Preparation For The Big Trip,

Submitted: Thursday, Oct 29, 2009 at 06:25
ThreadID: 73378 Views:4079 Replies:13 FollowUps:3
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You read every day on this Forum about Members and Visitors preparing for a Trip of a Life Time ect, making sure their Vehicles are set up and serviced, their Camper Trailers / Caravans / Camping Equipment ect are prepaired for any obstacle they might come across, even making sure they have the best Communications Equipment they can afford in case of an Emergency, as a lot of us like to get away from Civilisation or Off The Beaten Track as one might say, we even take along a good First Aid Kit that would be sufficent to meet the needs of most Accidents / or the usual Ailments humans have, even Medications that are prescribed for current health issues, BUT how many of us get a proper Medical before we undertake our expeditions, I don't mean the 5 minute job at our local GP, I am talking about the Full Gamut, ok some might say that costs a fair bit of money and it takes time to organise blah blah ect, but it's nothing compared to what we have spent on our Vehicles / Equipment ect, and a lot of us think we are bullet proof, or it sounds like we suffer from Hypochondria, WRONG,

The other day I was at my G P who is a friend, and is a 4x4 enthusiast, I mentioned we were planning and extended trip in the near future, and just by chance we were talking about the young girl on the Solo Yacht trip, and some of the Medical Emergencies she might encounter, and he said what about Myself and the Cook, we should get a Full Medical, well we did, and they found out that the Cook had a major problem with Calcium Buildup in her Arteries,they said she was a Time Bomb ready to explode, anyway the best thing is she went in to hospital yesterday, and had Stents put in and all is ok, but, if we were on our trip in the middle of No Where and she had a problem I wouldn't have been able to fix her with the First Aid Kit or the Tool Kit.

Cheers
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Reply By: Member - Toyocrusa (NSW) - Thursday, Oct 29, 2009 at 06:41

Thursday, Oct 29, 2009 at 06:41
Geez Daza,what at shock for you AND the cook. As you have said,it is better to find out before you go than well into a trip. We too have had recent full medicals which have shown up a few things that could have become serious away from civilisation. Hope your "cook" recovers quickly and you are on the road soon. All the best, Bob.
AnswerID: 389193

Reply By: Gramps - Thursday, Oct 29, 2009 at 07:18

Thursday, Oct 29, 2009 at 07:18
Phewwww !!! That was close Daza. All the best to the Cook who'll now give you heaps since she'll be running on all cylinders :)
AnswerID: 389197

Reply By: Member Brian (Gold Coast) - Thursday, Oct 29, 2009 at 08:10

Thursday, Oct 29, 2009 at 08:10
Daza,

Good to hear The Cook is ok..... and damn good advice for the rest of us too!!!

Thanks for posting mate.

Cheers

Brian
AnswerID: 389199

Reply By: Member - Johny boy (NSW) - Thursday, Oct 29, 2009 at 08:35

Thursday, Oct 29, 2009 at 08:35
Hi Daza,
It is so strange that you have posted this as my wife has just suggested the same thing so she went in the other day and at the same time had the doc to refer us both for blood test which we did on Saturday and I'm going in this afternoon for my check up as we are leaving early Jan 2010 for 9 months and as excited as we and our 2 boys are I'm starting to get very nervous ,so at least we will have one less thing to worry about if our health is good ...Fingers crossed !!

Cheers.
AnswerID: 389203

Reply By: John and Lynne - Thursday, Oct 29, 2009 at 08:46

Thursday, Oct 29, 2009 at 08:46
Well done Daza! Thanks for the story and best wishes to the Cook!

While you are thinking about it don't forget the full dental checkup with Xrays!

Our recent long trip was cut short by a nasty toothache. Have any of you ever tried to get into a dentist in a country town ? Of course they don't even exist further out in the bush!

This time, after ringing every dentist for miles around and using local contacts, the Top Driver was lucky enough to actually get in to see a dentist in a largish coastal town who prescribed antibiotics and happily told him it would be at least three weeks before he could even get to see a bloke who could do the necessary root canal work which could then keep us anchored in the area for several more weeks! Did he want an extraction?!

We opted to return to Brisbane earlier than planned. We were lucky the problem didn't emerge in outback WA. Cheers, Lynne
AnswerID: 389205

Reply By: Voxson - Thursday, Oct 29, 2009 at 08:59

Thursday, Oct 29, 2009 at 08:59
Everyones first-aid kit should have at least two courses of antibiotics and two packets of forte strength pain killers.
AnswerID: 389208

Follow Up By: Serendipity (WA) - Thursday, Oct 29, 2009 at 09:18

Thursday, Oct 29, 2009 at 09:18
and a tube of 'Bon-Gella'. This stuff is normally used on babies teeth when they are teething. I once had a tooth ache years ago while camping and some one with use who had little kids had packed this. Great stuff. Available over the counter at a chemist but usually you have to ask for it. Just rub it on the gum area and all pain gone.

Of course I also pack a couple of top shelf snake bite bottles.


David




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Reply By: Member - Kiwi Kia - Thursday, Oct 29, 2009 at 09:01

Thursday, Oct 29, 2009 at 09:01
I have a down to earth no nonsense GP and I asked him for his opinion on the value of annual check-ups and his reply surprised me.

The doc said that he often comes across people that have had an all clear after a recent check-up and then find a serious problem shortly afterwards.

The doc said that an individual usually knows when thinks ain't right and that they should not delay bringing any symptoms to their docs attention.

He also said that most people that he sees with problems eat to much, smoke to much and drink to much :-))

I agree that we should not forget a dental check-up.

KK
AnswerID: 389209

Follow Up By: Member - DAZA (QLD) - Thursday, Oct 29, 2009 at 12:34

Thursday, Oct 29, 2009 at 12:34
G/Day KK
I was surprised yesterday when the Cardiac Centre told me that 3 out of 10 patients where Fitness Freaks or Triathletes ? and in a lot of cases it's Hereditary.
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Follow Up By: Member - Kiwi Kia - Thursday, Oct 29, 2009 at 13:09

Thursday, Oct 29, 2009 at 13:09
Hi Daza, that's why I am travelling - to many of my friends have kicked the bucket or have health problems so I am doing it while I can On the way south from St George my wife had a bad headache for a few days and ended up in Dubbo hospital for a week (they parked her over a long weekend and then forgot about her for the next three days) Still waiting for an MRI but it looks like she will now be on statin drugs for life - and she used to worry about me !

KK
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Reply By: The Geriatric Gypsies - Thursday, Oct 29, 2009 at 09:36

Thursday, Oct 29, 2009 at 09:36
goodday daza
we are both glad that the cook is ok please pass on our regards
unfortunately i already know my problems and that is 1 of the reasons we are travelling


steve
AnswerID: 389213

Reply By: Willem - Thursday, Oct 29, 2009 at 14:51

Thursday, Oct 29, 2009 at 14:51
Yeah.....well, Daza

Good the hear that the Cook is on the mend :-)

I have an annual check-up every February. Have been doing so for the past 10 years. Ofcourse there is no guarantee that you will pull up OK for the next 12 months especially if you have reached your 60's. Having various ongoing niggly things to annoy me, I see my doctor quite regularly. My SWMBO is as strong as an ox. I gave her a Dog's Distemper Injection by mistake about 35 years ago and she hasn't been sick since!!!...LOL

But there is always the unexpected....like falling down Adcock Falls in the Kimberley or rolling the Suzuki into Barramundi Creek (Kakadu) or dropping the chainsaw on foot while wearing Japanese Safety Boots.......but we have survived all of that and other mishaps I have forgotten about........

Cheers and I agree, Life's Good!
AnswerID: 389258

Reply By: jeep cherokee - Thursday, Oct 29, 2009 at 16:14

Thursday, Oct 29, 2009 at 16:14
Daza That is one of the best posts i have ever read.You are so correct in saying how much we tend to spend on the vehicle and accomodation but forget ourselves. You have opened my eyes and will have a complete check up when departing on our 'Lap' early 2011. Good health to you both :)
AnswerID: 389268

Reply By: Member - Duncan W (WA) - Thursday, Oct 29, 2009 at 20:51

Thursday, Oct 29, 2009 at 20:51
Glad to hear you wife is on the mend Dazz, fortuitous visit to the doc.

Now I'm in my 50's I'm more attuned to my health (generally good), and my poor fitness (must do something about that), so before the big trip each year I'll get my teeth looked at and a chat with the doc about all those niggly things I've been avoiding seeing him about.

Got hold of an emergency tooth and denture repair kit a while back so that may come in handy one day.

Dunc
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AnswerID: 389302

Reply By: Member - DAZA (QLD) - Thursday, Oct 29, 2009 at 20:51

Thursday, Oct 29, 2009 at 20:51
Hi All
On behalf of the Cook, thank you for the Well Wishes, yes she is A OK.

Cheers
AnswerID: 389304

Reply By: Toadkeeper Jo aka Qlder Jo - Friday, Oct 30, 2009 at 13:12

Friday, Oct 30, 2009 at 13:12
Friggin Hell Daza!
Pass on my wishes!
Just glad I saw this post before I MM you to see bout Aus Post... you would have thought I was a right insensitive biatch! somethings are just a tad more important hey!
AnswerID: 389411

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