Question:
Should we wear a Medic Alert bracelet?
After RNY our insides are different. Wouldn't a bracelet make sense? Does anyone have one? In an emergency we might not be able to tell the EMS. — Mimi R. (posted on September 3, 2002)
September 3, 2002
hiya
you may want one for the hospital er if you are unconcious however if you
need to be intubated in the field, the paramedic will stop when he/she
feels the resistance, which will be higher up than if you had your
"normal" stomach.
i had asked my surgeon and she said it was not necessary then when i took
emt class (emergency medical technician) i asked my teacher who is a
paramedic and he said what i just told you about stopping...
i had heard that being intubated could cause a rupture in our
"pouch" but i don't think so after talking with my surgeon and a
few paramedics.
if it makes you feel more comfortable tho, by all means get one.
{{hugs}}
kate
open rny 6-14-01
pre op: 268lbs
goal weight: 135lbs
current weight: 130lbs
— jkb
September 3, 2002
I asked my surgeon the same thing and he agreed with the paramedic feeling
resistance. His specialty is trauma surgery so he should know. He did say
"I guess if someone were really STUPID they could rupture your pouch
if they pushed too hard. So I guess it is a good idea." Mine says
"roux-en-y gastric bypass. Do not insert NG tube blindly....use
endoscopy." I feel better with it and I don't leave the house without
it because no offense to any EMT's but some of them I know, would push it
even if they felt resistance. Just because of lack of knowledge about our
tummys. As J. Kate said "it is up to you and do it if it makes you
feel better." One word of advice though if you buy one I would buy a
cheaper one. My hubby got me a 14k gold one last Christmas and although
very sweet of him, it costs too much and now I have to have some links
taken out. It is too big! If I had it to do over again, I'd get an
attractive cheaper one. Good luck! Marilyn -110 lbs
— Marilyn C.
September 3, 2002
When I was pre op, I asked my surgeon about this...and he said ABSOLUTELY!!
One of his patients was in a car accident and was unconscious. She was
"tubed" by the EMT's and they did rupture her pouch...she had
very serious complications from that---and since that day my surgeon
recommends that we wear a medic-alert bracelet/necklace.
Mine just says "gastric bypass no ng tube" I got it at a local
jewelry store for under $20 and they did the engraving for free.
Definitely worth my life if I were to have some kind of an accident.
Just my 2cents worth.
~CAE~
— Mustang
September 3, 2002
I have a medic alert bracelet, ordered it online from Medic Alert.com mine.
mine says GASTRIC BYPASS PLACE N/G TUBE WITH ENDOSCOPY, I never remove
mine. post-op 02-27-02 -112 pounds
— bikerchic
September 3, 2002
sorry the correct address for the medic alert bracelet is medicalert.com
it's called Medic Alert Foundation
— bikerchic
September 3, 2002
www.laurenshope.com I got one and it's cute! Mine says
Paula Marie Ross
RNY Gastric Bypass
Do NOT Blindly Place
NG Tube
Use Endoscopy
— Paula Prichard
September 3, 2002
Better safe than sorry. I got mine @ laurenshope.com and I love it! You
can even just order the beads so you can change it out if you want. Mine
says "NO NG TUBE" and my surgeon's name and phone number. I feel
better knowing that it is there. PLUS, I don't know if this is available,
but in FLorida you can have them add to your driver's license that you wear
a med alert bracelet.
— Ilene M.
September 3, 2002
Another happy Lauren's Hope customer here! Mine says Line 1: RNY gastric
bypass Line 2 & 3: Do Not Place NG Tube Blind; Use Endoscope Line 4:
Blood Type A+ - Anna LAP RNY 7/3/02 -58lbs.
— Anna L.
September 3, 2002
Hi there...although wearing a medical alert bracelet/charm is a good idea
for anyone with serious health problems or allergies, I'm not really sure
why it's a big deal for those who are post-op. I work EMS in NYC, and I for
one have never seen any medic just blindly stick the tube down someone's
throat. Who does that? They have a special instrument with a light at the
end just like anyone in the ER has. I don't know where some of you live and
what kind of EMS system you have...but I think you'll be ok without one.
— Kelly C.
September 3, 2002
For those of you interested in Med Alert bracelets or necklaces I found a
cheap place to get them. Mine cost $15 and it include the necklace,
pendant, engraving, and shipping.
www.diabeticdrugstore.com
— Rachel F.
September 3, 2002
my husbands grandmother bought a medic alert key chain for me as a gift and
i always have my keys with me . On the back it says see wallet card. I ask
my doctor if i need one and he said not really, but he is in the works of
making cards for his patients with the diagram of the procedure and how new
tummy looks. check with your doctor and see if he recommend you have one.
— rhondan
September 4, 2002
Ditto for everyone else.... I chose to wear a medical necklace. I hate
things on my wrists and a necklace is a little more discreet. I was a
state certified EMT once upon a time... and I know that medical personnel
always look for braceltes, anklets AND necklaces.
— Valerie H.
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