birder57

My first post, am new to this. I will be sailing on the Explorer II, and am curious about what it takes to get from the ship into a panga, and what is a panga? Re Machu Picchu: is Diamox going to mean frequent need of a bathroom in a place that doesn't seem to have them? Thanks. I appreciate your time.

Percy

Hi
A panga is a small boat that will take you from your Yacht,in your case the Explorer ll, to the island you will be visiting that day.
There is nothing strenuous or tricky from getting from your ship into the panga.
The panga drivers will hold you by the arm..so do not worry thatyou might fall or slip.
Why are you taking Diamox for ?? This drug is a diuretic but is usually used when people have an eye disorder.

There are no bathrooms on any of the Galapagos Islands, so monitor your drinking accordingly.
Maybe you can take the Diamox just before dinner (eg 6 PM).
Percy

birder57

Percy: thanks for your reply. It helped. the Diamox is for our trip to Cusco & Machu Picchu. Several places in the Internet have recommended Diamox for altitude sickness, and my doctor right away said that name--so there we are. I hate taking meds, but I also don't like the idea of being 12,000' up without anything and getting sick. I didn't do well in Colorado up in the high mountains in '93, so I'm not sure what to expect. And if this stuff behaves like a diuretic and there aren't toilets in M P other than the hotel, it might be a bit problematic!!
By the way--did you (or anyone out there) take a typhoid vaccine before going to Peru? Thanks, Percy

Percy

Hi
I did not go to Peru but just to Ecuador for four full days and then on to the Galapagos.
But a typoid shot would be needed if you are going into the jungle.
What I did was call the Centre of Disease Control in both the USA and Canada, they have a 1-800 number and I actually spoke to a person !! and they told me that no typoid shot is need.

But I would call them or your local board of health and they will have all the answers.
They usually have a nice coloured map on the wall ,that tells them what shots are needed for what part of the world.!

Yes you are correct, Diamox is also used for Acute Mountain Sickness.
I am sure your doctor gave you the proper dose to take.

I would not use this drug routinely but rather if you are going up to the higher altitudes.
I am sure your doctor told you that the most common side effects are,tingling of the fingers,face and feet.

So if you get this stop the drug or reduce the dose by one half...BUT check with your Dr. before you leave as to what to do if you get the tingling.

Also when you are on Diamox, then when you drink beer or carbonated drinks like canned pop, they can taste a bit unusal,( like a metallic taste),hope this does not happen.

Diamox is not as potent a diuretic as the common diuretics are, so hopefully you will be okay as far as bathrooms go.

Have a nice trip
Percy

jdbird

My sister and I did not need to urinate frequently while taking Diamox. I'm not sure why, since it is a diuretic. It works on altiude sickness because it causes respiratory acidosis as a side effect. When you are at high altitude, respirations increase, leading to respiratory alkolosis, the Diamox counteracts that, according to a pulmonary doctor I work with. We did not need vaccines for Peru, but our trip was limited to Lima, Cusco area and Machu Picchu.

Percy

jdbird
You are correct about Diamox.
I just did not want to go into the electrolyte mechansim.
You are correct about the acidosis.

Your Pulmonary (lung ) docotr probably told you that the enzyme called Carbonic Anhydrase catalyzes the union of water and carbon dioxide to form the acid compound Carbonic Acid.

Diamox inhibits this enzyme.
I am sure a Pulmonary doctor would know all there is to know about breathing at different altitudes.

Thank you for adding the acidosis /alkalosis inforamtion
Percy

peg

The CDC also has a website that I use before every trip. http://www.cdc.gov/

I already had a typhoid shot from my trip to Thailand, but to me that is always a good one to keep up, because you never know.

Percy, I got mine in Sept. of 2002, I need to get a new one this year correct?

Percy

Peg
Yes you can get your typhoid shot againb ,however if you are not planning to go to an area where a thypoid shot is required then you do not require one.

The local health board in every state has the up to date chart of where a certain disease is endemic and maybe be prevalent or at least the person going would be at high risk going to this region and therefore should have the "shot"

For example,I required no shots going to Ecuador and the Galapagos last year and also none going to Peru( I did not go to Peru) unless I was going to a certain area in Peru then I would require the Yellow Fever vaccine.

That is why I always say to check with the Local Board of Health because they have the Map of the World on the wall ,with Countries marked off for requiring specific vaccines if you go there.

There is no specific answer for everyone and of course you only want to take a vaccine if you need it.!!

Bye for now.
Percy

prabwin

THE BEST CURE FOR ALTITUDE SICKNESS: drink the ever-present "mate de coca" which you can find in every hotel, restaurant and bar. Often it is a tea bag...sometimes, it is a handful of coca leaves (yes...cocaine comes from these) steeped in boiling water. It tastes a little like herbal grassy tea (kind of a "hay" feeling about it) -- I liked it. Never got dizzy or sick after I started drinking it!