Medical ID

[rush1001]

Hi, I'm about 8 weeks post op and have been told I should wear a medical ID for Coumadin. I really dislike jewelry and was just wondering if I'm the only one who is being stubborn about it. How many of you lifetime coumadin users are NOT wearing anything to ID in case of emergency.

 

[Eva]

I am also almost 8 weeks and do not have any yet. So far, I keep my wallet in my hand if I do not want to carry my handbag, and I have my St. Jude cards inside my wallet. But I am defintely planning to buy either key chain or a bracelet in case something happens to me while I am walking nearby and do not have my cards!

 

[Bina]

We have had long discussions about this in the past....the problem with only having a wallet card is that in case of a serious car accident or something similar, the wallet is very often thrown clear of the victim and it becomes lost, or becomes damaged.
There are now available from medic alert, sport wrist bands and watches, as well as the more common ID bracelets, necklace dog tags, etc.
check out: www.medicalert.org

 

[Eva]

....in case of a serious car accident or something similar, the wallet is very often thrown clear of the victim....

A very good wise point, Bina.

 

[ctyguy]

I bought a braclet but being a "manly" man type I ended up going out and buying a beefier silver chain. its actually pretty nice !

 

[ALCapshaw2]

I bought a Necklace because I do NOT like having feeling things on my wrists (or neck).

With the Necklace, I can put the chain around the outside of my shirt collar.

If I don't want the medallian to show, I can tuck it under my shirt.

 

[Cooker]

This first piece of jewelry I ever wore was my wedding ring and though I protested I gave in under the threat of death ? I bought the very light weight stainless necklace ? after a week or two I did not even know it was there ?. IMHO it is a good idea to have something besides a wallet card

 

[njean]

I got my medical ID bracelet from the American Heart Association. It was kind of pricey (paid about $79 for it) but it's very dainty, gold & had enough room to inscribe my name, that I take coumadin & that I have 2 mechanical valves.

Everytime I go anywhere, I always put it on, in fact, I've gotten so used to having it on, like my watch, that I feel naked without it!

 

[Freddie]

So, like I wear this necklace when I leave the house. I also have a Medical Alert Card which I made myself stuck just under my garage door opener on the visor.

 

[Bina]

I ordered the smallest sterlling silver bracelet that they had and I keep it on 24/7
There have been a couple of times where I've had to call an ambulance and I wouldn't have been able to put it on.

 

[netmiff]

I have this one, but I have to take it off to shower, it is really icky when it iswet and starts getting cold!

You can also get these nowadays :http://www.med-flash.com/

 

[ponygirlmom]

I ordered the smallest sterlling silver bracelet that they had and I keep it on 24/7
There have been a couple of times where I've had to call an ambulance and I wouldn't have been able to put it on.

If you put the tag on a stretchy beaded bracelet, it would be easy to slip on and off.

When my daughter was little, I used to make custom beaded bracelets for her medical ID to wear on field trips. (I made beaded jewelry at the time.)

It's easy to learn how at a bead shop. They can be traditional (with a clasp) or on stretchy cord.

 

[hensylee]

yep, Bina's right. many discussions about this subject, nearly all in favor of wearing a piece of jewelry. we've even had some addresses and companies to contact.

 

[Bina]

If you put the tag on a stretchy beaded bracelet, it would be easy to slip on and off.

When my daughter was little, I used to make custom beaded bracelets for her medical ID to wear on field trips. (I made beaded jewelry at the time.)

It's easy to learn how at a bead shop. They can be traditional (with a clasp) or on stretchy cord.

Yes, I also make some jewelry, but I figured that if I have a stretchy type that's easy to slip on,
then it could very well be just as easy to slip off in an accident.
I'm the over-protective type....can you tell?

 

[sue943]

My MedicAlert bracelet has not been off me since it arrived.

 

[debster913]

Another idea: Some cell phones have an ICE (In Case of Emergency) feature where you can enter and save notes about your medical conditions and any meds you're on, as well as the phone numbers of your emergency contacts and doctors. However, I think it would be easier to have the bracelet since during an emergency it takes more time to go through a cell phone to get the info.

 

[terodac]

I wish they could pass law's that it would be on your drivers license and tag number of your car. When they run your DL # and tag number the information should be there. I understand the hipa laws, but if we wanted there then that is our business. Isn't that a great idea??

 

[netmiff]

I wear my bracelet 24/7 (except in the shower as I mentioned before) .

I think the more places this kind of life-saving info is, the better ! I think that is a good idea, but I don't own a car (so no tags) and don't drive, either, so that would be pretty useless. Also, what if you were driving someone else's car. I think we should all have one government-issued ID number, use it for life, and ALL our info is stored on it, in secure layers. I am sure it is possibe for the the police to access driving information, EMS to access medical records and tax people to access tax records from the same card or number without having access to the other's info. I also think we are a little hysterical about privacy these days. I mean, seriously folks, you can walk into any Radio Shack and buy for about $10 equiment to bug my phone - but who would want to? and who would have time to go through all that to listen to me chat with my mother?

 

[Duff Man]

I wear a bracelet for my aneurysm so people can know I'm not unconscious just because I'm really drunk or something. It says all of the pertinent medical information including medications. It has plenty of space, so I even put my wife's number on it.

I have a wallet card too. My iphone has a special shortcut to call 911 in 5 seconds after being pressed, but any information stored for medical professionals on it would be useless...they probably wouldn't know how to use the phone.

As far as the wallet ID card thing, I'm a total believer in it. I was in an accident where I was blind sided and woke up in the ditch to a paramedic looking through my wallet and asking me questions to ascertain how my brain was functioning. I'm positive they would've seen my medical ID/alert card if I had it then.

The bracelet was irritating for a while, but now I'd probably feel weird without it. I still get an occasional question about it and because I know people don't understand the potential lethality of the disease, I don't bother explaining and try to keep it as brief as possible. Something like "it's a medical alert" usually works. They'll respond with "do you have diabetes?" and I just say "No."

 

[Eva]

Hi, I'm about 8 weeks post op and have been told I should wear a medical ID for Coumadin. ........

Thanks for starting this thread. Now I am convinced that it will be a bracelet for me--the easiest to find in case of emergency. Will also add more info on cell--ICE.