medical ID tags?

I'm heard a lot of controversy on this and I don't really know what the right answer is. Anyone have insight?

Were you advised to get medical alert jewelry in case of emergency?

I was told by my medical team it wasn't necessary.

In an emergency, the tube they would give you is a breathing tube, and that wouldn't bother anything.

The tube that could cause an issue is the naso-gastric tube, used for feeding in long term situations. That, and endoscopies. But in those situations, there is plenty of time to warm them that you've had WLS.

Just FYI, in the ER if we place a breathing tube, 98 times out of 100 we place an NG tube as well for a number of reasons. And even if we don't have to place a breathing tube, I've placed an NG tube on an unconscious person many times, especially if we think it's an OD. And it's always done blind unless we know there's an anatomical issue. But see my response below for why I still don't think it's a critical thing for a VSG'r.

I have other conditions that necessitate my wearing one, so I added it to my profile. I don't have room for the VSG on my bracelet, but it's on the card in my wallet that they'll go looking for as soon as they see my bracelet, and it's on the Medicalert file if I don't have my wallet and they call the 800 number.

I wasn't told anything specifically about it by my surgeon.

As a past ER nurse, I can tell you the only thing that it would affect if you were unconscious is if we were placing a tube into your stomach through your mouth or nose. I'm guessing based on what I know of the anatomical changes and what I know about placing a gastric tube, that we'd probably have difficulty and possibly wouldn't be able to place it blind. After a couple of attempts, we'd probably have the doc take a look with a scope to see what was up or shoot an xray or CT that would show the staples/anatomy. But I can't see it causing any real damage, as the tube is flexible and we don't apply a large amount of pressure inserting it, and the remaining stomach is still large enough and deep enough it shoudn't be in danger. We're taught if we encounter significant resistance, stop and back out. NSAIDs aren't typically given in a resuscitation situation, so that's not a worry.

Again, as an ER nurse, I would really like to know if you come in unconscious that you've had the surgery, mainly because of the gastric tube thing. However, if you routinely carry a wallet on your person, just put a clearly marked medical ID card with your drivers' license and we'd find out fast enough, because while we're working on you in the medical bay, someone is already going through your stuff to find your ID and get you in the computer system as something other than John Doe. If they find a medical information card in your wallet, they hand it off immediately to a nurse or other medical person in the room.

To me, this isn't quite the same as a serious drug allergy (especially a drug we are likely to give in the ER when you're unconscious) or a medical condition that contraindicates a number of medications. Those kinds of things we need to know about immediately, and the jewelry is one of the best ways to know about it.

If you're an over-cautious person, wear the jewelry because sometimes your wallet gets separated from you in an accident or something and it'll make you feel better. Otherwise, if this is your only medical condition you need to let emergency medical personnel know about, a card in your wallet is probably enough.

Mind you, everything I just said is specific to VSG. I could see a lot of potential for damage with a blind gastric tube with a RNY because the pouch is so shallow. I'd definitely advise an RNY patient to wear one.

My Doc gave me a card that sits with my DL for ER issues and also to ask restaurants to allow me the senior/kids menus. Thank you for explaining this as in a FB group one person was adamant they would not be looking in my wallet..... :)

LOL. I guarantee you, if you have a wallet with you and you are unconscious in ANY ER, the department secretary is looking through it to find ID if nothing else. When you first come in unconscious, we have to put you in the computer as a John/Jane Doe so that we can order tests/administer medications, etc. (We do have a workaround if the computer is not accessible, so don't worry that treatment is delayed for computer stuff, but everything works much better when the patient is in the computer.)

The sooner we can change the information from J. Doe to a real name, the better. We are usually able to get a small amount of information about someone, even if they have never been to our ER, because we are tied into the pharmacy data exchange. If we have enough identifying information to make a positive association to that system, we at least can usually get some information about drug allergies and current medications.

And let's be honest, at some point they're going to want to send a bill to someone other than J. Doe. While it's not a high priority for the medical personnel, it's a high priority for the hospital, so the administrative staff get every bit of identifying information they can to put in the computer.

So yes, SOMEONE is looking for an ID almost as soon as you roll in the door, if EMS hasn't already found it for us (they usually do, because they also need the information for billing you later). So if you put a card with your ID that's got a huge red stripe and says 'MEDICAL INFORMATION' or something similar, it gets pulled out with your ID and looked at. We're also learning to look for ICE information on phones, since almost everyone has their phone with them, even if they don't have a wallet.

My phone case carries my ID and card so I'm greeeat! Lol (read that in Tony the tiger's voice)

This was really helpful: thank you!

Nope, I wasn't.

If I needed one for another reason, I'd add VSG to it. I do have VSG listed in my phone's emergency information and in my RoadID info.

Oh wow, I should get one of those for cycling, maybe. I've never seen them.