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Gus's Mama
Joined: 29 May 2009
Posts: 175
Location: Boston MA
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 Posted: Sun Aug 02, 2009 9:05 pm Post subject: Medic Alert Braclets? |
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Does anyone here use a medic alert bracelet for your celiac/gluten intolerance? I was considering one for Gus, and at only $10 it seems a cheap way to add another safeguard against accidental glutening in the event of another medical emergency.
Am I being ridiculous??
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Deb
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SPD Little Boy, Gus: Getting better by the day! Improved digestion, skin issues clearing, able to focus and follow instructions, talking (the boy is TALKING!!!) |
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The Edifying Conscience
Joined: 29 Aug 2005
Posts: 3000
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| Posted: Sun Aug 02, 2009 9:15 pm Post subject: |
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| I don't use a bracelet for CD. I have one that I don't wear (much to the chagrin of my endocrinologist) for AD. |
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aklap
Joined: 02 Oct 2004
Posts: 10974
Location: WI, USA
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| Posted: Sun Aug 02, 2009 9:18 pm Post subject: |
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I think it would be a good idea at least until he's old enough to "fend for himself".
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Al
“We cannot all do great things, but we can do small things with great love.” Mother Teresa |
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STZ
Joined: 21 Apr 2009
Posts: 164
Location: Corpus Christi, TX
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| Posted: Sun Aug 02, 2009 9:50 pm Post subject: |
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I am 40 and I always wear a medic necklace incase of an emergency they do not give me meds with Gluten if I am unable to speak... I wopuld say it is a good idea.
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STZ
DX = Celiac
High ttg 3/2009
Biopsy positive 10/2009
GF since 3/2009
DX = Osteopenia
Bone Density Test 9/2009 |
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cultureslayer
Joined: 07 Apr 2006
Posts: 998
Location: NC
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| Posted: Sun Aug 02, 2009 10:39 pm Post subject: |
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| The Edifying Conscience wrote: | | I don't use a bracelet for CD. I have one that I don't wear (much to the chagrin of my endocrinologist) for AD. |
Same here. I have a necklace (info glued to the back of a normal looking pendant) but forget to wear it. Mine is for nickel allergy and my thyroid meds. Nickel allergy doesn't seem like a big deal, until you get knocked out and they put some stainless rods in you.  I'm so allergic I'd be oozing puss in a couple hours if they tried to keep me together with staples, so the necklace is probably a good idea and I should wear it all the time instead of just when I go on vacations on the motorcycle.
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Lauren
Pain is inevitable; suffering is optional. |
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Gus's Mama
Joined: 29 May 2009
Posts: 175
Location: Boston MA
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| Posted: Mon Aug 03, 2009 8:39 am Post subject: |
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Thanks for the input. I had a scare that made me think of this....we were almost in a car accident on the highway the other day, and I started thinking: What if we have to go to the hospital and I'm unconcious or can't communicate? How will they know not to give him a snack to keep him happy until a family member gets there? I know Sophie would speak up, but what if she's not with us? or unable to communicate?
Yup--I'm gonna do it. Thanks!
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Deb
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SPD Little Boy, Gus: Getting better by the day! Improved digestion, skin issues clearing, able to focus and follow instructions, talking (the boy is TALKING!!!) |
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celiacmaine-iac
Joined: 19 Dec 2007
Posts: 1489
Location: Maine
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| Posted: Mon Aug 03, 2009 9:01 am Post subject: |
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| cultureslayer wrote: | | I have a necklace (info glued to the back of a normal looking pendant) but forget to wear it. |
FWIW you should wear a medic alert necklace or bracelet that is designed for that purpose. A modified normal piece of jewelry could easily be overlooked. EMT's are trained to look for medic alerts in the course of a "body survey" on an unconcious or non-responsive/non-communicative patient. As a matter of fact, it is so drilled into your head to do this during EMT training, that if you forget it on the practical component of your exam (in Maine anyway), you will fail the exam.
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Steph |
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cultureslayer
Joined: 07 Apr 2006
Posts: 998
Location: NC
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| Posted: Mon Aug 03, 2009 11:20 am Post subject: |
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| celiacmaine-iac wrote: | | cultureslayer wrote: | | I have a necklace (info glued to the back of a normal looking pendant) but forget to wear it. |
FWIW you should wear a medic alert necklace or bracelet that is designed for that purpose. A modified normal piece of jewelry could easily be overlooked. EMT's are trained to look for medic alerts in the course of a "body survey" on an unconcious or non-responsive/non-communicative patient. As a matter of fact, it is so drilled into your head to do this during EMT training, that if you forget it on the practical component of your exam (in Maine anyway), you will fail the exam. |
Mine isn't a concern until they do surgery, and at that point they'd have to take the necklace off me. I'm not too concerned since it'd take several hours to get into surgery at the quickest and by then they should have notified my parents or boyfriend, who both know to mention it as well.
The problem for me is that most medic alert bracelets are stainless steel. I had a really hard time finding anything aluminum, and then I could just find a very small pendant. It's glued to the slightly larger necklace to make it more obvious.
For gus, shoe tags might be the best option. The children's Al shoe tags are what I had to order, about the only Al anything I could find. http://www.oneida-medical-jewelry.com/ I was very pleased with the prices and turn around time when I ordered from them.
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Lauren
Pain is inevitable; suffering is optional. |
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celiacmaine-iac
Joined: 19 Dec 2007
Posts: 1489
Location: Maine
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| Posted: Mon Aug 03, 2009 3:11 pm Post subject: |
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| cultureslayer wrote: | | Mine isn't a concern until they do surgery, and at that point they'd have to take the necklace off me. I'm not too concerned since it'd take several hours to get into surgery at the quickest and by then they should have notified my parents or boyfriend, who both know to mention it as well. |
I'm sorry, I probably didn't word that as well as I could have. I was just speaking in general terms, not about your choice specifically. I would hate to have someone experience a medical error because a med-alert was overlooked.
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Steph
Last edited by celiacmaine-iac on Mon Aug 03, 2009 9:12 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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nancw
Joined: 04 Oct 2006
Posts: 1281
Location: Denver, CO
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| Posted: Mon Aug 03, 2009 4:43 pm Post subject: |
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Or we could just get "DON'T FEED ME" tattooed on our chests? 
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Nance
gluten, dairy, soy, rice, yeast and 99% grain-free |
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aklap
Joined: 02 Oct 2004
Posts: 10974
Location: WI, USA
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| Posted: Mon Aug 03, 2009 5:15 pm Post subject: |
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| nancw wrote: | | Or we could just get "DON'T FEED ME" tattooed on our chests? |
I think that's a GREAT idea! Nudge Nudge Wink Wink, Say no more...
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Al
“We cannot all do great things, but we can do small things with great love.” Mother Teresa |
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cultureslayer
Joined: 07 Apr 2006
Posts: 998
Location: NC
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| Posted: Mon Aug 03, 2009 6:28 pm Post subject: |
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| celiacmaine-iac wrote: |
I'm sorry, I probably didn't word that as well as I could have. I was just speaking in general terms, not about your choice specifically. I would hate to have someone experience a medical error because a med-alert was overlooked. |
No problem, I'm really lucky that it's not an immediate concern for me but do worry that a tired and overworked surgeon could end up stapling me back together and thinking it wouldn't be a problem. When I wasn't 100% sure it was a nickel allergy I taped a nickel to the inside of my arm overnight. Had hives there for 10 days. 
For any sort of medication or food allergy definitely go with a more visible option. Another reason I don't want to wear a medic alert bracelet is because several people in my department have convinced themselves I'm lazy and making up my medical problems to cover up for it. I don't want anything visible that would inspire additional drama.
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Lauren
Pain is inevitable; suffering is optional. |
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Gus's Mama
Joined: 29 May 2009
Posts: 175
Location: Boston MA
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| Posted: Wed Aug 05, 2009 8:04 pm Post subject: |
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The shoe tags look like a good option, too. Thanks!
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Deb
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SPD Little Boy, Gus: Getting better by the day! Improved digestion, skin issues clearing, able to focus and follow instructions, talking (the boy is TALKING!!!) |
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cultureslayer
Joined: 07 Apr 2006
Posts: 998
Location: NC
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| Posted: Wed Aug 05, 2009 11:13 pm Post subject: |
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The shoe tags are also worth having around in case he has strange skin sensations or increased skin sensitivity after being glutened that could cause him to ditch a necklace or bracelet. You've mentioned other neurological issues, but I didn't know if this might be a concern. I've had and continue to have some similar issues. The worst was the feeling of ants on my skin. Only some ants got into my apartment and I thought it was all in my head until they started biting me all over my legs.
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Lauren
Pain is inevitable; suffering is optional. |
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