What do you do when you get sick on the road?

Do you all get the flu vaccination?

 

As a former EMT/Paramedic, it is never a good idea to 'self-diagnose' especially with things like SARS, Bird Flu and a multitude of Aero (breath) spores that can be passed by 'carriers' (other drivers) at truck stops.
The wise and prudent thing to do is to call your dispatcher to arrange for someone to continue your delivery (it's their job, not yours) and proceed to the nearest medical facility. If it's gotten so bad that driving becomes a concern, vomiting, diarrhea or cramps, call Emergency Services in the area you are in. Driving home is neither recommended or advised. We all want to recuperate in our own bed but the risk of contracting something that can be debilitating or fatal has increased over the years (blame Plum Island).

If you feel that I am crass or offensive, it's because I have an opinion not a tact... please get over it. Truckers have opinions and I are one.

 

Ok I actually can answer this. back a few years ago, I got a chill, thought I had caught the flu, tried to keep going, that lasted for a couple hours before I gave up and called the dispatch. They repowered my load with a partner carrier, and I spent 3 days at a truck stop trying to get better. Finally called a cab and went to the ER, the doctor took one look at me and yelled at a nurse to get a bed ready. Xrays confirmed I had phymonia (spelling), in both lungs. I was in the hospital for the better part of 3 months on oxygen. The doctors told me that if I had tried to wait any longer I would not have survived.

 

I've had the flu in the truck. Never had to call 911 or go to the ER. If I can drive, I will. Dayquil works wonders...nyquil does too to get rest. If I have the hershey squirts, I'm gonna take pepto. But if that doesn't help, well then I may have to leave the truck pulled over near a bathroom.

In general, I suck it up. Its not that hard. If I am dizzy, I pull over. If I am sleepy, I pull over. But if I have a fever, I truck. If I have a sore throat, I truck. If I feel lousy in general, I truck.

One of the thing I do get from time to time, I get a Migraine headache. If any of yall get true migraines, you know there is no way one can operate as much as a cell phone. I close all the curtains, turn on the AC as high as possible, wet a cloth with cold water, and close my eyes. ...oh yeah...and heavily medicate!!!!

 

No one has to worry about me driving with a migrane, because half my extremities go numb and I lose about 90% of my vision. Bad stuff

 

It depends on how bad you are. My first week I got a nasty cold bug. I was weak, feverish, etc. But I still managed to drive. Emergency type pain, though, like appendix or stone type stuff...you're ######. Get out of the truck asap and to an ER. I knew a guy whos appendix burst several hundred miles from home. He ignorned the terrible pain (idk how) and kept going until he was literally half dead. Another day and he might have been six feet under. No job is worth your life, especially not the one we do out here. That load will eventually make it to where it's going. You on the other hand, may not.

A quit tip for new drivers; Keep yourself healthy! Eat right, take lots of vitamins (especially C. I'd recommend an airborne tablet a day, you get all the good stuff rolled in to one), and if you can, quit smoking. Smokers develop colds four to five times more a year and the ones they get tend to be more violent. I know, I'm a hypocrite cuz I love my marb reds, but if you've got the willpower, exercise it...

 

Usually I go get a bottle of JD kill it sleep like a baby and get up feeling a whole lot better. Do my pretrip and get on with the job.

 

Being sick on the road is by far the worst part about truck driving! If its bad don't take any chances, get to a hospital. If you can get your load repowered I recommend a hotel room until you can recooperate. Getting home may not be an option and could take awhile. Whatever you do don't wait too long to let someone know about your situation. Even if you feel something coming on let someone know so that they are prepared to take care of your load provided you get worse. Sooner or later it will happen, its just part of the lifestyle. There are many things you can do to help stay a little more healthy out there.

 

This is what happened to my husband. I begged him not to go to work and go to the ER. He had flu like symptoms and cramping. Around midnight his appendix burst. He was found next to his truck in a dock in East St. Louis. The receiving manager called an ambulance and he was rushed into emergency surgery. He never recovered. He was 42. No job, no amount of money is worth your life. Think of the family you may leave behind.

 

Really sorry to hear that. My gramma almost died when her appendix ruptured. It took months and months of recovery just to get her back to normal.

There needs to be more awareness of appendicitus in this country. 8 of every 100 men and 10 of every 100 women will become afflicted with acute appendicitus at some point in their lives. That number increases when you include the less common forms of the disease as well. And because many people either ignore their symptoms or refuse medical treatment, mortality rates are relatively high. Death or serious internal injury is 100 percent PREVENTABLE IF YOU SEEK MEDICAL CARE. If it feels abnormal, trust your gut (literally)!