-----Original Message-----
From: hydrocephalus@yahoogroups.com [mailto:hydrocephalus@yahoogroups.com]On Behalf Of dasy fahnestock
Sent: Sunday January 7, 2007 23:22
To: hydrocephalus@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [hydrocephalus] Re: Disclosing your condition to a co-worker???

 > should a person with hydro or bipolar or one that has seizures consider getting a med bracelet 

 

Because being bipolar as of itself isn't a "physical" condition, but rather a "mental" one, it wouldn't pose as much of a necessity IMHO.

People will probably disagree, and if you feel better having one because of it, then that's up to you.  However, I have personally regarded it as a helpful safeguard if something were to happen to a person as a result of their condition and they were unable to speak for themselves.  They would be at the mercy of anyone who finds them. THAT is dangerous.  To me, it is not the hydrocephalus per se, but the fact that I have encountered seizures during shunt malfunctions, I realized that if I had to try to get to the hospital on my own power I would feel better knowing that if I had a seizure en route that someone would clue in as to what is going on.  That would be of course the same with allergies, either because of an allergic reaction, or because of an allergy to a medication (such as penicillin (sp?) or the flu shot (which often contains an egg by-product and they always ask if you're allergic to eggs)) so they know what NOT to treat you with.

 

Also, although I realize policies change from country to country, they adopted a new one a while back for MedicAlert Canada where they no longer offer "lifetime" memberships and you have to pay annually - except for those of us who signed up back then, we're covered for life but they request money if you change any information.  Keep this into  consideration, and ask yourself if you really feel you may be at risk, due to your condition, where you would not be able to speak for yourself, and if you feel you would chance it being found by a total stranger that way or would a bracelet be helpful in saying what you can't so you can get the help you need?  This should help you decide whether or not it's important.

And for more information, check out http://www.medicalert.ca (here in Canada) or http://www.medicalert.com (for the USA) or whatever domain extension applies to your home country.  They're all over the place.

- Sean