A
male
 ,
anonymous
writes:a couple of months ago i asked a question on here which asked if my problem (pectus excavatum) could affect me (question was 'could my defect put a woman off sex?'). I thought it was things would be fine but things are now worse.I've now quit playing rugby after 6 years because one of my teammates noticed it, told everyone, and they all laughed at me and my self-esteem is low. I now really don't want to play team sports again which upsets me as it allows me to get rid of anxiety and pressure, as well as make new friends. Does anyone know anything to get rid my condition as my GP hasn't given me good advice about it? Reply to this Question
Share |
Fancy yourself as an agony aunt? Add your answer to this question! A
male
reader, seasider +, writes (23 November 2009):
hi mate, i have the same thing but pretty bad :(
unfortunatley the surgery is supposed to be really painful and also doesnt make it look much better ,
it has put me off swimming , sun bathing on holiday and goin in sea in england too with friends, it is really holding me back,
im quite skinny naturally anyway and dont have a big appetite so it isn't looking bright for me , i try goin to the gym but doing pecs work makes the hole look bigger and my higher abs cant even be seen , its something your friends and anyone else will just have to accept, its hard i havent had the courage to tell my friends, guess i'll see what happens in the future :/
A
female
reader, anonymous, writes (25 January 2008): Seriously, I don't know what kind of girls you are going out with! I have an operated funnel chest (twice), which unfortunately still went back to its old "position" plus a massive scar from right to left across my chest now! And no guy ever complained! I also know loads of guys who have that condition and neither their gfriends, nor anyone else ever laughed at them.I am not trying to play down your experiences, I am just saying a girl who laughs at something like that you probably best don't go out with anyways.
...............................
A
female
reader, anonymous, writes (23 October 2006): Hi,
I can see you posted your question a fair while ago, not sure if you're still looking for an answer, but here it goes:
The funnel chest is a wide spread condition !! I am so getting fed up with the English style of "help" when you've got a serious condition - wether physically or psychologically!! I have got a funnel chest myself, I am 24 years old now. Had an operation when I was 17 and then again 3 years later (Nuss method, google it). My experience with the operation is not very good, but I am one of a few as it seems, for the most part things go fine, but you are ill for months and the pain is unbearable. There are LOTS of specialists doing this in Germany (where I am from), so if you got any friends who speak German, ask them to google it with you and translate, you'll find all info and millions of forums in the net! Don't be ashamed of it, my funnel chest built back, plus I got a massive scar from right to left now, although there are better methods now, only involving 2 small cuts. So, not nice either! I don't care too much how it looks, you have to deal with it, no one ever laughed at me, even though I got a massive scar on top! But I sometimes have short breath and I CAN feel my funnel chest narrowing my breath and it is not nice!!
Operations can be done until a much later age, some are even 35! It is tougher the older you are, but it is very much possible!
There is also a non-surgery method which I want to look into, that's how I came across your post, look at www.trichterbrust.de
If you still read this post, feel free to email me at dienaddeldie @ web.de (without spaces obviously). I am trying to find a specialist in London just to get their opinion, but it's tough!
Nadja
...............................
A
reader, anonymous, writes (6 July 2006): This is verified as being by the original poster of the questionsurgery is the last resort, in fact I don't want surgery. I'm asking please if someone knows any exercises because my last girlfriend laughed when she saw my funnel chest and I can't accept the fact that a girl will accept my condition because I know no one will.
...............................
A
female
reader, Bev Conolly  +, writes (5 July 2006):
 A quick Google brought this up from eMedicine:
* Indications for treatment: No doubt exists that operative correction should be considered in patients presenting with pectus as well as with cardiopulmonary impairment.
o The most common indication for operative repair of pectus excavatum is to achieve anatomical correction of this congenital chest wall deformity. This is particularly important in young teenagers where the appearance of the chest can result in significant problems related to body image and self esteem. Thus, achieving an ideal cosmetic repair of the chest is considered an appropriate medical indication for surgery. Images 1-3 illustrate the dramatic appearance of pectus excavatum in young male and female patients.
-----
Here's another snip from pectusdeformity.com
It is unfortunate that this defect has been deemed cosmetic over a long period of time. Primarily because of the fact that very young patients are frequently asymptomatic. The defect has thus remained for long periods of time into the teenage and later age group periods before the real symptomatology expresses itself. The ideal age for correction of this defect is between 12-18 years of age and the simplicity of the repair in this age group makes this the ideal period for repair.
The standard pectus repair (Ravtich approach) of these deformities has been to place a sternal bar (Adkin's Strut) behind the sternum after mobilizing the deformed cartilages around the sternum and then go through a second operation to remove the bar after approximately 12 months following the initial repair. The Nuss Procedure involves the placement of a large curved bar through incisions on the chest wall. The bar is rotated into position and kept in place for 2 to 3 years.
-----
The upshot seems to be that surgical correction is an option. You probably should go back to your GP and get a referral to a specialist to discuss the procedure.
...............................
A
female
reader, shania +, writes (5 July 2006):
 I would go for a second opinion because some Doctors do differ on this subject.Instead,ask to see a specialist who deals with this kind of thing because surgery could be your best option...also there is a procedure where they can insert silicons into your chest to fill you out but it only works for mild to moderate conditions.I would not give up sport if you enjoy it...just because some small minded people made a comment....this really annoys me.Why should you stop?...ignore them,they will soon get bored.These kind of pathetic morons are the type to take the piss out of people in wheelchairs or have some other disabilities,they lack awareness.I wouldn't worry about girlfriends being put off by it either,if you meet someone special and she feels the same then it shouldn't matter what your chest looks like.Go back...get a second opinion and see what treatments you can take that are available.
...............................
|
