week. I felt bad for him, just a real boring week by yourslef while the buddies are out diving.

[RoatanMan]

Stop by MallWart.

Buy the Equate Brand of many and several nasal decongestants, both tablet and nasal spray.

Start the Ibuporfen now. Can't hurt. 1 every 4 hours, 4 a day.

Go get your scrip & meds from your Doctor. Keep them on hand for use if need be.

Be prepared. Better living through chemistry.

Quit standing in the snow. ;)

[Scott M]

Hey Scott;

Not much you can do. Take care of yourself as best as you can. At least you went to the doctor which was a smart move.

Where are you going in Belize? I love Belize. A beautiful place, and wonderful people.

I hope you feel better.

TOM

Ya, I thought I could get ahead of it before it turned for the worst. I am still hopefull that it will clear by tomorrow but it's not looking good.

We are staying @ Belizeanshores over on Ambergris Caye. It looks like a great place but I wouldn't want to be there for a week if I'm not diving.

Thanks

[Scott M]

Stop by MallWart.

Buy the Equate Brand of many and several nasal decongestants, both tablet and nasal spray.

Start the Ibuporfen now. Can't hurt. 1 every 4 hours, 4 a day.

Go get your scrip & meds from your Doctor. Keep them on hand for use if need be.

Be prepared. Better living through chemistry.

Quit standing in the snow. ;)

I am on the Z-Pack now which Arithamiacin(sp). You take 2 to start then 1 a day for the next four days. It suppose to stay in your system for the ten days you would normally be prescribed something like this. So far the sinus's have been farily clear and my chest is tight like I am starting to get a chest cold but nothing, sorry about this, coming up yet. I am a little leary of diving if I am coming off something because the last time I did that I had a sinus squeeze on my last dive and that hurt.

Chances are I will be OK, but if not it's a boring week and I would not want to get the rest of the group sick being around me. Tough decision to make. Maybe tomorrow I'll feel bette.

[TSandM]

Nobody can tell you whether you are going to get sick on your trip or not. You have to decide whether you are willing to take the risk or not. Some people are risk-averse and would stay home; others would want the trip badly enough to go anyway.

I CAN tell you that it is highly unlikely the Z-pack will have made any difference. Your nonspecific symptoms are almost certainly viral, if they are an illness at all. The Z-pack cost your insurance company a bit of money, but probably did nothing for you. This is a prescribing habit that irritates the dickens out of me, as it is the cause of the frightening increases in resistant bacteria (so that when you really GET pneumonia, it will be much harder to treat.)

[brutus_scuba]

I"m available to take your spot on the vacation if worst comes to worst.

[Scott M]

Nobody can tell you whether you are going to get sick on your trip or not. You have to decide whether you are willing to take the risk or not. Some people are risk-averse and would stay home; others would want the trip badly enough to go anyway.[QUOTE]

I have mixed emotions. I do not want to leave my buddy with out a partner. I want to go. I don't want to make the others going, sick. etc.

[QUOTE=TSandM]I CAN tell you that it is highly unlikely the Z-pack will have made any difference. Your nonspecific symptoms are almost certainly viral, if they are an illness at all. The Z-pack cost your insurance company a bit of money, but probably did nothing for you. This is a prescribing habit that irritates the dickens out of me, as it is the cause of the frightening increases in resistant bacteria (so that when you really GET pneumonia, it will be much harder to treat.)

Your probably right but I've had pneumonia before and thats why I am cautious about stuff like this. I usually get this at least once a year and I normally wait until symptons are worse to get treated so I can build up a resistance for it but with the trip coming up I wanted to get ahead of it.

[Scott M]

I"m available to take your spot on the vacation if worst comes to worst.

LOL, it may come to that.

Thankfully I took the insurance option. I have to call and see how that effects my buddy though. He could still dive with the rest of the group if he wants to still go.

[Amberjack]

When I travel south, particularly in the winter, I have a bad habit of getting sick. I rarely get sick otherwise and in any case, it was never a problem until I started diving, because it would just be the sniffles.

When we've travelling to Mexico or Florida to dive, I really didn't want to have to thumb even a single dive because I couldn't clear. So I started taking Cold-fX a few weeks before the trip and I've been fine.

Of course, it doesn't help you now! But maybe for the next time. Of course, I have no idea if this stuff actually works...

[Scott M]

When I travel south, particularly in the winter, I have a bad habit of getting sick. I rarely get sick otherwise and in any case, it was never a problem until I started diving, because it would just be the sniffles.

When we've travelling to Mexico or Florida to dive, I really didn't want to have to thumb even a single dive because I couldn't clear. So I started taking Cold-fX a few weeks before the trip and I've been fine.

Of course, it doesn't help you now! But maybe for the next time. Of course, I have no idea if this stuff actually works...

I usually start taking real good care of myself the month before a trip to be sure and normally that works but in my line of work I am near people all the time so no telling what they are bringing in with them. I do all the precautions, wash the hands etc but sometimes you just can not do anything about it.

Thanks for the reply

[melissassm]

Feel better Scott!
Try dosing yourself with Cold FX. I caught a cold 2yrs ago 1 week before spending Christmas in the Dominican. Cold FX, garlic caplets, and B complex vitamins cleared it right up. And some NyQuil at night for good measure, it'll make sure you go comatose for a good 8 hours!

[Scott M]

Feel better Scott!
Try dosing yourself with Cold FX. I caught a cold 2yrs ago 1 week before spending Christmas in the Dominican. Cold FX, garlic caplets, and B complex vitamins cleared it right up. And some NyQuil at night for good measure, it'll make sure you go comatose for a good 8 hours!

I'm going to head for the drug store now and see if they have the cold fx. I have until tomorrow to make a decision so hopefully I am feeling better by then.

Thanks

[ZzzKing]

Chances are I will be OK, but if not it's a boring week and I would not want to get the rest of the group sick being around me. Tough decision to make. Maybe tomorrow I'll feel bette.

Look at it this way, if you can't go diving, Belize has some world class bonefishing you can sample. You hook one of those and I guarantee you won't be bored.

[donnad]

Scott.........here's my two cents. you may have heard in recent years about zinc shortening the duration/lessening the symptoms of a cold. there's a brand called Zi-cam........they make several cold related products......but the one i'm gonna tell you about is Zi-Cam, no drip nasal gel cold remedy. if you think this is a viral thing, and you're about to come down with a cold......get this product. the cold virus multiplies in the lower part of your nose, and this gel containing zinc prevents or greatly slows the multiplication of the virus. at the very first "tickle" or "sneeze" that seems like a cold may be trying to start on me, i use this stuff 2-3 times that day, and by the next day i've totally kicked it and don't come down with the cold!!!! i swear, it's that effective!! it's a lifesaver. my two daughters have used it and it worked for them as well and they didn't get sick. if on the second day i still feel like i'm battling it, then i continue use for another day. you can use it up to every 4 hours. they sell it at wal-mart. make sure you get the nasal gel, as they have several other products. i keep this stuff in my purse now. and i can't even tell you when i've actually come down with a cold anymore. good luck!!!!!

[Scott M]

Look at it this way, if you can't go diving, Belize has some world class bonefishing you can sample. You hook one of those and I guarantee you won't be bored.

I suppose I could get a day or two of fishing in and hope to be better to dive a bit.

Thanks

[Scott M]

Scott.........here's my two cents. you may have heard in recent years about zinc shortening the duration/lessening the symptoms of a cold. there's a brand called Zi-cam........they make several cold related products......but the one i'm gonna tell you about is Zi-Cam, no drip nasal gel cold remedy. if you think this is a viral thing, and you're about to come down with a cold......get this product. the cold virus multiplies in the lower part of your nose, and this gel containing zinc prevents or greatly slows the multiplication of the virus. at the very first "tickle" or "sneeze" that seems like a cold may be trying to start on me, i use this stuff 2-3 times that day, and by the next day i've totally kicked it and don't come down with the cold!!!! i swear, it's that effective!! it's a lifesaver. my two daughters have used it and it worked for them as well and they didn't get sick. if on the second day i still feel like i'm battling it, then i continue use for another day. you can use it up to every 4 hours. they sell it at wal-mart. make sure you get the nasal gel, as they have several other products. i keep this stuff in my purse now. and i can't even tell you when i've actually come down with a cold anymore. good luck!!!!!

Worth a shot. I picked up the cold FX which appears to be a suupliment so not really a drug. No harm there.

In the past I have been able to mitigate the effects by taking GNC megaman vitamins, lots of orange jiuce, rest and cold eeeze cough drops but even with that I would have some sinus issues that would rpevent diving.

If I keep this up I'm going to have quite a cocktail going. LOL.
Thanks

[brutus_scuba]

This is still the sadest thing I've read all day... we're going to have a candel light vigil for your vacation tonight. Good luck

[Scott M]

This is still the sadest thing I've read all day... we're going to have a candel light vigil for your vacation tonight. Good luck

LOL. I've still got my fingers and toes crossed I get better overnight. Now theres the definition of an optamist.

[Hank49]

Ya, I thought I could get ahead of it before it turned for the worst. I am still hopefull that it will clear by tomorrow but it's not looking good.

We are staying @ Belizeanshores over on Ambergris Caye. It looks like a great place but I wouldn't want to be there for a week if I'm not diving.

Thanks

You mean you'd rather be in New York than be on the white sand beach (I just was by Belizean Shores yesterday) in 87 degree, sunny, breezy tropical conditions? This is serious and this cold/flu has gone to your head and reeeeeeallly screwed up your brain. You better get a serious checkup before you make the trip here. :D
but seriously, I rarely, if ever, get a bug that lasts more than a week. You'll be fine by at least Monday or so. Go for it and stop worrying.

[Scott M]

You mean you'd rather be in New York than be on the white sand beach (I just was by Belizean Shores yesterday) in 87 degree, sunny, breezy tropical conditions? This is serious and this cold/flu has gone to your head and reeeeeeallly screwed up your brain. You better get a serious checkup before you make the trip here. :D
but seriously, I rarely, if ever, get a bug that lasts more than a week. You'll be fine by at least Monday or so. Go for it and stop worrying.

I know sounds dumb huh? Well I'm a "have to be on the go" all the time type of guy. Sitting on a beach alone waiting for the buddies to get from what I should be doing just sounds like torture to me. If this was a family trip then this would not even be an issue, I'm there.

Note to self; schedule CAT scan.

[Michael Schlink]

I agree with several posters, get it all, along with some nasal spray and some sudafed and anything else that might work. Tell that cold who's boss. Once you get there you'll start feeling better.

[MVillanueva]

I agree with Donnad -- she is right on the money: Since it sounds viral, get something that inhibits thems replication. I have used Zycam (tiny tube of gel) and Zinc Lozenges for quite a while. The cold does not go away, but this regime started soon enough seems to have clinical backing that the duration and the severity of symptoms are cut upwards of 60%. My Personal experience is just that: Shorter cold and less icky symptoms.

[Scott M]

Good advise from all,

I'm hoping I have caught it in time and some rest will help. I've talked to all the guys tonight and they are all of the same mind that I should go. We do not dive until Sunday so that gives me two more days to kick this thing and worse comes to worse I don't dive until Monday/Tuesday. Maybe I'll get a script for some nasonex or similar in case the sinuses kick in. As of right now they have not and I've had this since Sunday/Monday so maybe I will luck out in that respect.

Thanks for all the help

[donnad]

hope you kick it scott! we're all rootin' for ya! have a great trip!!!!

[Scott M]

Ok, got up this morning feeling a little better maybe not a lot but not worse so thats good. The Sinuses are still clear also. I talked to the boys last night and they all think I should go and if not better by Sunday skip a day or two of diving.I think thats a good idea. The sunshie and warm weather should be a great help also.

So I am going!!

Thanks to everyone for the well wishes and support, a full report will be fourth coming as soon as I return.

[Cacia]

I DO take antibiotics to foreign locales though...just in case. Getting a secondary infection in a remote place sometimes requires some guesswork.

Sometimes you cannot really get a doctor easily. I have my stash....yes, and a bit of self diagnosing which is less than ideal but better than what I get in some places on an emergent basis.

TSand can't be everywhere. Assuming you will get a TSandM in the ER where you are going can be a big miscalculation.

This last trip, I took Cipro with me because I was getting wigged out about all the stories of wound infections in places like Indo where the sewage is dumped directly into the ocean. I hear quite a bit from the surfers and even some docs here that say you should take some antibiotics along.

I understand about resistant bacteria and the problem indiscriminate prescribing....sometimes I wonder if it has gone too far the other way though? I see kids screaming with ear infections, having lots of pain, kids with sore throats and doctors refusing to take the tonsils out. My son has ear tubes and I have been to antibiotic hell and back.....

Feel better Scott! I agree with Hank. Based on no science whatsoever, I think the sun is very healing. Bake yourself a bit. Even the salt water of a good ocean swim flushing your sinuses always seems to turn me around.

And endorphins!...not to be underrated.

[Hank49]

I DO take antibiotics to foreign locales though...just in case. Getting a secondary infection in a remote place sometimes requires some guesswork.

Sometimes you cannot really get a doctor easily. I have my stash....yes, and a bit of self diagnosing which is less than ideal but better than what I get in some places on an emergent basis.


Feel better Scott! I agree with Hank. Based on no science whatsoever, I think the sun is very healing. Bake yourself a bit. Even the salt water of a good ocean swim flushing your sinuses always seems to turn me around.



And if you forget to bring antobiotics, just go to any pharmacy and you can get some. And US doctors would say it's crazy, but the local working there will tell you what the doctors are prescribing for what....It's worked for me so far. It's a bit more lax here in that regard. I had a lot of swollen lymph glands in my groin once from a lot of little barnacle cuts on my feet. This Cuban doctor who I knew who just happened to be in the store too, took me back by the shoe aisle in the local grocery store and said, "drop your pants". He took a look. told me what to get and I walked up and got some....amoxycyline I believe, with no prescription.
You can get blood pressure medicine, codeine, .....lots of goodies over the counter. So, even if you're still sick when you get here, at least you'll feed goooood. :D

[Cacia]

hey, Hank...can I come see you? I just went to an HSA and need to stock up. I can bring the RX's, nothing illegal but need some cheap drugs.

Yea, those swollen lymph glands are bad news. So...did the antibiotic work? amazing stuff..antibiotics. You know, I read somewhere how many people die every year in 3rd world countries from tooth abcesses....

[Hank49]

hey, Hank...can I come see you? I just went to an HSA and need to stock up. I can bring the RX's, nothing illegal but need some cheap drugs.

Yea, those swollen lymph glands are bad news. So...did the antibiotic work? amazing stuff..antibiotics. You know, I read somewhere how many people die every year in 3rd world countries from tooth abcesses....

You can come anytime. I need a good dive buddy to check out all the new spots I haven't dived yet near my new place. my compressor is due in this week. Got 4 tanks....we're out there.
The antibiotic worked. I try to stay away from them though unless I really need them. The abcessed tooth makes sense. It's pretty close to the brain too.

[highlandfarmwv]

So go snorkeling. At least you'll see some neat things, and it's not so different from diving...

[TSandM]

catherine, I take antibiotics with me to the third world, too. Antibiotics aren't bad, they are just overprescribed. The problem is that people have been conditioned to believe that any illness requires them, when the vast majority -- yes, even tonsillitis and many ear infections -- don't need them and don't respond to them. It's the old joke: If you have a cold and take an antibiotic, you'll be better in 7 days. If you don't, it'll take a week.

[Scott M]

Thanks to all that supported and recommended that I go on the trip. I was still feeling a little weak the day we got there but by the morning of the dives I was feeling fine. Maybe a combination of the meds and great weather. We had a full week of great weather and great dives.

[Garrobo]

Let me make a suggestion to all you divers, especially the old-timers like myself (I'm 67, today). Get a pneumonia shot every 5 years along with a flu shot every year. I've been doing this for the last 10 years and haven't even gotten a runny nose since then.