I’m not talking about those “I’ve fallen and I can’t get up!” things. I’m talking about those charm bracelets that let people know of certain ailments, in case of an emergency, (like diabetes, or whatever).
Recently, I found out that I have a seizure disorder, and looking back, for the past two years I’ve been having what I now know to be focal seizures. Considering the last big seizure happened on the way to work*, landing me in the hospital for about four days, I figure I should get one of those charm bracelets.
Any advice as to what kind, or where? What all should I have put on it? Should I also include my penicillan allergy?
*In the past tthree, I had three severe ones. I wish I could say what happened exactly, but I have no memory-all I know is that the first two times, my mother had to pour water on my face, as I completely blacked out. The third time, the only thing I remember is waking up in the hospital and being told I passed on the bus. I do know that I bit right through the side of my tongue. I’ve been put on anti-convulsants, but in case of an emergency, I just want to be prepared.
I’m diabetic, and I have the MedicAlert necklace, and I have the one that you put on the laces of your shoes, too. If you ever are sent to the ER, one of the first things they do is take off your shoes, so you know that they will see it, if, by chance, they miss the necklace (or bracelet).
Silly answer: They don’t want your dirty shoes on the bedsheets.
Serious answer: Looking at and touching feet are part of the workup - checking things like pulse and reflexes. If you present with altered consciousness, they’ll be particularly interested in what’s called a Glasgow Coma Scale, or GCS, and part of that assessment is to stroke the bottoms of your feet and see how they respond. eg: pull away, curl toes down, do nothing, etc. Pretty hard to do that with shoes on.
Actually, the Babinski Reflex has nothing to do with the Glasgow Coma Scale. The GCS has 3 parts- Eye Opening (None=1, To Pain=2, To Verbal=3, Spontaneous=4), Verbal Response (None=1, Incomprehensible Sounds=2, Inappropriate Words=3, Confused=4, Oriented & Converses=5), and Motor Response (None=1, Extension=2, Flexion=3, Withdraws from Pain=4, Localizes Pain=5, and Obeys Commands=6) for a max of 15.
I guess my point was that I wouldn’t count on my shoes getting taken off right away in the ER. Also, it’s possible to go to the ER and never have your shoes taken off. I probably should’ve just said that.
At any rate, I WAS wearing a hospital gown, and a pair of my PJ bottoms that my mother had brought in for me. I can’t say who dressed me, or undressed me, as I have absolutely no memory of what happened. I vaguely remember eating breakfast that morning, and the next thing I remember is waking up in the hospital and my father was there, and told me what happened.
Is this made by MedicAlert? Seems like a good idea but I’ve never seen one. I wear the necklace (won’t wear the bracelet, sorry, I’m a guy!) and it sometimes worries me that that one time in a million it’ll be needed it might not be seen soon enough.
