Recovering from Disaster
The recent Southern California wildfires were at the forefront of the minds of National Fibromyalgia Association staff—and not only because our office is just a few miles from the Santiago Fire. Because this is our backyard, so to speak, we are particularly well acquainted with patients and support group leaders in Southern California—and we had a good idea how many people with fibromyalgia live in areas impacted by this national emergency.
Fortunately, our office and all our staff made it through the fires with mere inconvenience—ash on our cars, smoke making our homes smell like a barbecue joint. And though there are, no doubt, fibromyalgia patients whose homes and families were tragically impacted by these fires, most of the patients who have gotten in touch with us made it through without losing any loved ones, and without too much damage to their property.
Wildfire season is anticipated each year in Southern California, just as earthquakes are not unexpected here—and in other parts of the country, hurricanes, tornadoes, or other natural disasters are part of everyday life. Keeping that in mind, we asked a few people for their suggestions for people with FM and other chronic pain conditions: how can they better prepare for natural disasters, and what tips can they put into action to prevent themselves from going into a flare?
None of us can control natural disasters—but we can control how we prepare for them, and how we react to them. Here’s how.
Scherry Clarke and her family live in Ramona, Calif., with three horses, two dogs, a couple of cats, and a pet rat. They were evacuated for five days, spending most of that time at the Del Mar Horse Park where they lived in a tack room without so much of a change of clothing or a tube of toothpaste—till they went out to buy some supplies. (When they returned home, their house was unhurt—though, Clarke notes wryly, the inside was filthy with ash that she had to clean up.)
Recovering From This Time
“I accepted that once the adrenaline stopped I was going to be in a lot of pain; I knew I would have to accept painkillers,” says Clarke. “I set up a medication schedule.” And she stuck to it, taking painkillers and muscle relaxants even when she felt she didn’t need them. That way the pain never got to an unmanageable point.
“I super focused on nutrition because when we were out in the trailer, I didn’t have any of the things I normally take, and I knew my health had suffered terribly from that.”
“When I felt like lying down, I lay down and rested; I just gave myself a break.”
“Try to assist at volunteer centers if you’re physically able to. There’s nothing like helping other people and hearing their stories to put things into perspective.”
Preparing for Next Time
“We are going to keep the horse trailer stocked with camping gear, cooking gear, packs of towels, and toothbrushes, water, and extra clothes," Clarke says. "I am going to keep at least a week’s wroth of the supplies I would at home.”
“Keep all your medications in one area, you can just take your arm and sweep them into a bag.”
“Write down which friends to call if you’re sad, or who to call for comfort if you’re scared. It’s really important that your family have a really good evacuation plan too and maybe you have a place you can meet.”
NFA boardmember Nancy Derby, RN, and her husband Ed live in San Diego—and are in the process of moving. They evacuated—but they, their dog, and their houses all made it through the disaster with no damage.
Recovering From This Time
“If you have any respiratory stress, you need to seek healthcare," says Derby. "Wearing masks is a very good idea; if they get dirty, change them. You’re not just breathing in ash, you’re breathing in the compounds that burned; that could be plastics and chemicals; especially if you’re in the wind zone where the ash is dropping.”
Preparing for Next Time
“Keep all your essential paperwork in one area," Derby suggets. "The night the fire started, we put everything we could possibly need, paperwork-wise, in a box.”
“Have a plan for your animals. Make sure you have food for your animal, ahead of what you need for just that week.”
“Have a current list of medications and don’t leave the house without your medications.”
“This would be a good time to check everything. Check your homeowner’s policy; if you’re a renter, make sure you have renters’ insurance. Change the batteries in your smoke detectors and make sure you change all the air filters in your house.”
The leader of the Chronic Illness Support Group in Poway, Lynne Bechard was out of town with her husband Bruce when their neighborhood was evacuated. When she called home to check for messages, there was no answer—and she was sure their phone had melted as their house burned to the ground! Luckily their house and all their belongings survived, but the couple has half a dozen friends who lost their homes in the recent fires.
Recovering from This Time
“Look for pockets of peace," Bechard suggests. "When we got back, we went down to a restaurant overlooking the beach and ate there. That’s what we needed to do to take care of ourselves. Being a nurse, I wanted to volunteer immediately. That’s something that I needed to do.”
“Realize the difference between ‘want to’ and ‘have to.’ Emails are a nice thing to do, but they’re not a ‘have to.’”
Preparing for Next Time
“I have extra pain pills, extra sleeping pills—all the must-have prescription medications—in both cars," Bechard explains. "That’s tricky in the summer, because the car is hot; but at least have a supply accessible somewhere—maybe at a family member’s or something.”
“Make a go-bag with crucial items that you really need to be comfortable. I have a spare cervical pillow, so I could put one in there. I have masks—that was crucial for me; three years ago was on a ventilator and I have lung damage. I have a change of clothes, and a swimsuit and goggles—for my pain management, I swim every single day.”
