This question is mainly aimed at the ladies on here who have had OHS although I am sure the men on here have an opinion.
I had my bypass in 2017 and have never had a problem with my scar, I am not embarrassed by it and my surgeons did an excellent job as it isn't that noticeable now.
I recently went on a 25 night cruise where there were 4 formal nights and we were expected to wear smart clothing every night if we ate in a dinning room.
Most of my dresses and tops were quite low cut, not to low IMHO and I felt comfortable wearing them.
I am curious as to how others feel about their scars and if they are happy to wear them with pride or more likely to cover up.
Absolutely no judgement as I know we are all different I am just curious.
I have suffered with psoriasis since I was 11 years old so have been used to people staring at me because of my skin which I think helped me deal with my scar but I know for some people it can cause embarrassment.
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Heather1957
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I have had a bypass, a stroke I have diabetes and last October I had 2 stents fitted by drilling. I consider I have serious problems, but thank you for your reply.
Hello Heather1957, it’s a really timely and interesting question for me as I am soon to embark on a cruise, which includes formal evenings. The top of my scar is very faint now, so I am comfortable with wearing a top or dress which shows that part of my scar. I guess I wouldn’t wear a low cut dress or top but that’s purely my preference, regardless of my scar. However, since my heart attack the skin on my upper arms seems to be quite ‘saggy’ and I am very aware of it. I have lost 2 stone in weight since my heart attack so that accounts for why I think my arms have become, for me, a bit unsightly. The result being that I prefer not to wear short sleeves anymore. I am not sure if this is vanity or my not wanting others to see it. Perhaps it is also my reluctance in not wanting to be getting old! It’s a very personal opinion, and I hope I haven’t been to honest. At the end of the day I am grateful to have had the surgery, scars and all! Take care and thank you for posting this, Judi
I am too old now for anyone to be 'peering down my low cut tops' 🤣 and I count myself lucky that my cleavage seems to hide a lot of the scar.
I do know what you mean about the top of your arms though, as I posted earlier I have psoriasis and way way back in the day I used a cream that caused stretch marks (very bad) at the top of my arms and I am very self conscious about these.
I tended to use a wrap if I wore anything sleeveless.
I don't think it is vanity it is about feeling comfortable, I am sure you'll have a fab time when you go.
What a shame, i take part in this forum because I see it as friendly, supportive, caring and above all else considered. Heather1957 undoubtedly being one of them. Yes, even sometimes light hearted in the right way. Which in real terms harms nobody, and I am sure for most of us if we thought we had caused any offence we would apologise. I would say all of us on here have experienced our own problems though we may choose not to talk about them.
I had OHS at the end of April so my scar is still fairly visible.
When I was diagnosed last year I envisaged having to get rid of loads of my clothes and replace them with high neck alternatives.
Fast forward 12 months and it's actually the opposite. I'm proud of my scars... One for a replacement Aortic valve and the other for a pacemaker implant. I'm a survivor and a heart warrior and God help anyone that dares to tell me to cover them up 😁
That is just the attitude I have. I will admit to not being comfortable with my scar to start with, I wouldn't touch it and used to put the bio oil on with a cotton wool pad but as time went on it became part of me.
I have a friend who had a tumour removed from her neck and has a scar practically from ear to ear and she says she forgets she even has it.
I love the idea of the scar being a sign of being a survivor and heart warrior and shouldn't influence how we dress, although I know some people don't have that confidence.
your comment had nothing to contribute to what had been asked except for trying to bring someone else down.
the pain point was around scaring and how people feel. Admittedly, I wasn't going to add a post as the poster was asking for female views. However took interest in the post as I now have 3 large scars along with 3 smaller scar from my surgery and have struggled with the changes to my body.
also part of recovery is getting back to life. We all make changes but we should still take time to enjoy and go on holiday. I am jealous and wish I could get away for 25 days!
Have you been swimming or the gym since having your ops?
I am 65 years old and am paying into a 'group insurance' travel scheme which will cover me until I am 70, so while I still feel able and my doctor says it is okay I'll keep going.
i can't swim (never got past my ten metre badge!) but have been back at the gym taking on guidance from all the professionals. I have been able to do a few spin classes along with some weights. Building a little more each week.
Prior to the operation, I was actually a class fitness instructor so working on getting back to that.
My other half has been really wanting a cruise so will probably look at one in the next year or so.
Glad you really enjoyed the cruise and promoting body positivity on the group. Can be hard when your body has changed after all the proceedures.
You have such a positive attitude I am sure you'll get back to your peek fitness.
I can't speak for all cruises as I have limited experience but there is a lot of physical things to do apart from the gym so I am sure you'll keep busy.
I can't comment on the scar, 'cos I haven't had surgery and don't really think we can fully understand how such a scar might impact us unless we've lived it. I think it wouldn't bother me.........but you never know. I hope that you had a fabulous time on the cruise though. 🙂
As I said the surgical team did a wonderful job and 5 years down the line it is hardly visible but I have never hidden it.
Hello Heather
I hope you really enjoyed that cruise
Of course your scar may have faded more than mine as mine is just over a year
At first it made me feel really ugly and upset when ever I looked at it never mind anyone else
I think more ladies can feel conscious even though I am not saying some men may do to
I would read on here so many times to wear it with pride as a sign that I was a survivor but find it easier said than done
This Summer with the heat wave it was to hot as you know to wear anything but lose low cut clothes
I was feeling ok but I was in my own garden but then one day I had to meet with some people and one commented that is a good scar you have there
At that moment I did not know how to react but that thought of looking ugly came in my head as well as feeling hurt
I have also only once so far again in the heat wave had a comment on the scars on my legs again left me feeling I wanted to cover them up even in the heat
But I am going to work really hard on this because of all the wonderful people that are so right we are survivors and should feel proud
A very good question as I imagine this will be something lot's of ladies would like to discuss x
Oh I can appreciate that many people may struggle with their scar, as I said I am sure having people stare at my psoriasis helped me deal with any odd looks.
I can imagine you dealing with that will have and maybe in a few years hopefully mine will have faded a lot more and I will be able to deal with it better
What exactly is so silly about this post? I don't understand. This is a woman who I asking a question. If she can afford to go on a cruise to help her recovery then good for her. Casualties in the armed forces are bad but they did sign up for it
Hi Heather, I hope you had a good holiday. I appreciate you were aiming at the ladies, but, I suspect there are a lot of men out there who struggle with the scars. Personally I would tell anyone to embrace it, certainly don't be embarrassed, it's part of you and from a mental health perspective helps to moving on in a good way. My first was in 1994, so the current scar is a Mk3 (2014), and better than its ever been - its never bothered me in the slightest over the years, and I'm quite happy for anyone to see, if they notice it that is.
I do think it's a good point you've brought up, as a lot of people will have uncertainty and feel awkward with them.
Spot on, of course it is an issue for men as well as women, my brother joined the club in 2018 when he had an exploding aorta and he has a positive outlook and gets on with life, that said he struggled with the emotional effects and paid to have counselling as there is no chance of getting it on the NHS and I am sure that helped him come to terms with it.
Personally I think the physique of a woman helps (certainly in my case) as the scar disappears into my cleavage so not so noticeable.
hi. Its a relevant and interesting topic so thanks for posting it. I had two ohs in quick succession and my scar is quite wide and still red 9 months after the last op. I am self conscious of it and it is a constant reminder of a particularly traumatic time. I think it’s part of my struggle in coming to terms with my health issues. I’m really pleased though that you are able to wear what you want and feel comfortable. I hope you had a wonderful time on the cruise. X
I understand what you mean about it being a reminder of a traumatic time - I felt like that for quite some time. In my opinion, that feeling does get better over time 😘
I’m still not comfortable with my scar on show. It’s def faded - well the top part & getting some sun on it this summer after 3 1/2 years helped. But it is a keloid scar further down so I rarely go for non round necked options.
Had my surgery in 2016, the scar now is quite feint, but have never had a problem with it being visible even at the beginning when it was very visible. One side of my chest seems higher than the other! Can feel the difference when I run my hand over but it’s not very noticeable just by looking. I decided at the beginning that is was my battle scar something that I should be proud of something that showed what I had been through and won. I do know that some people do have a problem with their scar, but as already been said we are all different and look at things differently.
So pleased to read you had a wonderful time on your cruise, when we go through the trauma of having heart issues we should all grab every experiences we can.
Have never done a cruise, though my husband was in the merchant navy and before he retired I did do a trip to the Far East with him, obviously before my heart problems but I had a wonderful time, he had always said that once our sons were away and before he retired I would do a trip. I was away for 10 weeks it was definitely another world. ( I was the only woman on board 32 officers and crew) !
Well I love cruising so I'm interested in your cruise. I also suffered from eczema so I know how people can react to that. I think if you have had eczema or psoriasis, a scar isn't too distressing. Anyway, Heather tell me as much as you like about formal, nights, cruising and anything else that you want to share. This is supposed to a supportive place, so if people can't be supportive, they shouldn't post.
Fortunatly, I have not had a thoracotomy I justhave heart failure and atrial fibrillation. The question you pose raises many issues, I've had patients whose lives have been severely compromised due to scaring and not just women. From the cosmetic view point its a question of ownership and that can take time. One of my patients had a tattoo around the scare.
Then there are keloid. Infected or chronic pain scaring all of which can impact on life post surgery so the question you raised is very important.
I am a female who had OHS in 2001 when I was 44. I had issues with my scar healing and it was was slow to heal. My scar is part of me and I don’t think I’ve been embarrassed by it. I went to Mexico in 2003 and met another lady there who had also had OHS, I noticed her scar. It is a badge of recognition ! We’re survivors. I was more concerned that my breasts were uneven afterwards and the surgeon said it was only a couple of mms. My other issue was with wired bras that cause problems at the bottom of the scar. I’ve now had my scar for 21 years and forget all about it.
I posted a while ago about how I was struggling to come to terms with my scar which followed ohs 4 years ago.
I went to Lanzarote in September and spent a lot of time trying to find high neck swimwear, loose fitting tops and dresses with round necks rather than split fronts.
At 67 years old and with a double whammy of being extremely thin, I don't feel confident enough 😢 to show my scar or my body.
I don't have a partner so nobody else will ever get to see it apart from Doctors and nurses treating me.
I'm sorry that you have had a few negative comments. To some of us this is huge.
I have a pacemaker which is visible, together with the scar above it, just under my right clavicle. I also have a scar above my left clavicle resulting from the first abortive attempt to fit the pacemaker. I have stopped wearing clothes that reveal these scars including summer tops with thin straps. I have even altered a square necked dress in order to make it less revealing. I don’t mind showing the scars at home. I cover the scars to avoid the embarrassment of others not myself. I sometimes think I may be wrong and should just get on with letting them show but I wouldn’t like to be judged for seeking attention or sympathy. I applaud your courage you have made me rethink.
You make a very interesting point, I wonder if some people think you are seeking attention by showing the scar? If someone thought that I would say they had the problem.
What a disgrace your reply to Heather is. I am reporting your reply. I personally, and I am a male, found Heathers post very interesting and extremely pertinent.
If you didn't are YOU seriously serious that you have so much time on your hands that you read it? If you don't like something, move on, do not bully or denigrate others, this is NOT the place 🤬
I’m a 49 year old woman with congenital heart disease, which means I’ve lived all my life with a scar on my chest.
I recall being embarrassed a couple of times when I was a child and a young teenager and some extremely ignorant adults asked me how come I had a heart surgery scar down my chest. I was left speechless.
So I’ve learnt to answer with all sort of bizarre and gory stories I could make up on the spot.
Because for me the offence has never been the fact that they were asking about my physical mark but asking to a stranger to tell a very private story.
Now 49 I wear my scar along with a few others because I had pacemaker/defibrillator fitted too, with pride. It is my prerogative and means that I’ve been battling to be alive and happy and so far I’m winning.
I know we are all different but try to wear your best clothes without excluding the ones which will leave your scar uncovered.
You will see also that your scar will fade and become barely visible with time.
hi I know what you mean about the question's. We were in Spain and we met a guy from our neck of the woods but I didn't know him at all, he asked about my scars I have a lot of them, and I told him that I had a heart transplant he then asked me what it was like to be dead! I explained to him It is not like the film's I was not looking down on the theatre in limbo while the surgeon replaced my heart. Imagine asking someone that ridiculous question. char
I totally agree, I was with my partner and another couple we all just took a sharp intake of breath but the guy was non plussed about the whole thing, ignorance is better ignored. Char
hi the journey was quite long for me as I was on the routine list for two years and the phone never rang, at that point with my health going down quickly I was admitted and put on the urgent list, I waited a couple of weeks for a suitable heart, I felt I was lucky to get a match so quickly. I know people who were on the routine list and got the call within days it depends on so many factors to get a match. My transplant was very successful and I can do things that I could never manage with heart failure. The drug routine seems daunting at first but after you get used to it, it becomes second nature. If you want to ask any questions at all about the list or after care please message me, my surgery was in 2020 and I was out of hospital in three weeks and able to live alone in a house with stairs not even a downstairs loo, the hospital after care was so good they made sure I could cope take care char
I know there are people who don’t want to go down the route of transplant at all, it is such a personal choice, but I’m ready to fight even if I had a low survival chance! I love life, I have a teenage who still needs me and still want to do so many things with her
It definitely is a personal thing whether to be listed or not I just felt so awful that I wanted to take the chance to be able to do things again I was 60 when I went on the list and 62 when I got my transplant, my boys are older both in there 40's . My transplant hospital is brilliant,I live in Scotland, my before and after care was excellent as I am sure all heart hospitals are, you will be well looked after, but as I said just message anytime if there is anything you want to know even if you think its a silly question it probably isn't, take care char
H Heather1957, (male here 😂), great post. Having recently returned from holiday in Cyprus, I was often aware of my scar and wondered whether people would know the cause. I wasn't embarrassed, but I can fully understand if a woman were; attitudes are different between men and women (battle scar syndrome 😂). Wear it with pride, you are a survivor 😊, well done. Oh and.... ooooh, a cruise, how fab!!!!!! 🤢
Logical fallacy, two in your argument ; false equivalence as well as motte and bailly fallacy. You had might as well throw in appeal to emotion while you are at it. You might have a point to make, but you are losing the argument by not putting forward very good arguments and targeting one individual.
I don’t know why you insist on making comments that are rude and often hurtful. I’d like to think that you are unaware of the impact that your words can have upon others but sadly I don’t think this is the case.
I think that millenniums of sexism towards both men and women have resulted in women being valued for how they look and men being valued for how well they defend and provide.
Those things, while consciously, seem ridiculous to us, do become embodied and impact how we think and feel.
I think it is great you asked this question as it makes us reflect on this sort of thinking, and how we need to value each other and ourselves.
It is ok to want to look nice, our bodies are going to be scarred, saggy and wrinkly, and they can still look nice, scarred, saggy and wrinkly.
Embrace your scars, they’re part of your life history. If other people find them unpleasant to look at that’s their problem. Personally I don’t give a flying fig what anyone else thinks of my OHS scar, most folk are too polite to comment. Enjoy your cruise x
I thought your post was extremely valid and certainly did not warrant any criticism. The replies have been most interesting.
As I mentioned in another post, even as a male I have been subject to people staring at my scar. I can accept children being inquisite about my scar and I have even been asked about it by youngsters. However, some adults do display a high level of ignorance by staring. I have come accept that that is just how it is and as far as I am concerned it is their problem, not mine.
I would say that I had a greater problem with the side effects of Eplerenone which can affect men in a certain way in the chest area.... I won't say any more other than I was very pleased to come off it after 15 months! 😀
I hope you enjoyed the cruise. An experience to treasure after the restrictions of the past few years.
Gerald
Dear Heather1957
Another male here and good on you for raising a { in my mind } impacting question that affects many on here in some form or another.
During its life my body has been cut about and know the main scar runs from the top of my chest and down to my private area, its lumpy itchy and the very rare time it is exposed it will fare up into an attractive pink red line that divides my left half from my right.
Add to that some smaller ones branching off to where ever the surgeon of the day decided he wanted to visit and I look like Frankensteins creation .
But I have a secret weapon.........Hair ! { really bad at keeping secrets } and yes it might have turned from a reddish brown { ok ginger } to Snow White but it does do the job of distraction from the scars.
Not sure if chest wigs are available, but its an idea for you.
hope you don't think my answer to flippant as I really think that some can worry about their scars,
but whatever and however we get on coping with them should NEVER have been attacked as your post was.
I love hearing positive things about peoples lives post Ops etc and what could be more positive than a cruise and feeling confident to wear evening wear, good on you,
Good post being a male I must admit I never give it a thought ! I must admit I did see someone a couple of weeks ago and you could see the top of her scar when she had unzipped her tracksuit top a little.
I asked the question what have they done to you then? the reply quick as a shot was " I had a heart transplant a few weeks ago " and we just carried on talking as thou people have transplants every day. She wasn't in the least fazed by the question just something you get used to. I know some of us have thicker skins than others and sometimes we all have to grow thicker ones again. So enjoy your holidays you deserve them and wear your scar as a badge of courage, and anyone asks just tell them either to mind their own business or tell them your a survivor of a Very Exclusive Club. Even though like the rest of us you didn't ask to join.
Hi Heather, I swam prior to my OHS and was back in the pool as soon as I could. My opinion on my scar is its part of my story, admittedly it looks OK (to me anyway), and if anyone comments I'm happy to tell them the story.
Good on you for wearing what you were comfortable with.
Hi Heather. I had an AVR at the end of last. I too am an avid cruiser and like you, was initially concerned about the appearance of the scar. I hadn't expected it to start so high at the neck. However, it soon faded, and in some light, is barely visible now, except at the lower end which is always hidden by clothes. I have also learnt to be proud of it. It is now part of my 'story' and reminds me I went through this and survived it. I think most, if not all, on here have or had serious problems. I have Parkinsons on top of other conditions, but will continue to enjoy life and cruises as long as I physically can. Backtotheblues frankly sounds jealous.
definitely not a woman, but the proud owner of a new front door 😉 and in January next year, Mark our local tattoo artist is fitting a zip on to it.
the scar is my daily reminder of a very close call and some seriously good luck it's also a warning about lifestyle choices, but I have no issues about people who want to have a look.
and as a bit of a ps my wife is seriously envious of getting to dress up for dinner and even more so about the four formals.
hi before my first holiday after surgery I thought I might be a bit self conscious on the beach and wearing vest tops and summer dresses but I completely forgot all about it and now two years down the line I never even thought about it on my last hols, if people stared I never noticed, my scar is quite neat thanks to my amazing surgeon. I have also had psoriasis for ever and when it was at its worse I got a lot of stares, people can be so ignorant.
its a horrible thing mine disappeared completely when I was on steroids for a year, it came back but not to the same extent, I think because of the Immunosuppressants
Mine has varied but for the last 2 years it has been manageable! There have been times I have been hospitalised with it and times I have had PUVA and sunray treatments. The most effective cure in my case is real sunshine hence my love of holidays.
I usually try and have a holiday in a villa with a private pool when it gets very bad as I can enjoy the pool and sun without anyone looking, I can get patches on my legs and thighs the size of a football which (IMHO) looks far worse that OHS scars especially when I start to shed.
I have now decided if people need to look at me they must be pretty bored! 😉
Female here, I was told I had breast cancer aged 19 and ended up with a huge scar after a biopsy by an absolute butcher of a surgeon. It was very raised and thick with stitch tram lines across it for years through my 20s but it never bothered me at all. (No I didn't have cancer). After I discovered Bio Oil it reduced and finally went flat and is now just a white line but when it was bad, I couldn't have cared less. I was just thankful it wasn't cancer. It's just part of me and my journey through life.
Please ignore any negativity here, Heather - almost everyone here understands exactly where you're coming from, and empathises with you.
My scar isn't to do with my heart issues, but from a series of thoracic surgeries in the early 1960s, due to TB in my teens. Long before keyhole surgery had been dreamt of, the biggest scar runs from the top of my left shoulder blade, down and round to under left breast. When I was 19, I went to work as an au pair in France and we spent a lot of time on the beach, my swimsuit revealing a large chunk of scar which was still pretty red and very obvious. My charges, aged 3 and 6 were fascinated by it, but their mother explained that I'd been ill, the doctors had had to make a little (!) hole to help make me better - and then they had embroidered over the hole to make it look good! After that, the children kept turning up with more and more small friends they had made on the beach, all of whom wanted to see my embroidered back! From being massively embarrassed, I went to being quite proud of my battle scar. Nowadays, its main appearance in public is when a consultant who has students in tow uses it to demonstrate "what surgery used to be like" - so I've turned into a living museum exhibit!! Like almost everyone else on here, I now see it (when I think about it, which is rarely) as simply proof of how lucky I am.
Hope that you had a wonderful, relaxing time on your cruise!
I am so glad that something positive came out of it.
I believe more heart procedures are being done by keyhole surgery which should reduce the number of us with scars but over time they become part of who we are.
This forum is an asset to all of us Hearties. Do not reply to others if you are going to be rude to them. We are all individuals on here, some of us have had open heart surgery and can relate to the question that was asked.
Hi Heather, After surgery I had physiological problems with my scar, couldn't look at it. My shape had changed. NOW, I am proud to look at my scar, it reminds me everyday that my live was saved and I am alive. You go girl, wear low cut tops and dresses if that's what you like. It's about what you like and not what others think................
The chest scarring causes very little issues for me . Almost a badge of honour, and shows that I’m a survivor , recently my sister , who hadn’t seen the scar before said it made my cleavage look better than hers . I had a by pass , with veins taken from my left leg , I have a scar from just above my left ankle to my groin , at the time my husband said it looked like it had been done with a can opener and it did. it’s slowly getting paler and is very numb in places, but I really dislike it . The chest scar causes little problems , but the leg scar is a daily reminder . But hey , I wouldn’t be here at all if it wasn’t for the surgery. But you do see people doing a double take when they see it so I do get a bit self conscious even after 4 years
Thank you all for your support and positive comments.
It is fantastic to read so many people are happy to live life as they would before surgery and look at the scar as the mark of survival (as we should)
I really feel for and understand those who are not yet comfortable displaying their scar, we are all different and you must do what works for you. I just hope in time you learn to live with the signs of life saving surgery and not be embarrassed by the scar.
I very nearly deleted this thread last night, I am so glad I didn't as I have found it really has cheered me up!
I have enjoyed reading well most of your replies except you know who that replied
I think your post just shows how very much people wanted to talk about this and we have to also remember some do not post or reply but read posts instead and this could have really helped them to
I would have been so annoyed if you had deleted this post and so glad that you didn't
I also think your post is a very good example of after heart events we can get on with life and live it to the full and what better way than to go on a cruise ! x
hi. I’m so pleased that you didn’t delete your post. I’m not comfortable with my scar at the moment because it reminds me of a very traumatic time but I’m really encouraged that others feel so at ease with theirs and that gives me hope. I notice that backtotheblues has now left the forum. It’s always sad when someone leaves but I feel quite relieved that he won’t be posting any more acerbic comments. X
Hello Heather1957 a hunch tells me we are not that far apart in age I was born in 1954. I am proud to say I am a female and I had open heart surgery in 2015. I came to terms with the prospect of having a scar down my chest before op and I have never shied away or cosmetically covered it from showing or worried about neck lines of tops. I did however have a different reaction to the scar that went the length of my leg from knee to ankle for the harvesting of vein. Made worse I think by the way the lower 2-3 inches near ankle opened up and infected. I covered my legs for a good 2-3 years and was even very conscious of it with my partner. I think the reason I was bothered by this scar was mainly my legs were my best asset and were remarked on often by others and also because I work with adults with learning disabilities and I claimed I did not want to scare them. But I really think it was because they are mainly very truthful people who can make unfiltered comments and I secretly could not face the truth that it looked horrid. I am completely over all that now and even see my leg scar as apart of my ‘look what I have survived ‘ battle scars !! 🙂🙂
Thank you for this a very honest summary and I can only imagine what a hard time you had regarding the scar on your leg.
I count myself very lucky in that all I needed was a single bypass and they used the mammary artery which is already in place so apart from the OHS scar I didn't need to be cut anywhere else.
I am glad that you did eventually manage to come to terms with your scars even though it took a little time.
From several of the replies it seems you are not alone in finding the harvesting of the arteries from the leg even harder to deal with that the chest.
I bet your legs still look pretty good even with the scars.
Hi Heather. I used to be a bit embarrassed with my Scar plus I have a Pacemaker as well, but now they do not worry me in the slightest!! I have to say though my Scar was never that bad, I had a Double Bypass and I had that two years ago so now it is barely noticeable. Hope you had a lovely time on your Cruise. Sounds great!!
hi. I just wanted to add that there is a charity called Changing Faces who will book people in for a free tutorial to use camouflage make up on their scars. They are happy to help with all kinds of scars including sternotomies and although there’s a waiting list I was seen quite quickly. I had a tutorial earlier in the year where a plastic surgery nurse working for them colour matched the make up to my skin and showed me how to apply it. She then wrote to my gp asking for the make up and powder to be prescribed on the NHS which was then done. I know that not everyone feels the need for this but for those who are really struggling with their scars it’s a brilliant service. My scar is up to the top of my throat and I was so conscious of it and this allowed me to wear t shirts. I’ve also got scars where I had Hickman and central lines on my neck and this covered them. I know it’s not for everyone but I thought I’d mention it.
I had OHS in May last year, 2 weeks later developed a very bad sternal wound infection and the scar re opened. Eventually it healed again but I had the sternal wires removed in August this year due to a small part never healing. The scar is red and lumpy, especially at the top (typically) I often keep it covered as it makes me feel self conscious. However if I have had it on show, I don’t mind being asked about it. I’m 31 yr old female 😊
I’m a bit naughty where the bio oil is concerned 🤭 I don’t like the feel of the scar so I don’t put it on anywhere near as often as I should. However it feels a lot flatter since the wires were taken out, those lumps and bumps were horrible 😆
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