This topic is about finding the right Medic-Alert bracelet for someone with a permanent colostomy. The person is looking for advice on what to engrave on the bracelet and where to purchase it. Here are some helpful suggestions:

1. Recommended wording for engraving:
- "I have a colostomy"
- "I am an ostomate"
- Simply "Colostomy" (or "Ileostomy/Urostomy" if applicable)
- You can also include your blood type, any underlying conditions like "Crohn’s Disease," allergies, any medical ports or lines, and an emergency phone number.
- The Medic Alert Foundation can assist with phrasing when you order through them.

2. Why choose a bracelet over a necklace or pin:
- Emergency medical technicians (EMTs) are trained to check wrists first, so a bracelet is more likely to be noticed, especially when a stretcher belt is used across the abdomen.

3. Where to buy engraveable medical IDs:
- Medic Alert Foundation (offers a membership for about $25 per year and maintains a full medical file accessible 24/7)
- www.americanmedical-id.com
- http://www.theidbandco.com/Medical-Bracelets-Engraveable
- www.identifyyourself.com (offers dog tags and a USB-drive ID, though some EMTs/hospitals may not use USB devices)
- www.laurenshope.com
- Emergency ID Australia (offers a membership for AU $20 per year, mainly for Australian residents)

4. Additional practical tips:
- If you know you’re going to the hospital, bring a small kit of ostomy supplies with you.
- Keep emergency contact numbers easily accessible in your cell phone.
- Some people think a bracelet might not be necessary if the stoma is visible once clothing is removed, but most EMTs and their spouses recommend wearing one.
- If you prefer a USB-based ID, it can be useful for hospital staff, but don't rely on ambulance crews to use it, as many ambulance and hospital computers block USB ports.