Med Bracelets?

[arismama]

Just curious if any of you have purchased a medical bracelets for your children. We are undiagnosed for the time being (waiting to see the GI) but was just wondering if you felt that Celiac warrants the bracelet. (As a sidenote, my 15 mo old daughter is allergic to milk, still doing tests on that, but was given an EpiPen Jr.)

What are your thoughts on this?

Thanks!

[tarnalberry]

For most of us, gluten is not immediately life-threatening, the away an anaphylactic allergy can be, so I don't think that - for most people - it warrants a med alert bracelet. But it's a personal decision.

[Mom22]

Our children do not wear the medic alert bracelets, however, I saw a couple of children who wore them at our local celiac support group meeting. I believe it is a personal choice, as well.

Mom 2 2

[MySuicidalTurtle]

I am 19 and wear one for demerol and am in the process of adding my celiac information to it.

Just beacuse you don't have a servere reaction to it usually doesn't mean it can't happen. It's a good idea for everyone to think about wearing one, not just children.

[tarnalberry]

but celiac, being an IgA/IgG reaction, not an IgE reaction cannot cause anaphylactic shock. of course, you can ALSO be allergic to wheat, and run that risk, in which case I _would_ think a med alert bracelet would be a good idea. (I also think that if you already have one, it doesn't hurt to add on to it. ;-) )

[Thomas]

It might be a good idea.

[gf4life]

arismama,

With your daughter so young and not able to talk for herself, and the possiblity that she might need an EpiPen for the milk allergy, I think it might be a good idea.

It can also help with young children in daycare and school to reinforce to the teachers and aides that it really is a medical issue and not just a dietary choice.

I have considered getting them for my children, since my middle boy is on daily meds for multiple things and both he and my older son have asthma, and my daughter and middle son also have penicillin allergy that I'm told will get worse each time they are given penicillin. The trouble has been finding a bracelet that can fit ALL of my middle son's urgent information. I can fit it all on a dog tag style necklace, but I've been told it won't help in a medical emergency, since the EMT personnel will not look for a necklace, only a bracelet...

I like the idea of the bracelet in case of a substitute teacher who doesn't want to believe my child that they can't eat a particular food. This is probably only an issue in the lower grades since the older children don't tend to get snacks in class like they do in pre-K through 2nd grade, but they do occasionally get treats for good work/behavior and they have occasional parties and outings that might include food. So far we haven't had any trouble with teachers. My kindergarten daughter had her first substitute teacher last week, but when we got to school and I realised the sub was there I explained briefly to her that my daughter cannot eat wheat/gluten/dairy and she has a special snack box that she picks from at snack time. My daughter showed her where the snack box was kept and everything was fine. My daughter is great at reminding the teacher/aides what she can't have. If they accidently give her something that contains gluten she will give it back and remind them that she can't have it and ask for a clean plate.

God bless,

Mariann

[Ruth]

At the advice of an allergist, I do not list gluten as an allergen or celiac disease on my children's medical alert braclets.

I only list the allergies that cause an anaphylactic reaction. (peanuts, tree nuts, pennecillin, etc.)

In case of a medical emergency, I do not want an EMT wondering what gluten/celiac is, and delay administering life saving medication because they are in doubt.

FYI: For the "immediate life threatening" allergies my kids do have, I have found some great looking/functional medialert braclets for them at this site: www.n-styleid.com

[arismama]

Well this has been a lot of interesting information. Thanks to all for your input so far. I thought I'd get far more "not necessary" responses than I have.

We have an upcoming appointment with the allergist to do skin testing for the milk and related allergens. Maybe something will be revealed there that will help make the bracelet decision. I will also ask the allergist what his thoughts are on this. I'd like to hear his opinion, as well as the GI when we finally get in to see him/her.

Thanks everyone!

Jennifer

[arismama]

Hi everyone...this was PM'ed to me from Laura (mommida). She's still getting hang of the forum, but wanted to post this. Hey Laura, if you're reading this, you can respond to the post by clicking on the "Add Reply" button at the top of the thread. It is a little hard to find if you don't know where to look. Hope that helps...Jen

"My kids 2 and 5 years of age are on a gluten free diet. Yes, a medic alert is an excellent idea. My daughter was given an antibiotic with gluten in it for an infection. Needless to say she was admitted to the hospital after two doses for dehydration. From what I have read a celiac or dermitis herpetiformis patient is also more likely to have a reaction to iodine. Iodine may be used in an emergency situation for disinfection of wounds. Please correct me if I am wrong. Anyone? An iodine patch is used to erupt the skin rash for dh testing.

Laura"

[lovegrov]

I don't have a bracelet because, like another poster, I don't want anybody to hesitate to use something that might save my life (I also don't have any other allergies or conditions). In those situations they'd probably be giving you something IV or an injection anyway, and injections and IVs don't contain gluten. If your child is in a situation where a pill or liquid is being prescribed, the parent would almost certainly be there to explain and to make sure the medication is checked.

I'm not saying the antibiotic the daughter took didn't have gluten, but keep in mind that some antibiotics have terrible gluten-like affects on some people. A few years before celiac disease I had to switch antibiotics because the first one I took for an infection caused terrible diarrhea and stomach problems -- much worse diarrhea than I ever had from celiac disease.

Iodine affects only people who have DH (a small percentage of people who have celiac), only while still in the early stages of the gluten-free diet (I eat things with iodine all the time and my DH hasn't come back in three years), and primarily if swallowed. A heavy solution of iodine can raise blisters, but only if you're still early enough in the gluten-free diet that you still have deposits of antibodies under the skin. If you've been on the diet for several months this almost certainly wouldn't happen.

I would get a bracelet if I had another condition that warranted it, but won't get one for celiac disease alone.

richard

[MySuicidalTurtle]

I never thought gluten would cause anaphylactic shock but we can have severe reactions and I would like it known that I have reactions to gluten and such. . .

Then again, it's up to everyone.