Sick at Pearl

[mojo5832]

We returned from our first trip to Pearl on May 20. This was our first trip to any CO resort, we really enjoyed it and are talking about going back. The only problem we had was that the wife was sick for a day while we were there and and I got violently ill the night before we left and it took me a week to get over it. while we have traveled extensively and have spent time at resorts in Cabo and never had any health problems this was our first trip to Cancun. We would really like to come back, but are worried about this happening again. Is this common at the Desire resorts in Cancun? If so, does anyone have any advice to help keep us from having it happen again. Thanks for any input.

mojo5832

[G&N]

Just the obvious. Did you use water from the faucet?

[heavyG]

Travellers sickness can happen anywhere at any time - even in Chicago, or London, etc. Sometimes the problem wasn't what you ate at the resort, but from a day or so (even 4-5 days) before you arrived. Could have been water from the tap, something you ate on the plane, in the airport before you left, even at your own house before you travelled.
Not really a problem from the resort...

[David Donna]

Hope you weren't drinking any of the water that might have been splashed into your beer in the hot tub.

[mojo5832]

G&N, I ordered water at the beach one morning and they brought it to me in a glass, didn't think much about it and drank it. Could be the problem. Everything else, even in room coffee was with bottled water. Is the ice ok there? We did have a lot of drinks with ice. I tried to keep the hot tub water out of my drinks, but I think I remember taking body shots off strangers a couple of times. Even after getting so sick I think we will be back but may bring cipro next time.

[dnbinmi]

I ordered water at the beach one morning and they brought it to me in a glass

Water and the ice served at the restaurants and bars is okay. The hottub water or pool water on the other hand is not. We all do a lot especially at Desire that put us at risk for stomach upsets and sore throats etc. Even the amount of alcohol we drink and eating richer foods than what is normally in your diet can throw your system off. At the gift store they sell a product called Treda which works very well and very fast.

[NCVETTE]

May I ask about Cipro and Treda? Havent heard of these before. The Mr tends to have a tempermental stomach. We are carefull to avoid the obvious triggers/causes of an upset stomach but any suggestions to recover just in case. What can we bring in order to be prepared?

[mojo5832]

Ciprofloxicin is an antibiotic the doctor gave me when I got home, he also gave me Flagyl which is an antimicrobial. I felt a lot better the next day. When we go back I think I'll take some of each just in case. I'm not familiar with Treda.

[bamacpl6369]

We always get the physician to prescribe us some cipro before heading to Mexico.
Just tell your doc what up and they may even do it over the phone and call it in for ya.
Nothing worse than Stomach Issues in Mexico and no trusted pharmacy around to get some good antibotics.
You can do everything right and still have a issue Montezuma's Revenge and Cipro will save the day and quite quickly.
It might even save the entire trip we never leave home without it.

[dnbinmi]

We always get the physician to prescribe us some cipro before heading to Mexico.

One problem with taking Cipro is that you should avoid sun exposure while you are taking it and with antibiotics you are supposed to take the full course (usually 10 days) otherwise you risk the antibiotics not working in the future.

[candtdesire07]

We returned from our first trip to Pearl on May 20. This was our first trip to any CO resort, we really enjoyed it and are talking about going back. The only problem we had was that the wife was sick for a day while we were there and and I got violently ill the night before we left and it took me a week to get over it. while we have traveled extensively and have spent time at resorts in Cabo and never had any health problems this was our first trip to Cancun. We would really like to come back, but are worried about this happening again. Is this common at the Desire resorts in Cancun? If so, does anyone have any advice to help keep us from having it happen again. Thanks for any input.

mojo5832

Sorry to hear that. We have been to Desire 5 times & neither of us have ever gotten sick.
We use the bottled water provided in the room for brushing our teeth. The water from the bar is purified bottled water & we drink enough of it during the day to stay hydrated (they usually pour it straight from the 5 gallon jug)
I wouldn't say it's a resort thing but just a bad luck thing. Factor in traveling, recirculated airplane air, lots of alcohol, little sleep and someone is bound to come down with something.

P.S. My wife is a nurse and says if you were to bring a prescription, bring the Flagyl. The downfall.... NO ALCOHOL while taking Flagyl & NO ALCOHOL for 72 hours after you stop taking it. If you do drink, you can have some unpleasant side effects. (This is in no way medical advice, ask your doctor about this if you do bring it..... if it lasts for more than 4 hours..... AWESOME! )

[David Donna]

Neither of us has ever been sick at Pearl or RM Desire. Donna got violently ill after eating some tainted watermelon at the H10 up the beach from the Pearl back in 2007. We pick up Cipro at the airport pharmacy before we fly out of Mexico because it is a lot cheaper than buying it in Canada. Rx not needed of course in Mexico. Haven't needed it in years fortunately. When it date expires, we buy a new supply.

[mspete]

Based on our experience (see my trip report), just don't eat anything outside the resort and don't drink anything outside the resort that is not bottled. Then you should be fine. I would not eat anything in the nearby town after our experience. We just weren't thinking.

[heavyG]

Based on our experience (see my trip report), just don't eat anything outside the resort and don't drink anything outside the resort that is not bottled. Then you should be fine. I would not eat anything in the nearby town after our experience. We just weren't thinking.

On 10+ trips to that area we've eaten in Puerto Morelos dozens of times. Lunch & dinner, fancy(ish) or plain & simple - never gotten sick… Based on your trip report, your wife sounds like she was sick before eating in town - food poisoning like you describe doesn't happen that fast.

[dnbinmi]

On 10+ trips to that area we've eaten in Puerto Morelos dozens of times. Lunch & dinner, fancy(ish) or plain & simple - never gotten sick… Based on your trip report, your wife sounds like she was sick before eating in town - food poisoning like you describe doesn't happen that fast.

I agree with HeavyG, it would be highly unlikely that you get that sick from food you just ate. We also have eaten in town many times and never got sick as a result. A more likely cause is that you accidently took in water from the pool, hottub, ocean or even the bathroom faucet. Did you wipe the top of the bottles that you were drinking, that can also be a source of bacteria, not only in Mexico but here in the US also.

For any other guests, experiencing the local restaurants is definitely worth the trip. I think it is wrong to suggest that people shy away from it after one experience.