Living Single ...

by Carolyn Stevenson

Hello everyone, especially those out there who are single Parkies.  This is the first installment of Living Single, an on-going column dedicated to those of us who live single with Parkinson’s Disease.  I am excited about this column, as I know that there are special challenges that those of us who live alone face as our disease progresses.  Suggestions, questions and comments will always be appreciated, and I will include my email address at the bottom of each column.  There are many topics to discuss over the coming months and years, such as:

Emergency medical help

Single parenting

Working

Traveling alone

Challenges of family and friends

Living alone with depression

So, on to the first topic – protecting ourselves during an emergency requiring medical care.  For those of us who live alone, if is very important to prepare for an unexpected medical emergency.  As Parkinson’s patients, and with the knowledge that so many physicians and medical centers lack the proper education to treat us properly, we should evaluate our respective personal situations. 

For example, I live alone and family is a minimum of one hour away.  Even though they are that close, I have to consider what Parkinson’s education they have and their ability to become an advocate for me during a medical emergency.  My movement disorder center is also about one hour away from my home, and I already have a healthy distrust for the neurologist’s who practice in the large medical center in which my Primary Care doctor practices.  Then when I consider medication interactions…a cold shiver runs up my spine.

So, in considering all the things that could go wrong, I decided about two years ago to subscribe to a medical alert service.  A medical alert service is a company that maintains special information about you, information that you supply to them.  Usually you purchase a piece of jewelry that you wear which, upon examination, alerts someone that you have special medical needs.  The service usually requires a small annual fee and there is a cost for the jewelry. 

After searching for the right service for me, I chose Medic Alert.  I liked the service, and I know that by calling the phone number on my bracelet, the medical team will receive important information about treating me correctly.  Why do I know this?  I know this because the Medic Alert online system allows me to personally enter personal information about myself.  Medic Alert has four categories in which I can enter personal information:  Medications, Conditions, Special Information and Personal Information.  For example, I can list any medications I may be taking exactly the way I want them to be read to a caller:

 

·        Takes Celexa (60mg x1 per day)

·        Takes Requip (1mg x4 per day)

·        Takes Comtan (200mg x4 per day)

·        Takes Carbidopa/Levadopa (25/100 x6 per day)

·        Takes Carbidopa/Levadopa CR (50/200 x1 at bedtime)

·        Takes Aciphex (acid-reflux)

·        Takes Femhrt (hormones)

·        Takes Zocor (20mg per day)

·        Takes Synthroid (.200mmg per day)

 

I can also enter Special Information the way I want it to be read to a caller:

 

·       Do not administer medications, including those for pain and anesthesia, without contacting the patient’s movement disorder center (Parkinson’s Disease adverse drug interactions possible).

·       List the name and phone number of your movement disorder center and/or neurologist.

·       List an emergency contact; name, phone, relationship.

·       If you have one, list that you have a Living Will and who the executor/holder is, along with that person phone number.

·       State when you were diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease.

·       State any pertinent injury history that may be important; i.e. titanium hardware in leg/spine due to  auto accident 10/28/1994, and include the name and city of the hospital that maintains the record of treatment.

·       List any non-Parkinson’s Disease medical conditions that you may have.

 

Of course, making the decision to subscribe to a medical alert service is a personal decision.  I believe it is a decision that may one day save my life.  Remember…never say never!   It is important to determine which service is right for you.  Below are four sites that I found on the Internet.  I do suggest that you research your choice carefully to ensure that it has full service 24/7/365.  In addition to those below, many drug store chains have medical alert services.  You can usually find this information at the pharmacy counter.

 

American Medical identifications

http://www.americanmedical-id.com

 

Medic Assist’

http://www.medicassist.com

 

Medic Alert

https://www.medicalert.org

 

Medical Alert Jewelry

http://www.lifejewelry.com

 

Peaceful sailing to all,

Carolyn Stephenson

cj.stephenson@verizon.net