sandi

"Paracetamol contains a small amount of codeine - about 6mg to 10mg codeine depending on the country/ies where is available."

That should have read:

Paracetamol is available with codeine, usually kept behind the counter and has to be requested (though no script required) - small amounts of codeine......... etc.

It used to be kept on the outside shelves, but many (not all) countries are getting a bit more restrictive. As one of my friends indicated... in order to get me a sufficient supply, whenever she passed a Boots when in the UK (visiting her family), she made a stop to pick-up another box for me.

In Zim and SA, I was able to buy it off the shelf, no questions asked. And being me, cleaned off their shelves. The clerk must have thought "anther American drug addict!" No, just know a bargain where it can be found.

JanGoss

cooncat:

I would also take several large Bandaids. I have fallen twice walking downhill on gravel and sustained badly skinned knees. None of the lodge/camp gift shops had Bandaids/plasters. Thus I take a small sortment of Bandaids including 2" size big enough to cover knees just in case. What I don't use I leave for the employee health area of the last camp I stay in.
They are grateful for anything like this.

Roccco

All I know is that I am never again wearing open shoes (sandals) on safari as I have done for my last two safaris. Although not as comfortable as sandals, I will wear closed shoes/boots throughout and I will not allow my feet to ever again serve as a buffet for tetse flies, spiders and mosquitos.

LyndaS

Sharon-
Betnovate cream here is Penaten Cream - not sure if you have had 'little ones' yet, or if you are older (like me), but it is commonly used for diaper rash. Long after I didn't need it for that purpose, I found it was a very effective cream for excema (can't spell that) and other rashes so I keep some on hand.
And for some more two cents on cats - my neice left her 'mixed' 10 yr old Maine Coon Cat here over Christmas in 2000 -she just picked her up last week (long Christmas wasn't it!). She wasn't a purebred, and although she was a lovely, quiet cat most of the time - she could get quite cranky. Someone told me that was a cooncat trait - is that true?

dlo

Maine coons generally have excellent dispositions.Ours was rarely cranky and was always around us or one of the dogs.He was never quiet and when i got home from work would "talk" for 15 or 20 minutes.

cooncat2

Ditto on the Maine Coons - they have extremely good personalities for the most part. Mine are like dogs in their demeanor. And yes, they talk to me all the time and for those who care (lol!) they chirp, or trill, they don't always meow. My boy Strider and I have long conversations at times! And people who see this are either amazed or they roll their eyes! Gotta love the pets!

gail

Regarding cranky mixed-breed coon cat - must have been bred with an inferior breed of cat (that is, any other breed)

And so others don't complain we are going off-topic - we had a Maine Coon cat who developed some weird dermatitis and required all of the above mentioned anti-itch remedies. Then the vet game him some sort of steroid shot - would not recommend that for itching on your trip, however.

divewop

Yay! Lots of other MC lovers. I'm another one.
I adopted my first 'shelter' Maine Coon (not knowing he was one) when he was 8 weeks old. Was told by my vet "Tyler" was a MC. He kept growing and growing settling in between 15-20 lbs. Also had the personality of a dog rather than a cat. Unfortunately, I lost him to cancer in 2001 when he was 17. Miss him terribly.

My new MC "boy" Kealy, will be turning
5 soon. Way too smart for his own good. Have to continuously do enrichment exercises because he loves challenges, and loves keeping my other three cats on their 'paws'.
He is also quite the 'chatterbox.'
Such a wonderful and fun breed and the best dispositions of any cat.

ALadyNCal

Very interesting about the Maine Coons -- didn't know that much about their personalities. They have a lot of traits that my Abyssinian has! Only he is more 'petite' @ 9 lbs ;-) He also talks allot, plays fetch like a dog, and is very involved in everything we do. HE is going to be missed DESEPERATELY on our trip!

cooncat

I was hoping this would get resurrected. Sorry about all the OT cat stuff!

Now the big question. I went to the store so I checked out the meds. Being someone who has a very robust digestive tract and never needs this stuff - do I want the pill form of immodium or the chewables? Yes, it has come to this....the little, but often very important questions. (Where's Bwana when I need him...)
thanks

divewop

Cooncat-
I do the immodium caplets. And I usually only take one caplet as soon as I feel an unusual rumble of which I know where it's going.
One does the trick for me by stopping the rumble in it's tracks before it gets any worse.

mkhonzo

a medication that you need not carry with you, but keep your eyes out for it is, aloe, which is a succulent plant, break the leaf and rub the juice on the itch. Also try and find some wild fig, ground cover that dominates coastal areas like san diego, that works wonders too, particularly good with stings.

then if all else fails, perhaps you'll find this a tad crude, but urine is really tops for bites and stings etc.

cooncat

Thanks everyone. Mkhonzo - I'll keep the urine thing in the back of my mind just in case....

Africa

Just to clarify.....Tylenol is a U.S. branded version of paracetamol. They are exactly the same drug and the correct chemical name for the molecule is acetaminophen (max. dose = 4g/24 hours). In the UK, you can legally buy 100 tablets OTC without a prescription, but the maximum pack size is 32. This means you can only be sold 3 boxes (96 tablets) per customer. I hope this makes sense

Jammie

Do the various things in your first aid kit (Tylenol, Benedryl, Immodium etc) have to be in their own original containers? We're going to S.A., Chobe and Vic Falls (Zim side). I'm not sure if it will be a customs issue if pills are not in their original containers).