Good morning everyone. I hope you are all well. I was diagnosed with a bicuspid aortic valve at 60 and, 4 years later, everything is fine apart from having an ascending aortic aneurysm of 4.8 cm.
I am being monitored yearly and in my last conversation with the aortic surgeon he said that they now consider surgery when it is between 5-5.5 cm. He also said that I may never need surgery.
Anyway my question is whether or not I should consider wearing a medical alert bracelet in case of a dissection or am I being overly dramatic?
I also have adhd and am not very good at explaining myself verbally.
Any replies will be very graefully received 🫠
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Heartragious
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Despite having the surgery or not, it’s always a good idea to be cautious. I don’t have a medical bracelet, but I do have a medical ID card. I also have details of my heart condition stored in my phone so during an emergency, doctors, health officials or someone else can actually unlock my phone to view my medical history on my iPhone.
Therefore saying that, it won’t cause you any harm to get a medical bracelet, and I know there are a few members that already have one. You also mention that you have ADHD and are not always the best at explaining yourself verbally, so that’s another reason to get one I should think :).
Good morning, I am severly allergic to Penicilin such that I could die if it was given to me. For insurance purposes, I have to wear a SOS necklace with a locket on in which details are kept of my problem. It might be something that your GP can advise you about, or if you use Travel Insurance ask their advice, it may reduce your premium.
On a completely different subject, how to save money and also get some exercise. Previously I told how to save money by saving tomato seeds and sowing them the following year. You can do this with many other plants, I save pansy seeds and many others that grow in my garden. As soon as a flower has died, wait until you can see a dried pod, or as in pansies the pod opens out showing the seeds, then bend down and carefully remove the seeds and put them in a dry container, don't forget to lable them. Therefor by having to bend down you are actualy getting exercise as well as saving money. If you can walk around your garden looking for and collecting the seeds, then again you are exercising. I have found a way to reduce slug and snail damage also.If you eat fresh fruit, bananas oranges etc,you can cut up the skins and then spread them around your plants.I have found that this not only adds nutriants to the soil, it also feeds the pests.The slugs and snails don't have to go looking for plants to eat, they have food already delivered by Gardenaroo.
Hi Heartragiuos I also have bicuspid aortic valve but I have a medical card stating that I have coarctation of the aorta which was repaired at a day old. It's definitely up to you. Would be good to have in an emergency in no good at explaining myself either I was thinking of getting a medical bracelet that says congenital heart disease.
No, you're not being overly dramatic , it's a very wise move, and yes, you definitely should wear one stating the BAV and ascending aneurysm (make it clear it's not an abdominal aneurysm).
Your enlarged aorta is a risk for aortic dissection (AD), and we know that BAV is associated with a higher risk of AD. From research we are also learning how the BAV may increase the risk of AD, since the blood "jets" out of the BAV instead of more uniformly from a TAV. These jets tend to hit the wall of the aorta and degrade the aortic tissue, leading to weakening and aneurysm.
We are getting better at diagnosing AD, but it remains a difficult diagnosis as AD is said to "masquerade" as other problems, heart attack, gastric pain, etc. You should give yourself the best chance by helping paramedics and A&E staff know what your main risk is. Remember that if something happens you may not be able to communicate (or think straight) and the med alert bracelet will be something they'll check for and find, even if you can't tell, or forget.
I wear an alert bracelet as I live with a rare heart condition.
It also names the medication I mustn't be given.
I also have an admission plan, I have this on my phone, carry paper copies and the plan is on my local hospital's electronic patient records system.
When you have a less common heart condition, I agree with Cliff you are not being over dramatic to ensure paramedics and other healthcare staff have easy access to this important information.
I think that you're very wise in thinking about medical alert jewellery , its just another thing that will help if, God forbid, you need medical attention.
Some of it looks good now, I wear a simple rubberised wrist band that has all my vital information on it, I back it up with information on my phone, hope this helps.
It's always a good idea to wear an emergency bracelet for your condition if there is one available for it.My husband has one for his Type1 Diabetes and it meant that if he had an episode in a shop they could see and would help him rather than thinking he was drunk and asking him to leave.
My daughter and I have both emergency bracelets for our Ehlers Danlos Syndrome and official lanyards to wear for work or medical appointments.
It's amazing how much more notice doctors and nurses take of that flimsy card in a holder than they did when we told them the precautions ourselves.
My daughter also has a bracelet for ADHD.
One good reason to have some recognisable bracelet or badge on you at all times is for moments that you may have a medical emergency and you aren't able to talk or tell the people or doctors whom come to help you your history.
If they spot that bracelet or badge they know quickly what could have caused the emergency or, most importantly, that you might be on medications or have implants and they need to take care to check before giving you anything or handling you. They can ask you, or the person with you. important questions quicker.
My tip is to always have certain things in my bag for emergencies too. And I let my husband or whomever I am with know that they are in there.
These include my EDS lanyard but also a printed out list of, my NHS number , important phone numbers, my medical conditions , my allergies , and the medications I am on and the doses I take.
This is useful because sometimes you aren't feeling either physically or mentally able to cope or remember what they need to know so you can just pass it to them and feel safe that it is all covered.
I also carry three of those daily dose boxes filled with my medications . This means that I have three days of medications ready and able to take at the right times if I get admitted ( it can take time for the pharmacy to sort out your medications onto the trolley) , or stuck in A and E or Resus for more than a day ,
So , my advice is knowledge is power and anything you can do, or wear, to make it easier for you to get help in an emergency is worth doing .
Far from being dramatic you are being practical and sensible. Take care , Bee
l wear a medical bracelet. Personally l believe it is the quickest way for anyone to be alerted to a medical condition. Time is important in an emergency. Take care.
hi I wear one as I have a ICD it has information on the in side also telling people to look at my phone for more information on the emergency part that any one can can view has a lot more information Iv been wearing it for about 7 years now
I've had one for years as I also have neurological condition that is hidden that could kill me if not treated in time updated my details after having my heart attack last year I wear a medic alert necklace.
I carry a medical card in my wallet which gives details of my heart attack, bypass op, hospital numbers (3 of them), next of kin contact details, medication taken and the meds I'm allergic to. A card is probably more appropriate for a man, whereas a bracelet is an excellent idea for a lady.
Hi when I was waiting on my transplant and I had an ICD I wore one all the time, now I have details of my condition on my phone and if I go anywhere I also take a few days extra meds, just in case. Take care char
hi what a great idea! Maybe my husband should wear one- his AAA is 4.6 and is now monitored 3 monthly- surprised you aren't screened more frequently at 4.8? I do worry something will happen when i am not there so this would help! Thank you
Hi Robinface. Yes it looks like it's a very good idea for your husband and I to have one. I've ordered the gold pack from MediPAL which has an ILD card, Silicone wristband,, Key fob, Window sticker, Fridge magnet and Clear wallet and clip. Plus an extra card for my husband to carry. Maybe a bit overkill ( don't have a fridge that would hold a magnet 😅) but it was a good price and you can never have too much peace of mind. Take care. Jane x
You have read my mind , I was thinking of getting a medical bracelet too.
I have a dilated ascending aorta at 4.4cm and a couple of other things that they are monitoring and will operate at 5-5.5cm too.
Although I have my details on my phone, would I be thinking correctly to give them the pin number/tell them where its stored? I was thinking a bracelet might alert them earlier that I have a problem.
Hi Tedthedog. The app I found , called ICE - In case of Emergency, put a notification on the lock page so that it can be pulled down without unlocking the phone. But I'm getting a bracelet as well for peace of mind. Take care. Jane
hello Heartragious, I’ve got quite a complicated cardiac history and I’ve been considering getting a bracelet but considering that my scars sort of warn right away that I’m a cardiac patient, I feel assured enough just going around with the hospital letter reassuming all my previous surgeries and current situation. Normally the hospital where you end up if an emergency happens, will contact your cardiac team and will get advice from them.
That's food for thought. I have an emergency letter from my consultant to give to the ambulance staff if an event arises but a bracelet sounds better as it will be on the body.
Hi, My family gave me a dog Tag after my AVR and records that I am a warfarin user. Also quotes my CHI number which has been great when "checking into" A & E etc.
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