Sternum wire removal

[Sljp0000]

Hi all

Has anyone on here at their sternum wires removed? Having mine done on Monday due to on going pain. Have to go in the night before even though its a 15 minute surgery with local anaesthetic and sedative. Also might have to stay in a second night as they're not taking me off my blood thinners or anti platelets.

Feeling anxious and its nothing compared to what I've been thru this last year.

Susie xx

[BeKind28-]

Hello

After everything you have been through even though I know this is nothing like you have I am not surprised you feel a little anxious but I am sure they will take good care of you

I never knew you could have them taken out so you have taught me something new with your post and I shall be interested to see if anyone else has your post will be interesting

Good luck I am sure you will be fine and let us know how you get on x

[Sljp0000 in reply to BeKind28-]

Thanks BK. Had my pre-med this morning. Took 3 hours, ......3 hours longer than the one I had for my actual open heart surgery last year!Yes, if they think the wires are causing pain you can have then removed. They do it automatically in the USA. Found out my sternum hasn't healed, another problem to add to the list! 🤪 xx

[BeKind28- in reply to Sljp0000]

Hello

So you have had it done then and it took 3 hours

If I have got this right I really do not know how you do it !

I might be sounding thick as normal but if they have taken them out and they have not healed correctly what happens next if you do not mind me asking

This is what they do in America I never knew that either I wonder why they do and we don't unless needed

Thank You for the update and I hope this is easily resolved you have gone through enough now x

[Sljp0000 in reply to BeKind28-]

No, it was my pre-med today to go through everything before surgery. The actually surgery is on Monday xx

[BeKind28- in reply to Sljp0000]

Hello

Well I said I was not clever

So 3 hours for a pre med that must have been a thorough one

Did they say if the Sternum has not healed if they can do anything about that ?

I still think you are amazing how you cope with all this x

[Sljp0000 in reply to BeKind28-]

Aww, thank you. I'm a little confused to be honest. How can removing the wires help the sternum to heal? You know when you're in front of a cardiologist and they give you 5 minutes and you can't think quick enough what to ask? He's Italian with a very strong accent and I can't always tell what he's saying. I trust him though. He did say that if I'm still getting pain in months to come he would have to put metal plates on it to help it heal. Xx

[BeKind28- in reply to Sljp0000]

Hello

To be honest I was thinking exactly the same if they remove the wires how will that help the sternum heal and we always think of questions after when we have had time to process what has been said

My Surgeon was Italian to a female though she was lovely so kind to me and her accent I could only catch bits and bobs it was so strong but I used to love to hear it some how it relaxed me

Main thing is though if you got any more pain there is something they could do but I really hope it will not come to that x

[Dogloverxthree]

That’s great I wish they had offered to remove mine 10 years constant pain good luck love to know the outcome

[Sljp0000 in reply to Dogloverxthree]

Is it too late? Might it be worth asking? Will post how it went.

[BigMel]

I had one removed after it had pierced my skin, sticking out by about 5mm. I arranged to visit Cardiology for them to have a look at it but all they did was put a dressing on it and issued a prescription,

Nobody really took much interest until my Cardiologist saw me in the corridor and asked what I was doing there. I told her about the wire, she examined it there and then and 3 days later I was in having it removed.

I don't think she was very happy with her teams inactivity regarding the matter but it was all done and dusted after a 3 day stay in hospital.

I didn't have any issues during or after the procedure.

Good luck.

[Sljp0000 in reply to BigMel]

I'm glad it got sorted for you. Did you have a general anaesthetic? My cardiologist says a local but my pre -med team today said it would be a general. I'm confused!

[Matt6096 in reply to Sljp0000]

thanks, it was just a local for me but if the wires aren’t actually sticking out it might be a bit more involved. Good luck however they decide to do it.

[BigMel in reply to Sljp0000]

Hi, I didn't have a general but I can't remember much about it. Might have been a sedative causing the drowsiness along with a local anaesthetic but I really can't remember.

Just go with the flow, it takes the stress of worrying about things away.

Good luck!

[Matt6096]

Hi, I had to have mine out as they started poking through the skin, on blood thinners too but had them removed without incident and went home the same day. I hope all goes well for you too.

[Sljp0000 in reply to Matt6096]

Thank you. Did you have a general anaesthetic?

[devonian186]

I find I have some pain if I do a lot of bending or stretching but usually its ok and not a constant pain. Its probably affected by weather conditions in much the same way as my deep teeth filling are.

I went through an airport scanner last week for the first time since the operation and wondered if the alarm would be activated, but it was all ok.

[Sljp0000 in reply to devonian186]

Yes it's not the sort of metal that sets of airport alarms. You've replied to me before about your fillings. I get the same. Always got an ache or two.....or three! 🤪

[devonian186 in reply to Sljp0000]

This morning one was aching and at that point you start thinking there is something wrong and start worrying abiout the dentist. Happily it seems to have gone away again.

[Sljp0000 in reply to devonian186]

That's good . I get loads of tooth pain, really randomly and throat pain too. Just have to live with it 🤪