Lump at the top of my scar

[Heather1957]

Some might remember me posting that I didn't feel like touching my scar and still find it unpleasant. I know this is irrational as the scar is now part of me.

Even when applying bio oil I tend to just use the top of the bottle.

Anyway in a moment of braveness yesterday I did feel the scar and noticed a lump (pea size) at the top of the scar.

It in no way gives me any pain or discomfort and may well be surplus bone or gristle but I wondered if anyone else had that?

As an aside I have an appointment to see my original cardiac surgeon on the 15th November so I can save my list of questions till I see him or his intern.

I hope you are all doing okay?

[skid112 Heart Star]

Hi Heather, I have similar, well mire than one. Having seen gp and plastic surgeon they tell me they are the ends of the wires and perfectly normal. Unless they cause you discomfort then they will ge left alone.

No you're not irrational I too find it somewhat disconcerting to touch though I have been advised to massage the area in the shower I use a cloth lol

[Heather1957 in reply to skid112]

Thanks. No, no pain or discomfort, in fact until I touched it I wouldn't even know it was there.

I am going to give myself mini 'scar touching' tasks (mad I know) and am going to try and physically rub the bio oil in tonight!!

[Sina-6491]

I don't have the bumps and have no issues with touching it. Mine also looks like a cross at the top. I'm not religious but find it comforting.

The thing I find strange is I am sure the top end of the wires are loose sometimes. It feels like they are scratching me inside sometimes? Ha, I feel like they will come entangled like a spring lol 😁

[skid112 Heart Star in reply to Sina-6491]

haha yes I've had that feeling too

[Heather1957 in reply to Sina-6491]

It is odd to think there is wire inside our chests!!

[Twobells]

Heather, I thankfully don't have the lump, but top of my scar really tender and sore and raised. I cannot bare to even look at mine, yet alone touch it and especially when the physio told me I was officially a member of the 'zipper club' not sure if I want that label really.

[Heather1957 in reply to Twobells]

There are quite a lot of us belonging to that club!!

The top of my scar often feels tight and uncomfortable it feels like it is being stretched, oddly not all the time, I am feeling no pain or discomfort at all at the moment.

I keep putting loads of Bio oil on it though although not sure how much good it is doing.

I will make sure I protect the area very well on my hols!!

[Twobells in reply to Heather1957]

Yes don't let the sun it. I don't know how much bio oil is helping, but I've got lovely soft skin around the area. My scar still looks very red, but it burns especially later on in the day. Some days I don't feel the hotness, but today it's been quite sore. But still get the lump checked. How long to your holiday?

[Heather1957 in reply to Twobells]

I have this week off, I am working in Coventry next week then off to Cyprus on 30th for 2 weeks - the case is nearly fully packed already!!!

[Sina-6491 in reply to Twobells]

Errrrr, don't think I like that, Mmmmmm......

[Heather1957 in reply to Sina-6491]

As long as I know (in the words of Sir Tom) it's not unusual then I'm okay!

[Nettyanne]

Hi all

I am on the waiting list for MVR, had a repair 10 years ago now need a new valve. My 1st op was done by minimally invasive surgery so no opening the ribs, I am wondering what happens if you need an MRI scan or even at the airport security when you have the wires in your body.

Best wishes

[Heather1957 in reply to Nettyanne]

I asked the question about airport scanners previously and it seems that they don't cause a problem.

I tend to set them off anyway no matter what I am wearing!

[Dazzler142 in reply to Nettyanne]

No alarms go off..i have asked already and this is with a mechanical mitral valve,i was given a credit card size card telling me i have one fitted

I can show this for travelling etc..also any holidays a letter to take with you from your GP or cardiologist explaining what you have had done for your destination if any problems were to occur

Jenny x

[Rupertthedog in reply to Nettyanne]

Hi, have no worries regarding the wires at the airport.They should,nt set any alarms off.I have flown about six times since mine and that area has been okay.

[Ethel13]

Oh dear Heather,

Hopefully it won’t be anything to worry about. It is good that you have had some replies from fellow zippers, I join the club at the end of the month.

Hopefully your surgeon will be a lectern to reassure you when you see him/ her in November.

In the meantime, relax and enjoy your holiday in Cyprus.

Dory xxx❤️💕❣️

[Heather1957 in reply to Ethel13]

I am working with someone this week who saw my scar and said they were also a member of the zipper club. It actually didn't sound too bad. Oddly I felt a part of a club but not in a bad way.

[Shopgirl]

Hi, my scar was initially quite raised at the top that much so it stuck out in a pyramid sort of way. I was quietly horrified and 2 gps at my surgery weren't quite sure if it was an abscess or infected and kept an eye on it. But in 6 weeks since my op it has calmed down considerably. On the scar discomfort and tightness issue, I have felt pulling and very tight across my chest and shoulders and pecs area. Yesterday I had a physio session to ease out stiffness in my neck and upper back and the physio worked on my pecs which had gone into spasm from the op trauma and the change is remarkable so I can thoroughly recommend that if you know a good physio.

[Heather1957 in reply to Shopgirl]

I haven't and am not going to get any physio (too late now) but a sheet on scar/wound management would be really helpful.

In the early days I found myself stooping, subconsciously protecting the scar so I probably healed when it was tight. In hindsight I needed to stretch that area more so it healed with some flexibility.

In all honesty my scar is nearly 5 months old and while it is still very noticeable (I do nothing to hide it) and it is very tight and can be uncomfortable from time to time, I can live with it very easily.

I would be worried though if I had a suspected abscess on it!!

[Kimkat in reply to Shopgirl]

Hi, I’m 2 weeks post op and your wound sounds the same as I have at the moment, your post has given me some reassurance, so thanks for that. Normally I recover from scars relatively unscathed, so I wasn’t particularly worried about having a pacemaker fitted but I have to say my scar is very raised and definitely pyramid shaped, so it has given me a little cause for concern but since reading your post I feel a bit better about it. The tightness and pulling is sore at times, so I’m looking forward to the next month or so when it subsides. I also suffered with trapped air around my lungs after the op (not uncommon) and that’s also much better now but I’m still on painkillers. All in all, I’d rather not have heart problems, so a scar isn’t the end of the world 😊

[Shopgirl]

Yes I agree, a bit in the booklet from the hospital about scar management and what to expect would be reassuring and helpful. The NHS trust that produced the 'going home after heart surgery' booklet I had really did a rush job. I googled other versions from other NHS trusts and found out so much more about my symptoms including scar problems and sweats etc.

[Madgranny2]

I had a lump at the top of my scar the size of one half of an egg. I was told it would go and it has but took a long while

[Shopgirl in reply to Madgranny2]

Hi Madgranny, that sounds just like mine. I just wish I had been told about this in the hospital at discharge instead of worrying that it was a consequence of the op and I would be like that forever!

[Heather1957]

If there was a little about the scar in the discharge booklet that would be so helpful. There is enough to worry about after an op without worrying about the scar.

[Prada47]

Same small lump at the top of the scar just over 2 years post op.

I have had an Angiogram since my CABG and whilst just lying waiting for the Cardio to start I was looking up at the screen and could see 3 Black line across my chest I asked the Nurse who was with me, what's that and she just smiled that's the wires holding your rib cage together.

Tell you what the surgeon was very good at carrying out the grafts, but I wouldn't let him near tying my shoe laces !!!

Regards

[skid112 Heart Star in reply to Prada47]

Hahaha brilliant

[Heather1957 in reply to Prada47]

Good job we can't see their handy work then!!

[Heather1957]

I am regularly rubbing the oil in my scar now. Although the small bottle gets very slippery 😃

[Lucybird]

My scar has a bit of a lump at the top too, although it's less obvious after a few months of healing, I was using bio oil at first but found it gave me lots of blackheads. Now I use silicone tape which seems to make a difference but can get a bit itchy

[Heather1957 in reply to Lucybird]

I'll look out for that. ☺

[Brianbowron]

I can feel the wire where the 2 ends were tied into knots.13 of them in all.Extremely sensitive to the touch.Surgery was 11/2 years ago.

[Heather1957 in reply to Brianbowron]

Thanks, the lump seems to have disappeared and only about 7 months after surgery.

[Mazatectribe]

I ended up going back to papworth as had some either wire or stitches (never told me) as got lump and was painful to touch, now I have hard lumps sticking up in various places which feel like bone. My scar also is tender in places and feels stretched. I use bio oil but still hate my scar but feel it changed my life so see it as a battle scar!