Ok, so as I’m waiting for my upcoming surgery… and trying not to freak out. I’ve been finding myself fixating on smaller less important details than cancer and anesthesia and recovery and you know like cutting into my neck and all… it all just gets me totally freaked!
…So what I’ve been thinking about instead lately, is my neck. You see, I’m getting this surgery in May. And my surgeon told me that she wants me to keep my neck covered and out of the sun for at least 6 months post-op. I also have a friend who has a tiny perfect little scar from a partial thyroidectomy, and she said the key is absolutely to keep it out of the sun, at all times, even if its cloudy out, just keep that puppy covered, for a full year even….
Which means, all summer long this summer… I am going to have to cover my neck. I am SOOOO not a turtleneck type of girl. I have a short neck, and a little head, and really those looks are BAD for me… and also, I feel totally claustrophobic and really hot! I’m trying to figure out how I’m going to make it through the summer with out dying of overheating, and yet still keeping my neck covered. The winter will be easy for me, because I wear knit winter scarves all the time, but I’ve never worn a summer scarf or a decorative scarf ever…. so I’m feeling a bit lost at the prospect!
The other day at target, I found a few little silk-type scarves on sale… and had to have my sister give me a few tutorials on how to wear them… but I could really use some suggestions from people out there in blog land that have any experience at all with scarves, or you know other clever ideas for keeping my neck covered when its warm out? I’m so not a dressy high maintenance type of girl, and all this stuff just confuses me!!! Tell me what to do people!
(I wanted to say also, THANK YOU so so so much to everyone for your support on my last post… I’m just taking it one day at a time here, but everyone’s love and well wishes mean the world to me. Thank you all for making me feel so loved)
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Wednesday, 22. April 2009
You could always just get a neck tattoo. Just be like, “yeah, I’ve got a scar AND a tattoo…want to make something of it punk!?”
Wednesday, 22. April 2009
Well, the first thing that popped into my head was those cute neck warmers that Elise Flannigan has been wearing in her photos lately, here’s one at her store http://www.redvelvetart.com/accessories/green-scarf.
But that seems way to hot for summer. Maybe one made out of a light cotton instead of wool. Hmmm, I want to go to the yarn store anyway, I’ll see if there’s any lightweight stuff there and let you know what I find!
Wednesday, 22. April 2009
dont know where the scar will be but I know I have a kinda short neck too and wearing a polo type shirt buttoned all the way covers a good part of my neck. If the area you need to cover was low enough some polos might be a good idea? Also maybe some of those looser styled sleeveless turtle neck tops might work. Not the kind that chokes you but is kinda loose and flowy. Ill see if I can find an example and post it
Wednesday, 22. April 2009
I’m with G – be all “Big Whoop. Wanna fight about it?!”
I’m really no help
but I did just go through this with another friend of mine – she had stage 3 something or another in a brain tumor (and 3 little girls at home – Carter’s age and younger)
I will ask her where she got the super-dooper-cute’r scarves she always sports.
I’m sorry you are going through this, Shawna. Continuously in my thoughts, darlin’.
Thursday, 23. April 2009
Well I went and searched until I found some pictures, of course I don’t know if all of these surgeries are done the same but it does look like the scar should be low on your neck, like at the base of your neck. Really interesting sight it showed pictures from 3 days to 9 months after surgery. I didn’t want to post the link because I didn’t want to freak you out, but actually I didn’t think it looked to bad and having had heart surgery, kidney surgery, 3 c-sections and 4 other small scar surgeries I think I am am pretty good judge of scars.
Anyway I think you might be able to buy some high necked shirts and blouses and be OK and not feel strangled for the next year. I had to cover my chest and believe it or not I actually found bathing suits with high necks.I had my heart surgery in July and also had to keep the scar covered and it started at the base of my neck. They were actually sold as post surgery suits and they came way up around the neck and were backless so I didn’t feel like a total prude. Of course that was 20 plus years ago but I bet you can find something on the internet. Anyway I didn’t mean to ramble but your family in Maryland is thinking about you and wishing you all the best. Stay tough, hang in there and thank you for keeping us updated.
Friday, 24. April 2009
Turtlenecks drive me crazy, scarf is a great idea.
Nobody ever told my mom to keep her neck covered for a year, wow. She actually kept hers exposed because it bothered her to have anything near the area they cut. I wonder if it would of made any difference for her, hmm.
I think focusing on little things is common. I know when I had to go for a biopsy, I thought for sure I had it. I kept worrying about really little minor things.
Well take care hun!
Monday, 27. April 2009
You’ll only be slightly warm. As a hijabi (hijab wearing woman), our necks are always supposed to be covered in public. It’s not bothersome or uncomfortable and you’ll get used to it. My neck hasn’t seen a sunny day since I was a very young girl. Stay encouraged my friend. There are lots of places on the internet, even youtube videos, that demonstrate how to wear a neck scarf. You’ll be fine mama!
Saturday, 22. August 2009
I have just had neck surgery and the surgeon cut a large crescent incision that curves down from my ear and curves back up to just beneath my chin bone, so it is hard, but I have been learning to tie the scarves by wrapping my entire neck several times with a scarf, and then end up in front with the tie. After tying the scarf I have two little “rabbit ears” and I turn them up and then tuck them into the top area of the scarf. This needs to be snug but doesn’t really have to be tight.
I’ve been thinking about getting some of the fashion type two sided tape to try on my neck too, to hold the scarves in place at the top of my neck as they tend to flop or slip down.
Also, I have noticed that if I tie the knot in the scarf on the right instead of in the middle of my neck, the knot helps cover a lot more of the scar.
Meanwhile I am putting some expensive olive oil treatment for stressed skin 3 times a day also. I found the oil on HSN and it is really practical as it goes a long way, and in the kit I bought there are several oils with replenishing formulas and so I hope that is going to help my scars heal more invisibly or at least make them look less noticeable.
In the winter I am going to try to find extra high turtlenecks, but find them in a soft knit so I won’t get too hot as I am very warm natured.
I hope you are well and all went great for your surgery. I was very blessed as I did not have to have radiation or chemotherapy, but I know so many times these things come back and so I am trying to watch my nutrition closely, take good, natural supplements, lots of Vitamin E and some liquid minerals. I feel these supplements saved my life, actually, because the cancer did not spread to the lymph nodes and I hope you had good news too.
I will keep you in my prayers. I know we should not be so vain with so many people who are terribly disfigured, but it is not wrong to want to look our best even if we have short necks as I do – and I also have a very very small chin, so a scarf makes me look like I kinda over-dressed, but I don’t care. People aren’t looking at us that much as we think. A LOT of people are unattractive, but I’m telling you, a nice, sincere, though crooked smile can be such a gift to someone and compensate for any amount of scars we may have – as well as make others grateful instead of complaining about so much.