ukadultitpregistry.com

[laney]

hi again guys,

a wee question for you all, does anyone use a medicalert bracelet??? i am confused!!! when reading about ITP and treatment in the UK it seems totally different from ITP and treatment in the USA!!! everything that ia have read that is American says that we should be using medicalert bracelets to let people know that we have ITP, but there is no mention of this in british articles!!!! HELP!!!

can anyone give me any ideas on this??

Thanx

Laney

[Drew Provan]

Laney

A few (very few) people use them but it's not something we feel strongly about. This kind of thing is useful for diabetics and people who might collapse and become unconscious. For ITP it could be useful should you be rushed into hospital and they find your platelets are low but I guess the rarity of such an event may be such that it's not worth paying out for a bracelet. Plus if you were awake you could just tell them. Might be an idea to keep a card in your diary stating you have ITP, and I seem to remember Shirley (Watson, UK ITP Support Association) providing these. Worth checking with her.

Cheers

Drew

[laney]

hi drew,

thanks for the quick reply, i'll get in touch with shirley then.

laney xx

[markjohn]

Hi,i have had a medic alert bracelet for about 6 months now,if you go to their website they have lots to choose from at reasonable prices unless you want gold,i opted for the stainless steel and maybe get a gold one later, i appreciate what drew has said but if you were unconcious you could not tell anyone you had itp,better to be safe than sorry

[markjohn]

Hi,i have had a medic alert bracelet for about 6 months now,if you go to their website they have lots to choose from at reasonable prices unless you want gold,i opted for the stainless steel and maybe get a gold one later, i appreciate what drew has said but if you were unconcious you could not tell anyone you had itp,better to be safe than sorry

[Tamar]

I wore a MedicAlert bracelet for 3 years. To me, it was a comfort that not only did it list my ITP and multiple sclerosis, but with a single call someone would know how to contact my parents, my husband, and each of my doctors, as well as know what medications I was taking. In a way, it's like wearing a seat belt, you don't expect to need it, but it could be invaluable.

As I have gotten more nonchalant about my ITP, I let the membership lapse. Psychologically, I changed perspective from wanting to have the extra level of safety, to not wanting to have a constant reminder that I had these medical conditions. I think that's a good place to be, but until you get there, I say get a bracelet if it makes you feel more comfortable.

Tamar

[clare]

Hi Laney
I have recently got a bracelet as i've had a splenectomy and i am on my own a lot with no family around me. I chose one that you don't have to pay an annual subscription for, and they also have some very modern designs that don't cost the earth. The company was called ICEgems if you want to have a look on the net? Hope this helps
clare x

[Ann]

I used to think as Drew said, that I'd be able to tell that my count was low but then the bus I normally catch to work but didn't that day as I had to go in early, crashed and many students from work were hurt. I thought then that if I had been on that bus and knocked unconscious then I would rather have liked it that the paramedics could have known to treat me a bit more urgently and the hospital would have got a count done followed by an MRI scan or whatever. I know everyone would get this sort of treatment but it might make a difference that they know from the outset that platelets might be low. So I bought a bracelet.. do I wear it.. well.. occasionally!

I got one of the stainless steel black velcro ones like one on this page http://www.medical-bracelets.co.uk/SOSWatch_Types.shtml

[markjohn]

hi, totally agree with what you have said ann,not wanting to be treated before any one else intensionally but we do have a greater risk of bleeding so hopefully others would understand our predicement if we were unfortunatley involved in an accident

[Rhiannon]

I used to have a medic alert bracet and very much recommend them because the ambulance people and medics understand them and actually look for them in patients.

However, since the ITP Association started up I bought an ID card from them which is er, about somewhere....oops
but more specifically I carry a splenectomy card given to me by the consultant afterwards. That for me is more important to carry since I have experienced two severe illnesses since and luckily was at my parents at the time but I could have been anywhere.
It is recommended to carry something with you that you could show...or shows that you have health issues

[ted23151]

I got 3 rubber medical wrist bands from
http://www.mediband.com.au/Medical-Bracelets/c33/p532/Medical-Condition-Wallet-Card-MEDIBAND/product_info.html

For just over £10 they arrived within 5 days. I made the card which is about the size of a £20 note and laminated it. It has all my details, next of kin, Doctors, medication, medical conditions, and I put. Do not give blood thinners.
When I was being admitted to hospiatal, 2 weeks ago, the nurse was asking questions and I gave her my home made medical card. She was impressed.

What prompted me to make the medical card was a TV program called A&E. A chap in his 70s had collapsed the paramedics though it was a heart attack so they gave him blood thinners. In fact it was the artery into his heart that had split so making the artery wall thinner, they couldn’t operate and if they didn’t in 2 weeks he would be dead. At that point I got visitors so didn’t see the rest of the program.