We made it approximately five months with relatively no major stomach issues or illnesses for that matter, but while is Santiago, just after we finished the Camino de Santiago I got sick!
Before we left for our adventures abroad, we received many of the same questions and concerns from our closest family and friends. Since many know that we both have pretty sensitive stomachs, one common concern was how Wes and I planned on dealing with stomach issues while on the road. I often responded saying that I knew at some point we would face gastrointestinal issues (kind of comes with the territory of travel) but that we would just have to figure it out when it actually happened. I packed a decent supply of Immodium (diarrhea), Scopolamine patches (motion sickness), Cipro (antibiotic for severe diarrhea likely caused by a bacterial infection), Zantac (acid reflux) and felt like I was prepared for anything. Well I was wrong, nothing could have prepared me for the stomach bug that I caught in Spain.
Although biking the Camino de Santiago was one of the best experiences of my life, ending in Santiago was a bit of a disappointment. When I reflect back on the Camino, I actually try not to think about Santiago…it left a pretty bad taste in my mouth. We decided to stay in Santiago for five nights after we finished the Camino, to relax and regroup before heading to Croatia to meet my parents. We stayed 2 nights in a 2-star hotel (the first hotel we had stayed in since we started traveling) and then 3 nights in an Albergue (hostel for pilgrims). It rained every day we were in Santiago, Wes got bed bugs (yes you heard me right) from the hotel and then I got sick. As far as the bed bugs are concerned, Wes recovered in time to actually get them again at a 4-star hotel in Croatia. Bed bugs truly do not discriminate about what type of hotel they invade. The hotel in Croatia was extremely nice and clean, it was actually one of our favorites that we stayed at during our two weeks in Croatia. The two episodes of bed bugs left Wes with really itching bites on his arms, legs, back and chest. I felt so bad for him, especially since I slept in the same bed as him and didn’t get a single bite. It also required that we wash and dry every item of clothing that we have (twice) in extremely hot water. In addition, we left our backpacks in our rental car, parked the car in the sun and let car heat up the bags (just incase any little bugs migrated into our bags). Wes has had no further bites and I think we effectively ensured that our bags and clothes are free of bugs. Lesson learned, we now thoroughly check each bed at the hotel/hostel before we sleep in it!
So I will spare you the unflattering details of my stomach bug, but lets just say it was pretty bad. I believe it is the most sick I have been since Wes and I started dating. The biggest blessing of getting sick was actually the timing. I got sick just two days before we met my parents in Croatia and my mom came prepared with a magical medication called Lomotil (essentially a strong version of Immodium) and Compazine (nausea). My mom did what she does best (she’s a nurse), took care of me…along with Wes’ help of course. They were both wonderful and I am so thankful. I pretty much took medication around the clock for an entire week to slow down my trips to the bathroom, help with the aches/pains I was feeling, decrease fever and nausea. Luckily I was able to eat and drink a little bit and prevent major dehydration. Although, I definitely didn’t get to enjoy the food in the Istrian peninsula like everyone else did. I still managed to hike up & down almost 300 steps into a cave, hike in the Plitvice National Forest for 2 days and ride in the back of the car as my dad zipped around the Croatia backroads while driving a stick shift. Finally, about six days into our Croatian trip I finally started feeling normal again! So glad that I made it through that week of the stomach bug and crossing my fingers that I never have to experience anything like that again! I enjoyed every minute of Croatia, but was so very happy once I started feeling better and could really appreciate the food! More on Croatia very soon, there is so much to share about our journey through this amazingly beautiful country.
– K
It Began In a Balloon 
6 thoughts on “Behind the scenes…what really happened in Santiago”
Jennifer
I am so sorry to hear about your stomach bug and bed bugs!!! Matt and I had a terrible run in with bed bugs in London… The pictures from our bites were horrifying. Some people do not react to the stuff they put in your skin. Unfortunately I am not that lucky. Needless to say I am now a bed bug expert. 🙂 I pray you guys enjoy health and non bed bug experiences the rest of your trip!! Always pull back those sheets and check the seams on the Matress for brown spots 😉
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It Began In a Balloon
I am sorry you and your husband had to experience what Wes did. We sort of feel like bed bug experts as well, I have done a lot of research and reading about the nasty little buggers over the last couple of weeks! I guess I am one of those lucky ones that doesn’t react to the bites, because I have had no evidence of bites and based off of the amount of bugs and spots we found in our bed (after sleeping one night in the 4-star hotel in Croatia) there is no way that I wasn’t bitten a million times. From now on we will ALWAYS check the sheets and the mattress.
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Jaclyn
You are such a champ. Stomach issues would have had me in the fetal position on the couch for days, not hiking! Glad you’re feeling better.
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It Began In a Balloon
Thanks! I definitely didn’t feel like a champ, but I also really didn’t want to miss out on anything! It helped that we were in one of the most beautiful places I have ever visited! Hope you are well, looking forward to seeing you in a couple months!
-K
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Arnoldy, Dick
Katie Sorry to hear about your intestinal problems. Glad you are feeling good now. Ironically, Nancy and I slept in the same bed in the Bahamas once, and I was covered with bed bug bites and she didn’t have 1. Are your plans firmed up for Masaka? Let me know. Love you, Dick
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It Began In a Balloon
I felt so bad for Wes, but I think it is absolutely crazy that two people can sleep right next to each other and only one person gets a million bites! We actually just booked our flights from Johannesburg to Uganda this morning and I am about to email Fr. Peter with our flight information. Sr. Toni said that he will pick us up at the airport in Entebbe and that we will stay at the community center. We plan to stay for 3-weeks and then make a quick trip to Zanzibar, before we heading to Hawaii for Christmas with Wes’ family. We are both so excited for this opportunity and so happy that it is working out so well! Thanks for the help and encouragement! Love you!
-K
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