Incision on chest not healed completely.

[Ron Wyatt]

Hi folks,

I am five months post op. For the most part, I have healed nicely. However, right in the middle of the sternum is a tiny spot that doesn't seem to want to heal over. It oozes slowly and scabs, but the scab just gets bigger. Also it comes off while I'm in the shower, then the scab starts to form all over again. I didn't want to pay for a visit to my GP when I could get an experienced opinion here. It's just odd that it has healed everywhere except for that little spot. Has anyone else come across something like this before?

Thanks for your time,

Ron

 

[pellicle]

consult your GP or your sugeon immediately

no joke

http://www.valvereplacement.org/foru...ges-disturbing

It's just odd that it has healed everywhere except for that little spot. Has anyone else come across something like this before?

how long has this small spot been visible? Not the whole 5 months I hope.

 

[almost_hectic]

Did you have stitches? I had surgical glue and my incision was completely healed in just a few weeks. If you say oozing do you think it might be infected?

 

[JulienDu]

same as almost_hectic, i had mine 4 weeks ago and it was healed 2 weeks ago. follow pellicle advice and dont **** around with that, especially when you look at pellicle story ( it could also be minor )

 

[pellicle]

Ron Wyatt

​

same as almost_hectic, i had mine 4 weeks ago and it was healed 2 weeks ago. follow pellicle advice and dont **** around with that, especially when you look at pellicle story ( it could also be minor )

as Julien says, it could be minor so do not assume the worst ... but if its persisted this long it is not good.
How long has it persisted?
When did it first present?
Has any professional inspected it?
Can you post a photo?

If its propioni (which would not surprise me due to the duration and slowness of progression) then warn whoever is doing swabs for culturing that it may be propioni because propioni is a normal skin flora and is dismissed when found in cultures PLUS it cultures slowly and may not show signs of culture till after 7 days (5 days is not an uncommon time for them to declare "free").

 

[harrietW]

Gosh Ron Wyatt that does not sound good. My incision was completely healed over and no scabing within 2 weeks .. actually right now 8 weeks later you can hardly tell l had surgery except for other complications. But the scaring is and incision is mind blowing. Amazing l am proud and grateful for that.
I'm with Paliogirl on thus one as Pellicle is a historical account of the nightmare he lived.

 

[Ron Wyatt]

Thanks for the responses folks. I didn't check until today, I expected to get an email when someone posted. I'm very new here... only just learning as I go.

Pellicle: Yes, it's been like that the entire time. I thought it was just going to be the last little bit to heal... and sure enough it has!
Yes, I tried to post a photo. It wouldn't let me... told me I was not eligible to put up an attachment.

Almost_hectic, I honestly don't remember what I had. It might have been staples. The blood thinner they had me on caused a bleed in my brain, so I had to have brain surgery a month after the first one. That has really messed up my memory.

My scar is huge. From my neck to my navel, and across my belly, just as long. When I went to see my GP after I was released, she called all of the nurses to have a look at me... they agreed that it was the largest surgical incision they have ever seen. It took awhile to heal completely, that's why I wasn't concerned at first.

Thank for kind thoughts!

 

[pellicle]

Thanks for the responses folks. I didn't check until today, I expected to get an email when someone posted. I'm very new here... only just learning as I go.

Pellicle: Yes, it's been like that the entire time. I thought it was just going to be the last little bit to heal... and sure enough it has!

so its healed now? Your last post

It oozes slowly and scabs, but the scab just gets bigger.

suggested it had not.... or is it just "you expected it"

the problem is that the only reason things like that don't heal is that there is a discharge coming from inside that the body is leaving a hole for it to escape through. This is a "bad thing" because the only reason there is a discharge is likely to be an infection ... where it is is a matter for concern. If its in the sternum bone itself that's bad (but not the worst).

Have you had followups? I can't believe that any followup missed this?

Yes, I tried to post a photo. It wouldn't let me... told me I was not eligible to put up an attachment.

if you have flickr its easiest to put it there and then add the link in:

or you could email it to me and I'll whack it up for you...

 

[Ron Wyatt]

Aww, I tried Flickr, couldn't figure it out, nevermind.

I have an appt at the hospital day after tomorrow anyway, I'll have the doctor have a look at it. He is in the urology department, but I'm sure he can tell if something is wrong. I'll keep you up do date. Thanks!

 

[Ron Wyatt]

I saw the urologist today. He just gave me some antibiotics. If it doesn't help after ten days, I have to go and see my GP. I think if I had an untreated infection in my sternum for five months, I'd probably be dead by now.

 

[pellicle]

I saw the urologist today. He just gave me some antibiotics. If it doesn't help after ten days, I have to go and see my GP. I think if I had an untreated infection in my sternum for five months, I'd probably be dead by now.

dunno ... mine was infected for a YEAR before it broke out (if you read that thread of mine, the first post made that point)

also, in Australia a Urologist specializes in areas other than the sternum and thoracic cavity ... just wondering why you're seeing that specialist for a possible infection on the sternum.

 

[almost_hectic]

I think his point was that he just happened to already be seeing a urologist for something else... his thinking being a doctor is a doctor. Anyway, I understand some people are on a budget or whatever. But how much does it cost to see your GP? If it were me I'd RUN to my GP, Cardiologist, or even the Surgeon's office. Especially after seeing Pelicle's post!

 

[Paleowoman]

I think his point was that he just happened to already be seeing a urologist for something else.

I suspect that's the case. It happens with me all the time as my endocrinologist is one of the cleverest physicians I'm under. When I see him he has copies of the reports that my other consultants send to my GP, so if there is a new problem which happens to coincide with an appointment with him he'll advise and, if necessary tell me to see my GP (takes 3 to 4 weeks to get an appointment with a GP here) or he'll refer me directly to another specialist. As when things were going wrong after my AVR - he was the doctor who saw me as an emergency and did tests etc and referred me to gastro doc AND told me to see my cardiologist and wrote a report to the cardio. A good doctor should not just view the patient as the one particular part that he normally specilises in, although unfortunately many do.

 

[Ron Wyatt]

Almost, you hit the nail on the head... I had an existing appt with the urologist, so I just asked him. I was put under the urology department's care as I was diagnosed by them first. I went to my GP complaining of difficult breathing. She sent me to the hospital. They found a big tumor on my right kidney, the tumor was causing a blood clot to grow up the vena cava and into the heart. The clot in the heart was breaking up and sending chunks into the right lung, cause me to have difficult breathing. Funny thing was, they don't usually try to remove a tumor on a kidney since we come with two. They just take the whole kidney. They didn't know that I didn't know that. I found out about it just before discharge... I was shocked! I wish I'd known, so I could have asked to be given the kidney... to give it a proper burial, you see. Yes, I'm weird that way... well, most ways.

 

[Ron Wyatt]

Another funny thing. They tried to shrink the clot by having me take blood thinner twice a day for three weeks before the surgery. The blood thinner caused me to bleed into my brain, which meant I had to have my skull opened and my brain washed off. It was not my most favorite month.

 

[almost_hectic]

Another funny thing. They tried to shrink the clot by having me take blood thinner twice a day for three weeks before the surgery. The blood thinner caused me to bleed into my brain, which meant I had to have my skull opened and my brain washed off. It was not my most favorite month.

holy crap!

 

[pellicle]

Ron

Another funny thing. They tried to shrink the clot by having me take blood thinner twice a day for three weeks before the surgery. The blood thinner caused me to bleed into my brain, which meant I had to have my skull opened and my brain washed off. It was not my most favorite month.

that all sounds bloody difficult. Seriously take the time to CAREFULLY read what I have posted to you and submit that to the department you are seeing. I hope that you do not have a sternal infection but it is very possible to have one smoulder for months and even for years. If as you say it has not healed for months, then you are presenting all the signs of propionibacteria infection. Propioni (and quote that bacteria name to them) is a common infection in prostheses ... the bacteria is not able to decide that the stainless steel wires in your sternum are not a stainless steel prostheses ... I do not want to be reading of you joining my journey because I am still on anitibiotics from 2013(read this again)

 

[pellicle]

Ron

Another funny thing. They tried to shrink the clot by having me take blood thinner twice a day for three weeks before the surgery. The blood thinner caused me to bleed into my brain, which meant I had to have my skull opened and my brain washed off. It was not my most favorite month.

I suggest you strongly consider alternative "care" .. for a start I'm slightly horrfied that they used an increase in anti coagulation therapy to attempt to break down a clot. I believe this is another case of the "DumbedDown" term "blood thinner" has misled your "service providers" to use what is designed to prevent clots to break clots. Its not like paint thinner its not a solvent.

The more appropriate treatment would be with tPA (Tissue Plasminogen Activator) not to use an increase of AC therapy.

Some readings

http://www.strokeassociation.org/ST...reatments_UCM_310892_Article.jsp#.VuC2lvl951M

tPA, the Gold Standard The only FDA approved treatment for ischemic strokes is tissue plasminogen activator (tPA, also known as IV rtPA, given through an IV in the arm). tPA works by dissolving the clot and improving blood flow to the part of the brain being deprived of blood flow. If administered within 3 hours(and up to 4.5 hours in certain eligible patients), tPA may improve the chances of recovering from a stroke. A significant number of stroke victims don’t get to the hospital in time for tPA treatment; this is why it’s so important to identify a stroke immediately.

https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/007089.htm

Thrombolytic medications are approved for the immediate treatment of stroke and heart attack. The most commonly used drug for thrombolytic therapy is tissue plasminogen activator (tPA), but other drugs can do the same thing.
According to the American Heart Association, you have a better chance of surviving and recovering from certain types of heart attacks if you receive a thrombolytic drug within 12 hours after the heart attack starts.

Get onto your infection soon, if your words of

five months post op. For the most part, I have healed nicely. However, right in the middle of the sternum is a tiny spot that doesn't seem to want to heal over.

are correct then its not a joke its dangerous.

 

[Ron Wyatt]

Thanks Pellicle! I'll read over again what you've told me, to make sure I have a grasp on the ideas. I can't be sure I have a clear understanding these days... my brain isn't it'self.

 

[pellicle]

Hey Ron

I know you've been through a lot, and as you yourself said your brain ain't at peak.

I'm concerned for your situation and I really hope I'm wrong with propioni, but its shaped up as being a bigger issue in post surgical infections than most people credit if tor.

Its worth mentioning it by name to the microbiol guys because its usually discounted in a swab because its a normal part of your skin flora (so they dismiss it) and its also hard to culture.

Pimples are one thing, but if 5 months is correct for a persistent slight weeping then you've got something growing there. I wish you'd been able to send a picture as I could tell more from that (and by the way my original degree was microbioogy / biochemistry double major). PM me if you wish and I'll send you my email address.