Scary Thought

krousseau · Post by **krousseau** » Sun Mar 19, 2006 6:01 pm

PS I don't work for Rescue Blue.

NightHawkeye · Post by **NightHawkeye** » Sun Mar 19, 2006 7:11 pm

Moogy wrote:Did they take any precautions at all? I am wondering if a medic-alert bracelet is enough, or if I need to tatoo this on my forehead:
CAUTION SEVERE SLEEP APNEA: If using ANESTHESIA or pain meds, NEEDS respiratory supervison! Needs CPAP at all times when not wake and alert!

Makes sense to me, Moogy.

Sadly, this is about the level of attention getting device needed to ensure you get the attention you need. When I had eye surgeries recently, they marked the appropriate side of my face with a big, bold X in black marker to make sure the wrong one didn't get worked on.

The only thing better is to have somebody there with you to ensure that you are tended to appropriately. Bring your xPAP too. Don't depend on the hospital if you don't have to.

Regards,
Bill

Bella · Post by **Bella** » Mon Mar 20, 2006 12:04 pm

[quote="NightHawkeye"][quote="Moogy"]Bring your xPAP too. Don't depend on the hospital if you don't have to.

Regards,
Bill

mousetater · Post by **mousetater** » Mon Mar 20, 2006 12:44 pm

It was during surgery using IV sedation that my condition was discovered. Apparently when I stopped breathing it freaked the anesthesiologist. Luckily my surgeon is a hosehead, too. (The first thing he told my sister after the surgery was "Get her in a sleep study NOW!" - even before he gave her the results of the surgery.) And, I was setting off all sorts of alarms in recovery because my O2 sat dropped to 64%. (According to my sleep study my sweet spot pressure setting is 16. Possibly the number is so high because my left vocal folds are paralyzed from surgical intubation many years ago. Surely doesn't help.)

I was given instructions not to lie flat to sleep until I had the sleep study and got the CPAP machine. From day of surgery to receiving the equipment took almost 5 weeks. By that time, not only was I tired (a condition I was living with for a while thinking it was a reaction to losing my husband to cancer in June of 2004), but I was sleepy (because I don't sleep well propped up at a 45 degree angle, and on my back), dopey, grumpy, and just about any other dwarf you can think of, except happy.

laurel · Post by **laurel** » Wed Apr 26, 2006 8:26 pm

Some online sources for Medical ID tags, bracelets, etc.:

Medic Alert
American Medical ID
N-Style ID
MedIDs.com
RoadID
Lifetag
Oneida Medical Jewelry
StickyJ
MediCool
Beadin Beagle
Lauren's Hope
911 Destiny
. . . and lots more.

I haven't ordered from any of these except Medic Alert, so can't tell you who is reliable, how the other products are, etc.

I've been thinking of making some medical alert jewelry of my own, or at least cool beaded bands that can easily clip onto my tag so I can change them around and not just have the boring chain.

Darth Vader Look · Post by **Darth Vader Look** » Sat Apr 29, 2006 2:14 am

Here's a link to a debate that has been going on on the TAS board for a while about the medic alert bracelet and it's needs.

http://www.talkaboutsleep.com/message-b ... hp?t=15767

feelinfab · Post by **feelinfab** » Thu May 04, 2006 3:13 pm

I am certain I saw SA tags available on some apnea site. Maybe the sleep foundation.

I'll look around and post again when I find something.

Altered_Ego · Post by **Altered_Ego** » Thu Jul 19, 2007 8:56 am

The Rescue Blue link no longer works.

Bert_Mathews · Post by **Bert_Mathews** » Thu Jul 19, 2007 9:18 am

Here is a link that was posted late last year -- It saved me and it's FREE just print it out and carry it in your wallet........
http://www.medids.com/

Go down to mid page and click on FREE Emergency Medical ID Wallet Card Maker!
Have a list of all your medications -- Dr's names & ph.### -- Blood type --- PRINT IT AND PUT IN YOUR WALLET

Don't know WHO to THANK.......-BUT-... Again it was just one more thing this forum has given me!!!!
I would like to see this under the YELLOW BULB so Newbies could take advantage of this GREAT DEAL...... Many only get that far into the forum while good info sometime SLIPS off the bottom of the list!!!

BERT
THANKX...................

WearyOne · Post by **WearyOne** » Thu Jul 19, 2007 9:33 am

Not knowing about this kind of thing very well, does being under/coming out of anesthesia and/or taking strong pain meds have the same affect on whatever rouses us to breath during an apnea event the same as being knocked unconscious, as in a car wreck? Make any sense?

SisterShotgun · Post by **SisterShotgun** » Thu Jul 19, 2007 10:44 am

I had Gall Bladder surgery before my Apnea was diagnosed, after surgery it took the doctor's and nurses 6 hours to arouse me from the procedure. Scared the heck out of all of them. They had to put me on a ventilator too keep me breathing Too bad my Primary Care doc didn't see the signs I was considered to be too thin to have OSA

Susanm · Post by **Susanm** » Thu Jul 19, 2007 11:04 am

Thanks, I printed out a wallet card for myself and will carry it faithfully. I'm also allergic to a popular type of general anesthesia (Halothane) so this could be a lifesaver. Guess I should look into a necklace or bracelet as well.

Susan M

sharon1965 · Post by **sharon1965** » Thu Jul 19, 2007 11:08 am

mousetater said:

but I was sleepy (because I don't sleep well propped up at a 45 degree angle, and on my back), dopey, grumpy, and just about any other dwarf you can think of, except happy.

sorry, i know this is a serious thread but this made me laugh out loud!

sharon1965 · Post by **sharon1965** » Thu Jul 19, 2007 11:12 am

here is a link to the last time this was discussed...some good info

http://tinyurl.com/ywu4g7

Elle · Post by **Elle** » Thu Jul 19, 2007 11:18 am

I recently had minor surgery and was told I had to take my cpap with me to recovery room. I also had to sign papers saying I would have someone stay with me to monitor for 24 hours at home.

I have another one coming up and the surgeon says she will only do a local anaesthetic because of the apnea.

Years ago I had been in hospital on two different occasions for bigger surgeries and was kept in longer and told there were complications related to my low oxygen sats. No one ever mentioned sleep apnea.

Scary Thought

Re: Scary Thought

Re: Scary Thought

places where you can get medical bracelets etc.

wallet card

Humidifier

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