[Perfesser]

We were at our monthly support group meeting a couple of nights ago, and one guy asked me if I had talked to anyone at work about the WLS. Well, I didn't think it was any of their business, and I've heard folks talk about the surgery (and those who have had it) in rather ignorant ways, so I've kept it to myself and said that the weight loss was associated with changes I made in my eating after I had my gall bladder surgery. That's perfectly true, if not the WHOLE truth, because they took the gall bladder out at the same time they did the RNY.

Anyway, he expressed concern that I haven't let anyone know, because what if something happened to me and the paramedics wanted to put a tube in? So I pulled out my medical alert tag and showed him. We had a discussion awhile back on this board and decided on some key things to include. Mine says:

GASTRIC BYPASS (RNY)
POST-OP
NO ENG W/O LIGHTS
NO NSAIDS

Google "medic alert tags" and you'll find lots of sources. I used an outfit called Sticky Jewelry or some such thing, and they did a fine job for me. Due to my highly corrosive body chemistry, I got a tag and chain made of titanium, but you can get them in stainless, or even silver and gold if you're feeling like making a fa$hion $tatement.

Whatever the material, the knowledge on it, transferred to medical professionals when you're unable to communicate, may save you from serious medical complications. I don't know about the rest of you, but the thought of tearing out my pouch with a tube inserted blind (and I've had enough of those to satisfy my need for enjoyment!) isn't comforting in the least!!

Something to think about. It's best to prepare for problems before they happen.

CT

[judijo]

To add to the perfesser...

KEEP IT SIMPLE! Reconsider getting the fancy pants rhinestoned lockets and bracelet tags and things that don't look specifically like a Med-Alert jewelry piece! Mine is surgical steel (I have horrible allergies to "cheap metal") and simple. I got it from Ebay for $12.

Ask anyone who works in emergency medical services...Time is really of the essence. They check for bracelets first, then necklaces, then anklets. If the jewelry does not have that Med-Alert symbol BOLDLY out there, it can just be misconstrued for a locket or other charm.

Perforating a pouch with a unscoped NG tube is not necessarily a deadly thing, but it certainly is inconvenient for the patient, who is obviously having to be treated for something more serious.

My 2 cents...your mileage may vary.

[DocSanae]

Yes, this comes up here from time to time.
As judijo says, keep it simple, and easily noticed as a MedAlert tag at a glance. Saves time.
If any of the newbies haven't given this a thought, please do.
If you've been here for some time, then you're sure to have noticed other threads, but if you haven't yet gotten around to get one, please consider this a reminder and get one very very soon.

[greensgirl19]

I agree completely with Judijo. Do not get one that can look like another piece of jewelery. Mine was $15 on ebay and there's no doubt this is a medical alert bracelet. The tag part flips around all the time, but anyone would turn it around to find the tag because it's so plain it has to be a medical alert bracelet!

[mlg78]

A question more for doc, I think... What should I have on mine since I didn't have gastric bypass and there isn't an official, recognizable name for my surgery as it's a clinical trial? Everything else is the same "no nsaids" etc... Suggestions?

[Perfesser]

Originally Posted by mlg78

What should I have on mine since I didn't have gastric bypass and there isn't an official, recognizable name for my surgery as it's a clinical trial? Everything else is the same "no nsaids" etc... Suggestions?

Could you just write "Weight Loss Surgery post-op" and everything else the same?

CT

[DocSanae]

Originally Posted by Perfesser

Could you just write "Weight Loss Surgery post-op" and everything else the same?

CT

Or, gastric weight loss surgery, no blind NG tube, no NSAIDs.
mlg, you could call up your surgeon and ask what you should have on your tag. They may want a direct phone no on it as well, since yours is experimental and you'll be followed closely for a while.