<<Disclaimer: Verify this information before applying it to your situation.>>

In mid-March I asked the list for ideas for a medical alert bracelet or
necklace pendant.  Many of you responded.

Here are two companies that produce medical jewelry.  One is:

APOTHECARY PRODUCTS, INC.
11531 Rupp Drive
Burnsville, MN  55337

They produce stainless steel engraved symbol medical i.d. jewelry with
emergency medical information.  They are relatively inexpensive:  $4.89 for
the bracelet/necklace plus shipping and handling, then $1.50 per line.


MEDICAL ALERT JEWELRY COMPANY @ this site:
http://Willow.Internet-Connections.net/web/idsrv/idbrac.html
They make custom Medical Alert bracelets and necklaces (dog tag style) in
surgical stainless steel for $5.50 each.  You can order directly over the
Internet.  Web site has color photos of product.  (from Fran in Oregon)


The other is:  MEDIC-ALERT
PO Box 1009
Turlock, CA  95381-1009
209/668-333
209/669-2495 FAX
or
1-800/432-5378
1-800/328-1584 - FAX
[log in to unmask]

This is an organization that an individual can join and receive a medical
bracelet/necklace;  Medic Alert maintains a comuterized medical file on each
member, w/ a 24-hour Emergency Response Center, unlimited free record updates
and member publications.  Initial fee that includes setting up medical file,
custom engraved emblem with chain is $35.00.  Annual dues are $15.00.

Since I suffered from a cerebral aneurysm 17 years ago I have a clip in my
head that a radiologist told me should prevent me from ever having a MRI, as
the MRI could move the clip.  This plus my celiac sprue led me to the Medic
Alert people.  So, what is on my bracelet is:  Aneurysm Clip in Head - No
MRI; Celiac Sprue - Gluten Free Diet.

I telephoned them and "filled out the form" over the telephone which was a
much better way of doing it in retrospect as when I wanted to say, "cannot
eat wheat, oats, rye or barley", the abrupt response was, "we don't do
diets".  You need to have your doctor's address/telephone number; insurance
plus group number and social security number.  You can add your other
doctors, in my case the gastroenterologist and endocrinologist, medications
that you are on, etc.  The medical file can be updated at no cost.  I suggest
that you have your wrist measured for a bracelet at a jewelers as they will
ask in the application the size - 6inches to 9 inches.

Some of the responses on the list:

This from Mike Jones.  "A few years back, I researched the issue.  Here is
what we came up with:  Celiac Sprue on Gluten Free Diet.  The Medical Alert
people would not allow me to use my first choice of:  Celiac Disease on a
Glaidin-Restricted Diet.  .... Assumptions....Unless you are one of the few
that goes into shock due to a "true allergic reaction", in a crisis the
medication will not be evaluated.  The medical staff will do everything
required to stabilize you.  Luckily most of these items would be GF.  The
alert is a means of getting the staff to determine what is the meaning of the
words celiac and gluten free.  Since it is not spelled out that well in most
medical texts, the probability of error is great.  Also, many references
incorrectly list wheat starch as appropriate.  ....several brands of
bracelets available ... the information on the different companies is in the
logfiles, but anyone can reply directly tome and I will find the addresses."

Cindy in Texas suggested that I write "CAUTION - intolerant to wheat, oats,
rye, and barley.  Ingestion causes severe, life threatening reaction."

Anne Washburn replied that "I wanted to say that I wear a MedicAlert bracelet
because I am allergic to penicillin, sulfa, and all their derivatives.  Ever
since I got this bracelet (which I have never removed!) I have felt quite
secure.  The last time I was in the hospital ... the nurse did look at the
bracelet.....Having a message in your wallet is useless because you can
easily be separated from it.  I have heard ambulance drivers talk about
this...."

Bill Lucas said that his bracelet says:  "...the first two are for medication
i take, the next two say:  Alergic to Gluten."

Marilyn already wears a necklace and as a result of my question said, "By
showing allergic to multi drugs and foods they (emergency) will find out
exactly what they are when they contact Medic Alert ...I am calling them
tomorrow to give them the info on being a celiac..."  It was Marilyn who gave
the the 1-800 number for medic alert.

April wrote "I just received our Medic Alert bracelet yesterday for my
daughter.  She is not celiac, but she is gluten free to help her behavior
because she is autistic.  On the bracelet itself it says 'Autism - Gluten &
Casein intolerance.' "

Fran in Oregon wrote "I agree that in etreme circumstances, they will
override this stipulation to give whatever medications in an acute/trauma
situation to get you stabilized."

Ron Hoggan in Canada wrote:  "I'm posting my dissenting opinion to the list,
as it is growing so rapidly that some may not be aware of an experience I had
at the end of July last year.  I underwent a CT scan.  Because I identified
myself as a celiac, the radiologist was ready for me.  He used the contrast
solution that is less likely to cause an immune reaction.  Still, I
experienced extreme difficulty breathing.  ...felt like something was
blocking ... airways from inside.  Subsequent discussion revealed that he had
the antidote at hand before I was wheeled into the room.  ... The radiologist
told me that I was the third celiac he had done a CT scan on, and the third
celiac who had had a reaction to it.  .... I think the bracelet is a good
idea."

Kathey wrote:  "As far as I know there ARE injected drugs that contain
gluten.  And my very good friend was given an IV for a regular intervenous
feeding and it contained gluten!"

Deanna was the only negative response I received, "For your info, all 3 times
I went into the hospital, I told them that I was Celiac Sprue-Dermatitis
Herpetiformis-gluten free diet - no wheat, oats, barley, rye.  Got the wrong
stuff anyway.  Good luck with your medical alert.  make sure it is visible.
 In an emergency they do not look in pockets, or search the body for tags.
 This was told to our group by a paramedic."

Thank you all for your responses.  Sarah in Washington, D.C. [log in to unmask]