I have Pectus excavatum.. should I have surgery? (Marfan's Syndrome)?

hey guys. i'm currently 14 and i'm 6'3''. I have Pectus excavatum, (where my chest is incaved so it looks like someone dropped a bowling ball on my chest), but i'm not sure whether or not to get surgery for it.
i think i have Marfan's syndrome as well, because at this age, i'm one of the tallest kids in my high school as a freshmen, to all grades. i have the chest, but i also have long arms and i'm what you can call 'lanky'. i also have the stretch marks, on my back.. and i've never had a lot of fat there. i'm willing to go find out if i have marfan's, but does marfan's reduce your life longetivity? i'm scared of the surgery costs, as i just got treatment from pneumonia and my family's financially hurting. my chest has always bothered me and my classmates, and i can't find the courage to tan, go swimming, shower in public, or play shirts and skins as a skin player. i want it gone.
i've done a lot of research, but i'd like to know how much surgery costs and your experiences opinions.

Hello there! I want to address you question on several levels, first the issue of being Marfan's. Yes and no about it being inherited, 25% of people with Marfan's Syndrome are spontaneous mutations, that is, it does not run in the family. In my case it does, I am a 3rd generation Marfan. You can have genetic testing done to determine for sure but that can be costly. Contact The National Marfan Foundation website to find a doctor in your area that is familiar with it. But from your description of yourself I would say it is a definite possibility. Also check into Loes-Dietz as many symptoms are similar.
Pectus excavactum. If it is not to serious I would not bother with any surgery. If it is causing problems with lung functions I think I would look into it. Insurance should cover it.
Marfans, untreated, can affect your life span. But with the proper treatment people with Marfans have a normal lifespan. I am 53, and I have a friend who just turned 62 and yet another who just clebrated her 78th birthday! If you do have it, ignoring it will not make it go away. Get the treatment you need.
If you suspect you have Marfan Syndrome I suggest you avoid all contact sports as any blow to the chest or head could cause serious problems. If you follow basketball I am sure you may have noticed that there have been a lot of players that drop dead on the court and the public is told that it was undiagnosed heart trouble. Odds are it was an aortic aneurysm caused by Marfans. So be careful.
If you go to the Marfan Foundation web site you will find a link where you can contact other people who have dealt with the pectus problem, or anything dealing with Marfans.
Feel free to contact me if you like..

I had Pectus excavatum and i had the surgery about 2 months ago. it is rather expensive if insurance does not cover it about 75,000 to be exactish. it only coast my mom about 3,000 after insurance. the results were amazing. howerver it is painfull for a while. email me at boxofrocks18@hotmail.com Report It

No.

How much the surgery will cost depends on what country you live in and what kind of insurance systems are in place.

Getting the shape of your chest fixed can be important to how you feel about your body, but the more important features of Marfan's syndrome are the heart and eye problems. People with Marfan's also have a lot of joint problems, too.

There's no single test for Marfan's, but the most important initial test is an echocardigram to check out the state of your heart valves. You should talk to a general doctor or a cardiologist about this. If it turns out you do have Marfan's then regular eye checks will be important, too.

Marfan's is an autosomal dominant genetic disorder, which means if this is the problem then at least one parent, grandparent, great grandparent, etc would have had the same problem, although not necessarily as severely.

Oh, and pectus excavatum doesn't necessarily mean Marfan's!

ur pretty tall... do you play basketball? cuz if u keep growin, ur good on ur way. that could help ur finances too. make it to the nba my n*gga

Speak to your parents and ask them to take you, to your doctor, who hopefully will order some testing with relevant specialists, which will include a full physical examination.

You are most certainly very tall. Are your family tall people, and is there a family history of Marfrans syndrome? As Marfrans syndrome is a inherited condition.

From what I understand sufferers of Marfrans syndrome can expect to have a normal life, with appropriate management.

Early detection and management is vital. As for surgery be guided by your doctors.

Good luck