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Saline shortage?

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 1/22/2018 6:24 PM (GMT 0)
Just wondering if anyone has been affected by the saline shortage (due in part to Hurricane Maria), or if anyone knows of any plans in place as the shortage continues?

I was unable to get my usual extra bag of hydration after my last Entyvio infusion in early December, and my office had also stopped giving iron infusions and all other "non-essential" infusions. I'm reading news articles as recent as this week that the shortage continues across the country.

Post Edited (mkl11) : 1/22/2018 12:21:52 PM (GMT-7)

Posted 1/22/2018 7:11 PM (GMT 0)
Common during cold and flu season. Last year about this time, I remember the remicade-nurse complaining about how hard it was to keep enough IV bags in their inventory. Haven't heard it yet but likely will at next week's infusion...
Posted 1/22/2018 7:18 PM (GMT 0)
Complicating the matter is that there is a plant in Puerto Rico that manufacturers IV bags that is still closed due to the lack of power:

http://www.cnn.com/2018/01/16/health/iv-bag-shortage/index.html

My older son just wrote a paper on this for his current events project at school. I have no idea why he chose this topic, but I guess it is useful to us heresmile
Posted 1/22/2018 7:19 PM (GMT 0)
Yes that's true, but the particularly dire shortage situation is actually due to Hurricane Maria--should have mentioned that originally! https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/nation-now/2018/01/14/iv-bag-shortage-puerto-rico/1032369001/

I was told that issues in PR were why the non-essential infusions had to be put on hold, and hospitals are doing a lot of slow and manual drug pushing to avoid using bags.
Posted 1/22/2018 8:10 PM (GMT 0)
This freaks me out.
Posted 1/22/2018 8:45 PM (GMT 0)
They are postponing non-essential surgeries too. I wonder what that means for people who need j-pouches creations and take-downs. I'm sure they are going ahead with colectomies. What does it mean for colonoscopies?

I don't know why the Saline is an issue, Trump gave himself a grade of 10 out of 10 for his Hurricane Maria relief response. rolleyes

The hospitals are doing the best that they can, I feel worse for the people of Puerto Rico and the other islands who are still without power. I can't imagine living without power for 5+ months, it's something that we take for granted.
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