Internal stitch

[Mazatectribe]

Hi I’m 9 weeks post after mitral valve repair. Have an internal stitch now showing as a lump saw surgeon last week who said hopefully will go down if not will have to have removed back in Cambridge again can anyone tell me if they have had theirs removed and what it involves?

Thanks

[Benchster]

Hi Mazatectribe.

I had a mitral valve repair in August 2011. During the following November I had what I thought was a stubborn blackhead on my chest. After a hot bath and a good fiddle, I managed to pull out a piece of string about 2cm long!!! Hope you get sorted with yours.

[Mazatectribe in reply to Benchster]

Thanks for your reply mine is an actual lump which can be painful but did have the same thing happen when had op on hand I went to hand therapy and she pulled out a line of stitches about 4 inches long!

[skid112 Heart Star]

Hi there,

are you sure its a stitch and not a wire if its that hard? The area around the sternum is particularly sensitive so if it is a wire it may be that causing the pain, it does get easier with time and they are loath to operate again so soon after, have just had some cortisone injections to try and alleviate scarring problems 16 months post op

[Mazatectribe in reply to skid112]

Saw surgeon last week he said it was a stitch but last night turned over and felt like an electric shock! Hope it goes down soon as it’s just few inches down where not much skin as I’m quite slim. Fingers crossed!

[skid112 Heart Star]

Yes that'd be a wire, as much as it hurts try and massage around the area