Re: informing doctors (to from Joan)

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

This will be very helpful to many I am sure! I'm glad you sent this out!...thank you. I will use it as an abbreviation to what I normally took ... I went to the ER with a complete notebook ... each time I have a test (MRI, CT, MRA, EMG, etc.) and lab work, I add it to the book. and yes, I travel with lists of my meds. If I ever had to go to the ER and couldn't speak, I'd be unable to tell them everything, including meds ... one thing I don't want to do is go through withdrawal from Methadone!

Something else I do for an "emergency" situation. I live on an island at the Jersey shore. Last year, when I would think about those down south after Katrina, I kept thinking about how are they going to get their meds? Each month now, I take a few pills of each med and put them in an "emergency" bottle. I will skip a pill of each med here and there. This way, if I am ever a refugee, I will have enough meds to hold me over til life settles down again.

I will add you to my hugs and prayers list!,

Joan

I've noticed in several messages how frustrating it can be working with a new doctor. It can even be frightening if one of us ends up in the ER and we KNOW the ER docs won't hava clue what is going on. That is why I wrote a 2 page summary of my condition, with the help of my neurologist. The pages look like this:Patient name, address & so on...diagnosis(es)list of regular doctors (primary and specialists) with addresses & phonelist of medicationsBRIEF summary of history of disease, starting with most recent first.list of tests and results performed to date.Doctors who have seen my summary sigh with relief. This summary is much easier for them then rifling through a huge file. When I am going to a new specialist I bring my MRI films with me (yes, I ask for copies), as well as a binder with my test results in case they need to see the original results.I also make an index card with one side containing list of medications, and the other with medical conditions and surgeries on the other. I give these out when asked what meds I'm on. Hope this helps. -

[Guest guest]

Hi Joan and I do the same thing. I have a list of meds I travel with and a file of tests and my medical history. My husband would never know what meds I am on or remember what tests I have gone through. And Joan, I have also thought about the people after Katrina hit. How they would get their medications and all. It must have been a terrible situation. All of the drug stores and hospitals were affected. It makes you stop and think, doesn't it? That's why you are doing what you are doing! Makes sense.Hugs,Debbie T.pickstands@... wrote:

Hi , This will be very helpful to many I am sure! I'm glad you sent this out!...thank you. I will use it as an abbreviation to what I normally took ... I went to the ER with a complete notebook ... each time I have a test (MRI, CT, MRA, EMG, etc.) and lab work, I add it to the book. and yes, I travel with lists of my meds. If I ever had to go to the ER and couldn't speak, I'd be unable to tell them everything, including meds ... one thing I don't want to do is go through withdrawal from Methadone! Something else I do for an "emergency" situation. I live on an island at the Jersey shore. Last year, when I would think about those down south after Katrina, I kept thinking about how are they going to get their meds? Each month now, I take a few pills of

each med and put them in an "emergency" bottle. I will skip a pill of each med here and there. This way, if I am ever a refugee, I will have enough meds to hold me over til life settles down again. I will add you to my hugs and prayers list!, Joan I've noticed in several messages how frustrating it can be

working with a new doctor. It can even be frightening if one of us ends up in the ER and we KNOW the ER docs won't hava clue what is going on. That is why I wrote a 2 page summary of my condition, with the help of my neurologist. The pages look like this:Patient name, address & so on...diagnosis(es)list of regular doctors (primary and specialists) with addresses & phonelist of medicationsBRIEF summary of history of disease, starting with most recent first.list of tests and results performed to date.Doctors who have seen my summary sigh with relief. This summary is much easier for them then rifling through a huge file. When I am going to a new specialist I bring my MRI films with me (yes, I ask for copies), as well as a binder with my test results in case they need to see the original results.I also make an index card with one side containing list of

medications, and the other with medical conditions and surgeries on the other. I give these out when asked what meds I'm on. Hope this helps. -

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