Wire Removal done, no walk in the park!

[DanielB]

Fundy & Gymguy -- thanks for the suggestions. Unless I'm told differently by my doctors, I plan on getting my chest muscles back into shape --they have told for some time before my valve surgery and just after to 'take it easy' and that has not worked, so I think some stretching and work in that area is my next step. I have the question in front of them and I do have some very good doctors, so we'll see.

Gail -- good to hear you're improving. I am originally from the bay area and know Stanford's good reputation, so I would think you're in good hands there.

 

[pellicle]

Gail

thanks for posting this. I'm actually considering this issue at the moment with my wires becoming annoying. Its not quiet a year since the op, and the wires have really become unsettled in the top area of the sternum at this stage (probably the manubrium more so).

Just last week they started to cause some swelling around the area, and by Tuesday I was wanting an appointment with a Dr to see it this could be sorted out.

This is my 3rd operation, and I had my (top two) wires out on the 2nd operation a year or so after the op as the wires were (as you seemed to indicate) pronating and poking noticably out of the skin. I didn't have any issue then, but notice now that hits on my bones hurt like the billy-o and that makes me wonder if its not something to do with warfarin.

Anyway in this case it seems to not feel like that and that the main issue seems to be swelling. (see image)
(click for larger)

my surgeon is on holidays till the end of the week.

 

[carolinemc]

No Gail, warfarin would not cause the bone to ache. Perhaps due to the swelling of skin where the wires are giving you trouble. It is the way the body reacts to things and aches it s part of telling you that something is off. Good luck in getting them taken care of. I am luck with noit having trouble with mine 36 years apart from first surgery(repair on the aortic valve) and second(replacement of the aortic valve).

 

[Patrickh]

OMG!!! Something else to worry about (maybe?). So far so good for me, its 12 weeks after surgery and no wire annoyances for me. But this is the first I had heard that they could be a problem. As they say, ignorance is bliss! Maybe I should stop reading all these blogs. As an aside, I was watching a medical drama on TV the other day...and when they came to do the usual life-saving operation, I still find it hard to believe that I have actually gone through that!!! Its strange.

 

[pellicle]

No Gail, warfarin would not cause the bone to ache.

Do you have some reasons to support that assertion?

 

[DMS]

Sorry to hear that the wires are causing some pain and re-operations. I asked my surgeon about this during my 8 week follow-up this week and he seemed a little surprised I asked. X-rays showed mine have not shifted since the second day and he does not expect there will be any issue in the future. He said he did have to remove one set due to an allergic reaction, but that was the only one of about 8,000. He said many techniques are used but did not comment further. He has been at it a long time and does different thoracic and cardiac surgeries so for now I'll rely on his expertise. It made me feel better about the question. I wish you all the best.