Warzone
Friday, December 11, 2009 at 9:43AM I noticed last night as I was brushing my teeth, that I look horrible.
The thing is, my stomach has so many marks, scars, and spots that it looks like I am some sort of a human dart board. In a way, I guess I am.
Maybe it's my skin tone or something but I look awful. So awful that I won't even snap a picture of it to share. It's embarrassing and gross.
Luckily it is nowhere near swimming weather, what this the frigid sub-sixty degree weather we have had, so taking off my shirt in public is not a concern. But honestly, I have been avoiding swimming parties and the beach for years because of it.
Last night as I looked in the mirror I realized just how bad it is. I am considering seeing a dermatologist or at least talking to my doctor. I dunno, I seem to jump through so many hurdles with my doctors that it makes me not want to bring it up. I just don't want my stomach to look like a war zone.
Do any of you have this problem? And if so, any solutions or things I can try to help clear it up?
Reader Comments (8)
I've got the dartboard thing going on, too, only my marks are on my lower back and my thighs. I hate, hate, hate these dots of diabetes evidence. :(
I've taken to slathering them with vitamin E lotions, which is helping to ease the redness and makes them look a little less angry. But if you see a dermatologist and you get some good advice, I'd love to hear it!!!
George: I hear you on this. I'm a beach and swimming avoider myself, have been for years since becoming a pumper. The thing is with injections, while the control wasn't as great, it didn't bring with it the marks we now must endure. I've been pumping for almost nine years, and I do wonder about the effect this all has on my skin. Now, granted I don't always change in the 2-3 day time instructed - sometimes keep in longer, which may be part of the problem. But it just doesn't seem like our bodies are meant to take this repeated abuse. I've thought about taking a break from pumping for a little while to let myself heal and recoup, but just can't bring myself to it.
I have lots of little poka-dots all over my tummy and arms. Mostly, the redness goes away in a few weeks, but then they turn white. So if I do tan, I have white dots everywhere. I know it sounds crazy, but the cocoa butter for stretch marks helps mine. Let us know what the dermatologist says if you do go see one.
I'm not always consistent about it, but as often as I can remember, I put a little circle band-aid with a drop of antibiotic cream or ointment on every infusion/sensor site when I'm done. It's made a big difference in reducing the scarring, and I feel less self-conscious about myself.
This is one of the reasons I stopped wearing my CGM. I still have scars from like 8 months ago from that stupid thing.
Wish I could help you George, but I do feel your "pain".
I hear you; since returning to MDI, my abdonimal "wounds" have largely cleared, but my fingertips certainly haven't thanks to repeated testing, so I now have a collage of black dots all over them. In fact, often, I can simply not bother lancing my finger and pick any finger and squeeze it until blood comes out. This disease sucks, and to make matters worse, in November, the American Diabetes Association published a statement in the journal Diabetes Care entitled "How Do We Define Cure of Diabetes?" which basically stated that the ADA is now recommending that there is no such thing as a "cure" for any type of diabetes, only a long-term remission, effectively arguing that doctors should never use the word "cure" in reference to any type of diabetes. The committee of 12 who wrote the paper (including ADA President John Buse) did close by saying: "As new therapies of curative intent emerge for type 1 and type 2 diabetes and actuarial and scientific evidence regarding prognosis builds, these issues will surely require further deliberation."
This disease sucks. There's absolutely NO debate about that!
Dude. I just put my infusion sets in below the fat-line horizon. You know, the part I can't see!
I'm kidding (a bit). Yes, I too have the battle scars from fighting with diabetes. Honestly, I guess it doesn't bother me much. I don't know - I'm probably weird.
And did you say "frigid sub-sixty degree weather"?! Cry me a freaking river man. I seriously want you to come to MN in winter, just once, so you can get a taste of it. It would blow your mind. :-)
Reading Scott S.'s comment above makes me a bit sad.
I know it is hard, but speaking as a mom, please don't sacrifice health for appearance. Look at every one of those dots and scars as battle scars! Every dot is a badge to show that you are fighting diabetes and winning! I have an 8 year old daughter who doesn't worry about these things too much yet, but I am so afraid she will soon. When I see the marks from her pump, it just reminds me of how strong and beautiful she is. Please remember that you are alive, healthy and strong because of each and every one of those scars! And you know, like I tell my daughter, she has a pump but we all have something,(granted-not as serious as diabetes) you have diabetes scars, and I have c-section scars and way too many pounds, but neither you or I should let our flaws stop us from enjoying life. You work so hard to live healthy, don't forget to live!