China Romance
General Discussion and Useful Links => Newbies Corner => Topic started by: Oiler1 on March 10, 2010, 11:52:06 pm
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Hi everyone,
I have no idea how I got sick in China recently. I had diarrhea and my stomach feels tight for the past 3 days. I finally feel better as I took immodium and some Chinese Medicine called Po chai pills.
I know you are not supposed to drink the water so I did not. I wonder if it was some contaminated food I ate?
Usually nothing happens to me other than mosquito bites here. I think one guyu told me he had food poisoning, so maybe that's what I got or Giardia.
What precautuons do you guys usually take?
Don
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I usually try to drink yougart based products to get the healthy bacteria in me
they have these tiny bottle ( I can not remember the brand) drinks there that have the healthy bacteria.
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Hi everyone,
I have no idea how I got sick in China recently. I had diarrhea and my stomach feels tight for the past 3 days. I finally feel better as I took immodium and some Chinese Medicine called Po chai pills.
I know you are not supposed to drink the water so I did not. I wonder if it was some contaminated food I ate?
Usually nothing happens to me other than mosquito bites here. I think one guyu told me he had food poisoning, so maybe that's what I got or Giardia.
What precautuons do you guys usually take?
Don
You could be dehydrated or food poisoned. Po chai wan (little brown balls that have an herbal medicine smell to it right?) are usually to settle stomachs. If the diarrhea is severe enough, you will be dehydrated and that will make the issue even worse. First thing I would do is see if you can find a western convenience store or a supermarket and buy some sports drinks. That'll help deal with the dehydration. More po chai wan will help as well. Don't take them too often... and no more than 2-3 a day. Sleep will also help you feel better.
As for prevention, as I've mentioned, hep shots are important. I think the vaccination is good for five years or so. Dukarol is also handy (although I've never taken any). I usually have some po chai wan in my checked luggage just in case as well as a vial of "ching po liang" (little yellow pills in a clear tube with a green and yellow motif). Some Tylenol (panadol for you Brits) doesn't hurt. And finally, two more things... first is hand sanitizer and the other one...is a UK thing (I've never found it here) called vapex...it's a smelling salt type thing except in a liquid...smells nice and can help with headaches....just don't put it on any cuts...and make sure it's legit (lots of fakes in Asia for this)
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Have I been Lucky or what!! I have travelled extensively in India, West and North Africa, Turkey, Egypt - non tourist places in teh main and have never carried any medicine at all. Never taken anti malaria pills.
Never gave these possible problems a second thought until I came onto this forum.
Willy
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thats why i stay away from the street vendors in china,
hell in restuarants you have to use hot water for your
dishes and chopsticks now do you really think the street
vendors are safe?? i would assume most are pretty good
but then again it only takes one
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I think the water in China and HK is not drinkable. I use it to wash up and take showers only. I use bottled water to brush my teeth, but sometimes I forget and wash my toothbrush with tap water.
I ate breakfast today and the glasses still had water from the wash in it. I wonder if I will feel ill again. Ice cubes, washed fresh veggies, you can't prevent everything.
After the first bout I think the body gets used to it.
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oiler you always use hot water to rinse your dishes in the eateries
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Written on here a few times about this.... Be aware there are some real nasties lurking around in China, especially in the water. As you say, it's not just the water you drink, it's the water you wash your veg with, brushing your teeth, mixing things with, ice cubes to name but a few.
Number 1 .... don't rely on electric kettles to boil tap water or water from unknown source for coffee and other drinks, many are fooled into thinking that once boiled it's OK...''It's Not'' water has to boil for at least 3 minutes to become safe to drink, and kettles don't boil for 3 minutes, they switch off when boiled!!! So always use bottled water for making coffee, washing veg, making ice cubes and brushing your teeth...
Number 2 .... Try to avoid food street vendors or at the very least, those that in anyway look suspect. This also includes rough looking restaurants too. Any fresh fruit drink street vendors, ice cream vendors....
You may not know this but the biggest loss of working man hours in China is due to water bourne bugs, and infected foods.... So ALWAYS use a little commonsense when your out and about, because if you don't, these bugs will knock you down flat, and you'll stay that way for at least 3 to 4 days with medication, without medication you can get in serious trouble... it just ain't worth it !!!
Oiler,
No, your wrong your body doesn't get used to it at all ...re-infect yourself and you WILL go down again, and just as bad as the first time!!!!
David...
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thats why i stay away from the street vendors in china,
hell in restuarants you have to use hot water for your
dishes and chopsticks now do you really think the street
vendors are safe?? i would assume most are pretty good
but then again it only takes one
You are missing out the adventure and some really good food by doing this. Just have a local help you choose good street foods, such as a interpreter or wife! That is what I do and have never been sick from street foods. Never gotten sick from any of it.
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Everyone gets sick in China lol. Even my lady got sick, although if you buy meat on a stick from a street vendor I guess you're asking for trouble. By the way, the only thing she didn't eat was broccoli, so there might be something to learn here.
You can't tell where the germs are though. We ate at a really unhygenic place while on our boat trip - I feared the worst but I was fine!
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Nik,
Street food vendors are controlled in Hong Kong, they have to meet certain standards of hygiene, in China it's a free for all, with absolutly no control what-so-ever!!! I for one wouldn't actually recommend visitors to China to start using these types of food vendors. But, as a general rule of thumb for street food vendors, any food that is being cooked in a pan of boiling oil, should be somewhat safe.
Now, just because to-date you haven't been struck down by these stomach bugs, doesn't mean that you won't at some time. When and if you are unfortunate to get knocked down by one, ...believe me you WILL be that much more careful of what and where you eat and drink. Because you won't want to experience it again, ...That i can guarantee!! ...hahaha!!!
David.......
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I eat from street vendors all the time and have never had an upset tummy. Last visit I found a one inch nail in the baozi i bought though, if i had munched down on that sucker any other way it could have been really nasty. I always brush my teeth with tap water as does Sunny and neither of us got tummy aches. I figure the years working in McDonalds when I was younger made me immune to most food bugs!
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Ronan,
Can't tell you how lucky you have been, especially concerning brushing your teeth with tap water!!
That was exactly how the first time i got a bug into my system!!! (I was exactly like you in my early days in China) It's even more lucky that you didn't break the skin on your gums while brushing your teeth, because then the bugs get directly into the blood system. Around 4 hours later, and you would have known all about it !!! I think you need to see the state of Chinese plumbing and the amount of contamination within there systems, ...maybe you wouldn't be so keen to have that water in your mouth then ...hahaha!!!
It normally takes around 8 to 12 hours after injestion before you get the symptoms. ie, Stomach pains/cramps, (which get progressively worse), continuous Diarrhea, Vomiting like you have never known before, rapid dehydration, Thumping headaches, that never seem to go. and a very REAL feeling of Dying slowly ...hahaha!! ...I can laugh now, but i can tell you now i wasn't at the time!!! Getting anything in your blood stream and your talking around as little as 4 hours ....
As a last note, If any of you think that not taking precautions, is worth around 3 to 4 days of your Trip to China, then ignore everything others and i have said, I wish you lucky!!!!
David....
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Eating at a street vendor should be a choice made by the individual, and not recommended by anyone here, based on past experiences. I have certainly eaten at the vendors, and got away freely. I also brushed my teeth using the tap water. I drank tea from boiled kettle water. However, that being said, that was MY experience. Caution should be used, and everyone should make their own choices based on how they feel about the given situation.
Like David5o wrote, the food vendors being regulated in China...its a free for all. At least from what I saw in Guangzhou, these are unlicensed vendors. There is nobody to check health standards, or sanitary conditions. These people also don't pay taxes. This is why all the street vendors are on bikes. When the authorities show up, everyone scrambles to get the hell out of there. I have seen this first hand. What was a bustling street of vendors, became a quiet street in about 30 seconds, with only a Police type vehicle coming down the street.
So, caution should be exercised if you are planning on going the risky route. Do it for your reasons, and not because someone here (like me) got away with it.
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Martin...the police deal seems funny! I haven't seen this here in Changsha...street vendors are like the mahjong rooms here...illegal and everywhere!
I love the meat on the stick, my wife and I eat this almost daily...it's much preferred over McDonalds! The only time I got sick here, was on my last visit and this was from eating pizza hut(I had forgotten about the last time I got sick at a pizza hut in Arizona)...this happens anywhere! It was about 6 hours after eating that crap, that I had the sh*ts...this lasted about a day.
I drink boiled water here daily and it's great! Brush my teeth with tap water...no problems! I buy plenty of bottled water also, as I like drinking water and I do the same back in the states
We eat the little hole-in-the-walls often and love them...YES, my wife does the choosing! The meat and veggies on the sticks are the best!!!
We all have different immune systems and different bodies...This is just my personal experience and plan on eating more meat on a stick today!!!:icon_cheesygrin:
JUST REMEMBER just because you have an experience doesn't mean this will happen to everybody else...just use common sense!
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I am finally over my stomach problems but I do take precautions. After reading the post, it seems everyone is has different immune systems. Well, I always error on the side of caution abd have plenty of bottled water with me.
Watson's distilled water seems popular.
I haven't go sick from drinking tea in restaurants I think. I also like the bubble tea.
It's with street vendors and restaurants one has to be most careful as you can't control things.
Don
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Don,
I wouldn't under any circumstance drink ''Distilled Water'' it's great for batteries, but NOT for the human body. Are you sure you don't mean Straight Mineral Water??
David....
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I am curious, are any of the ladies or people in China healthy? Are any of you healthy? Seems like everyone is sick with one
maliday or another. You all need a cast Iron gut like mine...:icon_cheesygrin:
Seems like everyone is sick or dieing or wishes they were dieing...haha
The reason you get sick is the food. You eat dog meat, and they wash the veggies off in the street where everyone pisses. And
you wonder why your sick. I'll bet if you eat in a 4 or 5 star hotel you won't get sick. And as to those little brown pills? I have a
bunch of them on the ranch I sell real cheap --- called rabbit "smart pills" have to shovel them up all the time, be glad to send you
a wheelbarrow or two of them....:icon_cheesygrin:
Another idea is "DONT DRINK THE WATER" or you get montizuma's revenge. Immodium is the best and quickest for this. If you think
the food is bad in China, you ought to see what the women serve up around here...mystery meat and all.
We send you all to China to have a good time. You all come back in intensive care. Do I dare go to China? I'm thinking of getting
a fat Wisconson milk maid that is healthy and can lift 200 pounds....:icon_cheesygrin::icon_cheesygrin::icon_cheesygrin:
Lets all go get our shots, and get healthy. If your going to China, go to mexico first and eat goat burrito's and lots of hot pepper's.
drink some tequila and when you get to China the food won't bother you and you won't feel any pain....:icon_cheesygrin:
If you like the Chinese look with the slant eyes, drink a bottle of tequila and everyone will look Chinese including you....haha
(by the way Metzcal works too, except it has a worm at the bottom and is strong medication for anything - even snakebite)
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I do not drink the water but I have used if for cleaning my teeth and toothbrush for the past 10 months. Maybe I have a cast iron constitution I don't know. But it was really put to the test when in Nigeria and Ghana and buying snacks off wayside street vendors.
What is a wayside snack there? It is usually a slice or two of a giant black snail that is cooked and served in newspaper or any other old paper they find!!!! Ok when still hot but let it get cold and UGH!!!!!:-/
Willy
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during my last visit I took my water filter bottle and used it just like I have with every trip I have taken to china. I usually eat anything I see them cook so I can see that it has reached a sufficient temperature to kill most of the bugs. I have gotten sick in China from eating the food but usually I get sick because I did not wash my hands enough and rubbed my eyes because of the pollution in the air. I have never drank the water or used it without first running it through my purification bottle first. This approach has worked for me for visits. Not sure how I am going to filter water now that I am going to be living there. Maybe I am going to have to buy an apartment so I can find the main water line to it and install a commercial water filtration system in it.
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I read somewhere that water filtration does not work as well as it should. I'll have to look into this on the net. I think they said
it's good for sand and things like that, but the virus and bad little critters get through the 10 micron filters and you still get sick.
Willy, after eating large snails, and living, I would say yes, you have a cast iron gut and can eat anything. Your one of the few
and lucky. It must be the eggs....:icon_cheesygrin:
A little tip I've learned from living in the mountians and hauling my own water from a well, take a teaspoon of bleach and add it to an open container of water and let sit
for a few days or one day, and you will have killed everything off in it. When I put water in my water tank (1200 gal) I put in a half gallon of bleach, as it sits it cleanses the
water and the bleach taste goes away in one day. Kind of like swimming pool water (clean swimming pool water - no people) ....you can get used to it in a week and
not have any problems. Better than those pills, which are clorine anyway, no clorine taste.
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Biggie....the Changsha meat on a stick is awesome! And spicy! With all the spice, I don't think there is a chance you can get sick...the spices kill everything off.
(http://photos-c.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs047.snc3/13443_319093460133_505500133_9467776_5126000_n.jpg)
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Martin, wonder what you'd look like with an Elvis wig on...haha
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Rocky,
he would look like elvis in the later stages right before his last concert
sorry could not resist that one
back to the corner lol
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Don,
I wouldn't under any circumstance drink ''Distilled Water'' it's great for batteries, but NOT for the human body. Are you sure you don't mean Straight Mineral Water??
David....
It's called Watson's water in a green labelled bottle. I saw a woman feed it to her baby the other day!
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Oiler 1,
Like you i thought distilled water to be good for you, ...until i got talking to a water Engineer/scientist, who promptly told me this is not so, because it is void of all minerals and other bits and bobs that the body needs. He went as far as telling me that drink too much of it and your muscles will start dieing off, as he put it, ...it's almost like a poison to a living body....
rockycoon,
Some filters are pretty good, but it's getting the right type of water filter. whatever medium you use, it's always advisable to have a finish/polishing filter after the main filter, using something like activated carbon.
General....
Some here give me a chuckle, they think because they haven't picked anything up until now, there going to immune to these bugs. I was basically under the same impression myself when i first went to China. I didn't get caught by anything for well over a year, ...believe me when you do cop it you will wish you hadn't!! So it can happen to YOU at ''anytime''!!
I eventually copped it on at least 3 other occasions too over the 8 years or so i was living there, and that was with taking precautions!!! I can honestly say on the later times i went down, it was definitely nothing to do within my own living conditions or lack of personal hygiene. Two were further water bourne bug infections an one was from a food bug, so go figure where they were picked up!!
NO-ONE is immune to water bourne bugs, ...if they get a hold in your system you WILL go down like a sack of potato's and you won't be getting up for around 3 days with medication, and maybe longer. Some of these bugs are real nasties, and can be a lot more serious and even fatal under the right conditions....
Now if anyone was to see ''Any'' of the City municipal water tanks, or for that matter the water towers, and see what's in them and living in them.... i can assure you, you won't be letting any of that water anywhere near your mouth, let alone brushing your teeth with it!! ...haha!!
One of the reasons some of the upper class hotels in the bigger cities have there own water treatment facilities, in that all the water within the hotel is treated water, apart from toilet/WC flush facilities...
Anyway totally up to the individual, if or not your going to take precautions against getting sick!!!
David.......
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David,
your right even with taking precautions your still liable to get
something eventually especially living here and believe me when
you do it is the worst. i had it for 5 days last year and i have
taken precautions so it must have come from eating out and i
do not eat from street vendors or those small unclean noodle
joints. Everthing we buy to eat at home Sisi runs thru the washing
machine well not literally but she cleans everything so well it
amazes me what she does and how she stores everything. no such
thing as a pan of vegetables on the floor or ledges as you see around
china in my house.