Fyi: What to do when no meds
- Thread starter Hosea
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Been there, Done that ...
Hypothetical Emergency
Residing in a "Hurricane State"; we DO
have pharmacies that will go on 'override'
(for those who are in the path of a hurricane
but their prescriptions are not yet due); in
which they call it "Catastrophic - Hurricane
Preparedness" - I do not know if other States
have this opportunity or availability.
Moreover after sustaining four back-to-back
Hurricanes (actually it was five but there was
a long delay before the four came rushing
through); my own Pharmacy rang me up
themselves to get me over to pick up my
prescriptions so I would be stocked. This is
why another reasons people should also get
bottled water and put aside for prescriptions
only. And all other batches are for emergency.
While I do not reside in an evacuation route,
I never had evacuated in my entire life, nor
have my ancestors either; we ride it all out
and are well prepared for such events. Including
power outages.
===================
Here's one suggestion that I have in the freezer
that I will pass it on to everyone else, because
the rule applies. Always get a jug (gallon) for
refrigerator/freezers - 2 jugs for the walk in
freezers. Just regular drinking water will do, drink
or use it for tea, 1/4th of the water - leave lid off
(or it will burst and rupture). If you do not have
much room, using those 2 liter bottles will do as
well, just make sure that the water is only 3/4th
full. Yes, it is okay to leave the top on until its
frozen solid and remove it (don't forget to wipe
the top dry or otherwise you won't be able to
remove it).
This way your food will last longer, moving the
refrigerated items into the freezer (which will
act as an icebox/cooler) and those that are in
the freezer box storage. While the power is
on ... put the chicken and pork up front and
if all possible, put them in zip-loc bags. The
red meat can remain on the bottom. Move the
iced containers into the TOP part of the freezer
box storage before the storm.
When the power goes off and you know it will
be prolonged - do not open unless you have to.
Learn to appreciate and stock up on charcoal,
for propane will soon run out. Learn to appreciate
cast iron skillets and those charcoal chimneys --
using bricks around it for support as not to topple
over when cooking. Always start drinking milk,
make pancakes, use up the eggs. Grab the chicken
(always have those handy bottled sanitary wipes
that they have today that are disposable) and
start thawing it out in the refrigerator that will
soon be useless. It is okay to let the chicken thaw
out in the sink until it is almost semi-frozen, and
cook it over the skillet and once it's nearly done,
you can toss in yellow rice, drained black beans
and be creative; and everyone would be "filled",
throw away left overs.
Once the freezer begins to warm up - I don't care,
throw out the chicken and whatever is not frozen
anymore. It does pay to move the stand up freezer
into the freezer box and including the gallon of
water you had stored in there. Pork would be next
if it has not fully thawed out. Red Meat has a longer
life span (fortunately), but always smell it first, and
if it smells funny, zip-loc it back up and throw it away.
If you ever have fish - eat those for lunch, fish
has the worst lifespan, lasting only 2 days. So eat
it up!
Above all things - always keep bleach in handy and
old towels. Never ever shut the refrigerator or
freezer doors, this would be a great time to clean it
all out (outside of course). And leave those doors
opened at all times. The smell (odor) will only last
for a day or two, but the baking soda and windows
(if it is not cold outside) will circulate (airing it out).
Otherwise, you will be stuck with mold, mildew,
and all the scientific laboratory gunk that you did
not intend to grow in there.
After that - NOW is the time to begin to use canned
goods and bread. Bread may be "stale" but it makes
a great topping! Canned milk does wonders. So with
a little charcoal in that chimney - you'll last a long time!
====================
Power outages for prolonged periods of time
is not unusual for us down here, so we pretty
much know what to do here before the storm
comes rumbling in... start eating up the "worst
lifespan" of food before the others.
Hypothetical Emergency
Residing in a "Hurricane State"; we DO
have pharmacies that will go on 'override'
(for those who are in the path of a hurricane
but their prescriptions are not yet due); in
which they call it "Catastrophic - Hurricane
Preparedness" - I do not know if other States
have this opportunity or availability.
Moreover after sustaining four back-to-back
Hurricanes (actually it was five but there was
a long delay before the four came rushing
through); my own Pharmacy rang me up
themselves to get me over to pick up my
prescriptions so I would be stocked. This is
why another reasons people should also get
bottled water and put aside for prescriptions
only. And all other batches are for emergency.
While I do not reside in an evacuation route,
I never had evacuated in my entire life, nor
have my ancestors either; we ride it all out
and are well prepared for such events. Including
power outages.
===================
Here's one suggestion that I have in the freezer
that I will pass it on to everyone else, because
the rule applies. Always get a jug (gallon) for
refrigerator/freezers - 2 jugs for the walk in
freezers. Just regular drinking water will do, drink
or use it for tea, 1/4th of the water - leave lid off
(or it will burst and rupture). If you do not have
much room, using those 2 liter bottles will do as
well, just make sure that the water is only 3/4th
full. Yes, it is okay to leave the top on until its
frozen solid and remove it (don't forget to wipe
the top dry or otherwise you won't be able to
remove it).
This way your food will last longer, moving the
refrigerated items into the freezer (which will
act as an icebox/cooler) and those that are in
the freezer box storage. While the power is
on ... put the chicken and pork up front and
if all possible, put them in zip-loc bags. The
red meat can remain on the bottom. Move the
iced containers into the TOP part of the freezer
box storage before the storm.
When the power goes off and you know it will
be prolonged - do not open unless you have to.
Learn to appreciate and stock up on charcoal,
for propane will soon run out. Learn to appreciate
cast iron skillets and those charcoal chimneys --
using bricks around it for support as not to topple
over when cooking. Always start drinking milk,
make pancakes, use up the eggs. Grab the chicken
(always have those handy bottled sanitary wipes
that they have today that are disposable) and
start thawing it out in the refrigerator that will
soon be useless. It is okay to let the chicken thaw
out in the sink until it is almost semi-frozen, and
cook it over the skillet and once it's nearly done,
you can toss in yellow rice, drained black beans
and be creative; and everyone would be "filled",
throw away left overs.
Once the freezer begins to warm up - I don't care,
throw out the chicken and whatever is not frozen
anymore. It does pay to move the stand up freezer
into the freezer box and including the gallon of
water you had stored in there. Pork would be next
if it has not fully thawed out. Red Meat has a longer
life span (fortunately), but always smell it first, and
if it smells funny, zip-loc it back up and throw it away.
If you ever have fish - eat those for lunch, fish
has the worst lifespan, lasting only 2 days. So eat
it up!
Above all things - always keep bleach in handy and
old towels. Never ever shut the refrigerator or
freezer doors, this would be a great time to clean it
all out (outside of course). And leave those doors
opened at all times. The smell (odor) will only last
for a day or two, but the baking soda and windows
(if it is not cold outside) will circulate (airing it out).
Otherwise, you will be stuck with mold, mildew,
and all the scientific laboratory gunk that you did
not intend to grow in there.
After that - NOW is the time to begin to use canned
goods and bread. Bread may be "stale" but it makes
a great topping! Canned milk does wonders. So with
a little charcoal in that chimney - you'll last a long time!
====================
Power outages for prolonged periods of time
is not unusual for us down here, so we pretty
much know what to do here before the storm
comes rumbling in... start eating up the "worst
lifespan" of food before the others.
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If TSHTF, and you can't obtain pharmaceuticals, your best bet might be to encourage your body to make it's own natural anti-seizure compounds. You might also want to stock your medicine cabinet now on diazepam or ativan shots so you could have them on hand in case of emergency.
We went through this during hurricane Ike. We had some services (like power) restored within a week, but it took a while for stores to open and be stocked again. Luckily, we had plenty of warning before the hurricane hit and managed to stock up on Stacy's meds, so we didn't have any shortage.
Ruth
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Where I live, in CA, nobody can stock up on their medicines. In CA, there has been such a misuse of medicines. Because of this, pharmacists are not allowed, by law, to let people stock up on medicines. Each state has it's own laws, check out what the law is where you live. I live in a flood and earthquake zones. Either one can cause a disaster where I cannot get my medicines.
Ruth
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Bernard, I looked up the article you talked about. !. starvation would cause a status for me. 2. I do know the low glycemic diet and it works for my diabetes. 3. It mentions meals to cook. I would be without electricity and gas to cook. 4. We have been saving up on food. 5. I take GABA from over the counter. I have stocked up on that and the Vitamin B Complex and magnesium and Calcitrate. All of which calm down the brain. I take them now when I start having seizures. This has prevented me from going to the ER.
Number 1, 2 and 5 would work for me. On the low glycemic diet, I can stock up on foods that are just individual foods, since I cannot cook. Starvation would be a side effect of the the emergency.
I have asked the question before: does anyone know what people with epilepsy did during the hurricane in Louisiana?
Number 1, 2 and 5 would work for me. On the low glycemic diet, I can stock up on foods that are just individual foods, since I cannot cook. Starvation would be a side effect of the the emergency.
I have asked the question before: does anyone know what people with epilepsy did during the hurricane in Louisiana?
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Most docs write prescriptions for one month supplies. You can ask your docs about a prescription for a 3 month supply. It might be slightly cheaper (cost/pill) buying a large quantity.
I never heard any reports on this one way or the other, so I assume it wasn't a problem. I'm guessing most folks who anticipated problems evacuated.
Ruth
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Thank you Bernard,
I do get refills 3-5 at a time. I can only refill a prescription each 30 days. They put the date on the bottle and 30 days has to go by before I can get a refill. I have tried to get my refills a few days ahead and they prepare it and 3 days later I can get my pills.
The laws are real strict in CA. The pharmacist will lose his license if he fills all of the 3 month's at one time. To many people were misusing their meds: giving them to friends and commiting suicide. Those are two examples. That is why the law was changed in CA.
I do get refills 3-5 at a time. I can only refill a prescription each 30 days. They put the date on the bottle and 30 days has to go by before I can get a refill. I have tried to get my refills a few days ahead and they prepare it and 3 days later I can get my pills.
The laws are real strict in CA. The pharmacist will lose his license if he fills all of the 3 month's at one time. To many people were misusing their meds: giving them to friends and commiting suicide. Those are two examples. That is why the law was changed in CA.
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An editorial from Brain - "Scary, but a factual fact"
The whole issue is the "controlled substance" medication,
and it does not matter if you are a person with Epilepsy or
a critically terminally ill patient - if you are taking any type
of controlled substance; you are monitored and logged in
this State of Florida.
While I've posted this before; it is troublesome and a bother,
having to carry a card "being carded" - and even more so if
you have to carry your prescriptions, they have to be in the
original container ... so to carry such in pill boxes is actually
a "No-No", unless you have the original container(s) with you
(almost to a point of why bother with a pill box if you have
the whole danged thing?) and such medication bottle must have
the original label, must not be tampered with, and yadda, yadda,
yadda ...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In addition - it is troublesome when you are on substance controlled
drug(s) in some States, even if you end up in the Hospital - they
monitor you exceptionally close - via lab-work where personally,
I find it rather "offensive" as I see it to a degree of "violation of
privacy which should be between my own Physicians and the
patient" and all the while yet; I can understand why because of
drug addicts / drug abusers that are out there.
The reason why I brought this up out of fairness is - I personally
believe this has gone a "tad-bit" overboard in the realm of sense
from my own perspective - when you have a patient with a long
history of such and such with no known establish history of drug
abuse or behaviorism of such trait - where does one draw the
fine line? For me - where does one say, "The Buck Stops Here!"?
I find it "unfair" for the patients and their privacy, especially if
they are not "Pharmacy Shoppers" (those who goes to tons of
different Pharmacies and does not have one established Pharmacy)
and already have establishment established - why bug the patient?
Why the continual bantering and continual barging of the patient
when the result returns the same endlessly, without any proof or
merit or such-like manner / issues?
I am not the only individual who experiences this, for others in
this State likewise have alerted me in various ways - with complaints
of the same story as I have, sharing their own experiences - and
in turn, is all too familiar grounds where it has become like a
scratched broken record which is repeating itself.
Again - where does one draw the fine line? Many have complained
to the State, Physicians have complained as others have informed
me such have been done - but it is all falling on "deaf ears".
Personally, I feel, if a patient is questionable - by all means, go
for it - but this does not apply to every single party in the such
said State regardless of age, sex, race, nationality that resides
within - in spite of what their health condition is. YES, I agree 100%
that it is absolutely wonderful idea that medications to be logged
and documented so - for if such said medication(s) were stolen,
then the crack down assists the LEA/DEA ~ for there are people
out there who do break-in and steal; not just electronics, money,
jewelry ... drugs too - anything worth money! And if they stole
a prescription bottle that has XX refills; wonderful - that would
give them a chance to find out who it is when someone attempts
"to refill it"! NAILED! That's the PRO-side of it.
But at least - give the freakin' patients a break here; even more
so those critically terminally ill patients who have but a short time
left in their lives, who needs those medication(s) to knock them
out of pain and misery. Where is the sympathy and compassion?
Why do I bring that issue up? For in my State and in the U.S.
Government - they are cutting some of these drugs OUT! I cannot
picture someone who is in extreme excruciating pain, and is not
even permitted to be given some relief, and yet, only given any-
where from 24 hours to few months to live under the care of
Hospice? And yet, what IS available does absolutely no good,
and these are the last days of their lives - and one wonders why
many rejects Hospice, resides at home and I won't go any further
beyond this for it is far too common place in this State where it
is just not only pathetic but sad, sad, sad ...
Before one knows it ... the very ones that are helping control
seizures - who knows, may very well become "illegal" altogether;
leaving people with Epilepsy (and many others with health issues
as well who depends on other controlled substance drugs for
their conditions) - left hanging by the end of the rope when those
non-controlled substance fails to control their seizures ... what
are they going to do? Where are they going to turn to? It had
worked for years, and had been proven successful for many.
Honestly, drug abuse / misuse / addicts - had existed long before
man even created the very first "prescription pill"! That is a fact!
It had existed for eons, going so far to herbs and dangerous things
where such were so risky that it was playing "Russian Roulette";
and by this I imply - "nothing new under the sun" ...
When they ban / terminate substance controlled drugs - Drug
Abuse / Addicts - will always still be with us, just as it were before
the very first prescription pill was ever invented!
Scary - but a fact!
So what does this prove? It proves that they are only hurting the
Physician / Patient relationship; and doing absolutely nothing to the
Drug Addicts. Elimination of substance controlled pharmaceuticals
pills is not going to eliminate the Drug Addicts, for sufficient is it safe
to say - "ample supply is all around them to dig and delve to satisify
their needs" - all by going back to as it were before Pharmaceuticals
existed! Is this not the truth? It is not going to keep the Drugs off
the streets, it will always be on the streets - but only in a different
shape and form and matter!
:?
The whole issue is the "controlled substance" medication,
and it does not matter if you are a person with Epilepsy or
a critically terminally ill patient - if you are taking any type
of controlled substance; you are monitored and logged in
this State of Florida.
While I've posted this before; it is troublesome and a bother,
having to carry a card "being carded" - and even more so if
you have to carry your prescriptions, they have to be in the
original container ... so to carry such in pill boxes is actually
a "No-No", unless you have the original container(s) with you
(almost to a point of why bother with a pill box if you have
the whole danged thing?) and such medication bottle must have
the original label, must not be tampered with, and yadda, yadda,
yadda ...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In addition - it is troublesome when you are on substance controlled
drug(s) in some States, even if you end up in the Hospital - they
monitor you exceptionally close - via lab-work where personally,
I find it rather "offensive" as I see it to a degree of "violation of
privacy which should be between my own Physicians and the
patient" and all the while yet; I can understand why because of
drug addicts / drug abusers that are out there.
The reason why I brought this up out of fairness is - I personally
believe this has gone a "tad-bit" overboard in the realm of sense
from my own perspective - when you have a patient with a long
history of such and such with no known establish history of drug
abuse or behaviorism of such trait - where does one draw the
fine line? For me - where does one say, "The Buck Stops Here!"?
I find it "unfair" for the patients and their privacy, especially if
they are not "Pharmacy Shoppers" (those who goes to tons of
different Pharmacies and does not have one established Pharmacy)
and already have establishment established - why bug the patient?
Why the continual bantering and continual barging of the patient
when the result returns the same endlessly, without any proof or
merit or such-like manner / issues?
I am not the only individual who experiences this, for others in
this State likewise have alerted me in various ways - with complaints
of the same story as I have, sharing their own experiences - and
in turn, is all too familiar grounds where it has become like a
scratched broken record which is repeating itself.
Again - where does one draw the fine line? Many have complained
to the State, Physicians have complained as others have informed
me such have been done - but it is all falling on "deaf ears".
Personally, I feel, if a patient is questionable - by all means, go
for it - but this does not apply to every single party in the such
said State regardless of age, sex, race, nationality that resides
within - in spite of what their health condition is. YES, I agree 100%
that it is absolutely wonderful idea that medications to be logged
and documented so - for if such said medication(s) were stolen,
then the crack down assists the LEA/DEA ~ for there are people
out there who do break-in and steal; not just electronics, money,
jewelry ... drugs too - anything worth money! And if they stole
a prescription bottle that has XX refills; wonderful - that would
give them a chance to find out who it is when someone attempts
"to refill it"! NAILED! That's the PRO-side of it.
But at least - give the freakin' patients a break here; even more
so those critically terminally ill patients who have but a short time
left in their lives, who needs those medication(s) to knock them
out of pain and misery. Where is the sympathy and compassion?
Why do I bring that issue up? For in my State and in the U.S.
Government - they are cutting some of these drugs OUT! I cannot
picture someone who is in extreme excruciating pain, and is not
even permitted to be given some relief, and yet, only given any-
where from 24 hours to few months to live under the care of
Hospice? And yet, what IS available does absolutely no good,
and these are the last days of their lives - and one wonders why
many rejects Hospice, resides at home and I won't go any further
beyond this for it is far too common place in this State where it
is just not only pathetic but sad, sad, sad ...
Before one knows it ... the very ones that are helping control
seizures - who knows, may very well become "illegal" altogether;
leaving people with Epilepsy (and many others with health issues
as well who depends on other controlled substance drugs for
their conditions) - left hanging by the end of the rope when those
non-controlled substance fails to control their seizures ... what
are they going to do? Where are they going to turn to? It had
worked for years, and had been proven successful for many.
Honestly, drug abuse / misuse / addicts - had existed long before
man even created the very first "prescription pill"! That is a fact!
It had existed for eons, going so far to herbs and dangerous things
where such were so risky that it was playing "Russian Roulette";
and by this I imply - "nothing new under the sun" ...
When they ban / terminate substance controlled drugs - Drug
Abuse / Addicts - will always still be with us, just as it were before
the very first prescription pill was ever invented!
Scary - but a fact!
So what does this prove? It proves that they are only hurting the
Physician / Patient relationship; and doing absolutely nothing to the
Drug Addicts. Elimination of substance controlled pharmaceuticals
pills is not going to eliminate the Drug Addicts, for sufficient is it safe
to say - "ample supply is all around them to dig and delve to satisify
their needs" - all by going back to as it were before Pharmaceuticals
existed! Is this not the truth? It is not going to keep the Drugs off
the streets, it will always be on the streets - but only in a different
shape and form and matter!
:?
If I were without meds (or whatever is used to control my seizures) and no access to doctors, pharmacies, etc, I'd go status and die, plain and simple.
For anyone with a medical condition, going off meds cold turkey, can cause seizures and maybe be fatal.
If it were that easy, I may not even take meds. We wouldn't need support groups like this. I'd just say "oh well, I'm out of meds, I'll just order them next week or next month".
I also wouldn't order my meds 7-8 days early. I wouldn't carry a cell phone. I wouldn't make sure my cell phone was with me 24/7 and always have it charged. I wouldn't have my neuro and other emergency numbers in my cell phone.
To me, asking a question like that is like saying "my head's in a noose, nobody's around and nobody will hear me if I scream, what would I do?" Or "I'm drowning, I can't swim and nobody's around to help, what would I do?"
This is the closest to the kind of situation, you're talking about, I've ever been in and I don't wish it on anyone. None of this is an exaggeration either. If you don't feel like reading, take a look at the images and links.
http://images.google.com/images?hl=en&q=tulsa+ice+storm+2007&gbv=2&aq=2&oq=tulsa+ice
[ame="http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=tulsa%20ice%20storm%202007&gbv=2&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=iw"]tulsa ice storm 2007 - Google Search[/ame]
I order my meds, my mom's and grandmother's about 7-8 days early and all at the same time. So we had plenty of meds.
Tulsa had a HORRIBLE ICESTORM. No electric for 8 days (some areas about a month). No phone. No cell phone because they eventually went dead. No internet. No tv. No radio (you couldn't find batteries anywhere in town). Refrigerated food eventually went bad. Food in the stores was minimal. Alot of grocery stores, pharmacies, etc were closed. You could barely get out of the neighborhood (some people couldn't) because there were so many trees and powerlines down, in the street. It was prob 40-50 degrees in the house, maybe colder. You walk outside, you could see treelimbs snapping like twigs. It sounded like fireworks popping, listening to the treelimbs break. Every few minutes, you'd hear a transformer blow up. Trees, powerlines, telephone poles, etc were falling on houses, cars, etc. There were numerous fires because of all the powerlines down and transformers blown. So you were constantly hearing sirens. Alot of people had to go to churches and shelters, to find a place to sleep.
As soon as my electricity went out, I went to my parents. They live about half a mile from me. They have a bigger house and a fireplace. The fireplace was our only heat. My parents electric went out, not long after mine did. I went back home, got my meds, every blanket I could find and anything else I could think of, before the storm got too bad. Eventually I think all of Tulsa and surrounding areas were without electric. Don't know for sure because we had no access to the outside world.
We cooked what little food we had that wasn't bad, in the fireplace. We were able to get some food, but not much, because the food in the grocery stores went bad, there was NOTHING on the shelves to buy and/or they were closed. You couldn't find batteries ANYWHERE in Tulsa. We'd go all over the neighborhood (didn't have to go far) and collect wood for fire. Eventually my cousin, her husband and two kids, my brother and his wife, my parents, my grandmother and I were all piled up in the living room and sleeping on the floor in front of the fireplace. It was the warmest place in the house, even warmer than the beds.
My grandmother (who was 92 at the time, now 94) lives with my parents. She got an ingrown toenail at the time and it was beginning to get infected. We had to take her to the emergency room. Luckily we were able to get out of the neighborhood. We had to try about 5 different routes or more, just to get out of the neighborhood because of all the treelimbs and powerlines in the street and no lights on the streets (pitch dark). We could only drive about 10 miles an hr, even on main roads, because the streets were all dark and we were dodging treelimbs and powerlines. We eventually got to the emergency room and got her some anti-biotic. If we hadn't, being 92 yrs old, it would have killed her.
Since the icestorm, I got my dad a gadget for Christmas, that has a radio, weather radio, flashlight, cell phone charger and other things on it. I used to think those were just toys. But I think everyone needs something like that. It's run on battery or solar. So even if you run out of batteries, you can still use it. He keeps it in the living room window all the time. We also keep PLENTY of batteries (all kinds) stocked. I used to think I had too many blankets, but you can never have too many blankets. I won't get rid of any, unless they're totally worn out. My parents have a generator now too. And ALWAYS have the first aid kit stocked (neosporin, hydrogen peroxide, bandages, etc). I always try to keep over the counter meds, for colds, flu, etc on stock now. We cut down a BUNCH of trees. We didn't have to order firewood, the following winter. We also make sure dry goods (water, bread, etc) and paper good (toilet paper, paper towels, etc) are well stocked. Of course, not where bread and things will go bad, but we keep it stocked.
Other than taking these kind of preparations, I don't know what else to do.
For anyone with a medical condition, going off meds cold turkey, can cause seizures and maybe be fatal.
If it were that easy, I may not even take meds. We wouldn't need support groups like this. I'd just say "oh well, I'm out of meds, I'll just order them next week or next month".
I also wouldn't order my meds 7-8 days early. I wouldn't carry a cell phone. I wouldn't make sure my cell phone was with me 24/7 and always have it charged. I wouldn't have my neuro and other emergency numbers in my cell phone.
To me, asking a question like that is like saying "my head's in a noose, nobody's around and nobody will hear me if I scream, what would I do?" Or "I'm drowning, I can't swim and nobody's around to help, what would I do?"
This is the closest to the kind of situation, you're talking about, I've ever been in and I don't wish it on anyone. None of this is an exaggeration either. If you don't feel like reading, take a look at the images and links.
http://images.google.com/images?hl=en&q=tulsa+ice+storm+2007&gbv=2&aq=2&oq=tulsa+ice
[ame="http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=tulsa%20ice%20storm%202007&gbv=2&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=iw"]tulsa ice storm 2007 - Google Search[/ame]
I order my meds, my mom's and grandmother's about 7-8 days early and all at the same time. So we had plenty of meds.
Tulsa had a HORRIBLE ICESTORM. No electric for 8 days (some areas about a month). No phone. No cell phone because they eventually went dead. No internet. No tv. No radio (you couldn't find batteries anywhere in town). Refrigerated food eventually went bad. Food in the stores was minimal. Alot of grocery stores, pharmacies, etc were closed. You could barely get out of the neighborhood (some people couldn't) because there were so many trees and powerlines down, in the street. It was prob 40-50 degrees in the house, maybe colder. You walk outside, you could see treelimbs snapping like twigs. It sounded like fireworks popping, listening to the treelimbs break. Every few minutes, you'd hear a transformer blow up. Trees, powerlines, telephone poles, etc were falling on houses, cars, etc. There were numerous fires because of all the powerlines down and transformers blown. So you were constantly hearing sirens. Alot of people had to go to churches and shelters, to find a place to sleep.
As soon as my electricity went out, I went to my parents. They live about half a mile from me. They have a bigger house and a fireplace. The fireplace was our only heat. My parents electric went out, not long after mine did. I went back home, got my meds, every blanket I could find and anything else I could think of, before the storm got too bad. Eventually I think all of Tulsa and surrounding areas were without electric. Don't know for sure because we had no access to the outside world.
We cooked what little food we had that wasn't bad, in the fireplace. We were able to get some food, but not much, because the food in the grocery stores went bad, there was NOTHING on the shelves to buy and/or they were closed. You couldn't find batteries ANYWHERE in Tulsa. We'd go all over the neighborhood (didn't have to go far) and collect wood for fire. Eventually my cousin, her husband and two kids, my brother and his wife, my parents, my grandmother and I were all piled up in the living room and sleeping on the floor in front of the fireplace. It was the warmest place in the house, even warmer than the beds.
My grandmother (who was 92 at the time, now 94) lives with my parents. She got an ingrown toenail at the time and it was beginning to get infected. We had to take her to the emergency room. Luckily we were able to get out of the neighborhood. We had to try about 5 different routes or more, just to get out of the neighborhood because of all the treelimbs and powerlines in the street and no lights on the streets (pitch dark). We could only drive about 10 miles an hr, even on main roads, because the streets were all dark and we were dodging treelimbs and powerlines. We eventually got to the emergency room and got her some anti-biotic. If we hadn't, being 92 yrs old, it would have killed her.
Since the icestorm, I got my dad a gadget for Christmas, that has a radio, weather radio, flashlight, cell phone charger and other things on it. I used to think those were just toys. But I think everyone needs something like that. It's run on battery or solar. So even if you run out of batteries, you can still use it. He keeps it in the living room window all the time. We also keep PLENTY of batteries (all kinds) stocked. I used to think I had too many blankets, but you can never have too many blankets. I won't get rid of any, unless they're totally worn out. My parents have a generator now too. And ALWAYS have the first aid kit stocked (neosporin, hydrogen peroxide, bandages, etc). I always try to keep over the counter meds, for colds, flu, etc on stock now. We cut down a BUNCH of trees. We didn't have to order firewood, the following winter. We also make sure dry goods (water, bread, etc) and paper good (toilet paper, paper towels, etc) are well stocked. Of course, not where bread and things will go bad, but we keep it stocked.
Other than taking these kind of preparations, I don't know what else to do.
Ruth
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Hi Heather,
You gave excellent advice on what to do during an emergency. We are stocked up on all or things. One other thing to stock on is canned food. That is what we are doing.
In CA, on medicines, we cannot get medicines 7-8 days in advance. We can only get it 2 days in advance. CA is very, very strick on medicines. So many prescribed medicines have been been misused, shared with others and even robbed drug stores for medicines that the doctor would no longer prescribe. No doctor puts a person in cold turkey. They give lower doses until they are off of the medicine.
What I would do, as regards my medicines, is take fewer pills each day. That would be my only hope.
You gave excellent advice on what to do during an emergency. We are stocked up on all or things. One other thing to stock on is canned food. That is what we are doing.
In CA, on medicines, we cannot get medicines 7-8 days in advance. We can only get it 2 days in advance. CA is very, very strick on medicines. So many prescribed medicines have been been misused, shared with others and even robbed drug stores for medicines that the doctor would no longer prescribe. No doctor puts a person in cold turkey. They give lower doses until they are off of the medicine.
What I would do, as regards my medicines, is take fewer pills each day. That would be my only hope.
Hi feast,
I was reading that in your other posts. Until I started taking care of my grandmother, I didn't realize we could order meds more than 2-3 days early. But when I started taking care of her, I started counting the days and seeing how early I could order meds. I know I can order meds a week early, maybe earlier, I'm not sure.
I think we all have over a month of extra meds. Which is good for my grandmother because sometimes we'll take her to see her sister, approx three hours away. I don't have to worry about whether she'll have enough meds. I fill her pillboxes for however many weeks she'll be there, plus put an extra week in there, in case we can't pick her up when we originally planned.
I would prob take fewer pills each day too, if I had to. But I can tell a difference when I miss keppra or lamictal, even though they're add-ons. So, I don't know how long I'd last like that. Longer than if I went cold turkey, but it still wouldn't be good.
When I was thinking of dry goods, I was thinking of canned too. Definitely stock up on can goods too.
Until you go through something like an icestorm, you don't "fully" realize how much you can go without. The thing I missed more than anything was music. It would have been nice to have somekind of connection with the outside world too, so I could know what's going on with the weather. I'm not materialistic, but I need music. It keeps me sane.
I was reading that in your other posts. Until I started taking care of my grandmother, I didn't realize we could order meds more than 2-3 days early. But when I started taking care of her, I started counting the days and seeing how early I could order meds. I know I can order meds a week early, maybe earlier, I'm not sure.
I think we all have over a month of extra meds. Which is good for my grandmother because sometimes we'll take her to see her sister, approx three hours away. I don't have to worry about whether she'll have enough meds. I fill her pillboxes for however many weeks she'll be there, plus put an extra week in there, in case we can't pick her up when we originally planned.
I would prob take fewer pills each day too, if I had to. But I can tell a difference when I miss keppra or lamictal, even though they're add-ons. So, I don't know how long I'd last like that. Longer than if I went cold turkey, but it still wouldn't be good.
When I was thinking of dry goods, I was thinking of canned too. Definitely stock up on can goods too.
Until you go through something like an icestorm, you don't "fully" realize how much you can go without. The thing I missed more than anything was music. It would have been nice to have somekind of connection with the outside world too, so I could know what's going on with the weather. I'm not materialistic, but I need music. It keeps me sane.
Ruth
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Hi Heather,
I will check with my pharmacy to see how many days ahead I can order. With Lamictal and Keppra, you can cut them in 1/2 and stretch them out that way.
I know what you mean about music. I need music to lower my seizures. There must be a way to have music with us.
I will check with my pharmacy to see how many days ahead I can order. With Lamictal and Keppra, you can cut them in 1/2 and stretch them out that way.
I know what you mean about music. I need music to lower my seizures. There must be a way to have music with us.