Salmonella, Burcella - Treatment

Lolitula

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Mar 16, 2011
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Hey Gang,

So it just HAD to happen...I've been feeling pretty off for the past few weeks, hungry at times but as soon as I eat I feel absolutely awful (nausea kicks in) and extremely tired, a bit sore...yes, I took about 5 pregnancy tests and they all came out negative ;)

Anyway, I went today to the Centro Medico here in Cabrera and the tests showed Positive for 2 strains of Salmonella and for something called Burcella, something that comes from contaminated meat. The Doctor gave me a week's worth of Amoxicillan and called it a day, but now other reports and locals are telling me the treatment should be longer and the medications different. Does anybody have first-hand info about this illness? I also think I might re-test at another location, just a second opinion...

Ah well, otherwise I'm feeling pretty decent (I actually went in for a nasty cough, but lucky I inquired about these other nagging symptoms!) Hope you're all well :D

Thanks Gang!
 

dv8

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Sep 27, 2006
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well, i normally go by whatever doctor says but...
salmonella is a bacterial infection so yes, antibiotics, along with rehydration and ani-diarrea (only if you insist, personally i prefer to clean up the intestins) should be enough. of course many strains of salmonella are antibiotic resistant so it would not matter.

having said that, there are better antibiotics than amoxiciclina to treat gram negative bacterias. i would go for ciprofloxacina 500, twice a day for 10 days to kill the bastard dead. generic version is 10 a pill, ciprobiotic from laboratoria ethical (dominican, very good) is 45 pesos a pill. one can also step up and take levofloxacina 500 (again, usually twice a day, for one week) but levo is rather expensive (about 100 pesos per pill). make sure to take esomeprazol first thing in the morning for the duration of the treatment, cipro and levo are strong and may be hard for a stomach if it is not protected.

i had salmonella several times and i always took antibiotic. the most important thing is that no matter how well you feel YOU HAVE TO COMPLETE THE TREATMENT. otherwise you do not kill salmonella completely and develop resistance to the antibiotic.

and one more thing to remember: DRINK LOTS OF LIQUIDS. proper hydration is a number one cure here.
 

dv8

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Sep 27, 2006
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i forgot to add that brucella is a totally different s**t (gram negative still but much worse). very difficult to treat and full course of treatment lasts weeks and is painfull (injections) and expensive.
you should see a proper doctor and show him the results.
as a point of interest and a warning: brucella used to be a biological weapon.
 

Lolitula

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Mar 16, 2011
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Thanks so much, Dv8, this is really helpful. I'm thinking to go for a 2nd opinion this week...I'm taking Amox and something else, I think the Cipro...I'll have to re-read the label to see. For this cough, I'm also taking something...I feel that it's so much in my system at once, I'mr really feeling drugged up and miserable! :( The Brucella he said is being treated with the same drugs, but it's true, I've heard the treatment should be longer (and this is only a one-week's dose) I think it's time to seek out another doctor and get this sorted. Thank you sooooo much for the advice...will keep you posted! ;)
 

dv8

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Sep 27, 2006
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amoxiciclina with cipro/levo combined with stomach protection (omeprazol etc) is used to treat helicobacteria pyloris, usually. girl, please do go to santiago to see a good doctor in union or homs. have more tests done and ask another opinion. brucella is really bad but even salmonella can cause serious complications.
 

Lolitula

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Mar 16, 2011
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Thanks sooooooo much...I super, super appreciate all your help. I'm going for a 2nd opinion today (another test, different place, for the least) I think I saw Union in Santiago once as I was on my way in. Are they fairly decent places? I'm thinking, if it doesn't get much better (I think the Doc treated my chest / bronchial infection but nothing at all do with Salmonella) I'll probably have to go back to Canada and spend a month or so just getting better...:( Thanks so so so so much for your help! I'll hope that this gets resolved asap...
 

dv8

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Sep 27, 2006
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just do not get scared, ok? in DR i had all possible stomach bugs/bacterias/viruses and i am fine :)
clinica union is one of the biggest and best in santiago and i am sure you will find great doctors there.
 

william webster

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Jan 16, 2009
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My wife had it - the cure can be as bad as the problem.
Watch the local drugs - they're different

In Cabrera, we prefer the clinic at the western intersection on Rte 5 over the others.

Good luck.
 

Lolitula

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Mar 16, 2011
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Hi gang, thanks for all this advice. I finally got referred to a wonderful doctor, a Gastro-intestinologist called Angel Duarte in Nagua...amazingly knowledgeable, patient, years of experience abroad...so happy to have found this doctor. He's given my a treatment for the Brucelosis (can't remember the name but it's very strong)...apparently it'll make me pretty sick but should get the job done! The other thing he prescribed is 3 weeks' bed rest...now to find some movies I can watch!

Thanks all again for the help...let's home at this time in 3 weeks I'm going to be back to my old self :)
 

dv8

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Sep 27, 2006
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get better! and take it easy, treatment can sometimes be as bad as disease....
 

Lolitula

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Mar 16, 2011
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HI GANG! Thanks for the love and advice :) I'm getting there...over a month in and still going through treatment. I just wanted to update...the school I was working at subsequently "replaced me" when I was hospitalized...so now I've got Brucella, Salmonella, Thyphoid and Ameobas...and short one job :( Ah well. The search begins...now ;)

Thanks again for the love!
 

edwinpena

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Dec 23, 2011
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I think you should visit the GASTRO, is the specialist for this, and also try to visit a doctor in Santiago or Santo Domingo, there are better doctors there
 

bob saunders

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Jan 1, 2002
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dr1.com
HI GANG! Thanks for the love and advice :) I'm getting there...over a month in and still going through treatment. I just wanted to update...the school I was working at subsequently "replaced me" when I was hospitalized...so now I've got Brucella, Salmonella, Thyphoid and Ameobas...and short one job :( Ah well. The search begins...now ;)

Thanks again for the love!

If you were working there legally and under contract you probably have a case with the Dominican Labour office for wrongful dismissal.
 

Lolitula

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Mar 16, 2011
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Thanks Bob. It was all legal and contracted, yep...it's too bad how things ended, and therefore have caused me to have to leave the country for veryyyyy cold and sort of snowy Ottawa! But there's how the cookie crumbles :(
Brucella's now all gone, but...I've got Typhoid still! Looks like nothing but bad luck! Oh well :)


If you were working there legally and under contract you probably have a case with the Dominican Labour office for wrongful dismissal.
 

keepcoming

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May 25, 2011
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So sorry to hear your leaving. When I first came here I came down with every known ailment there was. Even the doctor told me I should move back to the US. Actually had to fly to Miami a few times to see specialists. You are definitely right about the milk and cheese, my system has never been able to handle either of them. Over the years I guess I have become immune to alot so I have stayed healthier. When one decides to move here sometimes we do not think of what health issues may arise and the fact the medical care may be lacking somewhat. One should always keep this in mind one moving to another country. Have a safe journey home.