Possible problem with sternal incision

[Paleowoman]

I have just today seen that there are some tiny yellow 'heads' of what looks like pus appearing near the bottom of my incision scar. They look like the 'heads' of you get when 'whiteheads' start - not weeping but small raised yellow spots. I'm wondering what to do as there's no doctors around at the weekend and anyway, who would I contact if, indeed I should contact anyone ? The pain I have is the same as I've been having these past seven weeks. and there's no fever.

Can I leave it a bit ? I'm seeing a cardiac nurse on Wednesday morning - can I leave it till then to show him ? It's my husband's 60th birthday on Tuesday so I don't want to screw up his birthday if I don't need to.

Thanks for any advice.

 

[DebbyA]

I had something like that on the incision when I had a pericardial window. I just scraped them off with some cotton (maybe applied rubbing alcohol?--it's been 6 years), and nothing further developed.

Our medical systems are so different. If you call your surgeon's office or cardiologist's office, is there no answering service to refer you to a backup doc?

Hope it turns out to be harmless.

 

[Cromey]

Anne, if you are concerned there is always the options of a walk in A&E. They will be able to assess it for you.
Personally unless its something that continued to weep and get worse I wouldn't be concerned about it and would wait until Wednesday. But you need to do whatever you require to ease your mind.

 

[Lynlw]

Its possible it is the dissolving threads not dissolving but working their way out,which isn't a big deal,sometimes they can just pull them out or cut them, BUT its always best to get anything like that checked since it could be something else. Whenever Justin had problems w/ his incision we called the surgeon, if it was more medical post op we called the cardiologist. isn't there someone on call even during weekends and nights? if you aren't sure who to call call the florr you were on in the hospital,they will know who to call. I would call today,that way it can be taken care of now and hopefully you'll be able to enjoy husbands bdaay without worrying about it

 

[Cooker]

I had all kind of little bumps and the such as my incision healed ... they resolved themselves ... if you are concerned get it looked at ... my guess is it's just as some above have said ... but peace of mind is worth the world.

 

[Paleowoman]

Thanks everyone. I just found online that there is an appointment free at my GP surgery very first thing Monday morning at 8.30 which I've booked just in case. I'm tempted to leave it till then unless it develops badly tonight or tomorrow as A&E (ER) here in the UK is usually abysmal. I could call the cardiac ward in the hospital I was in, that's true, that's another option. But it's definitley not weeping and not reddened more than it always has been. Most peculiar.

 

[Duffey]

I'd take the 8:30 Monday morning appointment unless they get worse. My incision bled early on in the healing process, but we were able to handle it over the phone and with the help of a home health nurse.
The only thing I question is whether there might be any relation between this new development and the continuing sternal pain you continue to have.

 

[Paleowoman]

Hi Duffey - re the new development and continuing sternal pain - yes I started thinking that too. The sternal pain has always been centred around that area of the incision and is sometimes quite 'sharp'. This morning I found that the 'heads' had bust during the night on their own and there must have been a tiny bit of blood and weeping. Unless I feel otherwise between now and tomorrow morning, I think I'll take the 8.30 appointment as there's certainly no harm. If I wait till Wednesday and the nurse says I need antibiotics I then have to get an appointment at the GP (never easy) - tomorrow's slot just happened to suddenly come available when I looked online so I had grabbed it. It's easy to cancel if I decide I don't need it after all.

 

[Paleowoman]

Saw a GP this morning (not a doctor I've seen before). She said that it's that the sutures aren't continuous and that's why it's bled and had some pus. She picked the top off (with sterislised gloves) and said it looks clean. She didn't seem to think it mattered that there was pus, but was fine with me checking on it as it does say in the hospital leaflet to see someone if there is pus from the incision. She said if the area around gets red to see someone again.

 

[Duffey]

Saw a GP this morning (not a doctor I've seen before). She said that it's that the sutures aren't continuous and that's why it's bled and had some pus. She picked the top off (with sterislised gloves) and said it looks clean. She didn't seem to think it mattered that there was pus, but was fine with me checking on it as it does say in the hospital leaflet to see someone if there is pus from the incision. She said if the area around gets red to see someone again.

Are you 49 days out of surgery? If so, it seems like a long time to still have healing from the sutures. Do you heal longer as a result of the diabetes? I'm sorry if I'm asking too many questions, but I truly think your incision should be healed and you shouldn't be having sternum pain this far out.

 

[Paleowoman]

Are you 49 days out of surgery? If so, it seems like a long time to still have healing from the sutures. Do you heal longer as a result of the diabetes? I'm sorry if I'm asking too many questions, but I truly think your incision should be healed and you shouldn't be having sternum pain this far out.

Hi Duffey - I've been thinking just like you have too as the day has gone on. The incision had healed very nicely so it was a real surprise to see the pus and blood from it this weekend. I'm thinking that the GP I saw this morning didn't realise that I am 49 days (seven weeks !) out of surgery - that's the trouble when you don't get to see your own doctor….even though they're supposed to read the notes on their computer screen. I did tell her about the pain. I feel so annoyed with my body for not doing this 24 hours earlier as I saw my own GP on Friday evening so he would have seen this had the incision decided to do its thing then instead of Saturday.

I'm starting the one to one cardio rehab the day after tomorrow so I'll get the nurse to check it out thoroughly as I think he will have more experience of this type of thing than a GP.

 

[tom in MO]

I am not diabetic, but I had pimples form at the bottom section of my scar occasionally starting about month 3 and going to about month 6. They sometimes popped and bled. Looked just like acne, except on my scar. Never had a problem with them and they went away on their own.

 

[Paleowoman]

I am not diabetic, but I had pimples form at the bottom section of my scar occasionally starting about month 3 and going to about month 6. They sometimes popped and bled. Looked just like acne, except on my scar. Never had a problem with them and they went away on their own.

Now that's interesting because that sounds very similar !

 

[clay_from_nj]

A short time after my surgery (days, week or so?) I had a couple of threads poking out from the internal sutures (my skin was glued together) and I took advantage of my surgeon's open-door policy and dropped by his office. In a matter of seconds, his nurse plucked out the threads with a pair of tweezers, easy as you please.