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Nooblakahn wrote:Out of curiousity...What would they do differently if they new I had sleep apnea? I'm sure this is not wrong.. but it never occured to me that this was neccessary.

Well, for myself, I hope they would treat it. If I'm lying there unconscious I'm pretty sure my airway is going to collapse the same way as if I was asleep. If they know already I have OSA, and what pressure I need, they can set me up that much faster, maybe even get someone in my family to bring my machine from home.

If I'm on a respirator, it wouldn't matter, but if I'm not, I really think my airways need to be splinted open.

Nooblakahn wrote:Out of curiousity...What would they do differently if they new I had sleep apnea? I'm sure this is not wrong.. but it never occured to me that this was neccessary.

They would make sure that if you are unconscious your airway is not compromised. If you are unconscious you don't have the mechanism to wake yourself up to breathe.

The gummint has a Keep It With You ("KIWY") form to print out, although the situation it seems targeted to address is a natural disaster and not a personal one:

http://emergency.cdc.gov/disasters/kiwy.asp

Here's a way to print out a free medical alert wallet card, from the Department of Redundancy Department:

http://www.medids.com/free-id.php

I found an app in the google play store simular to the one that was found for windows. Nice little red cross icon on the homescreen and all the info is in there. Brilliant!

My local Ambulance Service has an ICE app (I use the iPhone one) that lets you store not only Emergency Contact Numbers, but also quite a bit of Medical History.

It is meant to be used as the screen image that comes up when you turn on the phone. But, I just have the app on my phone & in the very 1st Contact on my phone (A a Emergency Contacts - so it is always the 1st Contact), I have a note to also see the ICE app.

The Ambulance Service has just come up with another app called the Family Medical app in which you are suppossed to be able to put in all of the Medical information for the entire family.

Since I can already put my information in the ICE app, I have not yet looked at the new app.

Phone app is great and all, but is that something they are trained to check for? I would guess yes for the poster who's local service has it, but what about EMS in other locations. Again, I had never thought of this... guess I'll get a necklace... seems the least annoying, least obvious, (not a jewlery wearer). Plus bonus points that they check there first.

Anything on/with your phone is likely to be gone if you are mugged.
Necklace of non-precious metal, or maybe a tattoo?

chunkyfrog wrote:Anything on/with your phone is likely to be gone if you are mugged.
Necklace of non-precious metal, or maybe a tattoo?

You don't know the quality of muggers in my area.

They will take ANYTHING !

To address Nooblakahn's question. In case of an emergency the emergency room staff is made aware of the OSA breathing issue with an ID article on the person (i.e. bracelet or pendant). Wallets or purses with paper ID's could be lost or not taken in a rush type of trauma. When unconscious, breathing may become even more altered which could affect emergency treatment and outcome. This is a condition that any medical team should be made aware of like diabetes, heart or kidney disorders. This being said, the ER team will know specifically how to respond and follow proper protocol. This is a very important ID which all OSA patients should carry.

Thanks all for your information. It is truly helpful. I have many choices.

I am an EMT. We look neck then wrist for medic alert stuff. For wrist we look for bracelet and the medic alert watch.

The ICE on the phone works as long as you don't lock your phone.

American Heart Association has a nice app that IS available on a locked phone. That's what I use for the phone. Full disclosure: I am also a certified AHA instructor so am affiliated with AHA although I receive no compensation from AHA.

Some of the more unusual medic alert stuff like shoe tags just plain gets missed. The more it looks like something see, the more likely it will get missed.

Kevin

If they knew that you had sleep apnea, that would probably be relevant during surgery, or any treatment where you were unconscious and unable to tell them. You might need different breathing apparatus. Just guessing, this hasn't happened to me, but I could see the possibilities. Enough so I'm thinking about this now, too *smile*.

This site once again proves its value. I was about to purchased a medic alert bracelet - the type that has the inserted USB thumb drive --- but now I have options. I also searched the Apple app store and there are a variety of ICE apps. I selected one and downloaded it. May change to another one cause while I can enter contact info and medical conditions, I saw others that seem to offer more - doctor contacts, medications list, etc. That list alone is worth using the app --- last time I was hospitalized 3 years ago they asked about medications and I knew some of the names, others not, and no idea of the dosages. Had to find a friend to go to my home and bring all the bottles to the hospital. A real PIA.

If you don't have an oil well, get one -- and if you don't carry a list of your medications, start!

dos coyotes wrote:This site once again proves its value. I was about to purchased a medic alert bracelet - the type that has the inserted USB thumb drive --- but now I have options. I also searched the Apple app store and there are a variety of ICE apps. I selected one and downloaded it. May change to another one cause while I can enter contact info and medical conditions, I saw others that seem to offer more - doctor contacts, medications list, etc. That list alone is worth using the app --- last time I was hospitalized 3 years ago they asked about medications and I knew some of the names, others not, and no idea of the dosages. Had to find a friend to go to my home and bring all the bottles to the hospital. A real PIA.

If you don't have an oil well, get one -- and if you don't carry a list of your medications, start!

I learned that you can get a free app for the kindle reader, then send documents to your kindle email address. I do this with my medication list. I have it on my computer, and I can update as needed and resend the file to my kindle account. Then I download it onto my ipod touch which goes everywhere with me. Last November, my dentist asked if I could list my medications, and I just pulled out my ipod and let her copy off what she needed.

On my list, I have a section for daily medications and as needed medications. I include OTC medications as well. And I list the name, the dosage, and the time of day that I normaly take them.

Just want to add another aspect of the value of emergency personnel being aware of a diagnosis of sleep apnea. In a trauma or emergency situation where one is unable to give information, pinpointing the issues is time critical. Don't want them trying to figure out why your oxygen just dropped and your heart is racing and if those symptoms are related to the cause of you being in their care.

porete wrote:I've been a Medicalert subscriber since 2003 due to other health issues. I've always worn the pendant because I like the fact that it is a little more discreet than a bracelet. I've had the same pendant since '03 and haven't had to replace it. The link is below:

http://www.medicalert.org/products/ever ... dant-chain

Funny, but I've worn the bracelet for just that reason .. it's a little more obvious. I don't want paramedics to miss it. For example, in the heat of the summer, when a normal metal bracelet might chafe, I use the following, reasonably priced "sports" band:

http://www.medicalert.org/products/ever ... d-bracelet