Full exposure baby!
Posted on Thu September 17, 2009 in Open Heart surgery
Tags: open heart surgery scar
Views: 1152
on my scar .............. =)
In this journal, I wanted to talk about a few things I am proud
of..........
I am proud to say that despite my V02 results, I went
kayaking in Hawaii!!!
I wouldn't recommend doing anything dangerous
but I felt that I needed to push my limits and "live" my life. I did a
double kayak with a friend so if I got too tired, she can do all the work. I was
surprised to find that it wasn't that bad at all. I kayaked for about an hour to
a nearby island and didn't feel too short of breathe at all. I'm sure kayaking
in calm hawaiian waters didn't push me too hard, but I am still proud of myself.
Being able to do this lifted some weight off my shoulders. I am always afraid to
even walk too far. I have this vision that one day, I will over do it and pass
out in the middle of no where, but now, I am not afraid to push the limits a
little at a time. It's weird that sometimes, I can be grocery shopping and feel
myself about to pass out but then I can kayak and feel ok. I guess my heart can
me temporamental and unpredicatable. What's great is that I am learning how to
live with my limitations and am getting more familiar with how my body is
communicating to me.
I've also been pretty depressed about the scar
on my chest and have changed my wardrobe to boring things that tend to cover it
to the neck. It's really hard to be stylish when you are so limited to what you
can wear, especially in this warm weather. So I've decided to embrace my scar.
I'm going to have to live with it whether I like it or not so why restrict my
wardrobe anymore!! I went on a few trips lately (Vegas & Hawaii), and I
did it!, full exposure baby! I showed it all! This is who I am and the public (
and me) is gonna need to accept it!!
It was the first time since
my surgery that I went outside without being self conscience about it and trying
to cover it up. People DID stare but I tried to ignore it. I discovered this
bare essentials powder that does a good job at decreasing the redness without
irritating the scar ( which is still very tender).
So Yup, I walked
around, exposing my full scar, even the drain tube scar showed full force =).
I'll get a close up in the next journal for those of you who are following the
healing process.
Just wanted to include some words that a good
friend just sent me regarding scars " Each mark tells a unique story and
they show that we're experiencing life to its fullest."
thank
you Tony!
About me
33 / Female
Member since Jul 2009
Profile Views: 5821
Journal Views: 15054
guru
About Me: living life, one day at a time
Location: San Francisco, CA
Interests: art, eating and sleeping
Funniest medical moment: after heart surgery, while attached to a monitor and high on narcotics, I told a group of 7 doctors that I was planning on "escaping" from the hospital, then I tried to convince all the nurses to install instant messenger on their computers claiming they were too primative and needed a faster way for me to tell them when I need food and more pain meds.
Medical Conditions: endometriosis, mitral valve prolapse, abnormal coronary artery, iscemic cardiac disease
Health Interests: Beauty, Cardiology, Dental Health, Dermatology, Gastroenterology, Health and Food, Nutrition, Pain Management, Stress, Undiagnosed Symptoms, Women's Health
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LazySusan says:
on September 17, 2009 at 02:40 PM
You GO, GIRL!!! Yes, embrace your scar... it is your badge... it shows the world that you are a trooper and that you beat the odds! Your experience is not one that should be shamed or hidden... so it's time for you to go shopping again and buy all the plunging necklines you can find!
I'm glad you shared this with the MMW community, Anna.
sandra says:
on September 17, 2009 at 03:44 PM
Yay! Go Anna! Glad you had a good time and could enjoy yourself. :)
ginlambda says:
on September 17, 2009 at 05:37 PM
Lookin good!
dtran says:
on September 17, 2009 at 07:50 PM
You look great Anna! And I wouldn't worry too much about that scar. It's the pure beauty inside you that makes people love you.
lynn says:
on September 17, 2009 at 07:56 PM
Kudos to you Anna! There's sooo much to admire about you! I'm glad to hear that you had a great time out there!
Quynh says:
on September 17, 2009 at 10:10 PM
What scar? I'm looking at the beautiful face & curves!!! :) I totally understand about being self conscious about scars. I've got several and although people can't see them, I do and that's still enough to make me uncomfortable. But you're right about embracing every aspect of yourself -- flaws and all. Thanks!
Jenny says:
on September 18, 2009 at 12:04 AM
=) you go hot girl!
Marc says:
on September 18, 2009 at 07:40 AM
I wouldn't worry about it too much Anna. That big scar on the arm of Padma Lakshmi (Top Chef on Bravo) doesn't seem to detract from her appearance very much. Beside I'm a leg man, so I probably wouldn't even have noticed, if you hadn't pointed it out.
Talesa says:
on September 19, 2009 at 02:07 PM
You're still beautiful. And if it helps, I don't think it's the scar most people would be looking at. hahaha
CheriGoldwater says:
on September 21, 2009 at 09:37 AM
What scar?
I messed up my name when I signed up...oh well.
ChrisG says:
on September 23, 2009 at 09:12 AM
Hi Anna, I can't even see the scar, but regardless you smile is the first thing I notice. You know what I tell people about the scar on my back? I tell them it was from the war. Then I just say a doctor did it. ; ) I told that to a nurse who was checking for scoliosis when I was in 7th grade. My scar is actually from a heart surgery I had as a baby.
isokrankee says:
on September 26, 2009 at 06:37 PM
I'm so proud of you! Show it off!