Medical Conditions and the backcountry

[GibsonKuenzi]

Does anyone have a medical condition that limits them in the backcountry or forces them to carry special medication in their med kit?

Me, I have a rare blood disorder that causes random swelling. I carry a couple vials of liquid medication and plasma with enough supplies to give myself an IV in the event I get a swelling. I've got the weight if the kit down pretty low, but including the cat tourniquet that I carry, I an around 10 oz extra to my med kit.

Anyone else have anything?

 

[boom]

Asthma and gout.

Inhaler and pills. I love out hiking someone and offering them a hit from my inhaler. Annoys them.

 

[The John]

I am a type 1 Diabetic, have been since I was 17. I carry a blood sugar meter (along with spare batteries and more strips than I think ill need). I also carry lots of insulin, and lots and lots of bags of skittles. I use skittles instead of the glucose tabs as I can carry mulitples of them quite easily and they are cheaper then the tabs.

Its always been a worry for my wife that something will happen to me out in the back country. I am very careful of packing extra items to ensure that I take all the necessary precautions to ensure that I get home safe (happy wife=happy life). Being a diabetic (in my mind) is not as bad as some other afflictions out there, but no matter what ails you, you need to be on top of it and prepared to handle whatever comes up.

 

[Beendare]

I am allergic to those dang hornets and bees...but usually a couple Benedryl keeps it managable....no epi kit yet

 

[ffparamedic]

I have an arrhythmia that causes a tachycardia. I have to take a beta blocker. It limits me somewhat but I've managed to work around it.

Beendare why don't you have an epi pen?

 

[Beendare]

FF,
i've been able to get away with benedryl. I had a bull i shot in colo a few years ago solo that i hiked back down to pack out and by the time i got back he was covered in yellow jackets -the benedryl was in my other pack. I was stung multiple times on the same hand while boning him out [hundreds of the suckers!], My arm looked like Popeye in the one hr so i dropped down to dunk it in a cold stream then packed the first load out in a cool rain.it was a bit of a worry- but not horrible. The swelling stopped at my shoulder and after chomping a couple benedryl and relaxing at the truck for an hour the heat, swelling and tingling let up a little. By the next day I was fine.

My doc said the same thing you did......I'll probably pick one up for the heck of it next time i see the doc.

 

[mtswampfox]

I am a type 1 Diabetic, have been since I was 17. I carry a blood sugar meter (along with spare batteries and more strips than I think ill need). I also carry lots of insulin, and lots and lots of bags of skittles. I use skittles instead of the glucose tabs as I can carry mulitples of them quite easily and they are cheaper then the tabs.

Its always been a worry for my wife that something will happen to me out in the back country. I am very careful of packing extra items to ensure that I take all the necessary precautions to ensure that I get home safe (happy wife=happy life). Being a diabetic (in my mind) is not as bad as some other afflictions out there, but no matter what ails you, you need to be on top of it and prepared to handle whatever comes up.

type 2 here. never go anywhere without my pop tarts!! have my meds pretty well controlled now, took a while. seldom get a low. long as am active a1c stays under 7 . have to for my bad kidneys. remember when was young talked about girls and sports, now well..........

 

[ffparamedic]

Beendare pm me.

 

[DudeFromOhio]

Nothing major. Asthma, so I always keep an inhaler in the pack but never needed it.

This may sound stupid but the worse medical "emergency" I had was when I forgot my acid reflux pills on a 4 day camping trip. After the second day I had heart burn so bad I was afraid to east anything and I couldn't even sleep because the reflux kept waking me up every couple if hours with me gasping for breath.

 

[MountainTracker]

I am a type 1 Diabetic, have been since I was 17. I carry a blood sugar meter (along with spare batteries and more strips than I think ill need). I also carry lots of insulin, and lots and lots of bags of skittles. I use skittles instead of the glucose tabs as I can carry mulitples of them quite easily and they are cheaper then the tabs.

Its always been a worry for my wife that something will happen to me out in the back country. I am very careful of packing extra items to ensure that I take all the necessary precautions to ensure that I get home safe (happy wife=happy life). Being a diabetic (in my mind) is not as bad as some other afflictions out there, but no matter what ails you, you need to be on top of it and prepared to handle whatever comes up.

I am also Type 1 Diabetic, also since I was 17. I use an insulin pump which really helps me to be mobile, I feel, vs when I was just doing shots. When out day hunting, scouting or hiking I always carry a full fast acting and slow acting insulin pen with me, along with a hand full of needles. I'll have my blood tester with a new bottle of test strips. I also take a glucagon pen, and I make sure whoever may be with me knows how to use it.

If I'm out for multiple days I'll carry four days of insulin pump supplies and a new bottle of insulin, along with everything above. Just in case I have a low blood sugar I bring a small power ad and a small bag of power ad powder mix. I'm almost always carrying some kind of little candy. I have found that Hi-Chews work well, and you can buy them in big bags at Costco. I also have leukotape to help keep my infusion set attached, bc I sweat a lot which has in the past caused the infusion set to come out.

This is just something I have to be prepared for, and is a fact of life. For now it hasn't stopped me from doing anything I've wanted to do, and as long as I stay on top of everything and the doc says I'm doing good I don't see it slowing me down anytime soon.

 

[7mag.]

I have a lung and heart disease. The heart disease causes arrhythmia, and the lung disease has caused scar tissue that took about 43% of my lung capacity. My treatment is mainly oral medication, depending on the day, is anywhere from 3 pills to 12 pills. Luckily, cardiovascular exercise helps keep my heart strong, and is starting to stretch out my lungs. My doctor is very supportive of my backcountry addiction, which helps my wife feel better about me disappearing into the wilderness for days at a time.

 

[martin_shooter]

I have six people who work for me in the backcountry every year. I have found a DR who will prescribe me an EPI pen every year. I also make sure I have 2-3 candy bars that are only used in a diabetic emergency. Its a small weight penalty for me to carry to make sure my crew members are safe. Too many times people that have no known medical issue end up with an allergy or diabetic reaction while in the backcountry.

 

[5MilesBack]

My doc said the same thing you did......I'll probably pick one up for the heck of it next time i see the doc.

The problem with allergic reactions is that they tend to get worse each time, so the next time you may not be so lucky.

Apparently I have asthma, as the doctor keeps telling me and keeps trying to put me on medication. I also have two herniated discs in my neck and a syrinx in my spinal cord. And a bout with Afib every now and then.

I don't take anything extra with me because I've never needed it, other than Ibuprofin and some pain killers. If any of this stuff kicked in while in the backcountry, I'm sure the adrenaline from kicking my own *** would get me back to the truck.

 

[Mike7]

5MilesBack holly crap, you have a few things trying to keep you out of the mountains. Has your doc ever suggested carrying a few tablets of a beta blocker for as needed use in the backcountry if you were ever to get a case of A.fib with a very rapid heart rate??...or I guess you could try some carotid massage also.

 

[5MilesBack]

Has your doc ever suggested carrying a few tablets of a beta blocker for as needed use in the backcountry if you were ever to get a case of A.fib with a very rapid heart rate??..

Actually, every time the Afib has kicked in.......getting my heart rate up during exercise has brought it out of Afib. Maybe that's why it's never been an issue up there......my heart is always elevated when I'm elk hunting. I haven't found a beta blocker I like yet. They all have side effects I don't like. The doctors have tried all different blood pressure meds, but I won't put up with the side effects. So......I just keep plugging along........until I don't.

 

[Beendare]

The problem with allergic reactions is that they tend to get worse each time, so the next time you may not be so lucky.

Yeah, i'm probably going to get chewed out by paramedic.....probably deservedly...anaphylactic shock is no joke.

 

[ffparamedic]

Lol just maybe Beendare

5miles have you ever tried Bystolic? If you haven't please do, you'll be pleasantly surprised I'm sure.

 

[mtnwrunner]

Here's a couple of photos of why you carry an epi pen with you.................I normally have a regular size hand and arm. This was a bite on the back of the hand. The other photos are of an ankle bite---sum bitch to walk on.

Randy