Does anyone camp with a chronic health condition?

[Katymac]

If so can you give me any tips?

The issue that have arisen so far are:

Fridge needed for medication
Worried about the bed - getting up in the morning will be a problem; has anyone a solution
Allergies; so lots of antihistamine
Food - will be tricky but I think manageable

So what haven't I considered?

[bramblebooks]

Yep! DS2 has type 1 diabetes. Both DS have asthma and also need antihisthamine at times. DH has coeliac so has food issues.

You can get small camping fridges which will hook up to an electric hook up. I tend to freeze soft drink bottles and use those in my cool box. Campsite owners are very helpful and once explained to will allow secure fridge use.
Bed - dunno here, we have inflatable mattresses.
Big box of medication. Duplicates locked in car in case of thieves. Some people take a copy of prescription with them to get reissued if things go wrong.
Food - pubs?

[Katymac]

pubs might be worse than cooking - I get more control with cooking (I do cook properly so not too bad)

Thanks for the prescription/duplicates in the car; great idea (although we might keep them all in the car anyway now you have mentioned it)

[3rdnparty]

dh type 1 diabetic & epileptic - he is in charge of packing his drugs...and owning them - keep enough for 1 day in glove box- however ran out of needles on one trip and local pharmacy were great....and something else we used a boots for they were also good...have a hypo kit in our bed pod so easy to find if hypo during night...and another in the plastic box of general stuff(orange juice & crnchy bar).... I allways check where nearest A&E is to campsite and have amobile phone charger in the car so allways have a phone - have glucogon in glove box for dire emergency...we have not had issues re storing stuff in normal coolbox ... putting up tents etc can be more physical than usual life so esp early on in hols may need to check levels more often... is the diabetic on DAFNE as makes life easier...

insect repellent.....check you have one that is ok I allways seem to get bitten

Epipen??

sorry bit long but tis doable..

[Katymac]

This is all convincing me, that I am not silly to attempt it (DH would keep his emergency stuff under his pillow )

The bed is worrying me though, I am unlikely to be able to get standing from the floor, it's not some where I go often & never when I have just woken

I think I need something higher than usual for camping

[idranktheteaatwork]

You can get a coolbox that plugs into the 12v supply in the car, they are smallish so would be ideal for meds i would have thought?

[bramblebooks]

My ds2 (diabetic) is on an insulin pump, which is fab. We have a pocket inside our bedroom pod in which I keep my mobile, test kit and a head torch at night so that I can deal with anything that comes up.

I think you need a campervan katy.

[Katymac]

Unfortunately my bank account doesn't need a campervan or even a trailer tent

DH wants to buy a cheap futon to take (we will buy flatpack & construst when we get there ?) - but I think there must be a more portable option

[PeachyTheRiverParrettHarlot]

katy

you know that site I emailed you? Fridges provided in the kitchen so do bear that in mind

You can get dounble height airbed katy- Coleman IIRC? perect i would think; let me know if you want me to track one down

[3rdnparty]

katy
how high do you need.....a couple here go to 18" off teh ground.

www.overstock.com/Sports-Toys/Coleman-Overnighter-72-inch-SpaceSaver-Air-Bed/3913600/product.html?se c_iid=33969

or these have some 45cm (approx same? )

www.outdoormegastore.co.uk/acatalog/Outdoor_Megastore_Camp_Beds_82.html

[PeachyTheRiverParrettHarlot]

MAHOOSIVE lol

[Katymac]

18 inches would be fine

But as DH just pointed out (he will keep looking over my shoulder) I have this rather impressive rubber allergy

So I think a camp bed may be the way to go

[PeachyTheRiverParrettHarlot]

Don't know if you have parcels2go or anything but I ahve 3 campbeds sitting in the hall ready to list on freecycle katy

Happy to do free for anyone who can arrange collection- Millets and fairly basic but we changed to sleeping mats

[Katymac]

I've emailed you.....

We still don't have a tent yet - DH & I might go shopping on Friday am

[Woooozle100]

have you been convinced katymac?

we have been camping with dd. We took a fridge with us for her medication (one of them mini fridge thingies) All other meds / emergency stuff in another bag.

Though other times have managed with coolbox (just the 1 night) and at a festival camped next to st john's ambulance who kept her meds refridgerated for us

Hope you have a nice time

[Katymac]

I'm convinced

Is this crap?

[PeachyTheRiverParrettHarlot]

Actually Coleman are pretty good value for mney usually

We satrted with a far lesser tent and it did us proud! Doubt you'd get deacdes out of it but a pretty good starter I would wager

As long as it's HH of 2000, check out the Coleman website to double check?