What to wear to a pool party even though I am not swimming?

How do I go to a pool party with a feeding tube port on my stomach?

• I am in 10th grade. I have had ulcerative colitis since 5th grade but only recently has it gotten severe enough that I need a feeding tube for breakfast and dinner (I can eat lunch). I just got the port or whatever put in two weeks ago. It's been easy to hide it at school because it not too bulky to fit under my clothes, I just don't wear super tight shirts and wear sweatshirts/flowey shirts. My friends & my boyfriend have been really supportive to me and decorated my feeding tube pole with wrapping paper :) But tomorrow, this girl in my grade is having this huge cinco de mayo pool party at her pool and is inviting a lot of people, like people from different schools. I really want to go because I love parties but there is no possible way to hide my tube port thing in a bathing suit. There are these girls in my grade that are really judgmental and I'm worried that they are going to make fun of me and call me gross. I am really trying to take peoples advice and stop ring so self conscious about it, and I'm trying to not care what other people think but that is easier said than done. Please what do I do. I don't want to look like lame not swimming because everyone will be swimming; my friends will understand but many people won't and jump to conclusions. Thank you for your advice!! God bless.

• Answer:

  Ok, so first off, ports and g-tubes are different things (so you might not want to get into the habit of calling it a port, because that's something completely different and people will get confused) I actually have both btw :) So back to the question, it is a lot easier said than done to not be self conscious, and it takes practice. I used to be really self conscious of my button (as I call my g-tube), and would always get one piece swimsuits in an attempt to cover it, but then I just got fed up with all the hiding, so went back to bikinis. At first it's kinda weird showing everyone, but just do it anyways, it won't be as bad as you think. Sure, some people (rude people) will give you weird looks or make stupid comments, and many ask what it is, but that's all okay. If someone wants to be rude, let them, they're the only one who will get hurt by it. And if someone asks you what it is, you don't have to tell them if you don't want to. Half the time I'll say "It's my second belly button," and then just walk away. But as I've learned from my life of experience, if you don't act like it's a big deal, others won't either. So just go! Have fun! And don't give a damn what other people think! Don't be ashamed of who you are, this is just one little part of you, don't let it affect your life more than it has to. If you have confidence in your body, and the whole you, people won't do anything but admire you <3