Honeymoon Gone Awry: A Story of Diarrhea

We all have experiences that we, well, mentally file away. But a case of severe diarrhea? That’s not something you typically want to file away in your memories of a honeymoon.

I mean, you really can’t share that with just anyone. When someone asks, “How was your honeymoon?” it feels almost wrong to answer with a hospital visit due to a stomach issue. It’s a bit embarrassing, you know? The moment you mention it, everyone’s curious—and not in a good way.

Dealing with such an awkward situation is tough. Sharing your story might make you feel a bit better, especially knowing that it isn’t just your family who knows that your honeymoon hit a bump in the road—it’s practically public knowledge.

Take Gretchen Pleus, for instance. She’s not your average newlywed. During her honeymoon in Yellowstone National Park, she got hit with cyclosporiasis. Poor thing spent a good chunk of her camping trip glued to the bathroom because of her symptoms.

“It was like constant diarrhea,” she recalled. “It was watery and it seemed to last forever.” She felt fine until days into her camping trip. Then, the symptoms kicked in, sending her on a trek to the hospital.

While the situation was dire—her abdominal pain was significant enough that she needed medical attention—Pleus was determined to make the best of it. Yes, their honeymoon consisted of many uncomfortable bathroom breaks and hospital visits, but there was an underlying positivity.

“We’re still on our honeymoon, so we’re doing our best,” Pleus said. With their wedding vows in mind, she joked about testing their commitment early on. You can imagine, this honeymoon is one they won’t ever forget, probably for all the wrong reasons, but it seems they’re taking it in stride.

This experience is certainly a cautionary tale for couples planning to travel right after tying the knot. Let’s hope their story serves as a reminder to pack wisely, especially when it comes to preventing stomach issues during a trip.