Aa
ambulance?
I am just curious. Do u all call ambulance and go to ER with every syncope.episode?
So far someone else has always called one for me before I was asked. I don't know if it'd necessary once u.have diagnosis. Opinions anyone?
So far someone else has always called one for me before I was asked. I don't know if it'd necessary once u.have diagnosis. Opinions anyone?
The app is titled "ICE" and the developer is "Sera-Apps." I hope you like it as much as I do. It's one of the ones that you put as a widget/icon/(not sure what the proper jargon is) on your home screen. On my phone you add it by long pressing (holding your finger down in a blank spot for a few seconds until a drop-down menu appears that says "add to home") on your home page background. Then on that menu you have choices like shortcut, widget, folders, etc. and you pick widget (huh, guess it is called a "widget" now that I'm looking at the menu ... you learn something new every day). Then pick the ICE app and it'll put the "ICE" icon on your home page so as soon as someone turns on your phone they would see the little red cross symbol labeled ICE. If your phone has multiple home screens that you can scroll to like mine (mine has left, center, and right ones), you might want to add it to all of them like I did to make sure it would be seen in an emergency no matter what. If you have any problems with it let me know and I can try and figure out how to help you.
Heiferly, thanks I'm going to check it out...the warranty is what interested me and why I haven't done mine - I've changed meds 4 or 5 times in the past year.
With regard to "ICE" info ... for any folks who have smart phones, there are ICE apps on Android and iPhone (and likely on Blackberry too, though I've never looked for one on that platform before). I have one on my Android phone and when you press the button for it on the touchscreen, it opens into a screen that has my name and buttons to call my sister, mom, 911, and S.O. directly. Then there's a ! symbol that you click for information that gives my address, blood type, says I'm an organ donor, has a (ahem, MASSIVE) blurb of my medical history including all significant diagnoses, and a list of drug allergies and contraindications. There's also room to list physicians in there, but I haven't added mine yet. The app was free on the app market ... there are paid apps too, but this one has everything but the kitchen sink already, so I don't see any need to pay for one.
I use a company that does free re-engraving while your bracelet is under warranty, so if you have a med change (or a diagnosis change ... who, us? never! hahaha.) during that time (I think it's up to 12 months??) you just call them and tell them the new info and all you pay for is shipping! :-D The only thing is that in order to validate your warranty you have to make sure to return the warranty card when you get your bracelet, which needs to be signed by one of your docs to confirm that the info is correct in the first place, but I've never had a problem doing that.
I've used the free re-engraving a couple of times and it definitely saves money! Here's their website:
http://www.americanmedical-id.com/
Of course there are tons of other companies out there so you may want to shop around and see what else is available. Just thought people might want to know that tip.
I've used the free re-engraving a couple of times and it definitely saves money! Here's their website:
http://www.americanmedical-id.com/
Of course there are tons of other companies out there so you may want to shop around and see what else is available. Just thought people might want to know that tip.
I've fainted since I was 9 and I'm 43 now and I've never gone to the dr or ER when I pass out. Can't stand going to either place and unless I'm bleeding or severe injury for medical assistance I stay away from those dreaded places :P
I am supposed to wear a medic alert bracelet since I have NCS/OI and polymorphic vt where my heart stops, but I don't have one yet - there's a few I've looked at but haven't purchased one.
I am supposed to wear a medic alert bracelet since I have NCS/OI and polymorphic vt where my heart stops, but I don't have one yet - there's a few I've looked at but haven't purchased one.
Wow! Steohanie, I didn't know that. I have ICE on my phone with emergency contacts but didn't know.there was a place for.other information. I will check.it out. Thanks.
Beema
Beema
I can't get over the fact that the medic-alert jewlery is missed sometimes! I guess I do understand that they are trying to stabelize patients first, but it could help them!
I hope you all have taken advantage of the new phone technology. I forget where exactly it is in my phone...I think it's under the "ICE" contact stuff, but there's room to put notes in...which I have and I hope they help if I ever go down in public.
Stephanie
I hope you all have taken advantage of the new phone technology. I forget where exactly it is in my phone...I think it's under the "ICE" contact stuff, but there's room to put notes in...which I have and I hope they help if I ever go down in public.
Stephanie
Heiferly- thanks I agree with all u say. I had not thought about getting my cardiologist after hrs on call #. Very good idea.
I was also not aware that once an ambulance was called u didn't have to pay for it if.u refused to go. I was led to believe u would be billed privately. This.is.good to know.
I do think the medicalert bracelets r a good idea especially if u have allergies or r on many meds. I don't think paramedics r always real good about checking for them but in their defense often they r just needing ti stabilize the patient b4 they do more.
I can't imagine what u must go through with all your health problems and still maintain a good attitude and do this research. I admire that. I feel I am permanently braindead anymore. I used to absorb information so quickly and now there r days it just doesn't compute.lol
Beema
I was also not aware that once an ambulance was called u didn't have to pay for it if.u refused to go. I was led to believe u would be billed privately. This.is.good to know.
I do think the medicalert bracelets r a good idea especially if u have allergies or r on many meds. I don't think paramedics r always real good about checking for them but in their defense often they r just needing ti stabilize the patient b4 they do more.
I can't imagine what u must go through with all your health problems and still maintain a good attitude and do this research. I admire that. I feel I am permanently braindead anymore. I used to absorb information so quickly and now there r days it just doesn't compute.lol
Beema
Oh I am a hit at school. First time it happened I passed out by trash inside door and apparently little children stepped over and on me until a mom saw me. The kids thought I was sleeping or that's their story.lol
I was at Post Office and Ambulance came that time and I stayed for 3 days :(
The other couple times Hubby drove me there....Other than that , I too hang out at the house and wait it out.
Of course, we should know our bodies enough as to how long is to long to be "Down and Out" and not recouping as far as HR and B/P goes. Then we just get that Gut feeling that something is just not right...
I bet you are the most popular Grandma at the G-kids school.....They think you do tricks and stuff....Lol Thats what I kid around and say....Goofy I know but we gotta laugh!
Hugs to you,
~Tonya
Stephanie- yes I wear a medicalert bracelet. My Dr.was adamant about that. With all the Meds we take etc is really a good idea.
Most of my passing out seems to have been at my grandkids school. They just probably love having a fainting gma.lol
Beema
Most of my passing out seems to have been at my grandkids school. They just probably love having a fainting gma.lol
Beema
I would agree that it doesn't seem necessary to go once diagnosed unless there's another reason such as head trauma from falling when you pass out. I would guess Beema that you might have a little more that might concern you with the MS but it seems you are comfortable not going and that really should be up to you. I'm sure whatever else might concern you can be handled at your doctor visits.
It does complicate things to pass out in public though! I hope all those rides were covered by insurance 'cause they sure are expensive! Passing out in public does rais another question though. Do you, or does anyone reading this, wear medic alert jewlery? I'm kind of considering it.
Stephanie
It does complicate things to pass out in public though! I hope all those rides were covered by insurance 'cause they sure are expensive! Passing out in public does rais another question though. Do you, or does anyone reading this, wear medic alert jewlery? I'm kind of considering it.
Stephanie
I tend to agree with you that unless there are other problems, a trip to the ER isn't necessary. Yah, passing out in public is hard because no one knows what is going on. My whole family has vaso-vagal syncope episodes and sometimes our blood pressure gets so low and our pulse gets so slow that you can't feel a pulse (even though it's there). That almost always results in a 911 call by strangers (and sometimes CPR).
Lucky u to have a mom for a Dr:)
I always seem to pass out in public it seems so some one always called. When I went to ep he told me.I needed to go to.hospital each time but then after about 6 months told me I.didn't unless I was in distress. Just wondered as several people have mentioned going to ER with syncope and I have told my family I don't want ti go unless it appears there r other problems.
I always seem to pass out in public it seems so some one always called. When I went to ep he told me.I needed to go to.hospital each time but then after about 6 months told me I.didn't unless I was in distress. Just wondered as several people have mentioned going to ER with syncope and I have told my family I don't want ti go unless it appears there r other problems.
Out of all the times I've passed out, I've only gone to the ER twice (both times in ambulances). One time was when I was at school and stayed unconscious for a long period of time (I finally woke up in the ambulance). The second time I was really short of breath after coming out of it and it didn't get better. My mom is a doctor and the other times I've passed out have almost always been around her so she feels pretty comfortable dealing with it. I think it mostly depends on the comfort level of the people around you.
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I hardly ever go to the ED/call a squad for syncope anymore. My caregivers will call a squad if I am not maintaining an airway even if they turn me on my side, if I have an obvious (i.e. broken bone or need stitches) injury, or if I have pain/apparent symptoms of an internal injury. They would also call if I stayed unconscious/seizing/turning blue for too long and they couldn't get me to come to, but so far that hasn't ever happened. You should be aware that if a squad is called for you in public and you are conscious by the time they get there and are checking you out, you have the legal right to tell them you are OK and you do not need to go to the hospital. This happens frequently to people with seizure disorders. Neither you nor your insurance will be billed for the ambulance. (At least, this is the law in the US. Sorry, I'm not aware of what the law is in other countries.)
One important note: any doctor worth his/her salt should have an on-call physician line/answering service for after-hours/weekends. This doesn't meant that YOUR doctor is available 24/7 but that *A* doctor is available to answer your questions 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, even when your doctor's office is closed. When I call my general practitioner's (family doctor) office after hours, it automatically rings through to the answering service. From there, they take a brief message, confirm that it is indeed an emergency (note: this is not a judgment on THEIR part, but rather just a quick question to me for confirmation "and you're sure that this can't wait until the office opens back up on Monday?"), and then they tell me they are going to page the doctor on call and if I don't hear back within 30 minutes I should call them back.
Likewise, major hospitals keep specialists on-call 24 hours a day. If you don't have it already, you may want to ask your cardiologist or neurologist (whichever is more relevant to the predominant symptoms of your case) what the number is for the cardiology or neurology department at your hospital, or for the hospital operator (if the department number isn't answered 24 hours a day). As a patient of a doctor within the department, you should be able to call and say "I am a patient of Dr. [your cardiologist]; I need to speak with the cardiologist on-call." It will be the same deal of them taking a brief message, asking if it is indeed an emergency that cannot wait, and telling you to wait by your phone for a call back.
Do not be afraid to call on-call physicians when you're not sure if you have an emergency or not. They are there to answer your questions! I've called for everything from a nosebleed that occurred shortly after a head injury ("oh my, could this be coming from my brain?!!" ... don't laugh, I'd never had a nosebleed before ... it seemed like a strange coincidence) to what turned out to be a nasty infection in my surgical incision (wasn't sure if it could wait until office hours or not ... it couldn't).