Question:
Do you wear a medical alert bracelet after WLS.
In my support group, there has been talk about wearing a medical alert bracelet after WLS in case you're in an accident medical personel will know that we have the pouch. Why is this important? What can happen to the pouch if they don't know? — jesse K. (posted on February 7, 2003)
February 7, 2003
My thought is that the rationale for wearing a medical alert braclet would
be the fact that, due to the reconfiguration of the digestive tract, your
body would absorb medication at a different rate, and that a
"normal" dosage would have an exagerated effect on you, much like
alcohol does. I don't think it is the presence of the pouch, so much. My
cousin is a paramedic and he has ever mentioned an emergency treatment that
involves filling of the stomach.
— cherryswitch
February 7, 2003
I would think there would be several reasons. 1. Type of medication, you do
not want pills to get stuck. 2. If your stomack would need to be pumped,
they need to know that you have a pouch. 3. If they need to put a tube
inside of you. 4. Amount of liquad you can swollow. 5. Whether you have
your gallbladder 6. If surgery needed to be preformed. I had a Hysterecomy,
and you would not think that would need to be on a medical alert, but I
have to have it on there. Also, if you were taken to a hospital they would
need to know about giving you your protein, and what type of food. Hope
this helps
— cindy
February 7, 2003
My surgeon told me it's because if you need to be intubate, they shouldn't
do it blindly. There is another way to do it apparently. I think with a
lighted scope. Anyway, the REASON is so they don't perforate the pouch.
That's what he told me, anyway. I got mine from www.n-styleID.com and it's
one of the sport bands. I wear it on my ankle.
— Diana L.
February 7, 2003
yes, i wear the bracelet..in the event you can not speak for yourself it is
a great idea!! my surgeon gives a list of "to-do's" ordering
the bracelet was on the list. i was not thrilled with the idea but my
husband got a hold of that list and alog with my get well flowers i had my
bracelet. you can get an order form online or from most md's offices.
good luck!
— nan K.
February 7, 2003
Your medical alert bracelet should read roux-en-y gastric bypass patient do
not blindly place N/G tube use endoscopy
— hooterzgirl75
February 7, 2003
Has everything to do with the pouch. N/G tubes which are used to pump your
stomach should not be place blindly. It can rupture your pouch also, it
should say no NSAIDS these are non-sterodial drugs such as ibprophen and
etc that will irritate the lining of your poch and cause bleeding. So you
see, it has everything to do with your pouch and being a nurse, I know that
there are sometimes emergency situations that require your stomach to be
pumped either in the er or in the ambulance. Hope this helps.
— Delores S.
February 8, 2003
Hello! LONG STORY AHEAD but a good one!!I bought a stainless steel bracelt
a while back that I never wore because it was the typical ID bracelet that
everyone noticed and would ask-whats that for? Then I ordered a fashionable
one made out of real gold and silver (expensive yes-but for something
pretty that matches whatever I am wearing,gold or silver, its worth it!). I
was wearing it almost every day and you would be shocked at how many
compliments I get on what a pretty bracelet-but if you looked on my wrist,
which is where medical staff will look, you will clearly see its a medical
ID bracelet. Mine reads exactly what those below wrote-gastric bypass
surgery 10/10/01, do not scope blindly (think I worded that different but
same idea), and also an allergy I have. IS THIS NEEDED? New Years eve 2002
while out with my boyfriend, who is a Firefighter and EMT, I was drinking
and eating a variety of foods. I have allergies to medications but never
knew of any other than lactose intolerance for food. I ate or drank
something that didn't agree-either it was the home made beef jerky or
Sambuca-I am thinking it was the jerky. Anyway, I started with hives, ended
up with them head to toe (literally) and started to swell. Before I knew it
my throat and tongue were swollen and I was having breathing difficulties.
Needless to say, 911 was called and in the ambulance they gave me
epinephrine (sp?) and benedryl. Luckily for me within 10 minutes my
breathing restored and they did not need to intubate BUT they DID look at
my wrist and made the comment "we can't scope her blindly if
needed". SO, Do we need it? I wear mine every day and sometimes I
used to forget-well, not anymore. I paid a lot for mine but I will wear
it-how does the commercial go? Gold/Silver bracelet that matches
everything? $100.00, Additional writing to get all the info on it?$20.00.
Peace of mind and your health? PRICELESS.
If you want the web address of where I got mine just shoot me an email.
— Alli B.
February 8, 2003
Have to add a couple of things. If you were injured or became unconscious
for some reason, the tube EMT personnel would put down would be to help you
breath. That tube does not go down into the stomach.<p>Having said
that, I will say that I wear a Medicalert bracelet. I also have diabetes
and an allergy to a particular class of anasthesia. The advantage to
Medicalert (and there is an organization with that name, even though it is
used generically to indicate medical jewelry), is that you can have
something engraved on the medallion, but they also have a number that can
be called collect from anywhere in the world. That way if you have any
other conditions, you can have those listed there. You can also have
information on you that indicates who your PCP is, who to contact in case
of emergency and so on. They are not necessarily cheap. It depends on
what you want to buy. Relatively plain stainless steel ones are pretty
inexpensive. Gold and silver fancier ones are quite a bit more expensive.
— garw
February 8, 2003
I don't think they're necessary, but I have one anyway. I didn't like any
of the "real" ones, so I ordered a charm that attaches to
bracelets, necklaces, even my watch that I already wear. It's very easy to
move from one bracelet to another. Engraving was limited: mine says
"RNY-GASTRIC BYPASS-NO NG W/O SCOPE". It was only $28 + $10 for
engraving. http://www.n-styleid.com/brace_charms_fs.htm
— jen41766
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