sick at sea

[hillbillybear]

I'm sure this has been posted here before, but I feel like crap and do not feel like searching for it. Would a physician be breaking any laws by prescribing me strong pain meds (loratab or equivelent) before I left home to keep as part of my stores even if nothing was wrong with me at the time. I found out today I have a certain medical condition which I'm sure would be most uncomfortable at sea. Thanks for the replies. By the way, anyone ever had a kidney stone.

[CalebD]

However, I will give you a serious answer anyway.
If you have a medical condition that requires special medication and you are planning to be away from medical services for any extended amount of time you should try to get a doctor to give you an extra prescription for the medecine(s) you may need while out there. It might sound extra convincing to an MD if you are planning an extended passage.
Good luck with those stones.

[sailingdog]

No, AFAIK, the doctor wouldn't be breaking any laws, as long as he understands that he is prescribing said medications for possible future necessity, not an actual existing need. If you are prone to kidney stones, I feel sorry for you... I haven't experienced them, but have experienced their cousin—the gall stone. Not fun.

They can often prescribe antibiotics, silvadene cream, pain killers, and such for long distance offshore passages.

[landlockvasailor]

Having passed twice, I would strong urge to stay ashore. If you get a infection after passing, you could get a Staphylococcus. It is not worth your health, unless the law is looking for you

[jnsailing]

The doctor wouldn't be breaking the law by prescribing the meds but you could be breaking the BWI laws by boating while under the influence of them. Some of those pain meds can put people in LALA land.

John N.

[chris_gee]

Yes I have been in twice and have had others. There are a variety of stone compositions and one's physiology needs to be checked.
In my case I found belatedly that they could be dissolved by ascorbic acid powder (vitamin C). Try about 2 gm or a third of a tsp in water 3-4 x a day. for a couple of days then once a day. This is in excess of normal requirements and acidifies the urine with the resultant calcium ascorbate being more soluble than the stones. Keep up your water intake. Half a lemon squeezed into water every day is an alternative. Collect your urine at first and you will be able to see a precipitate if the stone breaks down. As I say there are different types sizes and treatments required. In the absence of other medical advice this is worth a shot to clear out smaller or non obstructing ones at least in my case as I was able to show on a scan.

[rawsonnut]

You might talk to your Dr. about trying a medication called Toradol. For many people it is far more affective treating the pain of passing a stone and it is not a narcotic. You do not have to worry about being impaired while on the water. Just my two cents worth.