Did Anyone Buy A Medic Alert Bracelet For After Their RNY?

Hi everyone,

One thing that I haven't done is buy a medic alert bracelet which would warn ER/hospital staff that I had a gastric bypass.  Did you all buy one?  It was explained to us at TWH that if we ended up unconscious in an ER, they might stick an NG tube down our throat, which could hurt our pouch.  I asked my surgeon's secretary about buying one and she'd never heard of anyone doing that.  Should I just order one?

BTW, Day 6/21 of Opti has begun for me.  I'm still hanging in and waiting to be able to cross a full week off my calendar. 

Thanks to everyone on this great forum for their support, encouragement, and information.  I find that being on the computer, or going for a walk help pass the time most easily without food, so I've been posting a lot recently.

Jenn.  :)

I just looked at medicalert.ca, the website recommended by TWH.   What a racket.  First, you buy the bracelet or necklace (which aren't cheap, but I thought okay for a one time purchase), then I realized that you have to pay $25.00 for a 'membership', and $5.00/month for the rest of your life.

I was so naive, I thought the bracelets said 'Medic Alert" on the front and would have "Roux-en-y patient" or "Roux-en-Y" on the back and once you bought the ugly bracelet, that was it.

I am certainly not going to be getting a membership now.  What a rip off!

I've found that you can just get the engraved bracelets, etc. other places, e.g - http://www.laurenshope.com/product/1765/ST31/stainless-steel -flower-with-lobster-clasp/size and here - http://www.n-styleid.com/medical-id-alert-bracelets/chain-br acelets.html

Jenn.  :)

You can order for another site. Which is what I did (for other medical reasons) You can custom create the bracelets with your name and whatever info you want to put on it. You can get one for as low as $40 if i remember correctly.

 

http://canada.universalmedicalid.com/

Thank you for the URL.

Jenn. :)

There have been a lot of posts lately showing how a bracelet may be more detrimental than helpful.  Our own Diminshing Dawn has a great blog on it.:

 

http://diminishingdawnreturns.blogspot.ca/2012/06/medic-aler t-bracelets.html

Thank you Sam1am,

I don't think I will bother with getting one.  The chances I'll need it are very low and I doubt I'd wear it anyway, since I usually wear a watch and sometimes a bracelet I've made.

Jenn.  :)

I did not do it - I asked Dr. Hagen and the said there was no need for it.

I agreed - so I ended up not purchasing it.

Thank your for relaying your surgeon's opinion.

Jenn. :)

Hey Jenn,

Lots of controversy over this topic. Do your research and make an informed decision.

Good luck! Oh and way to for day 6!

Lisi

Hi Lisi,

Thanks for the good luck wishes.  I think I'll forget about the bracelet.

Jenn. :)