Medical Issues

Suka · Joined: 15 Jan 2006 Posts: 10 Location: NY

My husband has a chronic illness. He is only mildly disabled with it, but he does need to have medication daily.

How do others manage with chronic illness or disabilities on the road? Do you have a preferred form for your medical history? Do you carry copies of latest labs, images, tests with you?

How do you pick up meds, etc while on the road?

We plan to start out in September DH graduates to retired status and are trying to be thorough in our planning.

Thanks for any replies/consideration.

Suka

Corley · Joined: 08 Jan 2006 Posts: 146

Good Sam Club has an Emergency Assistance Plus program. Covers a lot of medical emergency issues--medical evacuation, children return, pet return, vehicle return, message relay--a lot of things that you would need in a medical crisis. Beyone that, I made sure my doctor and his practice would be available for consulting by phone since I don't trust random doctors. I went through 3 internists in 18 months when I moved here. I just won't tolerate "adequate" care; as a nurse, I have seen the long term results of mediocrity. I try to make sure I know where the closest teaching hospital is. I would rather have a resident in training take care of me than a community doctor that doesn't keep up, or a family practitioner that knows a little about a lot of things.
_________________
MAC and Two Dog Night

Suka · Joined: 15 Jan 2006 Posts: 10 Location: NY

I am making plans now for the fall. We want to have a copy of MRI, labs, extra prescription, and we are contacting our insurance company about what they cover.

My husband is on a med for MS that needs refrigeration. The company he gets it from delivers to our home and we have to be there to receive it. This may be a problem when we travel. I guess we will have to plan to be at a certain place on a certain date to receive the meds.

I am looking at teaching hospitals throughout the country, especially ones that have neurologists that specialize in MS.

Actually, I am now investigating the possibility of doing the "traveling therapist" thing for a year or two. That may make things a little easier.

Thanks for your response.

Suka

Highwayguys · Joined: 15 Apr 2006 Posts: 4

I would register witrh Medic-Alert. They take the guesswork out of what to do in an emergency: will contact your doctor and any family.

Wal-Mart can fill any Rx from any doctor. Just show them the empty bottle with the Rx on it.

A CB radio is better in a pinch than a cell phone that may be out of range.
Truckers are really dependable if you have an on-the-road emergency. If they can't get to you, they will contact the highway patrol or emergency services as long as you know where you are.

Good luck and good RVing.
_________________
Steve & Peter - The Highwayguys

Make God Laugh - Tell Him Your Plans
www.highwayguys.blogspot.com

allall1 · Joined: 05 Aug 2006 Posts: 1

I too am disabled (I have MD) and we travel fulltime. It takes extra work as DH has to load and unload wheel chair at each stop. He would rather do that than sit at home. We always carry about the last 2 years of medical tests, reports, etc. I also agree that finding a doctor who will consult with you by phone makes things so much easier in most cases. My meds come through a mail order company and they ship wherever I happen to be. Wal-Mart is also a good place in most cases with computers so available and willing to transfer data from one store to another. Don't let illness keep you home. My theory is I can feel as good or bad in one place or the other so why not travel? In fact, I feel better when I avoid extreme temperatures. We head to the southwest in the winter and far north in the summer. Spring and fall finds us in the mid USA.

Corley · Joined: 08 Jan 2006 Posts: 146

The new ID chips are out; they are putting them in children currently, but it is a rice grain-size chip that a medical scanner can read. I don't know how they update it if your status changes. It will be great for lost children and people who arrive in emergency rooms unconscious or unable to give urgent information. Some groups have privacy concerns, but my special needs for health care far outweigh my concerns that someone find out my diagnosis or my next of kin.
_________________
MAC and Two Dog Night

Luckycat · Joined: 30 Jun 2006 Posts: 52

I don't think it's so difficult to think what to do in such cases! You should take with you enough supplies of medicines and give them to your husband every time he has to take them. Besides, take copies of his medical history, his latest analysis and the phone number of his doctor and local hospital in case something happens, and the hospital where you are taking him needs some extra info.
_________________
Luckycat
www.trucksinfo.net
www.vacationnet.org
www.travelinc.org

dogparks-n-brewpubs · Posted: Wed Oct 25, 2006 5:54 am Post subject: Wow!

These posts are making me soooo thankul for the health of my spouse and I. I hope the best of luck to you out on the road, and hope it is filled with great memories of fun. There are many good people out here who will always help if you need a hand. Do not be afraid to ask your neighbor for a favor if needed. We are all out here together.
_________________
Randy Hamilton
www.DogParksandBrewPubs.com

otrider · Posted: Wed Oct 25, 2006 8:04 pm Post subject: Traveling Therapist

Hi Suka. You said you were thinking about doing the "traveling therapist" thing for a year or two. I am and am planning departure from the frigid shores of Lake Erie for Florida in January. Would love to chat.
Pam
_________________
Pam
'06 F250 V10 Alas No More Choc Mousse has gone to it's new home in Port Clinton, Ohio
New Addition to the Family
2010 F350 V10 4x4 430
'99 30' New Vision Ultra

otrider · Posted: Wed Oct 25, 2006 8:09 pm Post subject:

To everyone else who responded with answers to how to handle medical issues, thank you. I have a doctor's appointment set up for January and was planning on sending her a letter in advance so she has a heads up. Now thanks to you dear folks, I'll have some specifics for the letter so we both can be better prepared.
I appreciate all of you and your mulitude of experience.
Pam Very Happy

_________________
Pam
'06 F250 V10 Alas No More Choc Mousse has gone to it's new home in Port Clinton, Ohio
New Addition to the Family
2010 F350 V10 4x4 430
'99 30' New Vision Ultra

Betty and Rick · Joined: 26 Dec 2005 Posts: 22

My husband has had Parkinson's disease for the past 27 years. We LOVE travelling in our RV because it's the one thing that he can do that is close to normal (whatever normal is anymore!) Even a bad day becomes a good one when you see new sights; meet new people. Camping is a wonderful way to enjoy life no matter how much or little you are able to participate in it. We had Versahaul lift and ramp installed in our hitch, and now Rick can ride his trike wherever we travel. Ford Motor Company paid for the price of the Versahaul carrier. Anyone who has a new Ford chassis and needs a lift can receive up to $1,000 from Ford toward mobility carriers.

Good luck and Get Out There and Play!!
_________________
Betty and Rick wishing you a peaceful day!

Dixdar · Joined: 29 Oct 2006 Posts: 11 Location: Watsonville, CA

Hi,

My husband was diagnosed with Parkinson's 3 weeks ago. We have a 5th wheel. I am going to learn to haul it behind our 2004 Ford pickup. We plan to go to Anaheim, Canyon Lake, CA, then on to Quartzsite, Arizona, and ? As long as my husband is OK, that is. We are interested in finding out more about the Versahauler. We have two electric scooters we use. They fold up, but have training wheels on them (that we invented). Would this Versahaul work for them?
Thanks! Rolling Eyes

_________________
Life is a coin. You can spend it anyway you wish, but you can only spend it once.

otrider · Posted: Mon Oct 30, 2006 6:47 pm Post subject: 2004 Ford & Fifth Wheel

Hi Dixdar,

Just curious, what's the GCVW on your rig and what kind of a Ford pickup do you drive? I keep getting conflicting info on how much truck I need to haul a 5th wheel. Is yours a "Light"?
Thanks and lood luck with your husband's Parkinson's. I'll keep him in my prayers.
Pam
_________________
Pam
'06 F250 V10 Alas No More Choc Mousse has gone to it's new home in Port Clinton, Ohio
New Addition to the Family
2010 F350 V10 4x4 430
'99 30' New Vision Ultra

Dixdar · Joined: 29 Oct 2006 Posts: 11 Location: Watsonville, CA

Hi Pam,
I'm not sure how much our 5th wheel weighs. Our 5th wheel is only 28 feet. We have a 2004 4-door super duty 250 pickup. Diesel. It isn't a light truck. Do you have a 5th wheel? If so how big is it?
Thanks for the prayers. Ot is ovewhelming right now. Dar is taking it well though. We are glad we know what's wrong with him. I have been trying to find out for over a year what was wrong. We don't like the diagnosis, but at least we know now. He is taking Seniment and is doing so much better. We want to do some traveling as long as he is capable.

Thanks, Dar and Dixie
_________________
Life is a coin. You can spend it anyway you wish, but you can only spend it once.

Betty and Rick · Joined: 26 Dec 2005 Posts: 22

Hi Dixdar!

There are two size Versahauls. The one I got is 30" deep by 60" long. It fits into a 2" hitch receiver. It has a ramp that unfolds to the ground so that you can roll your scooter up to the flat portion. That ramp then folds up and becomes a gate to hold the bikes in place. You can go the the Versahaul site and see the whole configuration, or go to EasyMobility.com and see many lifts and ramps.

I got the Versahaul from Easy Mobility and they have the contact information for reimbursement from the car company. I'm interested in your training wheels: how did you do it?

Good Luck.. Betty
_________________
Betty and Rick wishing you a peaceful day!