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Abstract

ldom talk openly about our bowel patterns, and I thought the Caganer was such a witty way of bringing attention to a daily bodily function that goes under the radar.Yes, we are sure to hear when someone has a “Delhi belly” but not when one swings in the other direction and gets constipated.<h2 id="fe60">Why do I have this problem?</h2>Change in routine. When there is a change in routine, especially a change in times when I eat and sleep, my body takes time to adjust to the new cycle.New place. Even in the swankiest of bathrooms, it takes me a day to adjust. But I do think I had some scarring early on in my childhood when I used to go along with my aunt to her village in a rural area. That place had a squat toilet with no flushing system. Ugh! I would do anything to avoid using that loo.I know, I know. There is a reason why (in theory) I like the idea of camping but haven’t gone on a real camping trip. At my age now, hostels are out of the question. I’d like to spend my money on some decent bathrooms, thank you.Change in food. Being such a foodie, I dive into any new food that I can get my hands on during travel. However, if the cuisine is significantly different from my usual eating habits that adds to my troubles.<h2 id="05bd">What do I find helpful?</h2>Drinking lots of water. I make it a point to drink lots o

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f water. I start that on the plane journey. I know that means I have to run to the bathroom to pee more often, but I want to avoid dehydration as the primary cause.Eating foods rich in fibre. I pick up some fruits and nuts to add more fibre to my diet. If I struggle even after a few days, then a meal at a restaurant with rice, lentils or beans does the trick for me. Yes, Indian restaurants come to the rescue!Sticking to a morning routine. I try to keep my morning routine when I wake up as close to the regular routine as possible. For example, giving myself enough time in the morning to drink hot water or a hot cup of tea does help.I haven’t dared to use medication to help me with the situation as I seem to get over it in a day or two. My kids have the opposite problem when we visit India and we end up with a doctor’s visit.I envy the Caganer who makes it look so easy.My fellow Globetrotters, I write this article with the hope that you will share your shitting experiences, either confirming that I am not alone with this problem or that I need to invest in some therapy.I’d love to read your thoughts in the comments section. If you’d like to join medium to read my work and that of other writers, you can do so using the <a href="https://mustiwrite.medium.com/membership">referral link</a>.</article></body>

The Caganer Makes it Look So Easy

Toilet troubles during travel

I have a confession to make.

With all the traveling and eating that I do, I have a serious problem with adjusting to a new bathroom for at least the first day or two. I’m not talking about peeing, it’s the big job. Yes, I get constipated.

There you go, I said it.

Disclaimer: Now that you know what this is all about, you can choose to leave or stay on for some shitty discussion.

Introducing: The Caganer

On my recent trip to Barcelona, I was introduced to El Caganer (literally means “the pooper”). Caganer is a store in multiple locations selling figures in the act of defecating.

As per Catalan tradition, these figures feature as part of their nativity scenes. The store has famous figures like the Dalai Lama, Mahatma Gandhi, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Barack Obama, Donald Trump to name only a few in the squatting position with “shit” on the floor.

We seldom talk openly about our bowel patterns, and I thought the Caganer was such a witty way of bringing attention to a daily bodily function that goes under the radar.

Yes, we are sure to hear when someone has a “Delhi belly” but not when one swings in the other direction and gets constipated.

Why do I have this problem?

Change in routine. When there is a change in routine, especially a change in times when I eat and sleep, my body takes time to adjust to the new cycle.

New place. Even in the swankiest of bathrooms, it takes me a day to adjust. But I do think I had some scarring early on in my childhood when I used to go along with my aunt to her village in a rural area. That place had a squat toilet with no flushing system. Ugh! I would do anything to avoid using that loo.

I know, I know. There is a reason why (in theory) I like the idea of camping but haven’t gone on a real camping trip. At my age now, hostels are out of the question. I’d like to spend my money on some decent bathrooms, thank you.

Change in food. Being such a foodie, I dive into any new food that I can get my hands on during travel. However, if the cuisine is significantly different from my usual eating habits that adds to my troubles.

What do I find helpful?

Drinking lots of water. I make it a point to drink lots of water. I start that on the plane journey. I know that means I have to run to the bathroom to pee more often, but I want to avoid dehydration as the primary cause.

Eating foods rich in fibre. I pick up some fruits and nuts to add more fibre to my diet. If I struggle even after a few days, then a meal at a restaurant with rice, lentils or beans does the trick for me. Yes, Indian restaurants come to the rescue!

Sticking to a morning routine. I try to keep my morning routine when I wake up as close to the regular routine as possible. For example, giving myself enough time in the morning to drink hot water or a hot cup of tea does help.

I haven’t dared to use medication to help me with the situation as I seem to get over it in a day or two. My kids have the opposite problem when we visit India and we end up with a doctor’s visit.

I envy the Caganer who makes it look so easy.

My fellow Globetrotters, I write this article with the hope that you will share your shitting experiences, either confirming that I am not alone with this problem or that I need to invest in some therapy.

I’d love to read your thoughts in the comments section. If you’d like to join medium to read my work and that of other writers, you can do so using the referral link.