Hi

How many of you have a Medical alert bracelet or dog tags for your lap band?

I have an ankle bracelet with a tag on it for LapBand. Ordered it on the internet.

Cheri

WHy would you need one?

WHy would you need one?

It is suggested to get one that at least says "No Blind NG" If in an emergency you need an (naso gastric)NG tube inserted, doing so without a camera and not knowing you have the band could cause perferation of the pouch.

Some also add "No NSAIDS" and "No Sugar"

I don't have one and it was never suggested by my doc to get one but I suppose it would be a smart idea.

I have an ankle bracelet with a tag on it for LapBand. Ordered it on the internet.

Cheri

Website is?????

Lauren's Hope is the name of the company and name of website. I won a gift certificate from them they have all kinds of things. Service was great!!!

Cheri

Lauren's Hope is the name of the company and name of website. I won a gift certificate from them they have all kinds of things. Service was great!!!

Cheri

Thanks Cheri.

Dan

I have a dog tag with my name and doctor's name and phone number on one side...and the word LapBand on the other. It is made of surgical grade stainless steel from stickyJ jewelry online. I love the quality.

I also have a bracelet with a personal message to myself on the top, with a small red medical sign ...and on the underside it just says LapBand.

I mostly wear the dog tag, but when it doesnt go with what Im wearing I just wear the bracelet.

I love the anklet idea!! And I've been to Laurens Hope website. Nice quality things there.

For me, wearing the dog tag helped me psychologically in accepting the band. Cant really explain it, but it helped. I took the necklace with me to the hospital and just before I went back home, the nurse helped me put it on for the first time! I had been waiting for months to wear it

~hiddn

I don't see why you would need one. Someone posted about nasogastric tubes, but all the NG tubes I've seen (for animals) are made of rubbery material nothing rigid or anything about them, so there would be no way to perforate the pouch. Aa for the NSAID thing, I still do not get it, and I plan to talking to my PA or Dr. whoever I see tomorrow about them. I've been taking them for years, for headaches and stuff, not on a daily basis and there was no inflammation noted or wnything on my upper endo, so if it has been years and no mucosal damage, how all the sudden can taking them with the band cause damage which can lead to a perf? I have taken them since my surgery (Advil) and I will ask tomorrow. Plus I've read somewhere that now there is thought that there is not a problem with them.

I don't see why you would need one. Someone posted about nasogastric tubes, but all the NG tubes I've seen (for animals) are made of rubbery material nothing rigid or anything about them, so there would be no way to perforate the pouch. Aa for the NSAID thing, I still do not get it, and I plan to talking to my PA or Dr. whoever I see tomorrow about them. I've been taking them for years, for headaches and stuff, not on a daily basis and there was no inflammation noted or wnything on my upper endo, so if it has been years and no mucosal damage, how all the sudden can taking them with the band cause damage which can lead to a perf? I have taken them since my surgery (Advil) and I will ask tomorrow. Plus I've read somewhere that now there is thought that there is not a problem with them.

My post said that it is believed by some that a blind NG could cause a perforation. I don't know any more than what I've heard and wouldn't argue that either way. But my post didn't say that NSAIDS could cause a perforation. The statement "NO NSAIDS" would be a separate alert item(not related to the NG) that some people put on the bracelet. NSAIDS can cause irritation, even the makers of Lap Band have warned of that. I took just some OTC type once and it burned like fire.

Website is?????

Got mine from http://americanmedicalid.com

You'll get the first one at full price then the option to get a huge discount on a second one. The offer will come at the end of your order.

I got a bracelet and dog tag, but I don't really wear them unless I'm out camping (I do primitve camping and extended trips a few times a year) or on the road traveling.

I didn't have anything about NSAIDS put on mine, as if I were to be taking NSAIDS orally, I'd be awake and able to tell them myself.

Intravenous NSAIDS aren't an issue, so no need for it on my bracelet/tag.

Mine says:

My Name

No Penicillin (I'm allergic)

No Blind NG

ICE: Spouse's Name

Spouse's Phone Number

My sister had lapband surgery but was not required to have a medical bracelet. They can be bought from Rescue Alert though, I have used them for my mother and they have been great. Great service.

I have a lot of medical personnel in my family, so I asked my mom (a nurse), my aunt (a former EMT), my cousin's husband (former EMT and current leader of a phlebotomy team), and my best friend (an EMT) about this. All of them said that if there would be an emergency situation where your life depends on emergency responders or medical personnel sticking a tube into your stomach, they're not going to care whether or not you have a Lap Band or gastric bypass. Chances are in this type of situation you're going to be unconscious and they will do what is needed to save you. The band can always be replaced if it is damaged, but your life can't. So, all of them (and my doctor as well) have told me that for a lap band patient, a medical ID bracelet/necklace is unnecessary, but if it makes you feel better it can't hurt. I have a Lap Band card that I carry in my wallet.

Also, some advice from my medical friends & family: If you're unconscious emergency personnel will go through your personal belongings and wallet to find identification and emergency contacts. They will go through your cell phone and look for a contact named "ICE" (stands for in case of emergency) and recommend that you have 2-3 ICE contacts. It's also a good idea to have an envelope labeled "ICE" or "Ambulance" and post it on the side of your refrigerator, where EMT's will look in the case that you are unconscious and they need medical information. You should have emergency contacts, any pertinent medical information, and doctor's names and numbers in the envelope. Hope this helps everyone stay safe!