Hey everyone

Does anybody feel a little funny about their scars when at the beach or the pool? I don't mind the scar down the middle, but I hate the scar where the stoma used to be. Looks like I've been shot or something. Any suggestions on how to deal with this?

Hmmm, been thinking about this since I´m off to Greece this summer. My stoma scar looks like a bum!! I´m considering putting a small, round plaster on it, to be honest. The huge one down my middle is pretty grim, too: split my belly mound in 2, so I look completely ridiculous. Not sure if I´m going to do anything about that (put a long strip of plaster on it?) or just hope people think I went through something very heroic getting that scar :0)

You did Soph! In fact we're all heros!

Shell

I think our scars give us character and tell a story.

For awhile the 4in pyroderma gangerosum scar on my lower left leg made me self conscious, I wore a huge bandaid over the scar. I decided with my stoma scar I was going to show it off. Maybe to spark a conversation. Right now I have a bunch of pics of it on my myspace. And the response has been great- people are very curious.

www.myspace.com/almostvalentine

I guess I'm pretty proud of my scars and show them without hesitation to anyone. The only thing that concerns me about my "gun shot stoma wound" is that it could cause problems in a pregnancy. As far as bathing suits go, I do wear the little boy shorts or the cute little skirts with a bikinni top so the stoma scar is covered but I let the one down the middle show. You will get a few looks and that's okay. I kind of like the one down the middle cause with a little definition on the sides of my abs, from a distance the line down the middle makes it look like I have a six pack ! Look for the silver lining, right?

I think the scars give us character and are testimony to the fact that we are survivors.

My only issue is that I no long have a belly button. It was sewen up after an emergency surgery. I still find that wierd. I think it's all in your perception. Lots of people have scars, so if someone wants to ask what mine are from I am more than willing to tell them.

That's neat that it helps with ab definition!

As for the no belly button... maybe think of it as belly buttons remind us of how we are connected to our mothers- the beginning of life but this new scar is a reminder of a rebirth.

Maybe that's streching...

I LOVE my scars. I wear a bikini just so I can show them off. They're battle wounds. I really think everyone should be proud of them- and learn to love them. Because hell, you're going to have them for the rest of your life so you mind as well

And sometimes when people get very nosy and ask me about them, I'll tell them something RIDICULOUS, smile, and walk away. My favorite is, "I served in 'Nam and was hit by multiple shards of shrapnel." And obviously, coming from a small 17 year old girl, they just look at me like I have six heads. And its hilarious. Whats funnier is, no one ever questions or doubts me further because they are just so shocked.

Jpoucher, I didn't have a belly button for a while either but I had a couple other surgeries to go and politely requested that my surgeon make me one. He did and when I'm lying down which is how I was when he made it, it looks straight. But as soon as I stand up, it's crooked and slanted. I guess I'm crooked somewhere which causes everything to shift when I stand.
Can anyone else look down at their stomach and notice that one side of their abdomin is higher than the other side? I'm talking about right over the ribs, above the belly button line.