giardia...my first time

**trapper** · 08-12-2012, 20:04

Just got back from 180 miles on the LT/AT in vermont. Being a tuff guy i never filter or treat my water. well after ten years of it i finally got bit by the little giardia bug.. oh how wonderful it is....trying to treat with no doctor hopefully it works...anyone have any good home remidys for treatment of it?

**rmitchell** · 08-12-2012, 20:08

Six weeks supply of pepto-bismol.

**Lone Wolf** · 08-12-2012, 20:12

Originally Posted by trapper

Just got back from 180 miles on the LT/AT in vermont. Being a tuff guy i never filter or treat my water. well after ten years of it i finally got bit by the little giardia bug.. oh how wonderful it is....trying to treat with no doctor hopefully it works...anyone have any good home remidys for treatment of it?

how do you know it's giardia? never assume

**leaftye** · 08-12-2012, 20:27

Depends what you call a home remedy. You could get fish zole delivered to your home and treat yourself with that. Err, I mean treat your pets with it. Fish zole is what flagyl is called when it's not prescribed by a doctor.

**trapper** · 08-12-2012, 20:27

Either giardia...the flu...or food poisoning... the stuff im taking(stomach rescue and acidophilus and bifidus) that my pharmacy recommend is supposed to help food poisoning and giardia so in theory i have 2 of the three covered. again i said in theory. did a bunch of research and the symptoms all match giardia but are very close to the other two conditions stated above....be stocked up on soft TP is the main thing that I've found

**leaftye** · 08-12-2012, 20:27

Oh, and I'm not a doctor, so if you get sicker or die, then you'll serve as an example for what happens for listening to internet advice instead of medical professional advice.

**trapper** · 08-12-2012, 20:32

Leafty....lol ill in no way hold you responsible...thanks for the info....where can this product for my pets be purchased?

**kayak karl** · 08-12-2012, 20:32

giardia is a parasite and can only be diagnosed with a stool sample test and even that is not always definite. under the microscope is the second test.
how do you know it was the water that made you sick. touching privy door handle, shelter floors, bad food and poor conditions even in town. if it is giardia it will take months to pass the "bugs". hope you sleep in your own room

**trapper** · 08-12-2012, 20:39

Karl...i don't think anyone can be certain of where they picked it up im just guessing at the most common cause i guess...

**Edie** · 08-12-2012, 20:41

Ask your doctor for a prescription for Flagyl

**trapper** · 08-12-2012, 20:43

thanks Eddie

**rocketsocks** · 08-12-2012, 20:48

Regardless of what it is, it's important to keep hydrated, and replace lost electrolytes, stay away from the sweet drinks like gator aid, or at least water them down, something about the sugars taking more water to process ...I think. Bananas, Rice, may help to bind or slow the complete evacuation or all your fluids, and bananas are high in potassium. Stock up on the TP also. good luck!

**The Cleaner** · 08-12-2012, 20:49

Wasn't there just a warning about the norovirus in the northern part of the AT?Seems like every time some hiker gets a stomach bug they think it's Giardia.You can get really sick from not washing a cooking pot and rinsing with a little boiling water.I've seen more than one hiker cook food in a pan then lick it or wipe it out then put it away.Then they say the next time I cook that will kill leftover germs.The problem is that they put food to be cooked in that pan which has been in their pack all day and it can come into contact with the last meal's leftovers that you can't see.....

**Malto** · 08-12-2012, 20:50

I was prescribed 250mg metronidazole 3x per day for five days. I carried fishzole on my thru hike and keep it in stock at all times just in case. There are different strengths of Fishzole, check the strength. You can get it on the net and shipped the next day. That is much quicker than the efficient medical profession was able to get me on the medicine after I walked in and told them exact what I had. $700 worth of testing, several days and much weight lose and finally they gave me metronidazole. May not be the approach for everyone but make your own call.

**rocketsocks** · 08-12-2012, 20:50

Originally Posted by The Cleaner

Wasn't there just a warning about the norovirus in the northern part of the AT?Seems like every time some hiker gets a stomach bug they think it's Giardia.You can get really sick from not washing a cooking pot and rinsing with a little boiling water.I've seen more than one hiker cook food in a pan then lick it or wipe it out then put it away.Then they say the next time I cook that will kill leftover germs.The problem is that they put food to be cooked in that pan which has been in their pack all day and it can come into contact with the last meal's leftovers that you can't see.....

Yep, the story is on the home page here at white blaze.

**Edie** · 08-12-2012, 20:52

metronidazole is generic for Flagyl

**Wise Old Owl** · 08-12-2012, 20:57

I have a small stool sample for you ..... Nevermind. Fogettaboutit just awkward, movin on.

**Astro** · 08-12-2012, 21:06

After reading this the blisters from my trip do not fell near as bad.

**Sarcasm the elf** · 08-12-2012, 21:13

Originally Posted by Lone Wolf

how do you know it's giardia? never assume

Exactly, I've met lots of people who have suffered from "Giardia" but I've never met anyone who has gotten it confirmed by lab tests. I imagine most of those cases are actually some sort common of foodbourne illness.

Either way it sucks and I feel for you, but I'd get it checked out to make sure you get treated for the right thing.

**Spokes** · 08-12-2012, 21:30

Wash your hands.........

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