Medical Alert Necklace and a Fun Baclofen Fact

[CatsandCars]

I finally got a medical alert ID necklace saying that I have MS and a baclofen pump. I'm not crazy about things hanging around my neck, and the one I picked is a heavy dog tag style that will take some getting used to. On the positive side, it came with a bead chain so I could lop off a few inches to get the length I wanted.

It's mostly for my baclofen pump. It's rare for them to leak, but if they do you not only have an overdose situation, but according to an ER doctor I saw, you can be mistaken for being dead. Baclofen also has a long half life. So if doctors know you have a baclofen overdose, they're required to wait a few days for you to wake up before pronouncing you dead!

On the other hand, if the pump were to stop working (also very rare) you could have serious withdrawal.

My new neurologist says the pumps are very reliable, and the only problem he's ever seen with them was when a surgeon accidentally the catheter that goes between the pump and the space around the spinal cord while performing surgery. If I ever need to have surgery, remind me to tell the surgeon not to do that!

[kycmary]

Lets hope you don't have to have any surgeries anytime soon! Good luck,

[CatsandCars in reply to kycmary]

Thanks so much, Mary!

[Helpmeup]

That's horrifying! Fake death is a possibility??? 😮Glad you got the necklace!

[CatsandCars]

Yes, and it could happen with anyone who takes too much oral baclofen, too. It would probably take a lot, but why take chances, right?

[Robsmom]

Wow, I don't have a Baclofen pump, but I've been on oral Baclofen for 14 years. Never heard of this, thanks for the info.Glad you got the necklace.

[CatsandCars in reply to Robsmom]

You're welcome. 😊

[Kenu]

I’m going to have my 3rd pain pump in next couple of months. Been every 6 years for a new one and it’s a morphine pump but can be mixed with baclofen and a couple others. Has been the best decision I’ve made and worked fabulously 🙏 Take care hopefully it works for you 👍🏼🙏😉

[CatsandCars in reply to Kenu]

Thanks so much, Kenu! I've had the pump for a while now, but I just now got around to getting the medical ID. I'm so glad that yours is helping you so much! 😊

[CV97]

I hated the options for medical alert jewelry. I also wanted to have something when I started taking more meds, just in case something went wrong (at that time, it was ampyra and baclofen tablets).

I found a company online called Lauren's Hope (laurenshope.com) that has a wide variety of "pretty" bracelets. They have stylist stuff for guys too - lots of options for any taste. Only a person looking for medical alert info would know that it's a medical ID bracelet. I really like the "jewelry" look of the ones I got instead of a clunky chain hanging around my neck.

[CatsandCars in reply to CV97]

That's welcome information, CV97. This one is bigger and heavier than I expected. I guess it's my fault because I'm wordy and wanted to fit more info on it, but it feels like I'm wearing a license plate around my neck! Thanks. 😅

[Peruzzot]

I have a bracelet that says I have MS and that I'm allergic to alcohol. I can't remember where I got it from though. It looks a lot nicer than standard medical alert bracelets and necklaces though.

Medical alert bracelet

[CV97 in reply to Peruzzot]

That looks like a Lauren's Hope bracelet to me! Here's mine!

Silver medical alert bracelet

[CV97 in reply to CV97]

I have two bands clipped to the same tag (added rings to make them easier to attach).

Edit: the large band is a "mood bracelet" so the beads changes color.

Medical alert bracelet bands

[CatsandCars]

Wow, that's really pretty! Shockingly so. 😅 I'll have to look around a bit more before replacing the license plate I'm currently wearing!

[CV97 in reply to CatsandCars]

The license plate has all the info you need, so you'll be safe until you find a prettier replacement! 😂😂😂

[CatsandCars]

😂😂😂

[Tazmanian]

Sounds scary

[CatsandCars in reply to Tazmanian]

It kinda does! But it's very rare.