Hi Everyone 👋, Just returning from Las Palmas Gran Canaria. 1st time away since my Bypass surgery. Smallish rooftop pool some couple of dozen sun beds 🛌 all facing the rectangular pool. Very serene atmosphere 👌 only ever one or two people taking a dip. So it was with some trepidation I entered the pool as I suddenly felt 😅 20 odd people staring at my scars. In truth they probably weren't, only one elderly Scottish lady remarking "Oh I see you've had a Bypass same as my late husband!" Decided not to go there as I'm very much in the peak of health!😅Anybody else experienced some trepidation prior to exposing one's battle wounds?
Scar conscious. : Hi Everyone 👋, Just... - British Heart Fou...
Scar conscious.
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Denistennis
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No, my scar from OHS has never bothered me one bit. People take me for what I am and if they don’t like what they see, then so be it!
My attitude exactly 5 months postop proud of my battle scar and being a member of the zipper club !
it’s only normal to think everyone is looking my scar did it’s thing turning red and spreading wide took me 2 years to take my shirt off then realised I had been silly and there was only me worrying about it
Hello 
I am female and so was very aware of my scar even though I know some men feel the same
I once had someone say to me a man it was summer and I had something on that you could see my scar he said that is a good one pointing at my scar I felt I could have cried as it took me so much courage to do what others had told me and be proud of it as it says you are a survivor
When I got over the upset it caused I carried on wearing what I wanted if you could see my scar or not
It has nearly been 3 years now and it is harder to see and over tie some you can only see if you look so close which normally no one does but if mine gets better than it is or not I shall do what took me ages to get used to and wear it as others told me on here with pride
I can tell you enjoyed your Holiday and I hope you have some more planned and show that scar of you are one of the lucky ones x
😊 Thanks so much Bekind, I did my post whilst waiting to board my wife and I are now home and planning our next trip!
Hello
Your reply has made me smile
Reason is do you know you said you wrote your post while you were waiting to board my wife
Do you mean plane hope so
Sounds like a lovely place you have just been and hope you pick someone as nice for your next trip which I am sure you will x
Hahaha that made me spit my first thing work brew out 😂
in reply to BeKind28-
That’s made laugh so much 😂
BeKind28- in reply to
Hello
I hope he doesn't mind as he has not clarified this yet which he boarded 
x
Haha. Good one !
x
The joy of punctuation 😁
I know I am guilty of looking back at things I have put and thought that is not right quick change it
It did make me laugh and a few others to and the comments I could put are endless but I had better be good
I hope I have not offended him and when he reads the comments he will take them in the way they are meant to be taken and know he has made a few people laugh with his punctuation x
Ha,ha slip of the tongue there!🤣 meant of course to say with my wife! I was definitely suffering from jet lag.😁
As you can see your jet lag gave a few of us a laugh and sometimes when we are struggling it is just what we need so thank you x
Loved it. Made me laugh . Although I have to admit I didn't notice until BeKind mentioned it .
Hi Denistennis, You've certainly made me laugh too. Thank you.
when I was eleven (oh those years pass fast) I had an appendectomy and the nurse in the children’s ward kindly said to me (bikinis were just becoming fashionable at the time) “you’ll never be able to wear a bikini.”
Because I was so young the scar grew with me so it isn’t a little thing.
Well,I wouldn’t wear a bikini now at the age of over 75 but it never bothered me in those past years. If people don’t like it they don’t have to look!
Thanks for all your replies everyone, I think 🤔 unless you've walked the walk as they say it's hard for others to understand.
I was self conscious at first about my scar. It's now 3 years old and very pale. However, I thought I can't hide it away for ever, I love swimming. I call it my scar of life, and if ever it is queried I feel strong to have made it through. It's part of who I am now 🤗
I’ve bought all new tops for my return to work to hide my scar. Only 3 months post surgery so I might change my mind but for now I don’t need comments or pity!
Hello
Your recovery must have gone really well as you are preparing to return to work
I never got any pity just comments and I hated it and it would really upset me
Now until a post like this I realise I do not care anymore in fact I care more how many wrinkles are appearing on my face rather than my scar x
That’s lovely to hear. I think it’s all just very new at the moment but hope I’ll feel that way once the wound is less pronounced.
Hello
It will be coming up to 3 years for me since my op and took me 2 years to feel this way
At first I hated it and when I would see it I would cry everyone said this would change how I felt I never believed them but they were right and they fade to so it will be the same for you eventually and you will be saying the same x
Wear your scar with pride.
Remember Princess Eugenie wanted a dress for her wedding that showed the scar on her back following surgery to correct her spine.
The scar is part of you, let them look and admire your courage.
None whatsoever ! They remind me of my re birth and how wonderful life is. Plus I don’t mind one bit if anyone asks about them. 👊🏻👊🏻👊🏻
don’t let it bother you mate. Iv got very visible scars on my head and it makes it worse because im balding so a shaved head is the only option.!! Iv also got a noticable artificial eye that doesn’t move as good as I’d wish and a 2inch scar above it on my eye brow.!! All this is complemented with a nose that is not straight. !!!
I get looked at alot probably because I resemble a battered old dog.? It’s only natural for people to look and stare sometimes. Carry on as normal Denis and leave them to it👍
It has never bothered me in the slightest, I couldn't care less. I noticed people looking when I go swimming but nobody has ever said anything. I wouldn't expect it either, it's nobody else's business.
Coming up to 12 months for me now. At 1st I was self conscious but now I wear it with pride! 🥰
Hi Denistennis yes I can relate to that was feeling conscious at first, but decided the same as others on here are saying. Wear your scars with pride we are survivors and it’s no one’s business but ours. I am now 18 months post surgery and they have faded considerably and hopefully will continue to do so ( obs takes longer to heal when your older 😟) but no matter what they are mine and now part of who I am.
Good to hear you enjoyed your holiday and planning your next trip. I am so grateful that I am still able to travel and enjoy life😊Take care 😊
I love the quote "survivors" , we certainly are and I think of that most days 👍
👍😊🌞
You should be very proud of your scars and just act normally. They tell a tale of your life..I have a few scars and they are mine and show I've struggled with stuff and come through it. You don't need to explain to anyone if you feel uncomfortable - thats their worry 😁
I've had four lots of surgery on my torso and abdomen plus surgery on my head (six samples removed), leaving me looking like Frankenstein!! (Not really). My OH scar is very small relative to others I have seen but, like Dwiss, I am fortunate to have the mindset of pride that I am still exhibiting said scars! They are a celebration of life. Embrace them!
in reply to Mitchum
I like that “a celebration of life”. Indeed❤️
Not at all, it is my surgeons signature and says I don’t give up easily, I’m a survivor.
Got quite a few looks first time I used the pool at the gym, didn’t bother me. If people are upset it’s their problem.
I can relate to this. I'm 14 weeks post bypass and I'm going to a spa in 2 weeks time. I've bought 2 swimming costumes: 1 high neck and 1 thats low. I've got a real mental battle over which one I'm going to wear. I can't go out and show my scar yet but alternatively don't want to be that person who cares.
when I looked at my scar the first time I was truly shocked but now .., it’s my badge of pride ! I had ohs for a valve replacement and did cover it up on the beach on my first holiday but now it’s out there loud and proud ( with lots of sun protection ) . It’s part of my journey and without that scar I wouldn’t be on this journey so wear yours with pride ! Good luck x
Hi at first I was a bit apprehensive about going on holiday because not only did I have the big! scar the ones where my ICD went in and then out actually looked worse, the year after my ohs we couldn't go abroad due to lockdown and by the next year I was so used to them and they had faded and I hardly noticed them at all, I just wore all my beach clothes without a thought. This year is definitely different the scar from my bowel surgery which is horrible, practically joins on to my heart scar just three drain scars between them 🙄soo for the first time since I was a child I have had to ditch the bikini! I do know it was probably time (due to age) but It's going to feel so strange sitting with a wet cozzy on after all these years, they are just not as practical as a biknik. Char
Wouldn't bother me one bit. I'd be proud of them.
I have had Eczema all of my life and feel exactly the same so I never learnt to swim or sunbathe in public.I am due a triple bypass so Interested to know how you went about obtaining travel insurance after your bypass?
Hi Ironfloor, my Bypass surgery was September 2022 and we booked our 1st holiday post op February 2024. We sourced our insurance through Staysure at the time they were offering 20% off. Other than my Bypass my wife and I have no major health issues the only question I wasn't sure how to respond to was " Do you take statins?" As it is I don't but like us all the standard advice is to take them. That aside I think we paid around £200.Hope this helps,
Best wishes, Denis
Thanks.
Hi, I'm in Tenerife at the moment staying in a hotel. I have the scar from my quadruple bypass. I couldn't give a toss what people think. At least we've been saved.
I made mine stand out even more but not on purpose. I use factor 30 suntan lotion then I thought the scar will burn worse so I put factor 50 on my scar’s I ended up brown with a white upside down letter T plus for some reason when ever I get a scar the hair doesn’t grow around it😵💫😵💫
I don’t care it’s a good talking point sometimes. Off to the Maldives 6th June it will be my first long haul flight, in fact 3 each way and that’s scaring me more then anything, the anxiety is terrible.
I am pleased you enjoyed your holiday. I am sure you will get used to revealing your scar in public especially on holiday. It is part of you and you should not feel any different to any of us with scars. I had my appendix out as a child and the scar is not very nice but am lucky that it is just on the edge of my bikini line. Sometimes it shows and sometimes it doesn’t but still feel self conscious of it, even at the age of 50. I did feel uncomfortable with people asking about it at first but I have learned to embrace it. I think it is just a learning curve for us all with scars, I maybe in the same boat as you one day as I have just been diagnosed with CAD and angina. Good luck in planning your next holiday and show your scar with pride.
Thanks 😊 for your reply Sarah, sorry to hear about your diagnosis re. Angina. It was a bit of a shock for me at 71years never mind 50.Hope it turns out to be minor,
Best wishes,
Denis
Thank you so much Denis, your reply and best wishes are really appreciated. I hope that you continue to get stronger as time goes on in your recovery. Take care of yourself, best wishes, Sarah
In 5 years only one person has commented on my scar when they saw my bare chest. I tend to leave my top shirt buttons undone too but no one has ever commented on the scar. Maybe due to a hairy chest they can't see it.
Who cares? As long as you are healthy and feeling well - I wouldnt be bothered even if the Pope or King Charles stared at the scar.
I didn't bother about it. A couple did mention to me I was doing well after 5 weeks. The only thing I wish would be that the scar would hurry up and mature. My leg scar is nearly matured but the chest is still bumpy and pink.
Both scars there is still a bit of pain but that is more likely to be nerve issues.
Im pretty relaxed about my scars. ( Triple bypass, vein out of leg). I know people are looking at mine but honestly im chuffed to bits that im still here. I think it is a sign that you have survived something major, but then who cares what they think. Life is good.
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