how many wear medic alert bracelets

[deerslayer]

...just like many others have said-- not for osa primarily . in this day & age when everyone is looking to cover their butts legally , especially when the dentist tells you to start on anti-biotics before he will clean your teeth - as an example....one never knows when it just might save our life

[Debjax]

Actually this is an excellent topic. Several years ago, I underwent a rather intense spinal surgery and though I told my surgeon about the sleep apnea and brought my cpap to the hospital with me, no one thought to put it on me in recovery even though I kept having waking apnea incidents. I will never forget the look of terror on my friend's face as husband ran to the car to retrieve my machine. My friend and a nurse were monitoring the incidents and yelling, "Breath, Angela! Breath!" Every time I stopped."

So, yeah, I think that I am going to look into a Medic Alert bracelet.

Sounds like me when I had my gall bladder out in October. I had been diagnosed, but not titrated yet. The recovery nurse was having fits because I stopped breathing every few minutes and the alarm would go off as I desatted. At one point when I was semi-lucid, she asked me "do you have sleep apnea?" I told her "yes, I do". "WHY DIDN'T YOU BRING YOUR MACHINE?" "I don't have one yet, I was just diagnosed a couple of weeks ago. For about 4 - 5 hours, had a bedside companion who would, about ever 45 seconds or so, yell at me to breath.

[TheDreamer]

I used to wear one (penicillin allergy), meant to update it (sulfa allergy)....but never got around to it, somewhere I stopped wearing it (I could barely get it on and off over my head...and TSA can be so annoying.)

Been thinking that I should wear one again....

The Dreamer.

[gasparama]

Actually this is an excellent topic. Several years ago, I underwent a rather intense spinal surgery and though I told my surgeon about the sleep apnea and brought my cpap to the hospital with me, no one thought to put it on me in recovery even though I kept having waking apnea incidents. I will never forget the look of terror on my friend's face as husband ran to the car to retrieve my machine. My friend and a nurse were monitoring the incidents and yelling, "Breath, Angela! Breath!" Every time I stopped."

So, yeah, I think that I am going to look into a Medic Alert bracelet.

.

When I had orthopedic surgery last June, the hosp. told me to bring my machine with me. They didn't use it in recovery, but insisted that it be applied as soon as I was taken to my room. When I had another surgery 4 weeks ago, the anesthesiologist explained that they will keep me breathing, no matter what during recovery. But he wanted it put on me again as soon as I got to my room.

[yorkiemum01]

I just bought my father a new one this year, to keep his info updated. Only problem is with the
multiple list of conditions, (deaf, diabetes, CHF, pacemaker, COPD, Dr contact and my contact info)
and all the meds...he's wondering where he can pick up a small magnifying glass to read all that small
print on his new bracelet!

(He did ask that his OSA be included, as he's gone into respiratory arrest when under anesthesia)

He does have a sense of humor about things at least. Love my Pop!

[Hermit]

I wear a medic alert neck lace . However I'm not totally sure the hospital even looks. I was taken to the hospital with chest pains and they never read it just removed it.due to the meds I was /am on I wasn't coherent.They just handed it to my wife along with my other affects.I have heart trouble - opiate dependent- osa..just to name a few.even when I had total knee replacement.they never looked at it.i bought it because I thought they did look. all I can do is provide the info and hope they look.
Hermit

[Babette]

Not me. I figure, if you're that bad off, you should just get a tattoo saying "if found dead, put in any mailbox and mail back to....."

I don't even carry a wallet card or nothin'. I figure, if I die while the medics are working on me, que sera. I don't think hooking me up to a cpap machine is gonna make or break that decision.

Cheers,
Barbara

[Babette]

I wear a large scarlet "A" (for apnea, of course!) sewn onto my bodice...err...shirt! And I'm required to call out "Unrested! Unrested!" whenever I'm out in public.

ROFLMBO!

I love you, and want to have your children!

Good one!!!!!
Babs

[deerslayer]

I wear a large scarlet "A" (for apnea, of course!) sewn onto my bodice...err...shirt! And I'm required to call out "Unrested! Unrested!" whenever I'm out in public.

ROFLMBO!

I love you, and want to have your children!

Good one!!!!!
Babs

OK THAT DOES IT ! you are now officially under house arrest until you free of any Sinus infection,inner ear,hoof & mouth,dementia,etc. ......i would say i hope you are feeling better...but obviously the meds are working peace out Kiddo

[plr66]

I wear a medic alert neck lace . However I'm not totally sure the hospital even looks. I was taken to the hospital with chest pains and they never read it just removed it.due to the meds I was /am on I wasn't coherent.They just handed it to my wife along with my other affects.I have heart trouble - opiate dependent- osa..just to name a few.even when I had total knee replacement.they never looked at it.i bought it because I thought they did look. all I can do is provide the info and hope they look.
Hermit

Well this is certainly depressing news.....What do we have to do---put a freakin' neon sign on our nose???

[Hermit]

"plr66"]

I wear a medic alert neck lace . However I'm not totally sure the hospital even looks. I was taken to the hospital with chest pains and they never read it just removed it.due to the meds I was /am on I wasn't coherent.They just handed it to my wife along with my other affects.I have heart trouble - opiate dependent- osa..just to name a few.even when I had total knee replacement.they never looked at it.i bought it because I thought they did look. all I can do is provide the info and hope they look.
Hermit

Well this is certainly depressing news.....What do we have to do---put a freakin' neon sign on our nose??? [/quote]
Well this is certainly depressing news.....What do we have to do---put a freakin' neon sign on our nose???
No on your forehead....
Hermit

[Bret L.]

I have one and wear it. I've been told by EMT's and Doctors that if your wearing a wrist bracelet or one around your neck, then they'll read it first before they do anything. They won't look in your wallet until later if at all. If your wearing something, then it's important enough for them to know. What meds your allergic to, what conditions you have regardless, should be on it. Don't want to be given anything that might cause a problem with my breathing, OSA is bad enough.
Now I've also had a friend pass away because he didn't think OSA was a serious problem. I'll do what I can to avoid a problem. Atleast I tried.

[birdshell]

I wear an authentic MedicAlert necklace, and have for many years. I find the necklace to be less intrusive, and have a sterling silver emblem/charm as well as a MedicAlert sterling silver chain. I receive compliments on my "necklace" quite often.

I was a little dubious about the chain, as I had worn a stainless steel bracelet and had the sterling silver links soldered closed over and over. (I found that soldering kept the jump rings closed better; and thus, kept them from snagging clothing and other fabrics.) This chain is amazingly sturdy and has a conventional clasp, yet will also slide over my head without being unclasped.

I have a bracelet for those occasions when I wish to wear some of my more expensive jewelry...you know, something nicer than a lanyard with a whistle. However, when performing or competing with my chorus, neither of these were a good solution. In this case I would have a TRUSTED and assertive friend (usually 2 or 3) who knew the MedicAlert tag was tucked inside my bra, out of sight.

I personally would only deal with a MedicAlert tag:

1. MedicAlert will never delete your information, although you must pay the yearly fee in order to submit updates.

2. MedicAlert is probably the most recognized emblem and organization--worldwide. Various other groups will provide a medical alert tag (such as the Hemophilia Foundation one I was once given) but they do not necessarily have the correct information and are not routinely updated. Mine had my name misspelled and only had one of my pertinent medical conditions.

3. I like the ease of changing information online, including contacts information for my doctors and family members, my medications and dosages, and all medical conditions. My somewhat unusual medical challenges are able to be noted, and updated.

4. MedicAlert Foundation is a non-profit medical foundation. They have a medical staff, or at least a nurse, available for questions. I like that.

5. They have SO many emblems and styles and bracelets and related materials from which one may choose that there is probably at least one you will wear, unless you are WAY too fussy. They even have watches.

This is just my outlook on things. I find the peace of mind and convenience combined with sturdy, yet attractive, emblems to be well worth it.

Karen,
Who might very well wear one just for OSA

[AuntieNae]

I have been a Medical Alert bracelet for years .. and was recently considering updating the engraving to also now include the OSA ..

I had a friend, diabetic, collapse on the street in a large city, and was in the hospital,unconscious for 2 days as Jane Doe when she awoke .. had she been wearing her bracelet ..

[LoQ]

in this day & age when everyone is looking to cover their butts legally , especially when the dentist tells you to start on anti-biotics before he will clean your teeth - as an example....

That is not defensive medicine, that is GOOD medicine. Kudos to your dentist.