Re: Over reacting?

[Guest guest]

>

> I was going through some Asthma sites and a couple of them

recommended wearing a

> Medical ID Necklace/bracelet if you have severe asthma. Is this a

good idea, is it over

> reacting, or is this the new fashion statement on the ramps this year?

>

> Ron

>

Ron,

I started wearing one after I found out I was diabetic. It in includes

all my drug allergies and that I have asthma on it; but I got it

because of my diabetes.

I almost passed out because my blood sugar got real low once. After

that, I thought it might be a good idea that I wear one.

Doug

[Guest guest]

Hi Ron.

My doctor said that anyone who has severe asthma, especially if you are

prone to ER visits, or have ever been intubated or have been so SOB that you

have been unable to speak (or have had " telegraphic speech " ) it is a good

idea to have a medical ID bracelet.

They can be incredibly expensive (especially for me, I tend to break out in

a rash if I wear metals other than gold) and the engraving can be expensive.

However, if you are not allergic to the metal and want to get one cheap, it

can be as simple as getting one engraved and having it read " see wallet card

..

My doctor recommends a bracelet as opposed to a necklace, for the simple

reason that if you are unable to speak, you know that a paramedic will try

to take your pulse, thereby seeing/feeling the bracelet.

I still have been unable to afford the bracelet, but for YEARS now, I have

carried a card in my wallet in the slot where my license is supposed to be

that lists my name, illness, primary care and asthma docs, medication

allergies, that I am allergic to latex, and it has an up-to-date list of all

medications I take. If I find myself in a situation where I can't speak

easily, I pull out the card and hand it to the paramedic. It also helps me

out in an emergency room so that I don't have to go down the long list of

meds that I take with the triage nurse. It has helped my loved ones SO MANY

TIMES from being frustrated in a tough situation. They all know about the

card and simply pull it out if they have questions that they can't answer

for me.

List your meds, dosage and times per day that you take the medication. I

can't tell you how much time this saves, and what a help it is! The last

thing you want to do when SOB is have to go over a list of meds or allergies

to meds. It is so much easier to pull out the card so you can concentrate

on your breathing!

Tell this trick to ANY family member that has a severe illness of any sort.

I make my mother who has multiple sclerosis, my sister who is allergic to

Penicillin, my Stepfather (diabetic), and my fiancee (hypertension) all use

this little trick, and it has helped them ALL!

My mom almost lost my stepfather last year to his diabetes. His blood sugar

was SO LOW (19!!!!) that the paramedics couldn't believe his heart was still

beating when they got to the house. He is alive today because my mother

(although she was a hysterical wreck) was able to pull the card out of his

wallet and get them the information they needed FAST!

Good luck to you. Think about the bracelet, but DEFINITELY make a card of

your own. I recommend that much to EVERY member of this group!

~

-------Original Message-------

From: ronaldcrpntr

Date: 04/27/06 07:52:35

Subject: [ ] Over reacting?

I was going through some Asthma sites and a couple of them recommended

wearing a

Medical ID Necklace/bracelet if you have severe asthma. Is this a good idea,

is it over

reacting, or is this the new fashion statement on the ramps this year?

Ron

[Guest guest]

Recommending the medic-alert bracelet should come from your physician. If

he/she thinks your asthma is bad enough go buy one. On the other hand if you

have ever been intubated, hospitalized in ICU, or had anaphylaxis...just go

purchase one.Even mild asthmatics can die from an asthma attack but the chances

are many times greater if you have ever had a severe attack. I am sure that

encompasses most of us in this chat room.

Pat

---------------------------------

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[Guest guest]

Hi

I love you idea of making a card....I used to have a medic alert

bracelet, but it kept on breaking (the cheap one!) I will have to make

up a card on the computer.

My pharmacy gives me a little printout with each refill showing all of

the recents meds I have taken. My friend is a paramedic here in

Kingston and he advised that I could just slip this in my wallet where

my driver's license is because if I can not speak or there is no one

around they do look in the wallets. At least the doctors/paramedics

would know that they are dealing with an asthmatic on prednisone!

Great advice!

Pamela

[Guest guest]

I agree if you have severe asthma it is a good idea. My doctor has

told me I need one as I am highly allergic to both pennicillin and

cephalsporins (such as Vantin and Cefzil). I haven't yet been able to

afford the bracelet, BUT I do carry a card in my wallet. I printed it

out on card stock paper in a very BRIGHT color so it is noticable. It

has my name, date of birth, all meds currently taking, health

conditions, and allergies. That way they can easily identify my

health troubles quickly.

[Guest guest]

>

> I agree if you have severe asthma it is a good idea. My doctor has

> told me I need one as I am highly allergic to both pennicillin and

> cephalsporins (such as Vantin and Cefzil). I haven't yet been able to

> afford the bracelet, BUT I do carry a card in my wallet. I printed it

> out on card stock paper in a very BRIGHT color so it is noticable. It

> has my name, date of birth, all meds currently taking, health

> conditions, and allergies. That way they can easily identify my

> health troubles quickly.

>

I got a necklace for about 15.00 through a place online.

I just did a search online and found one.

Doug