Good Morning. ~~Head, shoulders, knees and toes...knees and toes~~

Lord, as I get older help me not to talk to people about my aches and pains.

How many of you have a health care plan handy in case you're in the hospital or the old folks home for a lengthy period of time?  I have a diagram of my surgery in my wallet with the phone number of my surgeon but not a layout of what my body needs to survive in the hospital or a home. My youngest son has some idea but I think my DH is clueless. Maybe we should have an annex to our living wills signed by a heath care professional, if possible, describing our vitamin, high protein and low carb needs. Thoughts? You health care folks out there, would that do us any good at all? What would you suggest?

--gina

Hi Gina
I wear a medical altert bracelet and keep all my medications up to date on that website.  I think it is important, as my mother was put in ICU, and went through wthdrawl of oxycontin and percocet because no one knew she was on those drugs for severe compression fractures in her back.  It took me about 36 hours to get to Arizona from where I was, and by then the worst was over. 

My mother just passed away, and her living will was very explicit.  She specified which procedures could be performed and which could not.  She consulted with her physician and lawyer for this document, and it was very helpful when she was taken from her assisted living facility to the ICU. I was her healthcare power of attorney, and it was great for me to have a lot of these decisions made up front.  In the end, she died on her own terms, which is all that any of us could ask for. 

I have a health care power of attorney and living will but they are not that specific.  I know when I was in the hospital with my knee x2, I was glad I was awake and aware because eventhough I had been over my meds with the admission folks and the drs, they did weird stuff.  Like put me on NSAIDs which I refused to take.  I took my own protein because they didn't have a clue about how to feed me.  Your right, at least an attachment to something because really, DH and DD wouldn't have a clue.  They really don't pay that much attention day to day of what I am doing food and vit/min wise.

I doubt if you would want or even could add a med list to a living will.  That is a legal document that needs to be notarized with every change, and pill regimens change frequently (for example, antibiotics come and go).  In all the years I've worked in a hospital, I can't say I've ever seen a med list appended to a living will.   Practically, what often works best is when the patient or his/her spokesperson can pull out an up to date list from a wallet or purse.  I've had many a husband hand me a piece of paper and say they don't know what's on it, but that it's important, and it ususally is! 

It is also very helpful when someone says WHY they are 'allergic' to a med, because that helps docs figure out what is okay to substitute.  As someone said earlier, make sure on your medlist you say no NSAIDs due to the RNY increasing the risk of ulcers. That little bit of info would be invaluable to the right person, especially as we know not all docs are familiar with this restriction.  

Using medic-alert isn't keeping your files in public...they have protocols in place so that only medical people with your access number can get the information. I have a list attached to my medic-alert card but it needs to be updated AGAIN.

Liz

Like Price, it was a good thing I was aware of things happening after my last surgery. AND a dh who understands what I need since he is in the same boat. But we had to bring protein in from home as what they gave me had so many carbs and so little protein, it was laughable and sad at the same time since the bariatrics dept at that hospital uses that protein drink.

While attaching it to your will is hard, you can make up a document that has your entire health history. While they have to plug it into their systems, about 90% of the health care pros I hand my list to appreciate a typewritten list that is well organized. Reading a typewritten list is so much easier than my scribble.

Liz

I really need to do something.  I"m sure no one around me has a clue what to tell anybody.  I did have the printout that showed what type surgery I had and things I could not have, but I have no idea where it is at the moment.  I usually have an updated list of my medicines/vitamins in my purse just incase I have to go to the doctor because I'm afraid I'll forget something.

I thought about getting the Med ID braclet and having what surgery I had and the No NSAID and No Blind Tube(can't remember the right term myself), but just have not done it.

Do alot of you have the Medical ID braclets and wear them?

Linda

Linda
I do wear a medic alert bracelet.  I often travel alone etc, so having appropriate records in place is a help.

I have a medical alert bracelet, and have for years because of a severe penicillan  allergy.  I wear it every day.  On the advice of friends who are nurses and EMTs, I don't get the jeweled bracelets for it (yes, I know they're trained to look at all jewelry, but I don't want to be the one patient that gets missed), but do make chain bracelets in various weaves and colors so that I can change them for the day to match my mood or what I'm wearing.  I just turn the bracelet so the tag part (I get a fairly large one - about 5/8 inch by 2 1/2 inches) is on the underside of my wrist.  That way all most people see is the chain, but it's really hard to miss the tag if I life my arm.  I even have a couple chains that are anklet size so that if we're on the boat I can wear it there.

Mine has my name and gastric bypass on the front, and on the back it has penicillan and NSAID allergy, no blind NG tube, and ICE with DH's cell phone number (now if only he answers the damn thing!).

Just to clarify, my mom did not include medications in her living will, and that was not the intent of my post.  Her living will was limited to specific proceedures that are often performed in for serious conditions.  It never changed over the 5+ years it was in place.