Emergency Medical card to use after VFS

[anjaq]

Since some people now already asked me for a copy of it, I will post this separately again.

I had my voice surgery with Yeson in Feb.'15 and was told by them initially that intubation is an issue after VFS. They geve some details on what to do when it comes to intubations after the VFS, especially during the first months. When speaking with another surgeon (not a voice surgeon), he told me that he experienced and heard from colleagues about several incidents where a patient who had a glottoplasty done before had a regular intubation and the intubation ripped open the suture and destroyed the web. He basically recommends only CTA procedures since than, no glottoplasty, because the effect of such a destruction can be devastating.

So mc conclusion was, that for ANY intubation after a glottoplasty, one shoud use utmost care when it comes to intubations and best follow the instructions I was given by Yeson Voice Clinic. The intubator should also be gently inserted and carefully removed.

Since there can be situations where one might be unconscious and still need intubation (accidents, medical emergencies,...) and cannot voice these issues, I prepared a medical emergency card for myself that I can put in my pocket, wallet, car, ... to inform medical personnell about this issue, so they can(if possible) avoid damaging my voice.

The card looks like this:

and I uploaded the photoshop file here:
https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,192899.msg1745090.html#msg1745090

Maybe this is of use for some others who had glottoplasty.

Disclaimer: I do not know if this is needed, if it is being overly cauteous, if the medical personnell will understand and folow the instructions etc - its just my attempt to thwart my paranoia about having my voice destroyed by some stupidity.

I would also appreciate any help in improving the card - if you see mistakes or think something could or should be made clearer... please tell me.

[Elaine S]

Anjaq:

I just saw this and think that this is a very good idea. One MUST tell other's doing airway work about using care and a smaller tube size and extra care in inserting and removing airway tubes. I have seen MANY dozens of forces RSI intubations for accident victims and the speed at which it was done was alarming. I may well save the card and file to laminate a card for my wallet as I was just thinking about this when I saw this thread (I thought of a bracelet type thing too, as I am an avid cyclist). Thanks for the great idea. it is not being overcautious, it is being proactive in ensuring any future emergency RSI do not destroy your ability to speak.

Elaine

[anjaq]

Yes - a surgeon told me he has experienced or heard from colleagues about people who had this happen - their voice after such a surgery being destroyed by improper intubation.

I am not sure if in case of an emergency anyone will actually find and read that card and then act upon it - but it improves the chances of this happening...

[audreelyn]

Wow! This is a great idea! Keep it laminated and stick it alongside your ID, and that would be perfect. Your design skills are great too--seriously, great job girl!

Here are a couple examples I found online:

http://www.medids.com/samplecard2.html

http://www.ct.gov/dph/lib/dph/facility_licensing_and_investigations/pdf/medication_card.pdf

So anyway Anjaq, your work trumps the pros! You could probably get a job designing these things.

[anjaq]

Thanks, but the design was actually done rather fast, just taking some images from google search and writing up some things in Photoshop. But I think it ctches enough attention so someone finding it will take a look. If I could make some extra money designing stuff, I would not mind - But there are plenty of people out there designing printed stuff. I was looking at working in that area about 15 years ago, but decided eventually against going to a design school because the job opportunities were prdicted to be very bad. Ok, my present ones are not any better, but it is always hard to say in advance.

[jollyjoy]

Thanks for sharing, never thought about this until now. I think it'll be very useful to have it just in case of emergency.

[Cadence Jean]

Thank you thank you thank you! I had not considered being unconscious and a stranger intubating me!