Cruising with Medical Needs

Some medical tips for cruising the UK's Inland Waterways

There is

the expected: Fiona has medical conditions that require regular visits to a doctors's surgery or hospital. When we first considered moving onto a narrowboat permanently we had to ask ourselves if it was a practical environment to live in. After reading other people's experiences and thinking through the logistics, we decided it was worth a try. We have learnt lessons along the way and thought it might help other people who are considering this way of life, if we passed on our experiences.
- Blood Tests - Every six weeks or so, Fiona needs a blood test. Click here to see where we have arranged these.
- Repeat Prescriptions - click on this link to see how we obtain these each month.
- Diabetes - click on this link to see some tips from Fiona's experience
and the unexpected.
'999 - Ambulance please' - Click here to find a couple of suggestions to ensure you're more ready to cope in an emergency.

Maybe you have other experiences or advice to share. Please let us know, by adding a comment here or under the relevant topic and waterway.

Living on a narrowboat with Diabetes can be done!

I have learned that Diabetes is all about "management" and, whether on land or water, the problems and solutions are the same.

I find that any unplanned exercise can lead to an "hypo" if I haven't eaten enough slow acting carbohydrates, as my body uses up the glucose gained at my last meal.

"Hypos" for me can result in loss of concentration, inability to make rational decisions, vagueness, weakness, sweating and shaking. None of these are conducive to steering a narrowboat

or working locks!

I was advised that careful planning of food, snacks and diabetic medication can prevent hypos. The following are a few ideas that work for me. I medicate with insulin and there is no guarantee that they will work for all diabetics, as everyone is different and metabolisms vary.

I have a high carbohydrate breakfast. Porridge with milk and a little sugar, cereal and fruit juice. If someone else is cooking, I may go the whole "hog" and have a Full English!
I NEVER get off the boat without a pocket full of sweets or an high energy snack. We never know what we may encounter when boating and it may be that I will be unable to get back to "top up" with food at the right time.
Bananas are a brilliant quick source of carbohydrate.
A sugary drink will only give a short "shot" of glucose. It should be followed by a slow acting carbohydrate snack.
I eat regular healthy meals; we try to cruise with this in mind!
My best treatment for an hypo is a small glass of orange juice. Ten minutes later an high carbohydrate snack. e.g. 2 digestive biscuits, a bowl of cereal, or toast and jam
I check my blood sugar level regularly, particularly after excercise and take appropriate action if my sugars are low.

So I can do the locks with confidence, walk the towpath with a feeling of freedom and enjoy the lifestyle without compromising my health.

As a diabetic I need periodic blood tests and repeat prescriptions - have a look at our pages on blood tests (canal by canal) and pharmacies (also canal by canal). Also have a look at our emergency page so you are prepared if the worst happens.

It is so easy

My life was saved by a young man who was a registered organ donor. John, Craig, the rest of my family and I are forever grateful to him and his family.

If you would like to be able to save someone's life after you die, please sign up to the UK's Donor Register. Remember that your relatives MUST be informed what your wishes are as this makes it easier for them to agree at a very difficult time.

You are more likely to need a transplant than become a donor!

Right now more than 10,000 people in the UK need an organ transplant that could save or dramatically improve their lives. But each year around 1,000 people die while waiting for a transplant. Help to give these people the chance for a new life. To join the NHS Organ Donor Register and give the gift of life, click here or call 0300 123 23 23.

There is a shortage of organs, blood, bone marrow; even skin and corneas can be used to improve a life. People are dying because others intend to, but forget to, sign up. Follow the link below for more information - PLEASE

If you believe in organ donation, prove it. Register now at www.organdonation.nhs.uk

Even though we are continuously cruising, John manages to give blood occasionally. Having seen, first-hand, a life saved because someone else donated blood, he's only too glad to give some of his.

(images by kind permission)