ID Card

[NC-Cutie]

I was reading that people who have had Valve replacements need to have an ID Card to carry with them. Has anyone else heard this or does anyone have an ID Card?

Also, has anyone had any problems trying to go through the airport with their mechanical valve. I understand that there is not enough metal in the mechanical valve to set off the alarm, but that it sometimes happen, and all you have to do is show them your ID Card.

I know I need an ALERT bracelet to show that I have the mechanical valve and that i'm taking coumadin, but what is and where do you get the ID bracelet?

 

[Nancy]

You can contact St. Jude and ask about your ID card. Here's the link:

http://www.sjm.com/globals/contactus.aspx

You should be getting one from them.

 

[Ross]

The manufacterer of the valve will send you the card within 4 to 6 weeks of installation.

The valve will not set off metal detectors. There made of composite materials not actual metal.

www.medicalert.com for the bracelet. There are other places but this is about the best.

 

[Marge]

I didn't have replacement surgery, but my repair did involve implanting an annuloplasty band (Cosgrove ring).

I got a wallet card in the mail, with all the info about it from my surgeon's office, about a week after the surgery. It includes the serial number of the band with other information on it (model number, size, implant date, phone number and address of the manufacturer's patient registry).

 

[Harpoon]

The US Government (Food and Drug Administration specifically) tracks all implanted medical devices, including pacemakers, valves, artificial hips, etc. for statistical purposes. If a particular device shows a high rate of failure the FDA will notify the hospitals and surgeons using thsoe devices who in turn, hopefully, will let patients know of a potential flaw...


The card you get with your artificial valve is simply to notify emergency personal that you have such a valve and who to contact for more information.

Mine gives the type of vavle, the serial number, when it was implanted, where and by whom and of course it says St Jude Medical because that's the manufacturer.

On the back of the card is a 1-800 number to call for more information in the event of an emergency...

Mine's in my walllet.


I doubt my valve would set off a metal detector and it's MRI compatible (if you've ever had an MRI, you would remember that they take away any metal you might be wearing and ask if you have an artifical hip or something, that's because of the powerful magnets in the machine)

I don't have Medic Alert yet, I'm still mulling that one over. I do have a sheet in my wallet with a listing of all the meds I'm on, the conditions I have, and a list of doctors and who to contact in an emergency.

Some people have this sort of thing on a laminated card.

It's a personal choice.


I ALWAYS have a cellphone with me too, though I've had that for a few years before I even got sick just because of the work I do. =)

 

[Raverlaw]

St. Jude Medical sent me a plastic ID card with the info on my valve about 3 weeks after the surgery. I checked out various ID systems and chose MedicAlert, which Ross kindly provided the link to. They are universally recognized, the annual fee is low, and you can file all kinds of information with them so that it is immediately available to emergency personnel.

Harpoon's suggestion of always taking a cell phone with you is a good one, too, assuming that you're conscious and can use it. I was most concerned about an auto accident or something like that, so I've got the St. Jude wallet card, the Coumadin wallet card, and the MedicAlert bracelet.

Although right now, if a paramedic opened my shirt up, he'd have to be blind not to know that I had OHS!

 

[JimL]

I've been through airport detectors many times since surgery. The valve doesn't set them off. The staples in my chest don't set them off. However, my belt buckle still does.

 

[Ross]

My artificial hip sets em off everytime!

 

[NC-Cutie]

Bill, where did you get the Coumadin ID Card?

I just got an email from St Jude about my ID Card. Thanks Nancy for the link. They have not received my info from the hospital yet, but I was able to provide them with the Model and Serial Number.

 

[Raverlaw]

Nessie,

the Coumadin ID card was part of a large packet of information on Coumadin from its manufacturer which was included in the materials I was given upon discharge from the hospital.

Although I actually take the generic, Warfarin Sodium, I keep the coumadin card on my because it may alert a paramedic or doctor treating me. I think the MedicAlert is the best all-around id and would recommend it.

 

[NC-Cutie]

Is the generic brand of Coumadin as effective as the real Coumadin? And is it cheaper. I pay a $25 co-pay for my Rx but I know that some generics are cheaper.

 

[Raverlaw]

Nessie,

As far as I've been told, warfarin is just as effective as Coumadin brand. They do say not to switch back and forth, but I think that is just for consistency, which is so important in everything having to do with anticoagulation therapy.

It is considerably cheaper. My insurance company insists on me using the warfarin for that reason. And so I proudly wear my "Had Your Rat Poison Today?" sweatshirt every day when I work out.

 

[weekycat]

I don't have an artificial valve... but my chest wires did set off the wand at the airport... when I was lucky enough to be randomly selected. I didn't need to get out my card though.....she believed me when I showed her the top of my scar

 

[Harpoon]

Ravenlaw:

I have my cardiologist's number on speed dial... =)

1-2 will give you his office.

1-0 will give you my newspaper's automated switchboard then press 480 for the main editor, or 494 for my wife.


Two VERY important numbers....


Actually, I suspect in most instances I'll have an opportunity to use the cell if I'm having difficulties, not always, but it's an added level of security.

I have used it in other "non-heart" related emergencies, like car trouble or getting lost... (that RARELY, if ever happens mind you...)


It really depends on the type of emergency you might be having. Obviously if you were in a bad car wreak, chances are you will not be using the cell phone.

However, if you're out some place and find yourself having serious SOB or feeling lightheaded or faint or other number of symptoms that wouldn't necessarily keep you from using a phone to call for help, it could be a life saver.


Mostly my cell is useful in keeping in touch with my doctor if I've got a question or concern. I can call him, leave a message with my number, and carry on with my day. When he calls back, I won't miss the call because the phone is right on my hip all the time. That's where it's been most useful.

 

[tommy]

I printed up cards (laminated) with emergency information that ER would want to know.
I keep one in my wallet and carry one on me when I run of otherwise don't carry my wallet.
Gives me peace of mind.

Name
Address
Blood type
Date of birth
Drug allergies
Coumadin
AVR
Insurance data and phone
GP phone
Cardio phone
Wife and her cell phone.

Also where a med necklace except in bed. Have a spare to avoid lead times if I lose one.

 

[Gemma]

We emailed Jim's surgeon's secretary the other day to ask about ID cards and get some more info (serial no, blood group) for a medic alert tag.
She replied that the ID cards can take up to (wait for it...) a YEAR!!! This is because they all come from America and the companies wait until they've got a batch to send out then send them either via the hospital or direct to the patients. Until then she's going to dig out the info for Jim.
It's amazing how hard it is to find out your blood type in England. Jim asked several times in hospital and still doesn't know, you'd think with all the blood tests they've done it would be one of the things they'd tested.
Apparently there are 3 ways I could find out mine:
1) Get pregnant - they always test you then (not something I'd been planning on just yet!!).
2) Fork out loads of money for a private test, as the NHS test don't cover it, even when you're having other blood tests done at the same time).
3) Become a blood donor. Had been considering this anyway actually. May look into it further, especially as now they are saying that anyone who has received blood transfusions since the late 1980s can't give blood, because of the increased risk of passing on CJD (which is kind of like saying if you've had a blood transfusion in the past 20 years you might have CJD!!!)

 

[Harpoon]

Gemma>>Ask your doctor about donating blood before you do it, sometimes that can put undue stress on your heart...


If you look up scientific teaching/supplies websites you may be able to find test kits for doing blood typing.


My wife's mom home schools a few kids and she did that last fall. She asked us (my father's a biology professor) about where to find the kits and we suggested a few places like Edmund Scientific and she ordered the kits, I think they're in packs of ten or more, can't buy them individually.

The kit will have some "classroom materials" that explain how blood typing works, what it is and why it's important. Plus there will be lancets for pricking your finger and some other materials to actually test the blood, just one drop.


If you can't get a hospital to do it, maybe you can up and do it yourself!

Wouldn't THAT be a trip?!?!

I never really knew mine until last year when I had my valve replacement. Turns out I'm a rare B negative and my wife is a compatible match. She gave me some of her blood a few times and for a little while they were considering her as a possible kidney donor when my kidneys weren't behaving anymore, they got better...


Edmund Scientific. I dunno if they'd deliver "across the pond" but they might, or there might be a similar outfit near you.

There may be another complication in shipping "medical supplies" around where you are, but I wouldn't know for sure. Here, that kind of stuff isn't a problem, educational materials, not something someone could make a bomb with....

 

[Gemma]

Harpoon,
That's not a bad idea!! As far as I know my heart's OK (it was my boyfriend who had the valve replacement) so blood donation wouldn't be a problem on that score, but seems a pretty extreme way to find out my blood type!!
Gemma.

 

[Harpoon]

Heehee... Well finding out my blood type was kinda "secondary" to having the valve put in.

There were a few things I learned about myself as a result of getting an artificial valve....