illness

[sl1966]

Common sense dictates what should be done when one becomes ill. However I'm curious to hear stories about the times when circumstances weren't ideal, you were alone, and (really) could've used someone to look care for you. I want to hear how you overcame it and what you did to avoid being caught in that same situation again (if possible).<div><br></div>

 

[sl1966]

wow, was it something I said?<div><br></div>

 

[Kisatchieman]

<P>Apparently we've always been&nbsp;blessed with&nbsp;perfect health. <IMG border=0 align=absMiddle src="https://vanlivingforum.com/images/boards/smilies/biggrin.gif"></P>

 

[sl1966]

<img border="0" align="absmiddle" src="https://vanlivingforum.com/images/boards/smilies/rofl.gif">&nbsp;I know!

 

[Guest]

<p>wow---I can write a Book,<br>&nbsp;# 1. <br>&nbsp;&nbsp; I had a heart attack &amp; stroke-1995-I live alone-(no family)-called hospital--took me about 6 hours to get there i was so disorented-105 miles.-stayed 3 weeks,no money couldn't remember any ones name,(before i had a cell phone,)finally remembered old friend from Navy.took 3 days to convince him to come sign me out of the hospital. got me out i followed him to my house---he went back home.<br># 2.<br>&nbsp;&nbsp; I was using a circular saw above my head-rebuilding old trailer,(shop now) saw struct face---deep cut,knocked out upper front tooth-(again i'm alone) drive to hospital,all bloody-laid there 5 hrs.NO insurance---finally ambulance to Richmond,va MCV, 3 days in icu after surgery- but was allowed to drive home.<br># 3.<br>&nbsp; big 6" snow-ice on top of it-6" Pine tree bent over blocking the drive was just in front of Saturn car,I knew i couldn't get out No matter what, well i went out back got a Chain Saw, WELL when i cut the tree,i turned around to lay saw down-Tree sprang and nailed me in the face--knocking out my Left eye breaking out teeth Both Jaws broken a chunk of facial bone under left eye Broken out, I'm a mess, i figured i would die right there in the snow-I have NO long distance service, no neighbors in the winter, I called the VA in Richmond,Va tell them i'm hurt-DON'T COME HERE IF YOUR BLEEDING WE DON'T HAVE A TRAMA UNIT) -i live Down a 800 ft drive way,I have no 911 NO way for Ambulance to get to me. A WEEK LATER i CALL va AGAIN, ..i DROVE THERE--- LOTS OF SURGERY'S, 11 DAYS LATER IM GOING HOME (ALONE AGAIN) <br>NOW i HAVE CELL SERVICE IN MY AREA,<br>****see i told you I could write a book.****<br>Now I buy fire wood and don't do much stuff any more.<br>sparky1<br>But i'm alive </p><p>ps a year later Eye put back in---yep i can see.<br></p><p><br></p><p>Holy mackerel dude, you're tough!!! What do you mean a year later eye put back in? <br></p>

 

[Dust of the Sun]

Damn Sparky, there must be some medical record books that you should be in...hell, you should have your own chapter!!! Think I'll let the chain saw sit.<br><br>Sparky also cooks up a mean pot roast in the slow cooker...sure beats Hospital Food, huh Sparky??<br><br>Dust<br><br>

 

[stude53]

<p style="margin: 0px;">Steve,</p><p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;">This is one topic I will not comment at length on. Suffice it to say I have lived through several life/death scares and I'm still here. <img border="0" align="absmiddle" src="/images/boards/smilies/biggrin.gif"></p>

 

[sl1966]

Wow Sparky!!! I guess it's really true when they say they don't make em like they used to where you're concerned.<div><br></div><div>Thanks Bob for contributing, and glad you're still with us too!</div><div><br></div><div>I'm not trying to pry into what medical conditions people have so much as how they dealt with avoiding being caught in a bad place again. Anyone is free to talk in as much detail (within the limits of good taste) or as little detail as they feel comfortable with. Sometimes the difference in avoiding a bad situation is knowledge about it.</div><div><br></div>

 

[cyndi]

Steve, there are couple of blogs where people have documented their serious illnesses while living on the road<div><br></div><div><a href="http://www.tosimplify.net/2011/02/blog-post.html" target="_blank">http://www.tosimplify.net/2011/02/blog-post.html</a> </div><div><br></div><div><a href="http://dewelldesigns.blogspot.com/2012/01/getting-sick-on-road.html" target="_blank">http://dewelldesigns.blogspot.com/2012/01/getting-sick-on-road.html</a> </div><div><br></div><div>hmmm... there was another one and I can't find it. If I remember correctly it was an older man and a fellow RVer helped her with her recovery. Everything from getting him to the hospital more than once, to making sure he had food and water, seeing to his tanks. The RVer who helped out was basically a stranger before he got sick; his closest neighbor on BLM land. She just happened to notice she hadn't seen him or his dog outside in a couple days and went to check up on him. When she found him he was dehydrated. I can't remember what the cause of his illness was.</div>

 

[sl1966]

Cyndi - You're the best! Funny that you linked Glenn's blog. It was reading about what happened to him that got me started in thinking about this.<div><br><div><div><br></div></div></div>

 

[VanTramp]

Overall, I doubt my experience applies much to everyone else since it is genetic (CF), but the more serious one-time incident that happened at the slabs a few years back did teach me something about avoiding future issues. Other than obvious things like forest fires, I never did any preliminary checking into air quality issues or known problems with specific illnesses in an area until that taught me it was a good idea! &nbsp;Now when we figure out where we are heading, I look into air quality, abnormally high cases of influenza or valley fever type stuff etc, before we go and adjust our routes to avoid them.&nbsp;<div><br></div><div>That one was very close to killing me off!&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Oh, one other thing to note about that instance. I probably put off dealing with the way I was feeling longer than I should have, thinking I would come out of it. Half way to driving to the ER all the way in Brawley, I was blacking out. If I was alone, I would have not made it or even crashed along the way. Heidi pretty much saved me twice that night. When you are alone, it is important to make sure you don't let things get so far out of control that you can't get yourself in or call for help.&nbsp;</div>

 

[maritimecamper]

I had an operation on my hip, stayed at my sisters 10 days or so, couldnt wait to get back to my little home on wheels. I stayed at a walmart, across from a hospital. For my theropy l walked around walmart, pushing my walker. It was snowing so this worked out excellent. Some of the best, down to earth people I have met, have been parking at walmarts.

 

[sl1966]

Amoxicillin. I don't know if anyone here is familiar with it's side effects or not, but they are brutal. I had the misfortune of being prescribed these for a pretty bad illness at the time. It was middle of winter when this stuff pretty much incapacitated me over a weekend. I got lucky because a neighbor dropped by unannounced to see if I wanted to walk my beagle with hers. She saw me on the floor thru the window and got management to open the door. I make it a point to research side effects of anything prescribed before taking it.<div><br></div>

 

[lampliter]

<P>Speaking of medication---I was approached by a friend who wanted me to try the ganoderma mushroom---it was in instant coffee---I prefer to use alternatives if possible---I did some online research---this sounds too good to be true---Does anyone on here have any experience with this?</P>