Tuesday, October 5, 2010

My first medical ID bracelet

I accidentally went to seanie.blogspot.com and found a blog that hadn't been updated since 2003. And the second to last post was simply: Hellllooooo.
Huh, sounds very familiar. Must be in the Seanie.
I originally shut my computer down and turned off the internet. Yes, we are one of the few households that turn off our wireless when no one is using it. I realized that I hadn't updated my blog and explained to Amy my plan for updating everyday. She agrees that I'll probably have more to say once I get used to writing more. It's not that I don't have anything to say - my head is filled with things! It's just getting them down that's the problem. I do a lot of thinking when I'm in the shower, but by the time I get out and get dressed I'm too tired... or end up in lupus fog land and remember nothing.
Having my last seizure in a public place when I was by myself hit me hard. I had my first seizure at home when Amy was there to call 911. (Granted, it was the first one and she thought I was dying. My first words after snapping out of it was to ask for clothes. Get your mind out of the gutter, I was hot before I laid down.)
The second one happened while preparing for a Halloween party in Allston. Luckily there were many people around, including my friend Mark who was sitting next to me at the time. It affected him more than I'll ever know. A few weeks ago I opted to stay in the car when everyone else went in Dunks to get coffee. A few minutes later he came out to the car and sat and talked with me while we waited for the others. I would do the same thing if I watched my friend have a seizure and he was all alone somewhere.
The third one is my favorite by far. I was alone in bed. Amy called and I answered sounding dazed. Then I explained I thought I had a seizure. We could tell by the bite marks from where I chomped down on my tongue. I was also very tired. No need to call the EMTs. (Which is why it was my favorite. No drama!)
The good part about number 4 is that I don't remember it. I remember the EMTs asking me questions in the ambulance that I of course didn't know. Hard ones such as, what is your last name? They got my wallet out while I was still out of it so they knew I lived in Lowell. (Or I could have handed it to them while hopping around like a bunny. I wouldn't remember if I did.) My guess is they ran my name at both hospitals because they brought me to the one with my files.
The point of this is, I finally broke down (emotionally) and got a medical ID bracelet. My mother has been bugging me to get one since the first time it happened. I had to get a petite sized one because I have a small wrist. The best part is they assume anyone identifying themselves as a man wouldn't have wrists this small, so I had to say the bracelet was for a boy. My options were boy, woman, girl.
It came in the mail yesterday and I do feel better having one, even though I joke that it's like having a dog collar.