Part 2 of bathroom issues while traveling
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Hello again! If you have been avoiding that dream vacation or even quick weekend away because you’re afraid of experiencing bathroom issues, you’ve come to the right place. In my last post I shared a very personal and traumatic bowel issue I had while traveling in beautiful Sicily. It almost ruined my dream vacation. In this post, I’m going to talk about the opposite issue, and thankfully I have no personal tale to tell, so readers who felt disturbed by my reveal of too much information can rest easy! We recently shared a lovely dinner with some friends who are preparing for a trip to Mexico, and the first thing they asked Dinner Table Doctor was how to avoid getting travelers’ diarrhea.
What is traveler’s diarrhea?
This is a super common illness affecting travelers, especially when visiting areas where the food and water sanitation standards are different from what your body is used to. It usually happens after eating or drinking something contaminated. Most of the time, it’s the result of exposure to a type of bacteria such as E Coli or Salmonella, but sometimes it results from a virus such as norovirus, or even a parasite.
Anywhere from hours to a few days after exposure, you start to experience stomach cramps, bloating, and nausea along with frequent loose, watery stools. You may have a mild case which doesn’t really interfere with your plans, but you could also be running for the bathroom on a regular basis and not able to leave your hotel room without fear of pooping your pants. You are miserable and in an unfamiliar place. Just the thought is enough to make someone not want to travel.
When to Seek Medical Attention
If your symptoms are persistent despite 24 hours of self-treatment, or if you develop a high fever, progressive dehydration, abdominal pain, or bloody diarrhea, you need to see a doctor. The signs of dehydration, meaning your body has lost too much water, include:
- very watery diarrhea
- feeling very tired
- excessive thirst
- dry mouth
- muscle cramps
- feeling lightheaded
- weakness
- confusion
- lack of urination or very yellow urine
- inability to eat any food or drink any liquid
A doctor will probably give you fluids and maybe a medication.
How to reduce your chances of getting travelers’ diarrhea
Patients often visit Dinner Table Doctor before traveling to ask how they might prevent a case of travelers’ diarrhea. He suggests that they visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Travel Health Tool to research the country first and find out whether the water is safe to drink. If tap water is not safe, DTD recommends bottled water. He also advises patients to avoid ice and drinking from a glass without a straw and to avoid sauces or raw vegetables, since they are probably made from or washed with tap water. You should even brush your teeth with bottled water and keep your mouth shut in the shower to be extra safe!
When DTD and I traveled to Oaxaca Mexico, we were fortunate enough to be visiting a friend who is a microbiologist and lives there. He instructed us not to get any food from street carts, which was so difficult because everything looked so delicious! I wondered why we couldn’t partake in the fun when clearly many other people were. DTD explained, and our local friend confirmed, that while some travelers’ may be more susceptible to new viruses or bacteria and locals may not be, anyone is at risk for food borne illnesses. We didn’t eat the salsa or salads or have iced drinks at any restaurant unless our local friend gave us the green light. We also brought water bottles with built in filters just to be safe and stay hydrated. You have to be careful when selecting your filter level, because some just filter out impurities while others filter out bacteria and viruses. You have to consider the country you are visiting as well as your price point. DTD and I still ate like kings during our vacation and enjoyed all of the wonderful flavors Mexico has to offer, but we were cautious and able to successfully avoid a case of travelers’ diarrhea.
Don’t be afraid to travel and explore new places. You can minimize your risks and enjoy all of the wonders that other countries have to offer. Stay tuned for part 3 of bathroom issues while traveling, where DTD offers advice about urinary frequency.
Related Posts
Bathroom Issues while Traveling: Constipation
Coping with Empty Nest Syndrome – an Exciting Trip to Oaxaca, Mexico
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