I wear one, just so if I get hit by a car or something and can't speak for myself, they know I could be having bleeding issues.

I was just watching some medical ER show the other night about real doctors and situations in the ER and there was a patient who had some kind of accident and happened to be on warfarin and the ER doctor said that when patients come in who are on warfarin, it's one of those things that really, really causes concern for the doctors.

Anyway, when I was initially on warfarin for 6 months, I bought a cheap red rubber bracelet that said COUMADIN off eBay for a couple of bucks. Because I clotted again and am now on warfarin long term, I bought something a little more durable. I bought a stainless steel bangle bracelet with the medical alert symbol on the front and with ANTICOAGULANTS on the back. Some people put other info on their's but my main concern is that EMTs know I'm on some type of "thinner."

No offense to any nurses out here, but the nurses I've dealt with in regards to my warfarin management were not sharpest knives in the drawer.

The RN at my dr. office suggest I wear one. I have a cheap one that wear when I'm out walking.. It's my only id when I'm walking. It also list the person who has my durable power of attorney.

I invested in a gold--plated ID after my second DVT and I wear it pretty much constantly, even in bed or in the shower.

I've been told by multiple docs to have a med bracelet and they were pleased when I showed them I already had one. I'm with rmb, I wear it so that people know there could be a problem if I'm unconscious. If the only way the nurses can "figure it out" is after I've bled out in the ER, that won't do me much good.

I'd rather have them err on the side of caution and shoot me up with Vitamin K if I've been in an accident. At least it gives you a fighting chance of being treating correctly in an emergency. Mine has my name and lists both "anticoagulants" and "asthma."

I would keep the bracelet. Better safe than sorry!

Laura turned me on to http://www.idonme.com/ "ID on me" a very inexpensive solution to identifying medical issues. I will park it shortly as I am off coumadin until mid-June when I get tested for other genetic factors. It's wierd but I will miss it in my morning routine, taking it off, showering and putting it back on, but I won't miss coumadin if I don't have to ever put it on again! A pretty good soloution I have to say! -p

Thank you all so much. Each of you are so supportive. I am 3 weeks out of the hospital, and have found so much comfort and valuable information from all of the comments here on Daily Strength. Thanks for the website petvs..... and congratulations on becoming coumadin free! My prayer for you is that you never have to put that id bracelet on again!

I had looked at ID bracelets / chains but, opted for an ICE Medical ID Card. It is the size of a credit card and is really a USB flash drive that has all of my medical information on it including conditions, family, meds, dosage and history. It came with several small stickers to let anyone know I had it in my wallet. When ever my dosage changes I plug it in, make the changes and done. I put a sticker on the front of my wallet and one on my drivers license and have the card with me always.
David

i wore one too. i joked that it was the ugliest piece of jewelry i ever spent $50 on.
and boy was it great to take it off when i was done with bloodthinners :)

Wow, right on time saw my hematologist Wednesday and guess what Im on Warfarin indefinitely YEE-HAW. So now Im need of a medical ID and have been looking at my options. I dont think a bracelet will be good for me see that getting caught on something end up broken or lost. Dont even wear a watch the cell phone works for that. Jewelry has never been my thing. I dont even wear my wedding ring (I know boo hiss) just feels weird cant get use to it. The closest I come to wearing something is my two earrings. But this is different this could be life saving. For me I like the dog tag med ID easy on wont worry about losing it as much as the bracelet. Mrs. Redneck wants to get me a second dog tag to act as my wedding band. Got no problem with that.


PS Like the ICE card in the wallet as a back-up

Hello All,
Guess it depends on your lifestyle to some extent, but who knows when something bad is going to happen. I do alot of road cycling and always wear it when biking and generally just leave it on during the day.

I would recommend a company called Road ID. www.RoadID,com. They make a very simple bracelet which is velcro, water resistent and durale. You have the stainless plate on the front engraved with the information you want such as name, phone number(s), medicine you take, etc. They cost $20 and come in several colors. I am not a jewerly guy, but I think they are pretty stylish and I've gotten many comments asking what it was. There is also a chip-based version which emergency responders can access all of your medical information, but that one is a bit over the top for me.

Good luck!

Yup. I ride, run and swim (and if I get in an accident). I have a "sports" one and a "formal" one :), but the sports one just seems to stay on. The metal one sort of flaps around when I swim.

EMTs and first responders are trained to look for med ID tags, so I think a bracelet is better than in the wallet, that they may never find/see. Just my ,02

Chris

I am going to be investing in one. I would rather be safe than sorry and blood thinners affect our medical care

I wear a stainless steel one constantly. When I am by myself or even around others, I still wear one at all times. I just think, "Yeah, someone else can be riding with me in the car, but what if we are in an accident and they are unconscious too?" No one would be able to tell the EMTs and I'd rather be safe than sorry. My dad is on the same thing and refuses to wear one, although I've tried convincing him.

I ordered a medic alert brecelet right after my PE. It has my full name, Warfarin, and HX PE/DVT on it. I just feel a little safer that if something happened to me they'd have that important info available. I say if. It gives you piece of mind, go for it.

I wear one at all times. I sometimes take it off at night but it is pretty comfortable and I rarely notice it. I bought mine from Lauren's Hope online. They are a little pricey but they have a huge variety of jewelry. I have my NAME, ON COUMADIN, ALLERGY: MORPHINE, ICE: (Husband's cell phone #). I was told by every doctor, specialist, nurse that I saw to get one. I would really suggest getting one if you are going to be on anticoagulants for any length of time.

My doctor's nurse complimented me for wearing my bracelet. She said it was very important if I was in an accident or was unable to speak for myself for any reason. The hospital told me to get one too. I say shame on the nurse that laughed about it. I'll bet she has never been an ER nurse. They may figure it out, but why not give them the information up front to give them extra time they may need before it is to late.