Med ID Jewellery

[aymes]

I wonder if at times a tattoo across the forehead telling them where to look wouldn't be a good option. Look as in for the tag, not 'I have diabetes, but I don't know where it is..'

After you, I'm not being the first to have the tattoo done!

I have heard of people having tattoos done to indicate medical conditions, ok maybe not on the forehead but on wrists etc!!!

In the past I've always got med id from www.coodmedid.com , they are like the silicone type bracelets you usually get to show support for various causes, I've found them really useful as they're cheap so it doesn't matter if I break them and I have various colours for different outfits. However they're not great for formal events so I've just asked my friend who has a jewellery making business (she makes her own glass beads) to make me a bracelet and she's going to attach the medical tag bit which we've bought from one of the 'official' id sites so I'll have my own unique id which hopefully I will wear all the time as it's exactly what I've picked out!

 

[Copepod]

"Originally Posted by HelenM
A quick google came up with this. At about ?15 it may be cheaper than your GP. http://www.saharamarathon.co.uk/bloodtestlocator.html
Hmm no clinics near me."
Try ANY travel clinic - the one I worked at isn't listed, but we offered blood grouping if needed.
However, if you are allowed to give blood, then that is the best way to get your blood group noted - free and you get drink & biscuits afterwards (actually, when I gave blood in a London centre in 1980s, we could have a small can of beer! The rules have changed recently, so many people with tablet controlled diabetes can now give blood, but those who use insulin still can't give blood.

 

[lynwill53]

Have you had any hospital surgery? If so, your blood group etc should be in your records.
When you go for your annual test, ask the med tech for your group and I'm sure he/she would assist.

I have used a "Talisman" medic thing for many years. Used to have the heavy chain bracelet, but now I have one with a watchstrap and don't notice I have it on.

I have had hospital surgery 3 times and have asked what my blood group is, to be told, they don't know, it's not in my records. Asked my Doc; Nope, no idea!Weird! What if I needed a transfusion? How do people discover they have rare blood types?

Rejected for blood donation cos of Asthma medication so can't go that route.

You would think that was something to establish at birth and put straight onto your medical records. Couldn't believe it's so difficult to find out

 

[Copepod]

blood grouping

If you need a blood transfusion, and it's not required instantly eg before a planned operation, then a sample of blood will be taken for "grouping and cross matching". Then, blood of the appropriate type will be reserved for your use. If it's not used, then it will be returned to the blood bank. No reputable blood transfusion service will rely on a blood group tatooed on a body or on a card in a wallet or even in a medical ID locket.
If you require a blood transfusion in a life or death situation, when there is no time for grouping & cross matching, then you will be given blood from the universal donor group ORh-ve.
If you don't need a blood transfusion you don't really need to know your blood group. If you're a blood donor, you will be told your blood group, and if you have a rare group, may be asked more often or in times of blood shortage, but the limit is still 3 units of whole blood donations per year.

 

[Northerner]

... if you have a rare group, may be asked more often or in times of blood shortage, but the limit is still 3 units of whole blood donations per year.

Actually, if you're a rare group they're likely to need less of it, as there are fewer people with that blood type! My mum was AB-ve, which is so rare that they said they would contact her when they needed a donation, since if she gave on a regular basis it might get wasted and she might not be available to give it when really needed - I don't think she ever actually gave blood! I'm B+ve, which I try to take as my mantra!🙂

 

[Copepod]

I probably didn't explain too well, but if a person say with AB-ve blood is planned for a major heart operation, the blood service will need to have say 20 or more units available, so they would call in anyone available with that blood group. If no-one needs they blood, then they won't collect it regularly -leaving it inside the donors, so it can be collected when needed.
Also, rthe elative incidences of blood groups vary between racial groups, and some groups have different rates of donation and needing blood transfusions.
Anyway, the bottom line is that anyone who can donate blood should consider registering - and then attending when notified by blood service. I'm glad that I was able to give blood and plasma for several years, before insulin put an end to that. I was registered as a potential bone marrow donor, but am now too old for that - in any case, I don't think they accept bone marrow from people with diabetes.

 

[MarcLister]

"Originally Posted by HelenM
A quick google came up with this. At about ?15 it may be cheaper than your GP. http://www.saharamarathon.co.uk/bloodtestlocator.html
Hmm no clinics near me."
Try ANY travel clinic - the one I worked at isn't listed, but we offered blood grouping if needed.
However, if you are allowed to give blood, then that is the best way to get your blood group noted - free and you get drink & biscuits afterwards (actually, when I gave blood in a London centre in 1980s, we could have a small can of beer! The rules have changed recently, so many people with tablet controlled diabetes can now give blood, but those who use insulin still can't give blood.

I'm on insulin so can't give blood.

However I did speak to someone from the surgery today. It will cost me ?15.62 for the surgery to take the blood and only ?9 for the clever people at Stoke Mandeville to actually test the blood to work out my blood type. So ?24.62. I'm happy to pay that.

I forgot to ask the nurse how long it would take to work my blood type out. Are we talking days or weeks after my appointment?

I have had hospital surgery 3 times and have asked what my blood group is, to be told, they don't know, it's not in my records. Asked my Doc; Nope, no idea!Weird! What if I needed a transfusion? How do people discover they have rare blood types?

Rejected for blood donation cos of Asthma medication so can't go that route.

You would think that was something to establish at birth and put straight onto your medical records. Couldn't believe it's so difficult to find out

I did have grommets inserted into me head sometime between 1985 and 1990. I was born in 1983 so can't have been before 1985 I reckon. Might ring the surgery again tomorrow and see if there is anything in my records about blood type from the operation. But I doubt it.

And I would have thought the NHS would want to find out your blood type asap so you know what type you need in case of an emergency but also so that the NHS can work out the percentage of the population having each blood type and helping the blood donor people know how many people have a certain blood type. Just seems to be quite an obvious statistic to measure the British population with.

 

[Einstein]

I found when I had my regular six monthly blood tests for just about everything else the nurse was happy to do the paperwork to find out my blood group.

Then the next time I saw my GP I simply asked what it was - remembered it until I left the surgery and forgot it within 20 paces! Does anyone else find their er.... erm, er... memory (that's it) is shot?

 

[sofaraway]

And I would have thought the NHS would want to find out your blood type asap so you know what type you need in case of an emergency

They would still take blood for type even if you've had it done before and you know the type, there are quite strict rules for blood transfusions.

 

[squidge63]

Hi

Just to let you know that if you receive DLA then you do not have to pay the annual subscription to MedicAlert. I find MedicAlert very helpful. You have to send a copy of your DLA to them and they waive the fee.

Adrienne🙂

I didnt realise that, I havent paid this year as I couldnt afford it... I shall contact them and get my subsciption renewed.

 

[MarcLister]

Got a letter from the Buckinghamshire Hospitals Trust today with my blood type. I'm O+. 🙂

Most common blood group in the UK so go me! 😎

 

[Sugarbum]

Im looking at getting an ID necklace and have found a tiffany style heart on medicaltags.co.uk.

Im not sure what to have engraved. Can have 3 lines. Thought my name and type 1 diabetic.

Does anyone have this necklace ? What do other people have engraved?

Im so glad you put this up here, I love that! Its nice to see some attractive ID jewllery for a change!