'More to think about': Managing medical conditions complicated by long-term power outages from hurricane | SaltWire

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Are you still without power and managing a medical condition? For some, not having power for devices such as CPAP machines, nebulizers and smartphones to monitor glucose levels is an added stressor. ICYMI story from last week:

Alex Hunter, 5, with his mom, Christena Hudson and brother Nick Hunter, 11. They were living without power following Hurricane Fiona until Wednesday afternoon. - Chelsey GouldTRURO, N.S. — Going long-term without power following Hurricane Fiona has caused complications for many, but for those with medical conditions that rely on electricity, it has been even more worrisome.

Cystic fibrosis, which there is no cure for, creates extra mucus in all the linings of one’s body so the lungs, throat and stomach can't absorb fats, proteins and certain vitamins. Along with lots of medication, Alex needs frequent breathing treatments with a portable plug-in nebulizer, which mists the liquid into a mask over his nose and mouth to breathe in. The medication keeps the mucus down, helps his lungs open and prevents asthma breathing difficulties.

Without the means to keep things cool, they have been walking to the nearby Atlantic Superstore, which opened Sunday afternoon, to buy meals to-go. This is more costly and less than ideal. His current personal diabetes manager, which is a remote for his insulin pump, requires charging daily via a USB cord. It’s a better version than the last one he had, but Wells wishes they had a backup battery option.

“At first, you never think of – I'm like, ‘I'm a robot.’” she joked. “And then it was like, OK. So my phone dies, you can only download the app on the device. There’s no other way to monitor it … we rely on power, 100 per cent.”Waking up with little oxygen Paula Smith said that sleeping without her CPAP machine during the power outage resulted in swollen tonsils and exhaustion. - Contributed

 

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