Medic Id Bracelets

[sstephan]

Hi

I am just wondering if any of you wear medic ID bracelets. I have been debating about this one. Part of me would feel better if I had one in case of black outs. However, the other part of me feels as though it is just a reminder to myself that I have a chronic illness. (when I feel good I'd rather not be reminded about it) If you do have one, what does it say?

Also- just a question - my dysautonomia symptoms go in waves. I may feel good and then out of nowhere I will have symptoms for several weeks. Is it the same for all of you?

Susan

[joiedevivre516]

i have one and i wear it all the time, even though i'm 18 years old and don't feel like it's the world's most fashion-forward thing! i drive, and i can't risk being somewhere by myself or on the college campus by myself and blacking out, particularly if unaware paramedics gave me adrenaline!! that's incredibly dangerous for anyone with POTS! i know what you mean about not wanting to be reminded, but sometimes when i DO forget and i'm not taking care of myself, i see it and i'm reminded to drink some water or eat some salt! overall it's been a really good, helpful thing for me.

good luck!

[AJVDK]

I wear one, put I also have a pacemaker, so I want to make sure if I passout, or there is a problem with mt heart they now! My id bracelet, I made, I order the bar, and then i got beads that I like, and made it os I would wear it.

Amy

[Gracefulprincess]

I've been debating about it too for awhile until last weekend, i blacked out at the mall and scared everyone to death including myself. So i decided that its time to get a medical id bracelet and ordered one a few days ago. On mine i have my name and an emergancy number, then Neurocardiogenic Syncope/ POTS.

[Guest sonotech]

I do not currently wear a medical ID bracelet but have thought about it.

My question to those of you that wear one is..... If NO ONE knows what POTS is then does it really help to wear one? Surely if docs dont know what it is, then paramedics dont either, so they may give you meds like adrenaline anyway.

Any comments to help clear this up would be great.

I do see the benefit of having your name and emergency contact number though, that makes ALOT of sense.

LAURA

[persephone]

I have the official medic alert bracelet and it's a waste of time- the paramedics never know what any of my conditions actually ARE.

I hate walking about with it- it makes my condition tangible, but I have to be practical and it might be useful if I can't speak for myself.

[Lukkychrm42]

I have one and I think it's great!

Even if they don't know what POTS is (on mine it's spelled out, so at least they understand that it's something funky with the heart, not just an acronym), there's a number on there for them to call to get your info. That tells them what meds you're on, and if they need to get in touch with your cardiologist or whomever, then they can. (Also allergies and other important info).

I don't get sad to see it- I wear it next to my DYNA bracelet. I appreciate it, cuz it's there if I need it. Also, occasionally it helps to spread awareness, because people ask about it. Haha not why I got it, but a perk anyway.

[Roselover]

I got a medic alert bracelet because, like someelse said, it has an id # and phone number and they can find out my allergies, (I include adrenaline as an allergy), my meds and my specialists and their phone #'s. Mine says Orthostatic Intolerance, Postural Tachycardia, takes steroids (for the florinef). I figure those two terms are close enough to explain POTS. I were it whenever I am out of the house - I ususally have someone home with me that if I needed emergency care - they'd know what to say. But if I had a car accident or passed out somewhere, I would want the hospital to know who to call and what I am allergic to and what meds I am on.

You might look over at the Chit Chat forum. There is a post on making your own beaded bracelet. I have something like eight or nine different bracelets I wear and it just looks like jewlery.

~Roselover

[morgan617]

I wear a necklace..morgan

[MightyMouse]

I never leave home w/o mine. I make my own bracelet portion, and got my tag from MedicAlert, where I pay to keep a file with them every year. I'm more concerned about my medication alergies than fainting, and that if I faint they might try to give me a medication that I'm violently allergic to.

BTW, in the Chit Chat forum section, Roselover and I posted how we make our own bracelets. It's pretty easy and all you need to buy are beads, wire or flex cord--and depending on how you make it, you might need one special pair of pliers and clasps.

Nina

[Richland acres]

Absolutly I think it is very important to have some thing that you have available for medical team to see . some thing that is helpful. You could wear a braclet that says any thing you want. Look in purse for medical info in case of emergency, numbers for your medical chart, any thing is better then nothing!! I had my stroke at a store, no one helped me, they thought I was drunk! I will never go with out info on me again! I have a service dog he wears a vest and carries info about my illness in the vest and emergency contact numbers. I am allergic to bee stings but cant take epi pen its adrenaline, so I think its important for them to know every thing, it could save your life wether they know what Pots is or not, they can always radio in to a hospital and they can give info quick, better then them guessing and trying to figure out what is wrong. So i vote a big huge yes, to all of us wearing some thing or having some sort of way to show info about you!

Brenda

[dawn]

I never take my bracelet off.

It says my name, autonomic neuropathy, beta blocker, and the name of the hospital to take me to.

Dawn

[avais1]

I'm with Might Mouse, I also never leave home without it. I use MedicAlert, too.

[Poohbear]

I have a medical id bracelet as well as Medic Alerts new "E-health key"

http://www.medicalert.org/E%2DHealth/

My meds change so frequently that I find the e-health key great. Since many EMT's and Dr's don't know about this new product yet I have my id bracelet read "See Card in Wallet" or "See Medic Alert on Keychain" then, in both of those places there is more info.

My bracelet reads "Pacemaker; Allergies; see card in wallet/keychain". I have too many allergies to list on the bracelet so this gives them some info and directs them where to go for more (in addition to the tollfree # and my medic alert file # they can also access if needed)