I had a heart cath on July 27. One stent placed for a 90% blockage and two 50% blockages are being treated medically. Afterwards, I developed a large hematoma that broke loose and I was bleeding internally. My blood pressure plummetted. I was told this is an extremely rare thing to happen. Fortunately, I was already in ICU after the heart cath with a nitroglycerine drip because of chest pain and they were able to help me. One of the nurses put a red band with some numbers around my wrist and said that was in case I needed a blood transfusion. Fortunately, I had already had this hospital change my records several months ago to state that I was a "Christian", not a J-dub. When the lady in registration at that time questioned me about changing it and actually said "what about blood transfusions", I told her I no longer believed that way. Obviously, this hospital did get my information changed and I am so glad they did. I did not have to have a blood transfusion, but there would have been no hesitation in giving me one if it had been necessary. I also at that time changed my secondary contact information from the witness relatives it had been previously to my non-witness sons.
But I do have other hospitals I have gone to in the past that I need to change that information for, particularly now that I am on aspirin and Plavix. If I had an emergency, I would not want to be taken to one of those hospitals and they have on record that I am a J-dub and think I would refuse blood. I'm glad this came up because it makes me realize I have more work to do to get this information changed.