I was in wal-greens yesterday and saw an ad for medical id bracelets. That got me to thinking, do any of you wear one regarding the band? If you were in an accident and they did an ultrasound of your stomach and internal organs the band would show correct? Also if you needed emergency surgery they could avoid damage to the band, port ect...If they knew it was there. What do you think? ~Mandy

I just purchased a sterling silver medical ID bracelet at www.americanmedical-id.com. I got the heavier bracelet and it was about $50. They engraved 4 lines on each side of the plate, and I'm really happy with it. The tag part is small enough and a little curved so it's comfortable. They also had stainless steel, but I figured that as long as I have to wear it all the time, I'd get the silver one. I'd recommend them.

Emily

That's a great idea. Personally I hate the bracelets that are full of beads. I've love one that's classier? Simple yet beautiful?

Janey

OK, here's my super-cheap alternative: Go to Petsmart/Petco and make your own charms, suitable for a necklace or bracelet, for $4! Most of the charms can hold 3-4 lines, and the engraving is free. Of course, you might have to wear a metallic bone or fire hydrant, but at least they come in a lot of different colors.

:funnypost:

OMG, I got such a chuckle out of this! I think similarly to you, Zoe. Especially since I love my puppy, Nipper! I guess I wouldn't mind wearing a dog bone! Very cute post!

Ok call me vain but I wish they were better looking. I found some nicer ones but they were expensive. I would like a pretty beaded one with a charm hanging off it that give my information. I am not that crafty to make one. Here's a career for anyone who is interested!

The problem with making your own, or using a generic 'dog tag' with your engraved information, is that it doesn't have the medic alert emblem on it. If an EMT or doctor doesn't see that emblem, chances are good that they're not going to look any further to see what your 'jewelry' says. IMHO, anything other than the actual medic alert bracelet or necklace is a waste of money.

Having said that, I sure wish I could find one that looked like a nice piece of jewelry instead of my personalized invitation to the old folks' home!

Poodles, I agree with Donna B about the dog tags. My husband was in a head-on collision. He was wearing dog tags with all his personal info on them. I had made them for him myself, as well as about a hundred others, for premiums at a bicycle ride. Easy to wear, sweatproof, all info the docs might need, right? Well, he was in the ER for over 4 hours before they called me. He finally regained consciouness and gave them our home phone number. They didn't even notice the dog tags. I now wear a medical ID bracelet with the emblem. It has a plain black leather band. I never take it off. I wear it on my left wrist. Lauren's Hope makes some really cute beaded medical ID bracelets, but I was afraid this type of bracelet would get overlooked. Use mink oil daily on a leather band if you shower in it.

Wow. I was trying to avoid the emblem... but guess it is there for a reason. Maybe I will get "Lapband Lady" tatooed on my chest. But they probably wouldn't figure that one out either, hugh??

***deep sigh*** I just don't want to look 80 when I am only 33...

I just don't want to look 80 when I am only 33...

Me too! I've designed one that I really like but I've not ordered it for the same reasons everyone else is talking about. I don't want to advertise my medical situation but yet if you don't advertise it with the proper-looking ID an EMT may not notice then it may not even be worth it to be wearing it!

I found one that looks like a watch but has the engraved tag next to the clasp. It's expensive but I already need a watch...maybe I'll go ahead and get it and solve two problems at once!

I like I idea of a tattoo!! Mine will say "Don't bust my band, man!" right above my port scar!!

This is a good thread. I've been curious about this topic for awhile. We get a special card to show to resturants but nothing to give EMT's a heads-up??? I've not worried about my band getting messed up in an emergency...hell, I want them to do whatever they need to do to me. But, I've wondered if it would waste time for them trying to figure out what is inside me. Especially if they were ever trying to force a tube down me and it won't go or something! The tag may save a lot of time when it's life or death. Good ideas, everyone!

I got mine from Lauren'sHope.com. They are a bit spendy, but I am the crafty type and can use that for a sample so I can make some of my own that are interchangeable. Also, you can find some others at www.americanmedical-id.com. I was told that paramedics will not search through a wallet for a card. One prime example: I had to go to the ER via ambulance for kidney stones a couple of weeks ago...and the one of the first things the paramedics and the ER team asked was what my bracelet was for. Made me feel good to know that they do look for that. Just in case because one never knows.

I think this is a great idea but I'm having a difficult time with it because I am choosing not to tell people about my surgery. How do I keep it to myself and wear the bracelett? I seriously was considering getting a small tattoo on my stomach with the medical allert symbol since I know I'll never get to wear a bikini anyways. Is that too outragous?

Mine is a medic alert bracelet like Ira mentioned, it does not say anything on it, other than an ID#. When the medical facility calls, it informs them of a detailed medical history that I provided. It can then be pulled up on the computer, and they have a full background on me. As others have said, many times your belongings do not go with you to the hospital. This speaks for me, if I have no wallet, and am unable to do so myself. My uncle who is a Dr. sent it to me. All I had to do was provide the info. The way this is, if you do not want to talk about your surgery, all you have to say is that you have a drug allergy or something, no one would ever know the difference. It probably could be taken apart on either side of the medic emblem, and have a different band as opposed to the standard chain it come with. Might be something I look into, there have been times, it looked totally out of place, but I feel safer wearing it. As well as having my lap band, I also have several drug allergies, and a serious allergy to bee stings ( I carry an EPI pen).

This is along the same line....has everyone included the ICE in their cell phones? It stands for In Case of Emergency. Put your emergency contact in as a blank space then the letters I C E (the blank space makes the ICE number first in your phonebook), then enter the name and number of who you want contacted in an emergency. It cannot hurt! If we can't talk for ourselves any help they can get is appreciated I would imagine!

Kat

Hello everyone. I was able to find mine on ebay at a cheaper price than any where else I have looked.