How do you deal with getting sick

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boogityshmoogity@reddit

Back in 2000 I got pancreatitis at a TA in hurricane WV. I didn’t know what was going on or what to do. I eventually almost crawled into the truck stop and called 911. I took an ambulance to the local hospital and spent a week there. I called the company (swift at the time) and they came and picked up my load and truck. They left me to my own devices to get home which was 500 miles away. I got family to come pick me up after a week and we went and got my belongings from the truck. They had treated my belongings like I had abandoned the load. All my stuff was stored in oil and diesel soaked boxes. Everything was ruined.

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DblDtchRddr@reddit

Try to get to the grass before puking, so you (or someone else) doesn’t have to walk in it.

Go inside and get some ginger ale. SIP IT, do not chug it. Also, get some Gatorade to help avoid dehydration. Electrolytes and all that jazz.

Eat mild, non-fatty things (fats fuck with your stomach acids, not good when throwing up).

Open the air flaps in your sleeper and turn on the fans, get some fresh air going.

If you start having flow problems at your other end, eat a few slices of their pizza, that’ll have you clogged up in no time.

After you’ve taken care of yourself, not before, call dispatch, tell them you’re too sick to safely drive, and tell them you’ll let them know when you’re better. Use those exact words. Hopefully it doesn’t get that far, but “I’m sick” and “I’m too sick to safely drive” mean different things when it comes to coercion laws.

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ios_static@reddit

Ginger ale is just ginger flavored soda. You want to drink fresh ginger tea or eat some ginger chews.

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325trucking@reddit

Keep on trucking

Once I had an OOS set me back on an out and back training run that ended up throwing off my whole week and me being sick as a dog pulling double 48's on my birthday and missing my home time

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Vino1980@reddit

You push through like a man.

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thewafflewarrior135@reddit (OP)

Thanks for the help everyone. The vomiting has stopped, still blasting out the other end though.

Schneider said they pulled me from dispatch until I give them the all clear.

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Lokisworkshop@reddit

Make sure you rehydrate. Seriously. Pickles are amazing for that but maybe too much at first. Try pretzels and smart water.

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BobcatBob26@reddit

I run linehaul called off last night and for tomorrow with the same problems. Hit me like a ton of bricks at 10 pm yesterday, basically been bed ridden at home since.

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Complex_Case_15@reddit

It's also a good idea to get vaccines considering flus go around year round technically speaking. Having to drive while feeling bad is the worst

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deezkeys098@reddit

Last time I got sick I was lucky enough to be in a city our company had a drop yard in the drop yard had full facilities I parked right across from the bathroom entrance and had DoorDash bring me all the medication I thought I needed.

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Dangerous-Moods@reddit

Dude wipes are a good deal for the price and they really are multi purpose

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Complex_Case_15@reddit

You guys reminded me to stock up on it. They also leave quite the lasting odor which kind of smells like cool water to me and it last a bit on me kind of like body deodorant

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MajorHymen@reddit

A cold you just deal with it. Buy some Kleenex and some DayQuil and vitamin C packets. Anything more severe than a cold tell dispatch theyll probably be fine working you into a 34 so you can push through the worst of it.

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Special_Health5934@reddit

I just tell dispatch I’m unable to drive and deal with it until it’s over

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jabber1990@reddit

I did that once, got fired

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Codexe-@reddit

well that company is insane and that is very illegal

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jabber1990@reddit

"Company policy violation "

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UOLZEPHYR@reddit

Ne and shame - company and follow up with FMCSA or I call bullshit

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jabber1990@reddit

I said that once, and I was wrote up for it

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Zealousideal_Try4171@reddit

I just keep driving. Might not be as much as normal but I keep on trucking

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MostlyUseful@reddit

I start by going into denial, refusing to admit I may be getting sick. Then I start getting short tempered and that feeling that everything is going wrong and the miles are getting longer. Eventually I realize what’s happening and get some rest and fluids to hopefully nip it in the bud. I found out the hard way that trying to push through can lead to things like a very expensive ride in a helicopter followed by an even more expensive stay in hospital.

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nastyzoot@reddit

First, lay off the truck stop food. Second, you tell dispatch you can't decide which end to point at the toilet and tell them you'll get back to them in 24 hrs. Go to bed.

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No_Ocelot4019@reddit

A barrage of meds powerade every time my eyes open and sleep tell dispatch its unsafe for you to drive and now that they know it is now irresponsible for them to allow you to and if they try to force you to run anyway get it in writing still stop drive straight home once better file a claim find a company who actually gives a rip

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Dangerous-Moods@reddit

Awwe I’m so sorry to hear that. Wish I was there, to help you out somehow. Keep hydrated, this helps your kidneys and body flush out whatever made you sick. It will also help with headaches, fatigue and dizziness. If you have little breaks of being able to walk around outside, do that or at least sit in the front seat and get some fresh air. Forget the load and give it time. Your body is currently fighting it off for you .

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King_of_Being_Basic@reddit

Miserably ;-; Depends on the sick. If its a cold. I'll just text my dispatcher that im sluggish. Sometimes he tell me I can grab a hotel, sometimes he's just accommodating to me being sluggish. If im like tummy sick? I'm not moving the truck unless I won't shit myself and I just let my dispatcher know lol

I'm lucky I work for a decent company with a few drivers and nice enough dispatchers 😅 and otr is okay for me because as long as I get it there in a reasonable time, I'm trusted to do what I need to.

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QueenScottish@reddit

Eat a bit of Baby Ruth candy bar for some reason it works on settling the stomach. Don't eat If you're allergic to peanuts. Plus some electrolytes or Gatorade. If you do have food poisoning, go to an urgent care and if possible grab some nausea or motion sickness medication. My family and I swear by it.

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ExpedientDemise@reddit

Had the flu once. I just drove feeling like crap, then went home and slept all weekend.

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jabber1990@reddit

by sucking it up and dealing with it

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Rough-Method8876@reddit

As an o/o, unless it affects my ability to safely operate? I power through it. Kidney stones? Yeah. I’m gonna curl up on the bed. But anything else? Probably gonna power through it until I make it home. (Home most nights though).

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HighwayStar71@reddit

If you can afford it, start looking for hotels with truck parking. I can't think of anything worse than being confined in a truck when needing frequent restroom access or just being sick in general.

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Auquaholic@reddit

This is what I try to do.

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diragono@reddit

When I was OTR I only had one time I was sick enough that I felt like I couldn’t drive. Luckily, I was empty so I informed my dispatcher and stayed put. If it’s something you think over the counter medicine and rest can cure, use DoorDash or Uber eats and have it delivered to you. If you need something more potent, use something like Teledoc or Dr on Demand then bobtail to a pharmacy. Obviously if you feel it’s an emergency then get yourself to a er. Feel better driver

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grow_trucking@reddit

Bro that sounds rough. Flying J has a pharmacy section, grab some Pedialyte or Gatorade first, you need to replace electrolytes after vomiting that long. Saltine crackers if they have them. Most important thing: do not drive. Vomiting for 5 hours means your body is fighting something hard, your reaction time and focus are shot whether you feel it or not. Tell dispatch you’re down, a sick driver behind the wheel is a danger to everyone on the road.

Rest, hydrate, give it a few hours minimum before you even think about moving that truck. The load can wait. Your life and everyone else’s on that highway cannot.

Stay safe out there brother, hope you feel better soon. 🙏

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grow_trucking@reddit

Health over money Stay healthy

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Independent-Fun8926@reddit

I tell dispatch I am fucked up and unable to continue. Then I crash in the bunk until the sickness runs its course. Watch my shows, drink plenty of fluids, the usual way. I don’t take any cough syrups or shit like that. Couple of ibuprofen if the headache gets too much.

I was down and out at a Pilot in Oklahoma for like four days. That shit really sucked. Finally felt safe enough to drive, run the scale in Texas and get a level 2 for my stupidity. The fever cooked my brain I guess.

Also had another 3-4 day fever/flu extravaganza in Oklahoma, at a plaza somewhere. Interesting that the worst times Ive been sick on the road has been in Oklahoma lmao

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Pitiful-MobileGamer@reddit

If you're sick, you don't move. It's actually a pretty serious violation / out of service if you are caught driving sick behind the wheel. So don't risk it, if you're showing outward symptoms, it's risk if you get pulled over or pulled in.

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Different_Zone_8999@reddit

I use sickness to drive at night because I can’t go to sleep anyways

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Goldleader-23@reddit

I stop being sick and be awesome instead

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Shingo__@reddit

Hot soup! Ouchies in my mouth!

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Environmental-Pear40@reddit

That would be food poisoning. Usually assets in about 9 hours after you eat something and blasts for anywhere from 9 to 12 hours. You can go to a hospital and they will give you anti nausea medications that might get you to stop vomiting before you hurt something and put you on fluids cuz you're going to be severely dihydrated. I've had food poisoning like four times. Also why I will never eat biscuits and gravy again.

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Actual-Parsnip2741@reddit

biscuits and gravy never again?! that's heresy

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Environmental-Pear40@reddit

A travesty, really.

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ahowls@reddit

Food poisoning definitely can last longer.

I got food poisoning when I was training with Schneider and Pasadena Texas and I was pretty much out of commission for a day and a half almost 2 days

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Environmental-Pear40@reddit

That's crazy, Ive never had it last more than 12h on the dot. The vomiting part anyway. Definitely feel like shit longer and a few times had diarrhea that lasted longer.

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i-eat-coochie@reddit

You’re lucky your only vomitting last time I was sick like that it was coming out of both ends at the same time took 36 joes to get over it. Stay hydrated try to eat some crackers

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JulianneElise@reddit

Supply yourself a first aid kit that includes non- drowsy headache/sinus meds. Pepto tablets, aleve etc. Bananas are good for intestinal issues and are easy on the stomach. Gatorade and pedialyte as others have said, as well as ginger ale, ginger calms nausea. Extreme vomiting is very real with dehydration. And of course.. rest. Be safe and be well driver 🙏

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JulianneElise@reddit

Supply yourself a first aid kit that includes non- drowsy headache/sinus meds. Pepto tablets, aleve etc. Bananas are good for intestinal issues and are easy on the stomach. Gatorade and pedialyte as others have said, as well as ginger ale, ginger calms nausea. And of course.. rest. Be safe and be well driver 🙏

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Final-Approach1@reddit

Those roller dogs will do that

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Quynn_Stormcloud@reddit

Haven’t experienced nausea/vomiting on the road. That sounds awful. The most sick I’ve been wasn’t anything a couple DayQuil couldn’t handle, and I’ll mask up to check in with receiving.

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Knarknarknarknar@reddit

Thats a long time. . .

Hydrate. Pedialyte or Gatorade. You may want to seek medical care if you dont stop soon. If you have an EDL put in the notes you have an illness preventing you from driving. If logged properly you can sue your boss for punishing you if they decide to do so.

A doctor's visit invoice should keep rational employers off your back.

Roasted dandelion root tea, peppermint tea, ginger lemon tea all help with nausea and digestive distress.

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FlatbedtruckingCA@reddit

Chicken soup, gatorade, vitamin C and Zinc suppliment.. fireball when off duty

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bentstrider83@reddit

Inform dispatch, get some bed rest and isolate. Of course if I'm feeling more paranoid about an ailment, take an L and hit up urgent care or ER and absorb the unscheduled days off.

Fortunately I've become quite wary of crowds since the Vid days and stay rather isolated from most potentially infectious activity as it is. Was already kind of isolationist prior to the Vid years. My sickness prevention has just been galvanized since then.

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mindsunwound@reddit

Do not attempt to drive, passing out behind the wheel is a big nono.

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Runawaytrucker@reddit

I take a sick day and stay home 😂

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MostOriginalNameEver@reddit

Call an Uber delivery and get you some Pedialyte. You have to stay hydrated. Don't drive no matter what they say. You have the law in your side for protection. You're not fit to drive. But please get some fluids and go to the doctor if you think it's getting worse any bit

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navlgazer9@reddit

You need a cvs clinic or urgent care if you don’t get better soon .

Some hot peppermint tea will help but they ain’t gonna have any peppermint tea at a truck stop

Just tell Dispatch you’re sick with food poisoning and it’s definilty not safe for You to be driving , And You will call back With an update in a few hours

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Environmental-Pear40@reddit

I've used Ginger root tea for food poisoning but never peppermint. I mean, assuming I noticed before I start vomiting because once you start vomiting there's just nothing staying down. Really just got a drink water anytime you're not actively vomiting.

Ginger root is an Analgesic and allegedly helps relax the muscles in the stomach.

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TruckinBob32@reddit

Just happened to me last week thursday-sunday. No idea what it was. Couldn't even drink water without it coming back up. I just slept drove when I could. Shut down at the Pilot in Biggs Junction for the worst of it. Went through a 100 pack of wipes in 12 hours. After that I continued with my delivery. Felt better on Monday

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AE_Racer@reddit

Easy, dont.