Medical bracelets

Homesteading & Country Living Forum

Help Support Homesteading & Country Living Forum:

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.
Terri9630

Terri9630

Internet Princess
Neighbor
HCL Supporter
Joined
Dec 3, 2017
Messages
10,091
Location
Central NM.
For those who are/were EMT's and such..... My daughters 3 specialists have decided that she has Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS). They are also going to do a ATCH stimulation test next week. The main symptoms she has been having are fatigue, headaches, racing heart. Some times she has hypoglycemic type symptoms even when her sugar levels are in the high 70's - low 80's that go away with a glucose tablet.

So what I was wondering is, what would be the best way to notify EMT's of her issues? Medical bracelets aren't very big. If we just put POTS on there would/should they have an idea of what it is?
 
Last edited:
I wouldn't have known what it meant but I'd have notified the doc that the bracelet was there. It can't hurt. It can't cost much to spell it out completely. I'd still have had to call in for treatment.
 
Thanks Caribou. It's something I'd never heard of but every issue she has had since birth fits. Right down to the "there's nothing wrong with her your just making it up" bit we used to get before this was a "thing".
I just wasn't sure how to list that. I am planning on having her cardiologist name and number along with both of our numbers on it as well.
 
TMT Tactical said:
No answer but a question -- If you put POTS on the medical alert, wouldn't the EMT contact hospital to find out what is POTS and the treatment?
Click to expand...

I don't know, I just remembered someone on here used to be an EMT but couldn't remember who to ask. Figured someone would know.
 
Can you order specialized bracelets? I know there are some standard bracelets, such as diabetes and allergies. I would think getting POTS would be better than nothing, but I am wondering about carrying a card or pouch with brief information and instructions?

Someone recently suggested that I get one because I have a fairly rare blood type, B-. It had never even occurred to me prior to this. I have never seen one for this.
 
Weedygarden said:
Can you order specialized bracelets? I know there are some standard bracelets, such as diabetes and allergies. I would think getting POTS would be better than nothing, but I am wondering about carrying a card or pouch with brief information and instructions?

Someone recently suggested that I get one because I have a fairly rare blood type, B-. It had never even occurred to me prior to this. I have never seen one for this.
Click to expand...


I think some drug stores make them, or use to.WalMart?

https://www.walmart.com/c/kp/medical-alert-bracelet
 
TMT Tactical said:
No answer but a question -- If you put POTS on the medical alert, wouldn't the EMT contact hospital to find out what is POTS and the treatment?
Click to expand...
If you write POTS on there and the person at the other end knows what it is then they'll tell you to administer glucose. If they don't recognize POTS then they will have to look it up. they may have to look it up anyway but there will be less confusion if you avoid the shorthand.

POTS was not part of the EMT curriculum when I took or taught EMT. I would not expect to administer glucose if the blood sugar was 70 or above. Perhaps the medic alert might say, POTS administer glucose if blood sugar is <85. I have no idea what the number might be or if it is a good idea but it could certainly be something to discuss with the doctor. Doc may have a totally different idea.
 
Caribou said:
If you write POTS on there and the person at the other end knows what it is then they'll tell you to administer glucose. If they don't recognize POTS then they will have to look it up. they may have to look it up anyway but there will be less confusion if you avoid the shorthand.

POTS was not part of the EMT curriculum when I took or taught EMT. I would not expect to administer glucose if the blood sugar was 70 or above. Perhaps the medic alert might say, POTS administer glucose if blood sugar is <85. I have no idea what the number might be or if it is a good idea but it could certainly be something to discuss with the doctor. Doc may have a totally different idea.
Click to expand...

The glucose stops the hypoglycemia symptoms but we were told to raise her salt intake to 10mg and her water intake to 90oz per day. The doc said they don't know exactly why it works but for many people it does. There are 2 meds that help but the salt/water is the first treatment.

POTS is a fairly recent discovery from what I understand. Its a malfunction of the autonomic nervous system
 
Weedygarden said:
Can you order specialized bracelets? I know there are some standard bracelets, such as diabetes and allergies. I would think getting POTS would be better than nothing, but I am wondering about carrying a card or pouch with brief information and instructions?

Someone recently suggested that I get one because I have a fairly rare blood type, B-. It had never even occurred to me prior to this. I have never seen one for this.
Click to expand...
Yes. You can order them online in hundreds of styles and have them engraved anyway you like. Some are just basic bands and some look like jewelry.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Latest posts

Back
Top