vpFREE2 Forums

XVP - Nasty Bug

#1

Apparently not everything that happens in Vegas stays in Vegas because I seem to have brought home a protozoan named Giardia from my last visit (Apr 9-16). It causes off-and-on diarrhea and nausea and general malaise for WEEKS (2 weeks for me so far). I just got it identified and hopefully the Flagyl they prescribed will result in the little parasite's demise within 5 days as advertised.
Pure speculation, but I can't help wondering if I got it at one of the buffets. Has anyone else had a similar experience?

On the positive side, I had a good trip, enjoyed great weather, and hit a Royal on my favorite All American machine, a few Straight Flushes (AA), and some Four Deuces (FPDW), and even a $180 random hit on a Megabucks machine. So I came home with what I brought with me, and then some. Well, in more than one way, as I've told you.

~Ed from PA~

#2

Did you do anything outdoors while in Vegas. I have had Giardia
before but have only heard of people getting it from drinking un-
filtered water. I do a lot of hiking and if you don't treat the
water you get from streams or lakes when hiking you run the risk of
getting it. From what I understand it is normally in high
concentrations around beaver dams as it feeds on the beavers waste.
Never knew you could get it from food but I guess you could of
received it from the drinking water.

Apparently not everything that happens in Vegas stays in Vegas

because

I seem to have brought home a protozoan named Giardia from my last
visit (Apr 9-16). It causes off-and-on diarrhea and nausea and

general

malaise for WEEKS (2 weeks for me so far). I just got it

identified

and hopefully the Flagyl they prescribed will result in the little
parasite's demise within 5 days as advertised.
Pure speculation, but I can't help wondering if I got it at one of

the

buffets. Has anyone else had a similar experience?

On the positive side, I had a good trip, enjoyed great weather,

and hit

a Royal on my favorite All American machine, a few Straight

Flushes

(AA), and some Four Deuces (FPDW), and even a $180 random hit on a
Megabucks machine. So I came home with what I brought with me,

and

···

--- In vpFREE@yahoogroups.com, Edwin Roth <eddy1015@r...> wrote:

then some. Well, in more than one way, as I've told you.

~Ed from PA~

#3

dgriff1971 wrote:

Did you do anything outdoors while in Vegas. I have had Giardia
before but have only heard of people getting it from drinking un-
filtered water. I do a lot of hiking and if you don't treat the
water you get from streams or lakes when hiking you run the risk of
getting it. From what I understand it is normally in high
concentrations around beaver dams as it feeds on the beavers waste.
Never knew you could get it from food but I guess you could of
received it from the drinking water.

I think you're on the right track here. While it's quite possible Ed
picked it up through food contamination (like most intestinal borne
parasites, it can be transmitted manually), contaminated or
undertreated water is usually the vehicle for infection. I get the
sense it doesn't survive well outside an aqueous environment.

I endured a bout after swimming in a midwest stream and Ed's report
draws considerable empathy :frowning:

Truth is, swimming pools can be a source of contamination (beware of
babies swimming in diapers!) The critter has a hard, resistant shell
and can survive limited chlorine exposure.

Drinking unfiltered Philadelphia tap water is a prospect to be
considered only with trepidation. The City's source is treated
groundwater run-off. Occasional summer days after extended rain
storms on which pouring a bath yields something pool blue with a faint
Chlorox odor leave you wondering just how long passed before they
discovered the need for an extra measure of "treatment".

- Harry

#4

Did you do anything outdoors while in Vegas. I have had Giardia
before but have only heard of people getting it from drinking un-
filtered water. I do a lot of hiking and if you don't treat the
water you get from streams or lakes when hiking you run the risk of
getting it. From what I understand it is normally in high
concentrations around beaver dams as it feeds on the beavers

waste.

Never knew you could get it from food but I guess you could of
received it from the drinking water.

This is a common myth. Giardia is a protozoa that lives in the
intestinal tracts of some mammals. It is transmitted by fecal
contamination. It is very difficult to get giardia drinking
unfiltered water (water with a concentration of cysts high enough to
cause problems is vey rare in the U.S.) Giardia is most commonly
transmitted by unsanitary practices of food handlers (not washing
their hands after using the restroom). An estimated 10 to 15% of
North Americans carry giardia and never show any symptoms. In third
world countries it can be higher than 25%. It can also take up to 10
day for symptoms to appear making the actual source of infection
difficult to pinpoint.

···

--- In vpFREE@yahoogroups.com, "dgriff1971" <dgriff1971@y...> wrote:

#5

From: Edwin Roth <eddy1015@rcn.com>
Apparently not everything that happens in Vegas stays in Vegas because
I seem to have brought home a protozoan named Giardia from my last
visit (Apr 9-16). It causes off-and-on diarrhea and nausea and general
malaise for WEEKS (2 weeks for me so far). I just got it identified
and hopefully the Flagyl they prescribed will result in the little
parasite's demise within 5 days as advertised.
Pure speculation, but I can't help wondering if I got it at one of the
buffets. Has anyone else had a similar experience?

···

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Ed,

I'm a little late on my posts, but for what it is worth I have contracted this 2 times. Both times while in the backcountry of Montana. My understanding is this is a water borne bug and is not passed in food. It is an intestinal parasite that kills it's host - usually pretty quickly. Without Flagyl this would be your fate.

Eveidntly this got into the water system in parts of Denver back in the 70's and thousands of people had to be treated.

Anyway, fun stuff isn't it?! I lost $20 pounds in 2 weeks - never been so sick in my life. Hope the Flagyl is working for you!

SK