Bariatric talk...
I have been approached by a neighboring fire service to discuss bariatric care. I am a bit apprehensive to say the least as the fire chief is a bit judgemental to say the least. I am not ashamed of my surgery, but cautious as how my peers would judge me if they heard that I had surgery to fix my weight problem.
I have informed a select few about my proceedure, namely those who would I would be interacting potentially on a daily basis. My fire department, county fire admin and my DMAT team commander and admin officer and ofcourse co-workers at the hospital.
I am asking my family of friends here to help me decide.
I have informed a select few about my proceedure, namely those who would I would be interacting potentially on a daily basis. My fire department, county fire admin and my DMAT team commander and admin officer and ofcourse co-workers at the hospital.
I am asking my family of friends here to help me decide.
If you do, here are a few things I would stress. The most important is "DO NOT BLINDLY INTUBEATE"...Esp for RNY. I don't think it really matters for people saying they need their protein "NOW". Also they don't "need" their B's, D, iron, calcium, at the very moment. They can go days or weeks without them and most will be fine...(let the hospital decide). Protein is needed greatly for RNY and DSers the first few weeks, but not unless a doctor demands it...till the hospital exam. Dehydration is the #1 reason people end up back in the hospital Post WLS...Look for the signs. Know what a stricture is (RNY)...ask the right questions for both a stricture and dehydration. Anemia for all surgeries, Beri-Beri (B-1) for RNY, D dificiency (DS and RNY), gallbladder, appendicitis, are thing you need to be aware of for post WLS patients. My mind is blank after this...may come up with some others. Don't now if that is what your asking...but those are the biggies for EMTs I would think.
Don't know if this will come through...copy and paste...
If I could share something with you, prior to ordering any ID jewelry or cards, please think about what might be important info and what isn't.
As a Paramedic speaking from experience in the emergency field, I would like to say something about the medical ID's.
Jewelry that looks like a medical emblem or tag will be found the quickest by emergency persons, wallet cards might be found later, we don't usually start digging through purses & wallets when we get to an ill or injured person!
EMS persons do surveys on your body. We discretely undress people when needed, we look for scars, bruises, marks, all kinds of things. We are medical detectives, we take your blood for sampling, test your oxygen levels and test your heart when we can. We USUALLY know more about you than you know about yourself by the time we're done with you!!
The information that will be the most important to saving your life will be:
1. ALLERGIES TO MEDICATIONS - SO IMPORTANT!!
2. MEDICATIONS YOU ARE CURRENTLY TAKING
3. IMPORTANT MEDICAL HISTORY, YOU CAN INCLUDE WLS HERE
4. YOUR NAME & FAMILY CONTACT INFO
5. YOUR PHYSICIAN & CONTACT INFO
Obviously, everything can't be put onto your jewelry so you might want to put the most important info there and keep everything else in your purse or wallet. You can refer to your wallet card on the jewelry.
Always tell your family the above information about yourself incase you can't talk and they are called upon. Make sure they know your doctors info as well as your medical info.
Ok, you might get upset here but, these are things that ARE NOT needed on your jewelry:
Blind NG tubes - Nasogastric (NG) tubes are placed blindly. In most places, there isn't another way to do this procedure outside of the hospital and if you need it, it will be done but ONLY IN AN EMERGENCY. It is a tube that is measured on the outside of your body and inserted into your nose, down to your stomach. They are usually used by EMS for stomach pumping to get out toxins. In the hospital, you can tell them about your surgery or they will have asked your history and take precautions. IF YOUR LIFE DEPENDS ON A NG TUBE, YOUR LIFE COMES FIRST.
Blind Intubations (ETT) - First off, you are probably unconscious if the Paramedics are entubating you. The tracheal entubations are usually done with a scope unless there is a reason that your vocal cords can not be seen and than it is blindly inserted but will be checked to make sure it isn't in your esophagus prior to inflation. If an ETT has to be inserted blindly, you really need it bad and you aren't conscious anyway! IT WILL BE YOUR AIRWAY, YOU CAN'T STOP US unless you have a DNR ... WITH YOU!!
If I could share something with you, prior to ordering any ID jewelry or cards, please think about what might be important info and what isn't.
As a Paramedic speaking from experience in the emergency field, I would like to say something about the medical ID's.
Jewelry that looks like a medical emblem or tag will be found the quickest by emergency persons, wallet cards might be found later, we don't usually start digging through purses & wallets when we get to an ill or injured person!
EMS persons do surveys on your body. We discretely undress people when needed, we look for scars, bruises, marks, all kinds of things. We are medical detectives, we take your blood for sampling, test your oxygen levels and test your heart when we can. We USUALLY know more about you than you know about yourself by the time we're done with you!!
The information that will be the most important to saving your life will be:
1. ALLERGIES TO MEDICATIONS - SO IMPORTANT!!
2. MEDICATIONS YOU ARE CURRENTLY TAKING
3. IMPORTANT MEDICAL HISTORY, YOU CAN INCLUDE WLS HERE
4. YOUR NAME & FAMILY CONTACT INFO
5. YOUR PHYSICIAN & CONTACT INFO
Obviously, everything can't be put onto your jewelry so you might want to put the most important info there and keep everything else in your purse or wallet. You can refer to your wallet card on the jewelry.
Always tell your family the above information about yourself incase you can't talk and they are called upon. Make sure they know your doctors info as well as your medical info.
Ok, you might get upset here but, these are things that ARE NOT needed on your jewelry:
Blind NG tubes - Nasogastric (NG) tubes are placed blindly. In most places, there isn't another way to do this procedure outside of the hospital and if you need it, it will be done but ONLY IN AN EMERGENCY. It is a tube that is measured on the outside of your body and inserted into your nose, down to your stomach. They are usually used by EMS for stomach pumping to get out toxins. In the hospital, you can tell them about your surgery or they will have asked your history and take precautions. IF YOUR LIFE DEPENDS ON A NG TUBE, YOUR LIFE COMES FIRST.
Blind Intubations (ETT) - First off, you are probably unconscious if the Paramedics are entubating you. The tracheal entubations are usually done with a scope unless there is a reason that your vocal cords can not be seen and than it is blindly inserted but will be checked to make sure it isn't in your esophagus prior to inflation. If an ETT has to be inserted blindly, you really need it bad and you aren't conscious anyway! IT WILL BE YOUR AIRWAY, YOU CAN'T STOP US unless you have a DNR ... WITH YOU!!
In the for what it's worth department, here's what I put on my medical id bracelet - ordered from Lauren's Hope (laurenshope.com) and had it within 3-4 days. THey will do one free resizing for a small handling fee (I think its $6) and I could use it now, but I'm waiting for another set of pounds to drop off. I could have five lines engraved on the plate, I think 20 characters per line:
Line1 - Name and date of birth
Line 2 - RNY gast byp 4-09
LIne 3 - no blind ng/nsaids
Line 4 - ICE and wife's cell number **** - In Case of Emergency)
Line 5 - See Wallet Card
My wallet card (business card size) is one I made up with a diagram of my new plumbing from the Cleveland Clinic's web site; Clinic's 24-hour bariatric number; surgeon's name; and my personal information. My wife has a copy in her purse, and my daughter has one, also.
I probably need to re-do the card or else have a list of ... uh ... med (there's only one now!!!!).
I hope I never have to use these things, but I have them.
Line1 - Name and date of birth
Line 2 - RNY gast byp 4-09
LIne 3 - no blind ng/nsaids
Line 4 - ICE and wife's cell number **** - In Case of Emergency)
Line 5 - See Wallet Card
My wallet card (business card size) is one I made up with a diagram of my new plumbing from the Cleveland Clinic's web site; Clinic's 24-hour bariatric number; surgeon's name; and my personal information. My wife has a copy in her purse, and my daughter has one, also.
I probably need to re-do the card or else have a list of ... uh ... med (there's only one now!!!!).
I hope I never have to use these things, but I have them.
Onward and DOWNward,
Brian Burke - Wellington OH
Brian Burke - Wellington OH
Most Active
Recent Topics
