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Old Dec 29, 2013, 02:38 AM
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Miswimmy1 Miswimmy1 is offline
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I was wondering if people wear these for mental disorders/medications? I know that it's most common to wear them for issues such as heart issues, allergies, etc. but I was wondering why it isn't more common for people who have chronic mental disorders don't wear them as well?
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  #2  
Old Dec 29, 2013, 02:43 AM
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That is a very good question. I guess in some instances it would be helpful. But on the flip side maybe some people don't want to label themselves. Those are just my thoughts. I don't really know.

Last edited by Anonymous100103; Dec 29, 2013 at 02:44 AM. Reason: corrected spelling
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Old Dec 29, 2013, 03:03 AM
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Good Q, Miswimmy1!

There is certainly a considerable section of Western society that has yet to understand and accept mental illnesses, unfortunately.

It would be very helpful if we felt safe enough to admit that we do suffer mental disease. And I think that it could be very helpful to emergency staff in certain situations. However, I think that many of us are afraid to be "discovered" and pin-holed into their pre-conceived notions of people with ___ disorder.

I actually have a couple of "physical" brain diseases that would be helpful to let others know, via a bracelet (or something), yet I cannot bring myself to do it...as they are also brain-related. IMO, most brain-related diseases and injuries are still largely misunderstood & scoffed by many in Western society.
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Old Dec 29, 2013, 04:55 AM
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I used to have an app on my phone that listed what to do in "case of" but of course that doesn't work too well if you have a password. And it would need to be a sort of "standard" or you need to make them aware that it is there. Maybe that could go on a bracelet. Again, the password is the problem.
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Old Dec 29, 2013, 05:04 AM
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I actually know of a few people who used a medical alert bracelet for their mental conditions because oftentimes they'd have horrible dissociation and would forget where they were, or they had some autism and could get sensory overload and couldn't communicate well what their needs were.

I think it can be helpful in situations like those, where if you have a condition that you struggle to communicate what your needs are, or if you forget how to get home or forget where you are. That sort of thing.
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Old Dec 29, 2013, 09:31 AM
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I wear a medic alert bracelet due to a med I'm on that's an opiate antagonist. That means that the normal painkillers that I'd be given in an emergency won't work on me. I take this med for addiction.

I also find it reassuring to have the medic alert card in my wallet, listing all my Dr's & there phone numbers, and the meds I take, in case I'm ever uncnoncious and admitted to the hospital.

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Old Dec 29, 2013, 09:39 AM
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Yes, I have a piece of paper with all my and my husband's medical information on it (I'm on the left half of the page and he's on the right half :-) in case either of us goes to the ER. He takes more meds than I do and I don't really know what they are, etc. so I'd be useless in an emergency.

I guess it is a personal decision: Medical Alert ID Bracelets Necklaces & Medic Jewelry for Men Women and Kids
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Old Dec 29, 2013, 10:00 AM
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Some very good information on this thread. Thanks for starting it Miswimmy. I take 13 different meds for my mental health/high blood pressure/lupus. My roommate has a complete list of my meds, but that wouldn't do any good if either of us is traveling. The medical alert sounds like a good idea.

Again thank you.
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Old Dec 29, 2013, 11:48 AM
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I almost passed this thread over, thinking I'd answered it. But I answered it on the sister site.

I have one, but it's outdated. I do have cards in my wallet that list my primary doctor and my neurologist. The bracelet, I have it's rather cool. It has an awareness ribbon and everything. One of the charms fell off, and it lists an old address. I have MS, and was taking a med, that came with some potential side effects. It was better to have that med mentioned, than not.

If you feel, it's important, in an emergency to have any med allergies listed and you are taking meds that could adversely interact with other meds, it's a good idea, to have something on your person or in your purse/wallet that mentions this.

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Old Dec 29, 2013, 01:43 PM
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I have a few medical alert bracelets. One for my anorexia (if I am to collapse in public, etc, they can see the information right there), PTSD because I depersonalize and forget everything, and I have one for my physical medications.

What I've learned, better safe than sorry.
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Old Dec 29, 2013, 02:07 PM
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The point of the medic alert bracelet is to make medical providers who are treating you in case of an emergency when you are unable to speak for yourself aware of medical conditions that would impact your treatment during the crisis situation. If I wore a bracelet stating, "depression and anxiety" it would not effect the way I was medically treated in an emergency situation. Now, I should get one since I have a life threatening allergy to pennecillan, but instead opted to put a sticky note on the back of my drivers license as they will also pull that in case of emergency. It's cheaper, less bulky, and I don't have to worry about remembering to put it on each morning.
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Old Dec 29, 2013, 06:15 PM
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I decided to get a Medical Alert Necklace about 1.5 years ago. I have no family and few friends and the comfort it gives me is worth it. In an emergency situation it is always good to provide your medical practitioner as much information as possible.
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Old Dec 29, 2013, 11:11 PM
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I wear one that lists my lithium and dosage. I went toxic one summer due to dehydration and passed out at the zoo. It was the second time i went toxic. Luckily i was with family, but if fall out while alone the bracelet might save me some organ damage.
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Old Dec 30, 2013, 03:05 AM
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I'm not sure if I'd wear one or not. It's pretty obvious when I'm in an episode. But so far I have been able to communicate with doctors and ems if needed. Maybe if the schizoaffective gets worse I might get one, but I don't see it in the near term.
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Old Dec 30, 2013, 12:26 PM
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I been warned i should carry on me a warning that i take St John's wort in case i am in an accident. But don't carry one.
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Old Dec 30, 2013, 03:26 PM
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I wear mine because I take Naltrexone for self-harm. Naltrexone is an opiate blocker so I can't be given morphine, dilaudid, Percocet or any of the Meds they give you if you are in a serious accident.
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Old Dec 30, 2013, 06:17 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Miswimmy1 View Post
I was wondering if people wear these for mental disorders/medications? I know that it's most common to wear them for issues such as heart issues, allergies, etc. but I was wondering why it isn't more common for people who have chronic mental disorders don't wear them as well?
A very good question.
I've heard and seen that medical alert bracelets, etc. are available
for persons with autism spectrum disorders. I haven't bothered to
get one for myself and probably will not get one. I want to be a
bit careful about what I disclose, especially on something meant
to be seen in case of emergency.
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Old Jan 01, 2014, 07:31 PM
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I have one that I keep on my bag. All it says is "Multiple Medications." I always carry a list of my medications written on the back of my husband's business card in my wallet.
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Old Jan 01, 2014, 08:53 PM
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i do have a medical alert bracelet. partly because i have severe asthma and wear a hearing aid, but i also have bipolar disorder on it as well. i carry a card in my purse that has my medications and cpn's details listed.

to be honest i see no problem with wearing medical alert bracelets for mental health disorders. i don't like the idea of having that 'label', but at the end of the day i see it as the same as any other illness, and medical professionals need to know of illnesses/medications if anything happens - along any vein not just psychiatric.

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Old Jan 02, 2014, 01:26 PM
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i kinda worry because i have basically pushed away and told nothing was wrong with me because of being prone to panic attacks when there was something actually medically/physically wrong with me. i had to fight hard and keep on them just to get anything done and get the treatment i needed. i personally wouldnt wear a medical alert bracelet for my personal mental issues because it has been used against me when i have been worried about my physical health.

just because i have a history of panic attacks doesnt mean i dont know when something is wrong with me.

in that particular situation, i ended up having an h.pylori infection (bacterial) as well as having super low iron and a low white blood cell count...but it took a while to get to the answer because they claimed i was just another anxiety patient in a mental funk.

ended up having to do. 2 week round of antibiotics - 8 pills a day plus intravenous iron once or twice a week.
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Old Jan 02, 2014, 03:27 PM
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B/c of one of my meds can destroy my bone marrow's ability to produce platelets, it might be a good idea for me to have one.
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Old Jan 02, 2014, 10:02 PM
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I would'nt.
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Old Jan 03, 2014, 01:35 PM
justbeingme80 justbeingme80 is offline
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I wouldn't wear one with my mental health diagnoses on it. I'd be afraid of someone seeing it as I don't tell many people outside my immediate family. All my close friend knows is that I have depression. I told someone my bipolar diagnosis once and it ended badly and with me being unable to return to the university I was studying at.

I do have a card in my wallet with a list of medical conditions (I have other conditions besides the bipolar diagnosis), medications and dosages, medication allergies, preferred hospital, doctor's contact information and who to contact in case of emergency. It was a nice card I filled out and printed for free from an online website. It has come in handy in non-emergency situations like when I go to a new doctor--I'm on so many medications I don't even remember them all.

I would wear one if I had a severe reaction to a certain medication and I probably should because there are some antibiotics I'm allergic to that have put me in the ER or the hospital before.
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Old May 30, 2016, 07:20 AM
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Hi! My friend is wearing one for his allergy, but he also used this site reviewsbee, to find everything medical he needs, because they have products with reviews, scores etc, and it was very helpful.
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