Appendectomy Scars

[spoofBug73]

Any scars sliiiding down that hill? how about premature wrinkles from lack of sleep?

[virginiamr]

[QUOTE=anabellablue;10363]Yes, I have the same type of scar, the procedure is called an explorative laparotomy and they do it that way when they suppect it's the appendix but they're not sure, when they think something else might be wrong or when the appendix has burst. It's been 4 weeks since my operation, I had a perforated appendix and an abscess a week after, I'm recovering now but I'm struggling with the way I look, my tummy is still swollen and I'm hoping the scar ends up looking ok. Does your girlfriend's look ok? does it bother you at all? I'm feeling self conscious about it and I don't think I'll be dating any time soon :-(.[/QUOTE]

Please, try not to be self-conscious. I had a c-section earlier in the year and although the scar is horizontal is a pretty large one. At first I felt a bit like you. Now I keep reminding myself that I have a beautiful child and I throw inhibitions to the wind when my husband and I went to the Caribbean this summer and wore whatever swimwear I liked. Dan (DH) is most definitely not put off by it in any way and well, incidentally he had an open appendectomy a few months ago (his appendix had ruptured) and I don't find him less attractive for that either. I guess being with someone is much more about the chemistry that there is between you than about scars, although yes, if you are dating someone new it could be a little intimidating. Just try to concentrate on your good points physically speaking, like have you got nice eyes, or legs, for instance? If a man thinks you unattractive just because of a scar he'd probably wouldn't be good enough in my humble opinion.

[virginiamr]

To Annabellablue,

Upon re-reading my post, I admit I sounded a bit patronising. I didn't mean to be. Just to say that beauty (even the external variety) is not dictated by lack of scars. I like my red hair for instance, even though I was teased at school and my body is not too bad generally considering I have a young kid; so, I'm generally contented with my looks (minus my thunder thighs! lol) I'm sure similar things apply to you.

I'm sure your scar will "settle down" in due course and even though it may not be the most discreet, it shouldn't affect much how attractive you might be naked. Hence, I gave you the story of myself and Dan, my husband. His is not horrific but not small either (he also had a rupture) although they did it the conventional way, i.e. the transversal sort of 3 inch thing. I'm certainly not put off by it! Mine (from c-section) is larger, probably more like yours but has healed very well and I had friends who had similar and theirs are hardly noticeable now. I guess I want more kids, so mine is bound to get worse! but well worth it!

I try to bear in mind also that a century or so ago, we wouldn't be here to tell the tale!

Hugs x

Vi

[pegeUsext]

I have all their albums bar the new one....have only heard average things about Scars. I will probably pick it up when it appears in some sale

[poakahi]

so, i just have to say that so far i think my scar is the worse. and mind you, this was like a year after or sth. it looks basically the same, only the middle one isnt as pink anymore, but the side one is. the one thing i always regretted was NOT taking a picture of it right after the surgery, you know, all swollen with 50 staples. it was gnarly. by the way the middle one also goes down a bit farther, to the pubic bone. i always thought this was the result of like, negligence, cuz they waited a month to do the operation, but i guess that's how they do it in some countries (like spain). i totally know how anyone who is self conscious about theirs feels, makes you not wanna be seen in public in a bikini, did i mention my tummy is kinda uneven now? one side is a tad fatter than the other.

oh well, we survived, right?

[Chudette]

Poakahi,

Wow. Reading through your post was an experience. My surgery was two years ago this week, and I was nodding at everything you said. I also wish pictures had been taken at my worst. My husband doesn't understand that, but you see things differently when you're going through the actual stuff. My abdomen (my vertical scar is almost identical to yours, but not as long or thick) was a freaking mountain range when the staples were in. Seriously.

I also have the same residual effect that you do. The sides on either side of the scar are now lumpy, and one side is bigger (fatter) than the other. My flat stomach is GONE. I can no longer wear the tops I used to because of how my scar healed.

But like you said, at least we survived. I almost didn't. And it astounded me to hear that from my Dad when it slipped out while I was still in the hospital (I was there for three weeks). It just slipped out while he was talking to me about how he felt about his daughter going through something so horrible.

Why did they wait a month to do yours, if I may ask?


[QUOTE=poakahi;12673]so, i just have to say that so far i think my scar is the worse. and mind you, this was like a year after or sth. it looks basically the same, only the middle one isnt as pink anymore, but the side one is. the one thing i always regretted was NOT taking a picture of it right after the surgery, you know, all swollen with 50 staples. it was gnarly. by the way the middle one also goes down a bit farther, to the pubic bone. i always thought this was the result of like, negligence, cuz they waited a month to do the operation, but i guess that's how they do it in some countries (like spain). i totally know how anyone who is self conscious about theirs feels, makes you not wanna be seen in public in a bikini, did i mention my tummy is kinda uneven now? one side is a tad fatter than the other.

oh well, we survived, right?[/QUOTE]

[misha]

Can someone tell me what is wrong with my belly button. I had a lap appy almost 3 weeks ago and this weird "nubbin" is what I discovered when I removed the bandage. It appears to have gotten larger over time and I'd like to know if there is a procedure which can make m belly button look normal again.. :/ Is this a result of improper suturing?

[misha]

Here is a picture of the ugly thing.

[Chudette]

Misha,

I also had a little nub that looked like that in my belly button. But mine was definitely an infection from the last staple that just did not want to come out. It broke in pieces when the med student first tried to pull it, then had to pull it piece by piece. Mind you, the first 24 she took out were just fine, it was that last one that was a kicker. Probably because it was right in the belly button. The infection that came due to that stuck around a few weeks.

It went away once it was literally excised and drained by my surgeon. Then I just had to pack it and cover it until it was dry. It went to normal about three months after my release from the hospital.