Medic Allert Bracelets...

AdmiralCougar · Post by **AdmiralCougar** » Mon Aug 20, 2007 4:18 am

Hi I'm going in for surgery in a few weeks and I figured on the safe side I should get a bracelet. What I'm curious about is they have limited space and I need to include my Drug Allergies and want to include blood type and medical conditions plus refer to a Emergency Medical ID to give medics and other medical personnel permission to go into my wallet for an up-to-date record of my medications, BiPAP pressures and medical conditions.
What are peoples feelings about using acronyms to describe OSA and OHS (Obesity Hypoventilation Syndrome) Would you include the OHS? Do you think that they are common enough acronyms that anyone who needs to know will actually know what It means? Or should I write it all out.
I also have hypothyroidism, my husband thinks I should put this on there someway too, but I keep trying to tell him that it probably isn't important enough for the Bracelet, what do you guys think?

Thanks for your thoughts,
Christy

Splash51 · Post by **Splash51** » Mon Aug 20, 2007 5:20 am

Don't know where he got because he traveled a lot but my Dad had a Med-Braclet that had a tube for a "face" plate. It unscrewed and a roll of paper with a list of his needs on it would slide out.. Try checking the internet.
Good Luck

cflame1 · Post by **cflame1** » Mon Aug 20, 2007 5:29 am

I've got an actual bracelet... I've also got more conditions than what fit on the bracelet, there's a thing that you check that allows MedicAlert to order the conditions in some kind of order (they have a doc do it).

Plus sleep apnea is a condition basically that all you have to do is check the box.

oceanpearl · Post by **oceanpearl** » Mon Aug 20, 2007 6:12 am

Before you do anything, put 3 ICE numbers in your cell phone (use people who know your condition), One of my ICE numbers is my Internist. One of the first things a paramendi looks if you are unconcious for is ICE on your cell phone.

odawa · Post by **odawa** » Mon Aug 20, 2007 7:48 am

I didnt know that I should add the sleep apnea to my medic alert. Mine says Diabetic, in case I go into a Diabetic coma. When would the sleep apnea play into it? I dont understand...

fredpb · Post by **fredpb** » Mon Aug 20, 2007 7:54 am

I have various medical conditions, and Medic Alert is the way to go.
You have a wide range of bracelets and necklaces. In addition to some conditions engraved on the device, there is a user number which medical personnel can use when calling Medic Alert, which has more extensive information.

It is a small one time fee, and the cost of the bracelet device. For one year you can update your stuff free, and after that you can subscribe, and use their website. But the initial information is stored forever an can be used by medical people always. It will just cost to update it.

I have used it for years. I just use a stainless steel necklace.

I also have one of those home emergency dialers. That gives me a sense of security, living alone. If I have a problem I just push a button on a pendant around my neck and the dialer calls a central office and they dispatch EMS if I request or they can't hear me. This company also keeps extensive information about you, and where you house key is at. I use a lockbox on my outside doorknob.

CarrieS · Post by **CarrieS** » Mon Aug 20, 2007 8:23 am

i have hypothyroidism too - I would put it on there. Simply because if youre going to get one you might as well get it all put on there, if down the road you were in a car accident or something where you were unconscious for a longer period of time it would be good for them to know so they could give you meds and also theyd know that certain things that maybe going on due to the incident maybe a reaction to your thyroid (or lack of meds) versus them thinking they are symptoms of another issue.

AdmiralCougar · Post by **AdmiralCougar** » Mon Aug 20, 2007 10:32 am

odawa wrote:I didnt know that I should add the sleep apnea to my medic alert. Mine says Diabetic, in case I go into a Diabetic coma. When would the sleep apnea play into it? I dont understand...

Well first off if your unconscious they would know that if you would be needed to be put on CPAP, or you may stop breathing because of OSA. Second if they take you into surgery the Anesthesiologist needs to know because they intubate people with OSA differently there are possibly more problems with intubating an OSA patient and they need to be prepared for that. That's also why I put my BiPAP pressures on my Emergency Medical ID, along with all my prescriptions and their dosages and frequencies. There maybe other reasons that I'm not thinking of at the moment as well.

CarrieS wrote:i have hypothyroidism too - I would put it on there. Simply because if youre going to get one you might as well get it all put on there, if down the road you were in a car accident or something where you were unconscious for a longer period of time it would be good for them to know so they could give you meds and also theyd know that certain things that maybe going on due to the incident maybe a reaction to your thyroid (or lack of meds) versus them thinking they are symptoms of another issue.

I hadn't thought about that so I guess it is a good idea after all... My husband is gonna gloat....

Anyone know about using the Acronyms?

Thanks,
Christy

luneman · Post by **luneman** » Mon Aug 20, 2007 1:49 pm

I use a product from these folks:

http://www.scrollid.com/

It provides all of your medical infor in aformentioned "tube" inviornment.

AdmiralCougar · Post by **AdmiralCougar** » Mon Aug 20, 2007 4:35 pm

cflame1 wrote:I've got an actual bracelet... I've also got more conditions than what fit on the bracelet, there's a thing that you check that allows MedicAlert to order the conditions in some kind of order (they have a doc do it).

Plus sleep apnea is a condition basically that all you have to do is check the box.

I don't know about how good the company is, but http://www.americanmedical-id.com/ has the same feature but for free if you buy an id. And their prices are about the same as all the other sites I've visited, for just the Bracelet.

Online Medical Registry
The perfect complement to your Medical ID

American Medical ID's Online Medical Registry is where you can maintain an online personal health file of your:

* Medical conditions
* Emergency contact information
* Doctors' names
* Insurance information
* Documents (living wills, donor cards, EKGs, CTs, x-rays, etc.)

This database can be accessed anytime through our secure online connection or a 24-hour emergency telephone line. You can also access a registered nurse 24/7, for emergencies or ongoing health questions.

This service is free for life with the purchase of any medical ID.

* No enrollment fees
* No annual fees - ever!

drummergirl410 · Post by **drummergirl410** » Mon Aug 20, 2007 4:49 pm

I need to get one of those too. I'm definitely going to go with the authentic Medic-Alert. They've been around for years and I know they've gotten good feedback from others. I also have several significant medical conditions, take many meds, and have some allergies. There's no way I could fit all mine on a plain medical ID. They're a non-profit organization and you can get the fee waived if you are not able to pay, which is good for those who need that option.

However, I found that when I was wearing a medical ID, I was always asked to take it off before I was taken to surgery. I've always done it, thinking they're a hospital, they're supposed to know these things, but sometimes I wonder! With the apnea I would be more apt to want to leave it on just in case!

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon Aug 20, 2007 5:00 pm

I have a medic alert bracelet. I started out with it because of my asthma. I now use it for both Asthma and Diabetes Insipidus. However, because of numberous medications and other things at the bottom of the bracelet it says to call medic alert.

Lisa

jennmary · Post by **jennmary** » Mon Aug 20, 2007 7:47 pm

What are some thoughts on the medic flash drive? Hangs on a necklace or keychain and can be put into the USB of any computer to pop up all medical information that you put on it. I also have many conditions and thought this would be a good way to go.

AdmiralCougar · Post by **AdmiralCougar** » Mon Aug 20, 2007 9:13 pm

jennmary wrote:What are some thoughts on the medic flash drive? Hangs on a necklace or keychain and can be put into the USB of any computer to pop up all medical information that you put on it. I also have many conditions and thought this would be a good way to go.

I've thought about this too seems good, but I don't have the money for one of those yet. I'm thinking of applying to the MedicAlert Foundation for a Sponsored Membership, because my husband and I already have over $1000 in medical bills we are struggling to pay from the last 2 months and they are still pilling on, I'm already having to decide which medications I refill, and my husband about cried when I told him I thought I needed to get a Medic Alert Bracelet before the surgery. I just need to ask my Dr. to write the letter of need. He knows I'm strapped for cash because I was just email chatting with him about not being able to afford the prescription for GERD meds.

msheda · Post by **msheda** » Tue Aug 21, 2007 6:23 am

Medic=money.....

the text needed to contain your medical conditions is minimal.
And cheap flash drives that can hold it are less than 7.00 in bulk (you can even have your logo printed on it for that price).

But, put medic in front of it, and suddenly it costs 50.00 or 100.00

(But it's the service your paying for! -- so what, have a friend with a computer put it into a text file and save it on the flash drive for you.)
the problem is... unless there is a cadeuceus on the drive, or a way to signify for them to look on it, they wont.

(there is also the issue of a paramedic may not have access to a machine that can read it, which is why the bracelets are good)

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