Illnesses on the camino; It cools my jets. You?

[MARSKA]

I have walked the CF from SJPDP to SDC twice (2023 & 2024). I stayed mostly in municipal albergues. Both times I became ill with respiratory infection about 2 weeks into the walk. I'm a nurse, so I well know how to modify my behavior to minimize the chance of contagious infection, however I was unsuccessful in preventing my own illnesses. And it is not pleasant to be alone and ill anywhere - esp in a country not your own.

Despite the occasional inconveniences I like staying in muni's. It is almost essential (to me) to the experience. But when I walk in 2025 I might need to rethink this - has anyone else dealt with this problem? How did it work out for you?

 

[dick bird]

If you are ill, see a doctor. I don´t know how many times I have said this but I am happy to say it again - the Spanish health system is very good and I know this from first hand experience (twice). The only issue there is that small villages do not have full time doctors but even medium size towns do. Pharmacists are also very good and easier to access. If you think you have a contagious disease then you should stay in private accommodation, obviously. For me, the most common problem was gastro, whether viral or bacterial I have no idea but because of that I always take my own supply of hand disinfectant. Having a walking companion or a camino family will also be a support if you get unwell, but don´t be afraid to ask local people to help - their instinct will almost certainly be to say yes.

 

[Roland49]

I never did experience the travel-sickness-syndrome.
Many people are prone to that effect.
I have stayed only in municipal or private albergues in dorms.
Especially my gastro is very robust and didn't complain about the food while travelling.

On summer-break '25 I'll be on the CF again (SJPdP -> Burgos) and will see how it is going that time.

 

[Peterexpatkiwi]

@MARSKA, as with so many things in life I think this is very individual.
I'm a little surprised that you as a nurse suffer in this way because I would have thought that your immune system would have been more robust or adaptable than the general populace, however it is what it is. Perhaps in your case it is the 'straw that broke the camels back' syndrome.

it is not pleasant to be alone and ill anywhere - esp in a country not your own

I could not agree more. It has only happened to me once in 40 years but when it did it was pretty rough.

I'm fortunate, I'm more like @Roland49 in this regard.

Whilst I appreciate your desire to stay in the munis perhaps you could break it up a little more right at the beginning (eg a private room every few nights) in order to give your body a little more chance?

You talk about modifying your behaviour, I assume that also includes the things that I do. By that I mean eat far more high vitamin C fruit (Kiwi etc) than usual, drink 2 or more wonderful fresh OJ daily, snack on dried fruit and so on. (Basically concentrate for the first week on eating more healthily than usual.) After that hiker hunger kicks in and I kind of figure that my body has adapted anyway!

As a nurse, perhaps it would be worthwhile asking a colleague who specialises in respiratory issues for preventive advice? I appreciate that you will probably know the majority of it anyway but who knows you might just be gifted a gem of information.