Medic alert advice

I'm intending to get a medic alert 'thingie' -- I reckon the combination of 100% PM dependent + anaphylaxis of unknown origin with Epipen + rivaroxaban + Advance Decision makes it sensible. (Might also add in some stuff about MRI with the PM if I can ever get a straight answer about it... Yes/No/Maybe doesn't really cut it but I'll ask a separate question about that.)

My dilemma: I've been told that wearing the alert on the wrist is the best option and to be frank, that would suit me best because I'm not a necklace sort of woman (I find them incredibly uncomfortable).

However, on my left wrist I wear a man's analog watch older than I am (and I'm 61). with a leather strap. It was a present from my OH, so I can't not wear it (and I love it very much, so I'm not giving it up).

On my right wrist, I wear a Fitbit -- not bothered about the heart rate measurements, but it reminds me to move every hour, tells me how well I'm doing at improving my level of daily activity, wakes me up silently and gently in the morning -- which I'd also like to keep wearing.

Both watch and Fitbit are constanly surrounded by purpurae and eccymoses where normal arm/wrist movement has resulted in pressure on the skin (courtesy of the rivoroxaban).  I'm therefore reluctant to add yet another wrist band into the equation. However..

The alerts that I've found that attach to a Fitbit strap are quite long -- 24mm aka 1" -- and I have very small wrists, so there won't be space for the alert to lie flat, which will cause damage to the blood vessels anyway.

Does anybody have a Fitbit with a medic alert attachement? How confortable are they? Am I worrying about nothing?

Is there an alternative -- maybe a replacement strap for a Fitbit Charge 3 that can incorporate the medic alert info?

My fall-back may have to be yet another wristband...

 

 

 

 

5 Comments

Medic alert

by AgentX86 - 2019-07-14 09:04:55

I haven't heard of any bands that are medic alert capable and I don''t think I'd want one.  A medic alert bracelet or neclace stands out.  I'd be afraid a watch band would be overlooked as, well, a watch band. Also, FitBits don't last all that long and it would mean a new search every couple of years.

I wear a bracelet and a dog tag.  Neither are particularly femine.  I too have a problem wearing jewerly around my neck but I put the chain over my collar and then tuck the dog tag in my shirt so I'm not advertising my condition.  It works for me.

Health information

by islandgirl - 2019-07-14 12:29:51

If you have a smart phone, you may want to check into available apps for health information.  

I have an Iphone, which has a built-in app that contains all of my health information.  Police, firefighters and emergency responders (I used to volunteer as an EMT and firefighter) are aware of this feature.  It is accessible without a passcode. 

I believe my friends with other brands of smart phones can download a similar app.

Good luck!

apple Watch

by dogtired - 2019-07-14 22:01:32

Ifyou get one you can call 911 with the push of a button.  You can link (or enter) all your medical history.  It will also call/text any one you choose at the same time.   It does everything the fitbit does.  The series 4 has fall detection (automatically calls 911 in the event of a fall) and a built in ekg

Thanks

by atiras - 2019-07-20 14:57:10

Thanks for the responses.

@AgentX86, I mostly don't wear collars, especially in summer,  so dogtags will be iffy for comfort... I might have to try something cheap to see how I cope. (I quite like the idea of dogtags but not if it makes my neck itch, which necklaces do. I do have a silver torque that doesn't irritate me but wearing that to the supermarket would make me look like a total prat. (Plus I can't sleep in it anyway and I believe I need something 24/7...  dialling 999 while searching for my dogtags? not clever.)

@islandgirl, Not convinced that first responders here in the UK will look at the phone if (for example) I was in a car crash -- I shall have to look into it more. (And of course, I'm of the generation that often forgets that pesky phone when I go out, and doesn't take it to bed with me -- who needs to read their texts and emails in the middle of the night?) I do have health info on it, but I don't think it will work in the first flush of urgency.

@dogtired, An Apple Watch might be a [ossibility if I ever change to an iPhione, but that isn't imminent.

 

 

Text on tag or bracelet?

by gmilburn - 2019-08-17 19:22:04

Would EMTs need more info about the device, or would just the text "Pacemaker" be all that you inscribe?

You know you're wired when...

Airport security gives you free massages.

Member Quotes

I just had this miracle implanted two weeks ago and I’m feeling better.