What do u do when ur sick on the road??
- Thread starter skyraider
- Start date
I got sick on the road once after running like crazy. I had been up over 24 hours and went to get some spaghetti at the Petro in Rochelle Il. Immediately after I ate I began vomiting and crapping like crazy. It was cold, I was miserable, so I mustered up enough strength to drive down to the motel six, and I hunkered down for a few days with niquil and seven-up. I drive a cargo van, so the logistics of parking in a hotel parking lot was not that bad. But I was extremely sick for a few days. I hope this helps.
We will hole up in a motel when we get sick. It is much easier and safer to deal with an illness in a room that running across truck stop lots.
Good luck to you, hope you feel better soon.
We have even gone as far as to rent a car twice now. I got hurt once and was feeling very punie once, had to get to a VA hospital, no way to do that in a S/T. Being a team helps, other than colds we have yet to both be so far gone that the other could not take care of the other.
We have even gone as far as to rent a car twice now. I got hurt once and was feeling very punie once, had to get to a VA hospital, no way to do that in a S/T. Being a team helps, other than colds we have yet to both be so far gone that the other could not take care of the other.
In May 2007 I drove home to Kentucky from Shreveport, LA with a bad toothache. It was the first and only time I have experienced a toothache of any type. It was the longest drive of my life, but I was determined to see my personal dentist near home. In retrospect, I should have sought treatment in Louisiana. Because of my stubborness, I needlessly endured an additional 24 hours of pain I can only equate to feeling like a hot fire in my mouth. The tooth was ultimately saved by root canal. No doubt, the intense pain diminished my driving abilities on the way home. Moral of the story: seek medical care sooner rather than later.
BigRed32771
Expert Expediter
Like others, Imodium (generic) for diarhea, Pepto Biz tablets if feeling queasy, but mostly the sickest we get is the occasional cold etc. Wife wound up on the shoulder throwing up one time, but after I moved us 10 miles to a service plaza where she could clean up and get herself back together, she just toughed it out till my bunk time was up.
Worst for us was the time I sprained my ankle real badly (just goofing with some guys in a TA parking lot on a scooter and turned it over like a real clutz). I was okay pushing the scooter back and till I got out of sight, then limped to the truck. When I got up in the morning to get ready to go for a pickup, my ankle wouldn't hold me up when I tried to climb down from the truck to go into the store. We cancelled the load, and got a motel for the weekend. With a little help I could get from the bed to the bathroom and back, but there was no way I could navigate the lot in and out. It's amazing the variety of food you can get delivered to a motel room when you want it.
I goofed up one time. Mrs. Layoutshooter and I were walking into a truck stop. I was not paying attention to where I was walking, I was looking at a really nice tricked out KW. My foot slipped of the curb and I went down face first landing on my chest.
I could hardly breath. We got a room and a car. Went for xrays the next morning. I know there is nothing they can do for cracked ribs, I just wanted to insure there were no lose pieces floating around. Turned out I had bruised several ribs. Hurt like the dickens. Stayed in there for that weekend, that was enough to allow me to go back to work on Monday. Them rooms can really help.
I could hardly breath. We got a room and a car. Went for xrays the next morning. I know there is nothing they can do for cracked ribs, I just wanted to insure there were no lose pieces floating around. Turned out I had bruised several ribs. Hurt like the dickens. Stayed in there for that weekend, that was enough to allow me to go back to work on Monday. Them rooms can really help.
I was in labor with a stone last year....good thing I didn't have a gun. Unloaded went to truckstop, and bounced around in the van like a bb in a beer can for 5 hours. All with no pain meds. It stoped moving and I slept for 10 hours.....no fun. Took another three weeks for it to come out..again no fun.
bubblehead
Veteran Expediter
Had surgery performed in Nebraska for a festula (sinitus related) and we use concentra and minute clinics on the occasians we have had ailments other that cold or flu. On each event, we used our laptop to locate the needed services. We have eliminated the "TRUCK STOP TWO-STEP" by installing a bathroom/shower in our unit...we no longer have to run for the runs 
BigRed32771
Expert Expediter
I had 2 kidney stones (one on each side) that I passed the year before we went expediting. My doctor at the time insisted that because there was a chance for a repeat that I should have sufficient pain medication on the truck so that we could get me somewhere for treatment. We still have that as well as some high power antibiotic that he gave me a script for. Thank God we've never had to open any of them in our 5 years out.
For anyone who has never had a kidney stone here's a couple of things I learned the hard way. 1) Be careful about taking calcium supplements. Excess calcium being excreted from your system is a primary source for this kind of problem. 2) Stumbling into an emergency room, pointing in the general direction of either side and using the phrase "worst pain I've ever felt" is considered diagnostic for kidney stones. All other tests are for confirmation of what they already know and to determine severity of the situation.
Was not my first one...10 years between last and that one. I ran out years ago the pain meds. Next time I'm at doc, will make sure I get some good stuff...When they move, not much you can do....
greg334
Veteran Expediter
When you are sick?
Don't drive - period.
It doesn't matter what you think it is, if it is something serious and you are behind the wheel while something happens, then you can simply lose everything in an accident.
If you are puking, get off the road. If you can't hold it, get off the road. If you have a serious cold, get off the road.
I think the worst way to get sick is eating this garbage food that they pass off as "good for human consumption" at these truck stops. I don't care what others claim, I watch these pigs of employees slop their selves around and no one seems to give a crap. I have *****ed at managers, called health departments and told some people making subways subs that the sub would be more suitable to wipe their a** with then to feed it to someone because they are slobs.
I have had been sick on the road a few times and the worst was the kidney stones I had in Connecticut. It is a long story and I went through a hassle with the company I was contracted with some of the issues of being sick and getting on the road. What made it worst was what my wife went through when I was in the ER, the people at the company were rude to her and made it worst with some of the comments they made. It was just a fight to have them track the truck. We never got any apology over what was said to her or how it was handled from any division leadership but one from someone at the exec level of the company.
I stress creating an critical number list with things like company phone numbers (and names), your account info for the company, truck info (like VIN and license number) and so on to have someone hold for you or for your spouse to use in case there is an accident or what ever.
Don't drive - period.
It doesn't matter what you think it is, if it is something serious and you are behind the wheel while something happens, then you can simply lose everything in an accident.
If you are puking, get off the road. If you can't hold it, get off the road. If you have a serious cold, get off the road.
I think the worst way to get sick is eating this garbage food that they pass off as "good for human consumption" at these truck stops. I don't care what others claim, I watch these pigs of employees slop their selves around and no one seems to give a crap. I have *****ed at managers, called health departments and told some people making subways subs that the sub would be more suitable to wipe their a** with then to feed it to someone because they are slobs.
I have had been sick on the road a few times and the worst was the kidney stones I had in Connecticut. It is a long story and I went through a hassle with the company I was contracted with some of the issues of being sick and getting on the road. What made it worst was what my wife went through when I was in the ER, the people at the company were rude to her and made it worst with some of the comments they made. It was just a fight to have them track the truck. We never got any apology over what was said to her or how it was handled from any division leadership but one from someone at the exec level of the company.
I stress creating an critical number list with things like company phone numbers (and names), your account info for the company, truck info (like VIN and license number) and so on to have someone hold for you or for your spouse to use in case there is an accident or what ever.
To the people that installed their own bathroom/shower combo... I hope you put in a HUGE exhaust fan. Of course you could be the type whose poo smells like roses in full bloom. If that's the case I guess it's okay, but if it smells like a carcass that's ripe, don't park next to me!
We get a motel room. Have done the doc in a box too, and then limped home one driver/ one authorized passenger.
We get a motel room. Have done the doc in a box too, and then limped home one driver/ one authorized passenger.
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bubblehead
Veteran Expediter
As a matter of fact we do have a HUGHE EXAUST FAN from MAXAIR that is dedicated for just the bathroom...it works better than the exhaust fan at home and unlike "Fantastic Fan" it can stay open during rain and can be open/closed while the truck is traveling down the road. We also have a seperate MAXAIR for the remainder of the sleeper. We do not need to use public restrooms and save $$$s on hotel bills. Last time I noticed, my poo smells just like everyone elses (except maybe the chilli guy)
This is great advice - thanks for sharing it.
flattop40
Expert Expediter
In 2 1/2 years have yet to get sick. (knock on wood) I contribute this to the lack of contact with people. I usually stay in the van and if I do talk to others it is usually outside. Other contributing factor is a multi-vitimin daily.
Now if I can only figure out how to stop this **** gout
Now if I can only figure out how to stop this **** gout
Jack_Berry
Moderator Emeritus
gracie got sick last october. she mostly slept in the back for 3-5 days. fortunately for us all the loads were one skid and the beds stayed up.
motelling it makes sense. hot bath helps break a fever.
motelling it makes sense. hot bath helps break a fever.
1 thing for sure.......... you are soooooooooo RIGHT about the food the truck stops and sub way tries to pass off as something thats good for you.
and i hardly do the buffets anymore.... once in a blue moon i might.
i have heard drivers whom use the bathrooms ( mostly the guys.. sorry) and do NOT wash there hands then handle them serving spoons.... eewwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww... makes me wanna puke now.....
i make a lot of things in my truck.... when im home i made stuff to bring with me.
i dont eat fried things.....
KFC has pretty good grilled chicken these days..... or
pick up a rotissry chicken
steamed rice in a bag... comes in many flavors and is found in the freezer sections at stores...
but to the topic at hand.....
i only been sick a couple times..... envloving tummy issues... lucky for me not to often.
i will do ginger ale or a 7 up.... and get some freshly made won ton soup. as it has chicken broth in it...
i also keep .. Imodium, plain asprins, and assortment of vitamins ..C's , fish oil, super B complex's, or stress tabs B's,fish oil with flax.. potassium, i use a sea salt grinder , to control my salt, as i take meds for highblood pressure..
i make green tea in them quart size water bottles.... with NO sugars or any kind fake or not.
were all human and enjoy some of them soda;s now and then..... so onc ein a great while .. i will get a 12 or 16 oz of pepsi, or cherry coke, 7 ups, orange... and vitamin waters,i will get an assortment and keep it around in the truck. lol