Food poisoning- A personal account

[Damien Reynolds]

So I was in Santa Domingo de la Calzada two nights ago and was looking for a snack to tie me over until dinner. I went to a nondescript bar and ordered some of those chicken wings they had by the counter. The ones that sit around un refrigerated for who knows how long. The woman put them on a plate and microwaved them for a minute or so.

With some trepidation I ate them.

It's been so long since I've been sick on the camino I guess I was feeling invincible.

Well, the walk to Belorado yesterday was quite uncomfortable and included many many stops in all the little towns (use your imagination). I am stuck in Belorado for the day, pounding water and electrolytes.

I will remember to follow my gut on food safety... I guess I needed a reminder.

 

[Corned Beef]

My sympathies as I had the same "chicken issue" this year. As it was my last day on the trip, I went to the airport and sat for the 8 hours before my flight, strategically close to the facilities.

Upside is you'll feel and be lighter for a while.

 

[Keith H]

The absolute only upside I can see is its a heck of a good ab workout.

 

[J Willhaus]

The absolute only upside I can see is its a heck of a good ab workout.

My husband got some bad fish in Melide in 2016 and spent 2 days alternating between toilet and bed and hardly ate anything for 6 days after. It was a Camino ender after 45 days of walking. Take care and stay well hydrated. Bananas, rice, applesauce and toast (BRAT diet) are your friends.

 

[Keith H]

My husband got some bad fish in Melide in 2016 and spent 2 days alternating between toilet and bed and hardly ate anything for 6 days after. It was a Camino ender after 45 days of walking. Take care and stay well hydrated. Bananas, rice, applesauce and toast (BRAT diet) are your friends.

Yikes! That’s horrible.

 

[dougfitz]

@Damien Reynolds, so sorry to hear this.

 

[JerryStroebele]

Happens anywhere. A couple of years ago my son and I got really "cleaned out" shortly after eating gas station chicken tenders in Washington State. Before reading this thread I only heard first hand of one similar experience on a Camino. ((Bought from a fiesta street vender in Oviedo.) Buen Camino

 

[Damien Reynolds]

@Damien Reynolds, so sorry to hear this.

Thanks Doug... good news is I've been good for about 5 hours now and expect with another night's sleep I'll be good to go tomorrow. ¡Ultreia!

 

[Devon Mike]

In June 2019 just after I had walked through Leon, about 5 hours after I had eaten I got serious diarrhoea and vomiting about 25 times all night. In the morning I felt so bad I was collected by an ambulance and was in hospital in Leon for 2 days. After the tests they did they said it was a fish poison. Back out I struggled to keep walking and got to Astorga where I then finished and went home.

I planned to go back in 2020 but the pandemic restrictions stopped everything for me also in 2021 and 2022. Now I hope I will be back in 2023.

 

[aswansonsr]

So I was in Santa Domingo de la Calzada two nights ago and was looking for a snack to tie me over until dinner. I went to a nondescript bar and ordered some of those chicken wings they had by the counter. The ones that sit around un refrigerated for who knows how long. The woman put them on a plate and microwaved them for a minute or so.

With some trepidation I ate them.

It's been so long since I've been sick on the camino I guess I was feeling invincible.

Well, the walk to Belorado yesterday was quite uncomfortable and included many many stops in all the little towns (use your imagination). I am stuck in Belorado for the day, pounding water and electrolytes.

I will remember to follow my gut on food safety... I guess I needed a reminder.

Spanish pharmacies have a potent antidiarheal if you ask them.

 

[Rebekah Scott]

To replace your electrolytes you can buy packets of powdered "suero" at the farmacia, to mix into your water bottle. It's sweet and orangey, but it puts back all the salts and minerals you've lost, and rehydrates well... and it stays down, usually! I hope you feel better soon.

 

[JamesVT]

I‘ve been sick many times with food poisoning: Syria, Turkey, Afghanistan, India . . . An experience never to be forgotten, humbling, and to be feared. Blessings on all survivors.

 

[Lurch]

Two words…truckstop burritos. The Flying J strikes again!