LE and NATURAL DISASTERS

Binney4

This morning I woke up to a post by Dawne-Hope about the effects on her lymphedema from a near-miss by a tornado. I hope she won't mind if I quote her post (which you can read in its entirety on the "Grrrrrr" thread):

"Last night...three tornadoes struck very close ... one within six miles ... this is my question - Drastic temperature changes and pressure changes make me hurt and make me swell.  But last night was different.  I laid in bed almost in tears for a couple of hours ... my arm was hurting so badly! The only other time it hurt like that was when driving thru the mountains of TN in a storm this past fall... felt like the insides of my arms were being wrung out.  When the tornado sirens were going off ... knew that was part of the problem.  But literally within about 30 minutes of the storm passing through, my swelling was down and the pain went away.  It was also pretty red and puffy ... never been like that."

Having watched any number of natural disasters on the news -- tornados, hurricanes, floods, wildfires, local industrial accidents, and awful combinations of the above -- I've wondered how I would cope with my lymphedema if one hit in my neighborhood. So I thought maybe we could all brainstorm some thoughts and ideas that could help us in an emergency.

I'll start it off with the things I've bee thinking about:

1. BE PREPARED -- have supplies together and easily grabbed:
Garments (day and night)
Wrapping supplies (gauze, bandages, foam, stockinette, tape)
Lotion
Rx antibiotic
First aid kit (antiseptic wipes, topical antibiotic, bandages)
Alert bands, G-sleeves and/or other ways of marking arm
Information about lymphedema for health-care providers
Contact information for therapists, doctors, or others who know about LE (in case you can reach any of them)

2. THINK IT THROUGH - what kind of disaster are you likely to face?
Time to prepare, or sudden emergency?
Air pressure changes likely?
What unusual activities will be necessary (stress to arm)?
What local industries could cause a disaster?
Who can I call now to find out about local preparedness efforts?
What can I do for myself if communication lines are down?
Where would I go for shelter in an evacuation?

That's as far as I've gotten with my own thinking. Let's brainstorm, so none of us will be caught-out in an emergency!

Thanks for being there!
Binney

BeckySharp

Good ideas Binney.  I am going to do more disaster planning to include my LE.  Becky

BeckySharp

Spent all yesterday afternoon and all night in basement due to tornado warnings.  Am now listening to all of the damage done on the news.  So far no deaths reported in TN but that may change.  Anyway---yesterday afternoon I got prepared as Binney suggested in case we ended up at a shelter or with other family.  If we had I would have been there with my night sleeve on!  I don't wrap much anymore but always carry it with me in case.....  Hope everyone got through the storms okay.

Ginger48

Becky- So glad you are safe. I am watching the news coverage on all the destruction and cannot believe my eyes!

Binney4

Becky, yikes! So grateful you're safe. Dawne-Hope, how are you?! Prayers for all those affected by the destruction,
Binney

Anonymous

This is good prep work.  After driving into southern Indiana during the tornadoes last week, I know the feeling DawneHope describes but I did not know what it was.  I was holding our pet, we were on the way to the vet.  My arm was so swollen and sore and I had to prop it, thought it was caused by holding Blossom, but that was only the small part.  I could smell the storm and rain coming, the sky was so dark south of us, but didn't piece the physical issues.  Could barely use my fingers.  Felt like my upper arm would pop.  We arrived at vet just as the hail started.  Sat in truck for quite awhile, and when we went inside had to push the hail out of our way to go up steps, it was inches thick on ground.  Lucky is what we were, not to be on expressway or air lifted from the parking lot.  I felt better within ten minutes.  Now I know.

So, now I also know I have LE Stage 2, I am on it, researching how to begin treatments and how to take care of myself.  This thread is definitely something to do too, like being prepared for a natural disaster if you have any challenge, you need your stuff.

carol57

Binney, it just dawned on me that one addition to your list of emergency supplies should be water!  It's so easy to get dehydrated in a normal day; add to that a rush to get somewhere, or (I hope not) dealing with injury--self or others--and even loss of easy access to water, and I can see how easily we might compound our LE by  not getting adequate fluids.

We have some filtration water bottles that remove some 99% of what might be harmful in water. We have used these while traveling in Moldova where virtually all well water is infected with giardia; and while on multi-day kayak trips, when we just scoop up river water and drink through the filter bottles. It really works. So, my thought is to put some bottled water in a supply of crisis items in our basement, but also to dig out the filter bottles from the camping gear. That way, I know that even if our water supply is interrupted or compromised, or if I'm somewhere where there's a boiling advisory, I can get water from any source and drink it. (These are not the Bobble or other inexpensive filter bottles that just help filter out chlorine taste--if you go this route, you need serious filtration, and any camping supply store or website will show you options.)

Sounds draconian, doesn't it?  We don't have our crisis items gathered yet, but the recent storms are pushing me in that direction. Thinking 'LE' as I put the items together is not something I would have thought of before, so thank you Binney for the reminder.

Carol

Binney4

Bumping for kriserts. Stay safe, everyone!
Binney

crystalphm

This was fantastic to reread...thank you. I have already lifted one too many jugs of water, that stuff is heavy!

cookiegal

bump!

purple32

Hmmmm....sure wish I had my sleeve, and I have my doubts about anybody writing me an antibiotic Rx at this stage of the game, but I sure would like one on hand in case of any type emergency.

Nobody seems to know enough about the LE.