The Adventure Begins.. Sarge56 in Italy
May 23rd, 2013, 08:40 PM
#104
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http://www.cdc.gov/parasites/giardia/gen_info/faqs.html
I am a reired day care center director and what you are describing sounds very similar to the giardiasis that I occasionally saw in children at my center. Look at my link to see if it matches your symptoms. If you do have this, there are medicines that will help you feel much better quickly.
One time when I went to Rome, I sprained my back on the first day of a twelve day vacation. We were staying at a convent and the sisters took me to the emergency room where I received very good care. Later they asked a doctor who was also staying at the convent to check me. It was not a fun vacation, but after nine days, I was able to go to breakfast for the first time. When the sisters saw me, they all applauded!
I hope you will soon receive treatment that will help you recover quickly. Rome is such an interesting place.
The best of luck to you in feeling better very soon.
I am a reired day care center director and what you are describing sounds very similar to the giardiasis that I occasionally saw in children at my center. Look at my link to see if it matches your symptoms. If you do have this, there are medicines that will help you feel much better quickly.
One time when I went to Rome, I sprained my back on the first day of a twelve day vacation. We were staying at a convent and the sisters took me to the emergency room where I received very good care. Later they asked a doctor who was also staying at the convent to check me. It was not a fun vacation, but after nine days, I was able to go to breakfast for the first time. When the sisters saw me, they all applauded!
I hope you will soon receive treatment that will help you recover quickly. Rome is such an interesting place.
The best of luck to you in feeling better very soon.
May 24th, 2013, 01:36 AM
#105
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saraho,
I thought giardia as well as it mimics "normal" food poisoning but lingers and lingers. My husband had it while we were house-hunting in France, doctors in France and UK both treated it as regular upset until he saw a doctor in Lancaster who had practiced in Africa.
As soon as he had the right drugs, he was better in days. The doctor said it was not that common in Europe but did exist and his people hard who don't have a tolerance for the bug.
I thought giardia as well as it mimics "normal" food poisoning but lingers and lingers. My husband had it while we were house-hunting in France, doctors in France and UK both treated it as regular upset until he saw a doctor in Lancaster who had practiced in Africa.
As soon as he had the right drugs, he was better in days. The doctor said it was not that common in Europe but did exist and his people hard who don't have a tolerance for the bug.
May 24th, 2013, 07:46 AM
#107
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Not to hijack, but this seems like a good place for today's travel health tip: A problem with giardiasis or other intestinal parasites is that use of antidiarrheals can actually impair the body's attempts to flush out the bug.
Standard treatment is oral metronidazole (Flagyl brand in the US) or tinidazole (US brand name Tindamax) which has the advantage of being a single dose treatment for giardia, three days for other amoebic parasites.
Standard treatment is oral metronidazole (Flagyl brand in the US) or tinidazole (US brand name Tindamax) which has the advantage of being a single dose treatment for giardia, three days for other amoebic parasites.
May 24th, 2013, 08:07 AM
#108
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LucyV, I hope you're not a weirdo freak because I just reserved a room for Dw and me at the hotel Santa Maria in Trastevere for 3 nights in September based on your recommendation. It looks nice and has bikes. Sarge, if you decide to stay maybe we could meet in rome for coffee or oral metronidazole.
May 24th, 2013, 11:05 AM
#113
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Just wanted to add my recommendation that you check for giardia. I've been unfortunate enough to have it a few times both in Europe and here in the U.S., and it does match your description of symptoms. Within two days of taking the meds, I am usually up and running - and not to the bathroom! Anyway, buona fortuna and hope the rest of your stay goes much better!
A last thought: When I was sick in Rome a few years ago, I consulted the American Embassy, and was given a list of doctors for all kinds of problems and medical emergencies. Might be an excellent place to start if you are looking for an English-speaking doctor.
A last thought: When I was sick in Rome a few years ago, I consulted the American Embassy, and was given a list of doctors for all kinds of problems and medical emergencies. Might be an excellent place to start if you are looking for an English-speaking doctor.
May 24th, 2013, 11:30 AM
#115
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Thanks friends for the info. It seems I'm over the hump! No issues today!
We did have a strange, but lucky, freaky kind of day.
We had 12:30 reservation for Vatican museums. We got up, I fixed American-style French toast. We ate and headed out the door at 11:15.
We waited 15 minutes for tram and nothing came. Suddenly, we saw people start leaving. The girl behind us told us there was a transit strike.
"OH, no" I thought.
But then, I remembered we were standing only a few hundred feet from the Stazione Trastavere train station- surely we could find a cab there.
Well, when I turned around to step down and cross the street, a cab pulled up and stopped at the red light. I yelled, "Taxi"? and he shook his head yes, he was free! Unbelievable serendipity! We got to the museum by 12:15!
So, the next bit of luck came when we were leaving the Sistine. We had a Scavi tour and did not want to go all the way back to the museum entrances. We very successfully walked out with a large tour group, to exit at St. Peter's.
As we are waiting for the Scavi to start, some other in the group tell us that the strike is on all day, save between 5 and 6pm. They will run between then, but stop again at 6pm.
I'm also telling my nephew what a wonderful guide I had the second time I'd been on the Scavi. And then... yes- she shows up to head our group today!
When we got done at Scavi, we headed out for a bite (now around 4:30pm). We stopped at a place called the Nova Caffe (right on the same street to St. Peter's). My cousin and I often stopped in here for sweets on our last visit.
Well, the food was really good, but you have to be careful about this kind of place. E13 for a large bowl of soup and E14 for a large pizza. Not terrible. But then the bill came and we found out the service fee was E7+, the one small bottle of Coke my nephew had- E7.50!!! And E5 for the large bottle of still water. Ridiculous. E50 total. This doesn't happen very often to me where I get sucked in. Just be careful! (The prices of the food was on the menu...but not the drinks!!!)
Anyway, we knew we had a short window for transport. It was now 5:20 when we left the café. We headed over to the longotevere to try to catch a 280 or 23 bus to the tram stop at Belli. When the 64 came along, I thought I read that it stopped at the Torre Argentina, so I said we could hop that and pick up the Tram #8 there.
So, we boarded and the bus turned west at the next light. I started to get anxious. After two stops, I was like, "Well, we can ride the full circuit, if nothing else.. or look to see if we see something familiar."
Much to my surprise, the 3rd stop was the Stazione San Pietro! So, off the bus we hopped and found the train going to Trastevere was due on track 2. We made it in time and considered ourselves terribly lucky! We got off in Trastevere at 5:55.
(Oh, and I knew we'd make it. I found a 1-cent Euro on the stairs of the San Pietro train station. My brother leaves me pennies when I'm in need. It is his son I am with today!)
So, all in all, a good day. It was sunny all day, but dang was it cold! What is up with this crazy weather pattern?
Well, we are off to Pompeii tomorrow if the strike is over. So, I'll report back in then.
Buona notte, friends!
We did have a strange, but lucky, freaky kind of day.
We had 12:30 reservation for Vatican museums. We got up, I fixed American-style French toast. We ate and headed out the door at 11:15.
We waited 15 minutes for tram and nothing came. Suddenly, we saw people start leaving. The girl behind us told us there was a transit strike.
"OH, no" I thought.But then, I remembered we were standing only a few hundred feet from the Stazione Trastavere train station- surely we could find a cab there.
Well, when I turned around to step down and cross the street, a cab pulled up and stopped at the red light. I yelled, "Taxi"? and he shook his head yes, he was free! Unbelievable serendipity! We got to the museum by 12:15!
So, the next bit of luck came when we were leaving the Sistine. We had a Scavi tour and did not want to go all the way back to the museum entrances. We very successfully walked out with a large tour group, to exit at St. Peter's.
As we are waiting for the Scavi to start, some other in the group tell us that the strike is on all day, save between 5 and 6pm. They will run between then, but stop again at 6pm.
I'm also telling my nephew what a wonderful guide I had the second time I'd been on the Scavi. And then... yes- she shows up to head our group today!
When we got done at Scavi, we headed out for a bite (now around 4:30pm). We stopped at a place called the Nova Caffe (right on the same street to St. Peter's). My cousin and I often stopped in here for sweets on our last visit.
Well, the food was really good, but you have to be careful about this kind of place. E13 for a large bowl of soup and E14 for a large pizza. Not terrible. But then the bill came and we found out the service fee was E7+, the one small bottle of Coke my nephew had- E7.50!!! And E5 for the large bottle of still water. Ridiculous. E50 total. This doesn't happen very often to me where I get sucked in. Just be careful! (The prices of the food was on the menu...but not the drinks!!!)
Anyway, we knew we had a short window for transport. It was now 5:20 when we left the café. We headed over to the longotevere to try to catch a 280 or 23 bus to the tram stop at Belli. When the 64 came along, I thought I read that it stopped at the Torre Argentina, so I said we could hop that and pick up the Tram #8 there.
So, we boarded and the bus turned west at the next light. I started to get anxious. After two stops, I was like, "Well, we can ride the full circuit, if nothing else.. or look to see if we see something familiar."
Much to my surprise, the 3rd stop was the Stazione San Pietro! So, off the bus we hopped and found the train going to Trastevere was due on track 2. We made it in time and considered ourselves terribly lucky! We got off in Trastevere at 5:55.
(Oh, and I knew we'd make it. I found a 1-cent Euro on the stairs of the San Pietro train station. My brother leaves me pennies when I'm in need.
It is his son I am with today!)So, all in all, a good day. It was sunny all day, but dang was it cold! What is up with this crazy weather pattern?
Well, we are off to Pompeii tomorrow if the strike is over. So, I'll report back in then.
Buona notte, friends!
May 24th, 2013, 01:39 PM
#116
what a great day, sarge, and how funny that [almost] everything worked. we stayed very near the Stazione San Pietro and it proved very useful when we went to Ostia Antica.
have a great time in Pompeii.
have a great time in Pompeii.
May 24th, 2013, 08:12 PM
#120
>>>We got off in Trastevere at 5:55.<<<
It seems the travel window was a bit longer according to the Embassy.
**(May 21, 2013) – 24–Hour Transportation Strike on Friday, May 24, 2013 in Rome, Italy
A 24-hour transportation strike has been called by the unions for this Friday 24 May.
The strike will affect Metro, buses, trams, and all other local transport (Roma-Lido, Termini-Giardinetti, and Roma-Viterbo). All runs will stop from 08:30 and resume from 17:00-20:00.**
Here's your list of upcoming strikes.
http://www.mit.gov.it/mit/site.php?p=scioperi
>>>Well, we are off to Pompeii tomorrow if the strike is over.<<<
Trenitalia is still running 2 for 1 on Saturday and have just extended it until mid Sept.
http://www.trenitalia.com/cms/v/inde...008916f90aRCRD
It seems the travel window was a bit longer according to the Embassy.
**(May 21, 2013) – 24–Hour Transportation Strike on Friday, May 24, 2013 in Rome, Italy
A 24-hour transportation strike has been called by the unions for this Friday 24 May.
The strike will affect Metro, buses, trams, and all other local transport (Roma-Lido, Termini-Giardinetti, and Roma-Viterbo). All runs will stop from 08:30 and resume from 17:00-20:00.**
Here's your list of upcoming strikes.
http://www.mit.gov.it/mit/site.php?p=scioperi
>>>Well, we are off to Pompeii tomorrow if the strike is over.<<<
Trenitalia is still running 2 for 1 on Saturday and have just extended it until mid Sept.
http://www.trenitalia.com/cms/v/inde...008916f90aRCRD
