Illness, accidents and medications

[user 35711]

As a retired paramedic, I can't help but think about worse case scenarios. Living that with people for 20 years showed me that anything can happen at any time. I also was an assistant deputy medical examiner for the state where I lived, so I helped families at the worst moment in their lives grieving someone they had just lost while trying to investigate what happened. Plus, I guess it's simply my nature to worry, plan ahead and maybe catastrophize a bit, although I am trying to relax more and worry less these last few years. But the truth is, stuff does happen even with all our best planning and care.
So how did you all cope when you get really sick on the road? Did you know anyone who did? Or someone who had an accident? Can 911 find you in the places you stay? We couldn't even find some of the fixed homes in the rural part of New England where I served. Are hospitals accessible? Do you simply hunker down in your vehicle if you are sick? Tell me your stories. Where do you get your medications if you have regular ones? Refills? How do you keep a doctor if you don't have a permanent address? Do tell. No stories are too rough for me.
PS the video is from this morning on my early walk. Someone called 911...

 

[bullfrog]

One possibility is joining at Escapees.com where in Livingston Texas they have a Care Center for fulltime RVer’s. We volunteered with Escapees there when we first started traveling years ago and were really impressed. Many on the road go to Mexico for less expensive medicines and sometimes treatment. I have transported friends we travel with to the hospital on several occasions. Having someone to check in with or staying nearby is good as well. As one told me once “If you start to smell something fell free to call law enforcement.” Lol!!! It really is not much different than living in a sticks and bricks but sometimes staying in an AirBnb in town is necessary and having a good emergency fund is one important aspect. Being able to provide your location is pretty easily done with today’s technology but response time becomes the issue. Our medicine is mainly delivered through the post office mail pickups usually 3 months worth at a time. Simple common sense, staying healthy, getting shots and yearly checkups ( Escapees does health fairs ) and staying in touch or nearby friends and family in town solves most problems.

 

[Spaceman Spiff]

So how did you all cope when you get really sick on the road? Did you know anyone who did? Or someone who had an accident? Can 911 find you in the places you stay?..... Where do you get your medications if you have regular ones? Refills? How do you keep a doctor if you don't have a permanent address?.....

Garmin inReach: I can contact SAR anywhere I can see the sky. Sends GPS coordinates and allows text communication.
Same device sends daily 'I'm OK' and location information to my family so they know approximately where I am if I don't check in.

Med refills anywhere there is a Walmart.
I'm in fixed housing part of year so Dr. no problem.

 

[user 35711]

I'm going to check out the mail thread. I wondered how folks get mail. I figured some people might get their healthcare via online from their doctor? I only take one medication luckily and they give me a year supply. The neurologist PA sees me for 5 minutes. So maybe she could do it remotely? I will check out your suggestion...thanks!!

 

[WanderingRose]

If you have chronic medical issues needing monitoring, I recommend maintaining a stable relationship with your current physician and traveling back to them for appointments as needed.

My prescriptions are all at Walgreens, and as with them, CVS, WalMart, etc., they can be filled anywhere in the country.

 

[user 35711]

I may have to switch for sure. Thanks.

 

[user 423]

My med refills are (usually) pretty easy to transfer to any Kroger affiliated pharmacies that are located virtually everywhere in the US. Docs in urgent care facilities can renew scripts if necessary. I needed to do that in Alaska for BP meds one year. Medicare is accepted everywhere (in ER's anyway). Telemedicine for specialist follow-up monitoring of a chronic condition. Orders for labs/sonos can be sent to clinics in most cities.

My only unfortunate event was when I crashed my motorcycle and banged up my ankle. Profuse bleeding required a tourniquet be applied for the 30 mile drive to the Salida,Colorado ER. The Boy Scout training came in handy.

 

[user 35711]

I am very impressed if you did your own tourniquet right after a crash while bleeding profusely! You sound like paramedic material!!!

 

[user 423]

You sound like paramedic material!!!

Well, I have been material that paramedics have worked on a couple of times.

There is a special place in my heart for first responders.

Actually, thanks to their good work, I have a couple in there .

 

[user 35711]

 

[FlipperFla]

We are pretty active for hitting the 70’s. One wrong step is all it takes. We decided to get emergency extraction insurance thru Global Rescue. Basically they come and get you anywhere then transport you to the hospital of your choice. It wasn’t cheap but a lot cheaper than the cost of a backcountry rescue, emergency transportation to expert medical care. Also an ACR RescueME Personal Locator Beacon if we are out of cell range and a well stocked first aid kit.

 

[user 35711]

Very smart idea!!

 

[maki2]

Are hospitals accessible ? Who could know what is available everywhere you might travel? Or know in advance what emergencies might happen in your life?

Therefore it is your sole responsibility to create your own emergency planning agenda for each location you decide to travel to. You can easily research the nearest towns to the locations you travel to find out what medical services they offer.

 

[maki2]

My doctor is a long ways away and it has been just over 2 years since I have seen her. I have some prescriptions but I now get those meds in Mexico a years or more supply at one visit. A lot less trouble than getting them renewed at a US pharmacy.

Same thing is true for getting a new eye exam and prescription glasses and getting my teeth cleaned.

I have some antibiotics on hand. I also have some cortisone for a rapid first treatment for Covid or severe bronchitis. My doctor endorses that I travel with it to get me by until I can see a doctor for further treatment …if needed. She knows I do not abuse or overuse prescription drugs and follow the instructions for dosage very carefully.

I have only gone to a doctor once in the last 3 years for a medical issue. I thought I might have a bladder infection but it turned out to be pain caused by dehydration. I did pass a kidney stone, last fall, very painful but had an emergency travel med supply for that possibility as well. Good thing I was prepared as there was no 24 hour clinic in the nearby town and I could not have driven to one anyway. My kit is also set up for if my back goes into severe spasms as that is always a possibility but fortunately has not happened in recent years.

So basically if you have a good relationship with a doctor and they trust you then it might be possible to arrange a bit of an specialized traveler’s prescription, medical emergency kit to get you by until you can get to a doctor. That is not a totally unknown concept as a number of jobs people work at do require traveling to places where there are no hospitals.

I can keep my medical records updated online including changes in OTC supplements and vaccines I get while traveling. If I want to I can add in weight, blood pressure readings, blood sugar etc.
As I just got my annual flu shot and latest Covid booster I do need to update my record. I can check weight and blood pressure for free at Walmart and add that to my chart. That is the doctor on my emergency contact list so the info needs to be kept up to date.

 

[RVTravel]

An article on satellite emergency notification devices (SEND)...(as opposed to personal locator beacons)
https://www.switchbacktravel.com/best-satellite-messengers

 

[user 35711]

My doctor is a long ways away and it has been just over 2 years since I have seen her. I have some prescriptions but I now get those meds in Mexico a years or more supply at one visit. A lot less trouble than getting them renewed at a US pharmacy.

Same thing is true for getting a new eye exam and prescription glasses and getting my teeth cleaned.

I have some antibiotics on hand. I also have some cortisone for a rapid first treatment for Covid or severe bronchitis. My doctor endorses that I travel with it to get me by until I can see a doctor for further treatment …if needed. She knows I do not abuse or overuse prescription drugs and follow the instructions for dosage very carefully.

I have only gone to a doctor once in the last 3 years for a medical issue. I thought I might have a bladder infection but it turned out to be pain caused by dehydration. I did pass a kidney stone, last fall, very painful but had an emergency travel med supply for that possibility as well. Good thing I was prepared as there was no 24 hour clinic in the nearby town and I could not have driven to one anyway. My kit is also set up for if my back goes into severe spasms as that is always a possibility but fortunately has not happened in recent years.

So basically if you have a good relationship with a doctor and they trust you then it might be possible to arrange a bit of an specialized traveler’s prescription, medical emergency kit to get you by until you can get to a doctor. That is not a totally unknown concept as a number of jobs people work at do require traveling to places where there are no hospitals.

I can keep my medical records updated online including changes in OTC supplements and vaccines I get while traveling. If I want to I can add in weight, blood pressure readings, blood sugar etc.
As I just got my annual flu shot and latest Covid booster I do need to update my record. I can check weight and blood pressure for free at Walmart and add that to my chart. That is the doctor on my emergency contact list so the info needs to be kept up to date.

Excellent information! Maybe I could bring my blood pressure cuff and supplies if folks wanted me to take their BP?! I have a pretty stacked first in bag (we called it this) but some of the meds are a great idea. Thanks!!

 

[Tony's Dream]

I travel by myself, my wife maintains the home base. I am retired and a disabled vet. If I don't feel good, I look around for the nearst VA treatment location. I can refill my meds at the VA centers. I was traveling last June and began suffering from from the excessive heat and found myself dehydrated. I called the VA online nurse who told me how to take care of the situation. I treated myself and went on my way. You can't plan for what happens but you can have a plan to take care of the problem.

 

[Morgana]

If you have chronic medical issues needing monitoring, I recommend maintaining a stable relationship with your current physician and traveling back to them for appointments as needed.

This is a lot easier to do than it used to be, because of the option of using electronic medical records. Many doctors now offer MyChart or a similar system. This makes it easy to stay in touch with a doc in another town, and to transfer medical records from one doc to another.

It basically doesn't matter if you're 2 or 2000 miles away. And it's easy to use: once you get the hang of it, the bulk of the "work" each time is in satisfying the security requirements -- the rest is basically point and click.

(Of course, like any other digital tool, it works only as well as the humans operating it. If your doc's office never answers phone calls, they're unlikely to be better on MyChart. But if you have a good 'un that you want to keep, chances are they'll handle this tool responsibly too.)

Since Covid there seems to be a lot more openness to "tele-medicine" options as well, which might be a way to avoid travel for some appointments.

 

[user 35711]

That has been one upside of covid for sure.

 

[WanderingRose]

I do periodic labs to monitor some chronic conditions, wherever I am when they are due, carrying a hard copy of orders when I am traveling and using LabCorps for these most of the time.

Then a phone appointment with my physician to review them, who still wants to physically see me a couple of times a year.

And, honestly, we need to be physically seen by our doctors periodically.

Mine have electronic systems, which are very handy for many things, but don’t replace an in office visit.