57 replies to this topic

[Brit]

After a prolonged absence from Thailand I get the shits within the first week - then its ok.

When I first started going i used to order drinks without ice etc - but it doesnt help. I think the ice is ok

Also i wash/brush my teeth with tap water. Its actually not commonly known that you can drink the Thai tap water - its just that the locals don't like the taste - and its a bit chemically. I dont drink it but its ok for teeth brushing.

The problem is picking well prepared food places.

My rule of thumb is never eat anywhere which doesnt have running water, and doesnt have a sink in the kitchen. I would never eat from the street sellers. Almost all my friends commented i was talking rubbish (some being long termers) but all now have adopted my philisophy after prolonged stay - as many have developed food poisioning (some admitted to hospital). So best to stay away from the street vendors. The worst part i think is the raw chickens in the polystrine pallets. They are defrosted in the heat - with water running out of the pallets - only to be restocked and frozen for the next day - theres NO WAY i would eat from a street vendor. I value my free time in Thailand - and don't want to be pinned to the can just in an attempt to save 20p.

[Brit]

BTW... I love the Bangkok showers... and plan to market them in the UK !

[kliome]

When in Pattaya and up north I eat from the street vendors mopre than anywhere else (not to save money though, through choice). by street vendor I mean the places that serve rice and noodle dishes rather than meat on a stick, or keebab.

In Bangkok I eat more from restaurants but stiull occassionally use the vendors.

I admit it should be healthier to use places with good kitchen facilities, but over the last few years at least I have never fallen sick as a result of eating from the street, I've eaten this way thousands of times, and I've only suffered mild problems when in Bangkok, and usually within a couple of days of entering LOS.

[Ric007]

Pat Tire, you got a very good point there....well said.
However, i am never that careful with what food i eat, i tend to me more careful on the two points you mentioned above.

But i guess everyone got their own logic and opinion on this issue...however, a week having the shits is much better than possibly getting an STD for life!

[kliome]

You know it amazes me that some of you guys seem to be so damn methodical in your eating habits as well being very careful with hygiene and yet, all of that goes out of the window when you are sucking a Ladyboys root and licking her crack

It's always quality and quantity over hygiene, in all cases..

[Legend]

hit the nail on the head there pat.
so it lools like its only me getting the parasite bug,
i must have a longer tongue than the rest of you, or im just unlucky.!
as i said it dosent clear its way out of your system like every other case of poisoning. would be shitting for the rest of your natural , unless you get antibiotics.
with regard to street food, me and a mate got campylobacter poisoned from under cooked chicken, shitting for five days then fine.
if you are going to eat the kebabs on the st, tell them to re -cook them for longer.

[kliome]

It also pays to use mouth wash as often as possible. I know it can be a mood killer pausing after giving oral to take a swig of listerine, but I try to use it as often as possible when getting down to the dirty.

[Phil Lander]

Not sure you can really point to anything in particular . I'm used to western food as I cook for myself but spent three weeks in Thailand with the wife (Thai) eating from all sorts of places as she was always looking for cheap food . I only ate western food about every third day and was ok for the first two weeks , I even swallowed a lot of river water from jumping off a bridge with all the kids in my wifes village (at my age!!) after getting drunk .
I arrived in Pattaya for the last few days at about 5.30 am after an over night bus ride and spent most of the next three hours sitting on the toilet thinking my holiday was over just when I had reached party town .
I later forced down a burger and managed to go out for a drink and my first LB experience. The next night I drank whisky till 7am with a couple of GG's (no sex) so guess I was really lucky I did'nt suffer any worse.

[koykaeng]

I make a habit of carrying plenty of Loperamide (Imodium) or Diphenoxylate (Lomotil) which allows you to continue moving around without running to the toilet in a panic.

It's also useful to have some Norfloxacin (Noroxin) or Ciprofloxacin (Ciproxin) on hand if you experience high fever and blood or pus in your stools.

If mild diarrhoea longer than 1 week, cramps excessive gas try Tinidazole (Fasigyn)

Recent research suggests that bacterial diarrhoea may be treated effectively withn 3 hours by taking Imodium 1 tablet together with Noroxin 2 tablets, followed by Noroxin 1 tablet twice daily.

All these medications are available over the counter in Thailand without the need for a prescription.

Cheers
Koykaeng

[Brit]

i guess some stomachs are weaker than others.

I'm pretty lucky - but lots of my friends have been in hospital with food poisioining - and its only when you see them on the drip you kinda start to think "gosh... I'd better watch out myself".