Illness on the road...

[Doc T]

I am curious how many people have an illness that are van dwelling. For instance I have Lupus and Sjogren's. These are considered "invisible illnesses" and create alot of difficulties with people understanding behaviors that come and go, such as something called "Lupus Fog" which is a Lupus Flare (meaning an attack) in the cognitive realm. I might not remember the simplest things, such as a time everyone is getting together for dinner or lunch or important things like a doctors appointment.

I don't know how my doctor is going to take to the knowledge that I am only going to be seen once a year because of my lifestyle, but will find out if it is a problem on Dec. 6th when Iremember that I have a dr. appt on that day (cause I wrote it down and read the note every few days!)knowing I could still forget it a hour before the appointment!

If you have a medical issue thatrequires management and are a van dweller on the road full time, I would love to hear your stories and how you cope!

 

[peacetara]

I don't really want to get into the details of my issues, but I just deal with my stuff like I always have. My stuff isn't usually all that life threatening, it's only when I do something stupid that it gets to be life threatening, I try to keep stupid to a minimum (just a general rule, ya know!), and I have support system(s) in place that check in pretty regular and make sure I'm not doing stupid things <img src="/images/boards/smilies/tongue.gif" border="0" align="absmiddle"><br /><br />Otherwise it's the same pretty much.&nbsp; I don't have health insurance, so I never see doctors anyways, except when things get really bad, or my prescriptions need refills, then I show up to my doctor in San Francisco, and get taken care of.<br /><br />With Love,<br />Tara

 

[rvwandering]

&nbsp;I was injured a few months after we started fulltiming in 1993.&nbsp; I damaged my spinal cord which caused paralysis from my waist down. Fortunately I was very healthy when it happened and I have continued to stay healthy. My doctor (actually several because the office that I go to keep changing doctors ) has been fairly understanding and will write&nbsp; prescriptions that last for a year. I don't need any heavy narcotics which, from what I've read ,require more frequent visits to doctors to get renewed prescriptions.<br /><br />&nbsp;Fulltiming with any health problem is a little more complicated than living in&nbsp; one spot but you can do it. For me that means a more expensive vehicle ( small RV) with a lift and room to carry supplies and equipment. It's important to take care of yourself physically , mental and emotionally. If something comes up when we're far from our home base area I go to a walk in clinic. I haven't had to do that often but it's better to take care of little problems before they become major.