Medical alert bracelet/ necklace

[jenjenp 63]

I've heard conflicting answers. After sleeve surgery do we need a medical alert piece of jewelry to wear? If so. What does everyone use? I didn't tell anyone but my husband and don't want others to know but if it's life or death I'm in.

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[Pescador 1,374]

We chose not to. My husband and I usually are together and our doctors and hospitals and daughter are phone calls away. We have used the same hospital for many years. My husband wears one for diabetes. You could always keep your medical history easily accessible in your wallets.

[Chicken Lady 102]

I asked my dr about this and he told me it wasn't necessary

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[jess9395 5,450]

My sister is a paramedic and she didn't think one was necessary. She couldn't think of a field procedure that the knowledge would impact.

[chycky 671]

I only think relevant for someone to know in the immediate time after surgery and your incisions will tell that story if you cannot.

[theantichick 2,204]

Former ER nurse here - for the VSG I can't think of any reason it would matter. Any tube we would be putting in the stomach would be smaller than the one used for the surgery. For lap-band or bypass, it could matter, since it could cause damage to try and put a tube through the small passage between the pouch and lower. I would suggest putting a card in your wallet with your drivers license and/or your insurance card with your relevant medical history. Someone at some point will be getting those things out of your wallet. I have several medical conditions including some drug allergies, so I wear a MedicAlert, and if they pull my record it has the VSG listed in my history, but it's not on the necklace/bracelet I wear.

[jenjenp 63]

Thanks so it's not something they would do at an accident scene. I could just put the info with my insurance card or License?

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[Butterflywarrior 241]

My office sent me a medic alert card saying what I got,nwhen...next month, and that I can't have any nsaids or cox 2 inhibitors and on t h e other side it asks food places if I can have half portions or choose from the children's menu it also has the Weight clinics number on it. It's a wallet card. I thought this was is quite handy and cool to use if necessary

[theantichick 2,204]

Thanks so it's not something they would do at an accident scene. I could just put the info with my insurance card or License?

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No, the only tubes they will typically put in before the hospital are breathing tubes and IV's. The gastric tube is something the ER places. Usually without any kind of scope, because with "normal" anatomy it's no big deal. If you had a lap band or bypass, I'd put it on something they would see immediately like a Bracelet or necklace, because lots of times we haven't had a chance to dig in the wallet when we'd be dropping that tube. For VSG, a card in the wallet would likely be plenty. I could see a gastric tube being a little more difficult with a VSG just because the anatomy is tighter, but it's not being put in with enough force to cause a problem. You can always check with your surgeon. Also, if your surgeon has restricted you from NSAIDs and steroids (or any other meds), that would be something to include on the card but wouldn't be necessary on a bracelet or such.