Epilepsy ID Jewellery

[Elaine H]

I have recently been bought a bracelet with the Medic Alert symbol on it, out of a booklet of all sorts of jewellery to incorporate this awareness disc, I chose a bracelet of brown and cream beads, with the large amulet type symbol in the middle, clearly displaying MEDIC ALERT and the serpent and snake symbol. After several Atonic seizures recently, I have asked the people who helped me if they had noticed my ID bracelet, not one of them had, they said it looked too pretty to be a medical bracelet. My father argues with me that I should have ID more clearly displayed round my neck in an ID, he means a necklace worn on the outside of our clothes girls, at all times, with all our details on it, what to do what not to do, what the condition is etc. onder:
I just wondered what you all thought, would you want to go out in a nice evening dress with a dirty great ID tag round your neck? No, me neither, just because the public aren't educated enough to glance down at our wrists. I believe we have to start educating our schoolkids to be aware of the serpent and sword. I am always arguing with my dad about this, I wear a lot of high neck jumpers in the Winter as I feel the cold, and I just think a bracelet is so much more visible, but maybe the girls were right about my braclet being too pretty, I don't know, I also think people are wary of touching strangers in a vulnerable position these days, and sure would not want to touch a woman near her chest area. Epilepsy Action provide bracelets, but I've never heard of anyone with a necklace, over to you guys?

 

[Nakamova]

Lainey, sorry to hear that you've had some atonics. Hope you're doing well.

I think the only way to guarantee that folks notice our medical info is to tattoo it on our foreheads... I agree that a necklace sounds a bit much. I don't wear any sort of Medical Alert bracelet or watch, though. I hope folks will chime in with their experiences:

A. Do you wear a Med Alert item?
and
B. Have bystanders or EMTs actually looked at it?

 

[epileric]

Your friends might have thought your bracelet was too pretty to be a medical bracelet (might be a good thing) but the question is if you were to have a seizure, would someone notice it when looking for a medical jewellery. I always wear a medic alert bracelet & despite it not being very decorative I'm surprised how few (if any) people notice it.

I recently watched this video that shows how unobservant we are as people if we're not specifically looking for something. Personally I would ask the EMF people/ paramedics if your bracelet is sufficient for them. I think they would give you the best answers.

 

[Cint]

Hey Lainey,

I wear a MedicAlert bracelet that has basic info on it, nothing fancy. In December, when I ended up in the ER again, the EMTs didn't bother looking at it this time. I was SOOO frustrated because they were asking me questions and with the type of seizures I have, I cannot speak for a while, although I can understand. I was trying to point to my bracelet, but they just ignored me. So I guess it depends on which EMT is attending to you. Last year, I had another one and different EMTs came and they DID look at my bracelet and took down the info. I also keep a card in my wallet, so by the time we arrived at the hospital, I could retrieve it and they got more info they needed.

I agree with you and Nak about wearing a necklace of this sort..... a bit too much. Not something I am going to do.

 

[Elaine H]

Hi Hun Yes I wear a bracelet that is a bit too pretty to look like a medical one, that's what I'm saying, my arrogant father seems to think I should wear a damn necklace and have it plastered all around my neck that I'm E.........c and I would never ever do that, I carry a couple of cards with me that are clearly visible and tell the person who sees them what to do, and I have the bracelet, when I give my talks at the first aid classes, it's hardly rocket science is it, you just look at the person's wrist to see if they are wearing any distinguishing ID, the thing with mine is, it says TEMPORAL LOBE EPILEPSY, there is a telephone number to call, and then a reference number to quote, and the operator has all the details of my AED's to give the emergency staff at casualty, that's all well and good, but I have to get that far first don't I?

In the UK last year, when it was National Epilepsy Week, we really wanted to push for better first aid education in schools, this was for first aid in general, needless to say, this didn't happen, I am going to try my best to push for it this year. The kids love things like that, and especially if they get a badge and a certificate afterwards.My hairdresser had a stroke a few years back now, it left her with seizures for a while, she has twin girls, they were about seven at the time. They were taught how to put mummy in the recovery position, call an ambulance if she was very bad, and they were great. Then one of their classmates at school had an epileptic seizure, the twins looked after her, and were school heros!! This is the Twenty First Century, we really should be doing do this!

For now though, I shall keep wearing my bracelet, my father seems to think I should go into warden controlled housing too, without a thought for what I want, I love my home where I live thanks dad, and all I want is to live a normal happy healthy life, and above everything else, to get back to full time work!! He means well, but unless you live with this annoying condition people should sometimes keep their opinions to themselves eh?! How I wish I still had my dear mum!

 

[CQ:)]

I have worn a medic alert bracelet for 12 years & got it not long after my seizures returned, I have the odd person comment on my bracelet. Some people will realise its a medic alert bracelet & ask what it is for, depending on if I know the person well enough I will tell them.

I have only had about 3 lots of bad seizures since 2002, the 1st being when they returned, the 2nd was a tonic clonic in a job I was working at the time & my coworkers knew about my epilepsy & my medic alert (although it seems they had no idea what to do when I had the seizure). The 3rd happened while I was walking to go to voluntary work, I have no memory of 3 hours of that day from the time I left home to when I woke in hospital, the nursing staff did tell me & my parents that someone found me in the street realised something was wrong, noticed my medic alert bracelet & called an ambulance.

My seizures have been under control for almost 3 years now but I still wear my medic alert bracelet because I know I'll never know if I'll have a seizure again.

 

[Belinda5000]

I wont wear medic alert for my epilepsy. I had a necklace on once and when I ask the EMT why he didn't look at my medic alert necklace, he said I came out of the seizure to fast.
I should wear one for my heart though.I do keep a card in my wallet with all the info on it.

 

[chmmr]

I personally like the medic alert bracelet , although it's my daughter (4 years old) wearing it not me. I only put "seizure disorder" on hers. She has complex partial seizures and it's unlikely she would have such a bad seizure that she would be taken to hospital by ambulance, but in the event of a car accident etc where we were in a different city from our home, and/or anyone responsible for her in the car were unconscious, they would rapidly be able to call and get her info from medic alert and ensure that she gets her regular medications etc (her online medical record details all her info including her doctors, contact numbers, medications, types of seizures etc) I agree that one with too much information around the neck would not be a good thing. I like that the medic alert doesn't share too much information to the general public but shares enough that it improves her ssafety.

 

[MrE]

I'll wear one if someone buys one for me

 

[girlwithadog]

Paramedics (if they get called) should be educated enough to know to look lol. I don't want this big "Hey! I have Epilepsy!" tag on display for all to notice to I made a charm bracelet. I used random charms and things that were personal to me and made sure they were all smaller than the (normal-regular) bright red ID tag which was placed in the middle of the bracelet. No one noticed unless they looked a bit closer. Kind of uncomfortable when a co worker grabbed my arm to look at the charms and when she saw that says "oh" and let go of my arm lol.
I also keep one on my key chain (no key chains, only house key and car key on the chain so they can see), in my wallet and since I do drive and am pregnant I also keep one hanging on my rear view mirror. I have them all in places people could see if need and should check but no, I wouldn't wear it on the outside of my clothes at all times. Why not just have it tattooed on my forehead? lol just kidding but yeah. I'm not ashamed or embarrassed but I don't think it needs to be in your face at all times. Unless you had a really bad case, or having a seizure could cause serious problems (like being pregnant and any seizure I have to go straight to the ER, hence the reason for having the charms everywhere lol) I don't see why it would need to be front and center.

 

[MrE]

So I guess no one is going to buy one for me to wear...that's okay...I still love you all anyway