Medical conditions and peoples views of them

Hi,
I have a heart condition that i've had since birth and have had several major operations throughout my life in order to maximise the efficiency of my heart. Due to these operations, i have a 8inch scar that runs staight down the centre of my chest that sometimes attracts unwanted attention. With it being summer now, i'm wearing more clothes that make the scar visible and peoples reactions to it lately are making me really paranoid. I'm not ashamed of it cos without it i wouldn't be here today, but why must people stare so much? I was wondering if anyone else finds this happening to them more and more in summer like i do or if anyone has any advice for me.
Thanx for reading, feel better just getting that out of my system!
H ;-)

Reply 1

zain88

Hey there, I think it's really cool having scars, there was a thread about scars in General Discussion not so long ago I think, and the general consensus was that scars are cool! They make you more interesting and mysterious. People look because they're intrigued, it's unusual. It's not because they think ewww what a weirdo or something. I have a really wide scar about 10 inches down my torso. It veers around my belly button and looks really weird but I like it lots! It's about 1cm wide because I put on lots of weight after my op. You're perfectly right, it is more visible in summer due to the clothes we're wearing. But I love showing it off, it's so cute and awesome :smile:

As for what people think of people with medical conditions, I honestly don't think people change their views, if anything people were nicer and made more of an effort with me. Although perhaps extra attention isn't a good thing.

Reply 2

Jason_K

Ive been done the same track, kidney problems myself, medication, biopsys, etc. No scars though, but a lot of people freak out.

Reply 3

zain88

Starsurfer

Ive been done the same track, kidney problems myself, medication, biopsys, etc. No scars though, but a lot of people freak out.

Yeah I think some people just don't know how to react and freak out because they can't handle something that big. Lots of people I knew totally backed off when they knew I was ill and were really hesitant talking to me etc, they just didn't know if I had changed and just generally didn't know what to say. It's understandable from their point of view though. But when they saw I was just behaving normally they were a bit better about it.

Reply 4

Louher

I've got a huge scar down my chest as well but it's never bothered me to be honest. It's only really a hand full of people that see it so it's not much of an issue. Plus like you say without I wouldn't be here :smile:

Reply 5

kookie_4

i have two big scars on my bottom torso one from my appendisectamy that had to be opened twice so its larger than usual and one ffrom an operation that had to be done on my large intestine becasue it was perforated becuase my appendix. now that its summer im going to spain on the 1st so im gonna be going to the beach and most likey people will stare but ive gornw to like them so it doesnt bother me too much anymore, at the begining i was really worried too when i came out of hospital i thought that i wouldnt ever get a girlfreind cos she would see that and run a mile but thats not the case. i hope you dont have to have any other operation and if you do i wish you the best

:smile:

Reply 6

M'Lady

I have a medical condition which is that my thyroid doesn't work and doesn't make enough of the hormone it's supposed to. When it gets out of hand the base of my neck swells up, thankfully this isn't often but when it has happened people can be really mean. Also even when it's normal and people find out, say on trips where I have to write down all medical stuff on a form and I often get "oh, I thought only OLD people got that how come you got it", that really bugs me.
I just ignore them now, afterall it was only because of a bully that it was found out, by taking the mickey of my swollen neck and if it'd been left I might not be here due to the fact that my thyroid had wrapped itself around the main artery to my brain.
I also have huge scars on my knees and I do get funny questions about them, but never mind.

Reply 7

AndySoOoOoN

I have some scars, generally i hide them, though scars on men seem to attract the right kind of attention.

With you an 8 inch scar down the chest must be very visible, and its just human nature to stare at something different, im sure it must make you feel pretty uncomfortable, but im pretty sure no1 is looking at you and thinking nasty things, unless they are nasty people in which case they arent worth the time of day.

It seems as if youve had a very rough ride :frown:

, i think your should just ignore the starers, and be proud of your scar, its tells a story and it shows what youve been through and what youve had to do to actually get through it. All those people staring will never be able to understand this, unless something simliar happens to them.

GL and takecare.

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