Blue Card

[Mistyscot]

The doctor said I have to get a blue card and I forgot to ask him where do I get one from and what is it for hoping someone can help me .

cheers jan

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Hi Jan,

You should be able to get one from any chemist/pharmacy. Idea to get a spare as they don't give much room for changes to dose. It's designed to keep a record of you, and your Pred doses, and you should carry it with you at all times, in case you are attended to by the emergency services etc and cannot tell them you are on steroids.

As you know, once you've been on steroids for at least 3 weeks, they shouldn't be stopped suddenly, and if others are not aware, and you are in an accident or incident and unconscious and don't have a card there's no way of others knowing.

Lots of us also have a medical bracelet or necklace advising same - I prefer a bracelet, as one of the 1st things to happen is checking your pulse in your wrist.

Incidentally, I have used both for 4 years, and never needed to use either, by they are there if required.

[betty1943 in reply to DorsetLady]

Where do you get the bracelets from please is it also pharmasists/chemists?

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to betty1943]

Hi again,

Sorry should have explained that as well! Some larger chemist may do them, but they would be generic - and would only cover common illnesses, certainly not PMR or GCA.

You need to buy one on line, and then you can put your own wording on. Just type in "medical bracelet" or "medical alert jewellery" or words to that effect and you will get plenty of choices. Some are more complex than others, in that you can register and the company holds your details, and the emergency services contact them, but you obviously have to pay extra for that.

Choose UK site, some are better quality than others, so it pays to look at different sites. Mine was bought from "identifyyourself.com", but as I say there are many, depending on what you want, and how much info you want printed. I just have my name, NOK tel no, and that I'm on steroids for GCA.

Happy hunting!

[betty1943 in reply to DorsetLady]

Thank you DorsetLady.

[HeronNS in reply to betty1943]

I bought a rather pretty silver bracelet from an international company (universal medical id also available in the uk), and I'm glad I did because I will certainly get at least a year's use out of it. It did cost more than their basic model, but I spend very little on myself so I thought this was worth it. The price includes a lifetime link to a site where one can place as much medical information as necessary and keep updated. This is accessed by a pin engraved (along with some basic info) on the inside of the bracelet, so that first responders can have almost instant access to any information they would need to help you. (Never any more charges, I phoned and checked. Some companies appear to have a monthly fee, which might be fine for a short term illness, not so cost effective for a chronic condition.) At present I only have the prednisone issue, but in the future if need be that same account could cover other medical conditions.

[HeronNS in reply to HeronNS]

universalmedicalid.com/imag...

[PMRpro Ambassador]

There was a shortage of blue cards a bit back! And you'd be surprised how many doctors know nothing about them.

I don't live in the UK, we don't have blue cards, but I have a post-it size piece of paper in my purse and another in a small wallet in which I carry my warfarin card, phone and dosette box which list the medications I am on and doses. I'm about to ditch the warfarin booklet and substitute a manufacturer's data sheet for a different anticoagulant. In Italian - so god help me if I need it anywhere else!

When I'm away from home, travelling overnight, I have a ziplock bag like you use for flying, with all my medication in it with another list of doses. On my phone I have an ICE number - In Case of Emergency, a number of a friend or relative who can provide information.

[Mistyscot]

thanks everyone ............ I think i put my info on a phone app and buy a bracelet

cheers Jan

[Telfordian]

I had some problems getting a blue card and finally printed one off the internet from Imperial College Healthcare. I'll spare you the boring details but not long after I ran out of 5mg Pred while in Prague (no, I wasn't on a stag do) and asked at a pharmacy. He said I needed a prescription, but accepted the card. Incidentally they cost £2 for 20.