Fibromyalgia Flare-Up Survival Kit

When debilitating Fibromyalgia flare-ups happen, they can leave you bedridden or close to it. Its important when these flare-ups happen that basic needs are still met. Because so many Fibromyalgia patients also suffer from other conditions, meeting health needs can be of particular concern.

This is why creating a Fibromyalgia flare-up survival kit is of so much importance. When a flare-up hits, enough items will be at hand to meet basic needs or help you function enough to obtain the other items needed to ride out the flare-up.

The kit can be as simple as keeping needed items in a nightstand drawer or as complex as having ready-made baskets of needed items stored in multiple rooms in the house. Some people may even wish to place a small refrigerator and microwave in their bedroom, in addition to having a drawer or basket with basic supplies handy.

While each patient is different, the following are some basics to consider in creating a Fibromyalgia flare-up survival kit.

Nutrition

Its important to maintain your health as much as possible during a flare-up. This can include keeping blood sugar levels even and taking supplements or medication. Things to consider having handy to meet nutritional needs include:

Bottled water
Sports drink "to go" dry mix packets (to be added to water - for electrolytes)
Canned nutritional beverages (such as Ensure)
Crackers
Cheese or peanut butter and cracker snack packets
Granola bars
Breakfast bars
Nutritional supplements
Vitamins
Snack sized canned fruit
Shelf-stable milk
Dried fruit
Shelled nuts
Candy (if needed for blood sugar reasons)
Plastic utensils
Napkins
Bendable straws
Container or plastic bag for trash

Medical Considerations

Prescription Medication
Testing supplies and equipment, extra batteries
Medication measuring spoons, cups
Over-the-Counter medication commonly needed during flare-ups (ointments, pills)
Facial tissue
Baby wipes (for hygiene)
Anti-bacterial gel
Hand/Body lotion (to combat dry skin-antibacterial gel can exacerbate it)

Other Items to Keep Handy

Extra pillows and blankets (folded blankets work well as pillow substitutes, too)
Wraps, canes, crutches, heating pads and other aids needed during flare ups
Space heater and/or fan (to compensate for fluctuating hot/cold spells)

Care should be taken so phones, cell phones or other means of getting help are easily available in each room. If its not feasible to install a phone in each room, a cell phone can be carried from room to room, with a charger or with a charger kept in each room. There is also the option of special personal emergency devices that are worn around the neck or installed around the home.

Things to consider

Travel or trial sized containers can be kept in a drawer or basket and refilled from larger containers

If you are responsible for plants or pets, the use of waterers and feeders is very helpful. When having good days, be sure to keep these items topped off so when a flare-up hits, you won't have added stress over worrying about your pets and plants.

For cats, the use of automatic cleaning litter boxes can be helpful when riding out flare-ups. If that isn't possible, regularly keeping out an extra box (regular or disposable) can also buy you needed time while in a flare-up. I'd recommend having some disposable litter pans handy for easy set up and removal-no cleaning required.

For dogs, there are products designed to give them a place to 'go' when in the house. One is an artificial grass mat with an absorbent material beneath. These can be helpful when you can't get up to let your dog out to 'take care of business'.

Flare-ups While On the Go

Flare ups don't always happen while in the comfort of your own home. For this reason, creating a mini flare-up kit for purse, briefcase, fanny pack, backpack or car can be very helpful.

For this kit, the use of travel sized containers and samples of needed items is especially helpful. Water can be purchased in pouches and many snack items, such as snack crackers with cheese or peanut butter, come in containers small enough to fit in a purse or glove box.

Be sure to regularly check on these items and watch the temperatures they are exposed to. Extreme temperatures may adversely affect them and require you to store them indoors, remembering to put them back in the car (or elsewhere) each time you leave home.

Resources

Personal Emergency Devices. http://dir.yahoo.com/business_and_economy/business_to_business/emergency_services/personal_emergency_response_systems/

Doggy Mat. http://www.google.com/products?q=indoor+dog+potty+mat&spell=1&oi=spell

Water Pouches. http://www.amazon.com/Datrex-Emergency-Survival-Disaster-Supplies/dp/B0014EOW96