Why I Started Wearing a Medical Alert Bracelet Living With Lupus

At 31, wearing a medical alert bracelet was not on my radar. It wasn’t that I was resisting it—I had simply never considered it. None of my providers had mentioned it, either. At that point, I had been living with systemic lupus erythematosus and a few other conditions for three and a half years. Lupus had been life-changing and difficult, don’t get me wrong—but it hadn’t felt severe enough to require a bracelet. Even as an RN, I didn’t think I needed one.

That changed in November 2015.

When lupus humbled me

If lupus and chronic illness teach us anything, it’s humility. That November, I began feeling constantly dizzy. I would stand up and nearly pass out. I was exhausted beyond the daily lupus fatigue I had grown used to. I was weak—scary weak. It wasn’t until 2016 that it really got bad. My blood pressure was dangerously low, consistently running in the 70s/30s to 80s/40s while I was walking, driving, and working.

Driving terrified me. I vividly remember thinking I might pass out behind the wheel. Passing out at work worried me less since I worked with nurses and knew I would be in good hands—but the uncertainty was frightening. What made it worse was not knowing why it was happening. Lupus does not typically cause blood pressures that low. Even my rheumatologist admitted she was unsure what was going on.

My adrenal insufficiency diagnosis

Eventually, I saw an endocrinologist who diagnosed me with adrenal insufficiency secondary to long-term steroid use. In other words, lupus wasn’t directly causing my symptoms—the treatment was. The steroids that had helped control my lupus had suppressed my adrenal function. That explained the dizziness, weakness, near-fainting episodes, and severely low blood pressure.

It wasn’t constant, but it happened often enough to scare me.

Why I decided to wear a medical alert bracelet

That unpredictability ultimately convinced me to wear a medical alert bracelet. As a nurse, I understand that in an emergency, seconds matter. If I were unconscious, first responders would need to know about adrenal insufficiency immediately. Delayed treatment in that situation can be life-threatening.

When I began researching medical alert bracelets, I also looked into whether they are actually checked in emergencies. Everyone says they are important—but are they really? I was surprised by what I found. Data from a major medical alert company reports that over 95% of emergency responders say they look for a medical ID during an emergency, and more than 75% check immediately during their initial assessment. The wrist is the first place most responders check (around 95%), followed by the neck (about 68%). That information alone confirmed for me that wearing one truly matters.¹

Finding the right medical ID for my life

So I moved forward with finding one that fit my life. At 31, I wanted something functional but discreet—something that didn’t scream “medical alert.” I quickly discovered there were countless options. There were traditional red medical emblem bracelets commonly worn by people with diabetes or those on blood thinners. There were silicone versions with QR codes. And there were beautifully designed bracelets that looked like everyday jewelry.

I tried several before settling on a customizable bracelet I loved. It had a small purple medical symbol on one side and my information engraved on the other. The challenge, however, was space. I had more important information than would fit.

On one bracelet I listed:
LUPUS – POTS – ADRENAL INSUFFICIENCY
There wasn’t room for my name or phone number. If I had known an accepted abbreviation for adrenal insufficiency at the time, I might have fit more.

Once my adrenal insufficiency was better controlled, I ordered another bracelet. This time I engraved:
Amber Blackburn
SLE – POTS – LongQT
Mom’s name and phone number

Now, if something happened, responders would know who I was, what conditions I had, and who to contact.

How I manage my medical ID today

Today, I primarily use the Medical ID feature on my iPhone. Through the Health app, I can list my diagnoses, medications, allergies, and emergency contacts. It’s accessible from the lock screen, which makes it incredibly useful. I am not currently wearing a bracelet, but I am considering getting another one for added protection.

What others in the lupus community are saying

Since wearing medical bracelets can be “kind of controversial,” here are a few of the comments I received:

“I wear mine more when I am traveling and not home. It’s important in other states or countries that they have the medical information on your medical alert bracelet or necklace” -Melanie

“I wore a traditional medical ID for a long time. During that time and for a while longer nothing happened. Since then, issues have come about, so I bought a MyID. First responders are to scan it and get access to current medical information. It does take some time to set up, but it's well worth it in the long run” - Cindy

“If it's straight lupus, I just don’t think it's necessary. Obviously, complicating issues like APA, diabetes, epilepsy, etc. - YES. If not, I just don’t see the reason.” - Amy

Living with lupus has taught me many things. One of them is that stability—or even the feeling of stability—can change quickly. Wearing a medical bracelet isn’t dramatic or attention-seeking; it’s practical. It’s a small layer of protection we can provide for ourselves when we live in a world that often feels unpredictable. That small layer of protection can make a big difference in the long run.