Sternum wire removal: Hi all Has anyone... - British Heart Fou...

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Sternum wire removal

Sljp0000 profile image
17 Replies

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

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Sljp0000
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17 Replies
BeKind28- profile image
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 profile image
Sljp0000 in reply toBeKind28-

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- profile image
BeKind28- in reply toSljp0000

Hello :-)

So you have had it done then and it took 3 hours :-o

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 profile image
Sljp0000 in reply toBeKind28-

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

BeKind28- profile image
BeKind28- in reply toSljp0000

Hello :-)

Well I said I was not clever :-D

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 profile image
Sljp0000 in reply toBeKind28-

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- profile image
BeKind28- in reply toSljp0000

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 profile image
Dogloverxthree

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

Sljp0000 profile image
Sljp0000 in reply toDogloverxthree

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

Matt6096 profile image
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 profile image
Sljp0000 in reply toMatt6096

Thank you. Did you have a general anaesthetic?

devonian186 profile image
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 profile image
Sljp0000 in reply todevonian186

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 profile image
devonian186 in reply toSljp0000

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 profile image
Sljp0000 in reply todevonian186

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

Sljp0000 profile image
Sljp0000

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 profile image
Matt6096 in reply toSljp0000

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.

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