scar from open heart surgery

[AH31]

I have lately been to the DRs with my open heart scar.. The top and bottom of the scar is oozing yellow pus, which has been dressed. Since noticing the oozing I have also noticed the left side of my breast, back and chest is very painful and uncomfortable especially in the morning and evenings.

I don’t have any temperature or feel unwell with the infection but I am just wondering if they could both be related, or has anyone else experienced pain and discomfort weeks after their surgery? I didn’t feel this uncomfortable a week ago.

[Lowerfield_no_more]

Sounds to me that you have a deteriorating condition. A sternal infection after open heart surgery is considered to be serious.My suggestion is to play safe and seek medical attention. Either get an urgent appointment with your GP, or give 111 a go, or if it suddenly get worse get your self down to A&E.

[AH31 in reply to Lowerfield_no_more]

My GP is aware and has been treating and dressing the scar.

[BeKind28-]

Hello

My scar all healed lovely except one little bit right at the bottom and it would not heal

I had to have it dressed several times a week as well as they put this silver stuff in it to draw the infection as there was a little bit starting to form and it did take a long time for it to heal I never at one stage thought it was going to but it did

For me when I had been laid down all night and would get up it felt like all the infection was heavy where it was and built up over night if this makes sense and eased during the day

I did have pain but only in that area but it did hurt

If I was you though and you are getting pain in other places I would see your Doctor and get it all checked out

Let us know how you get on x

[AH31 in reply to BeKind28-]

Thankyou 😊

[BeKind28- in reply to AH31]

x

[DWizza]

Hi AH31, I had an infection in my sternum wound , I had to have weeks of antibiotics, 3 lots , it eventually cleared up. It was a bit of a drag but eventually healed . GP surgery weren’t very interested in changing or supplying dressings , it was a quest to get an appointment with the surgery nurse until one nurse took an interest. I also had to send photos to my hospital consultant. Luckily it didn’t cause much more discomfort than I already had as only discharged a week , it was just another thing to keep an eye on and try not to make worse .

[wjb2]

I was given a phone number for the heart ward i was in and told anything like your describing or out of the expected norm to get in touch with them , surprised your cardiac support nurse has not got you help. Also i was not signed over to my GP till the 8 week post release from hospital check by the surgical team.

[Traveldreams]

I’ve had a scare with mine too. The wound care nurse at my original operating hospital asks for photos every two weeks to look at healing. It’s ironic but I’ve been more aware of the external healing than internal. I suppose it’s because you can’t ignore it. Again, phoned cardiac nurse and they got wound care to contact me direct.

[Lindor23]

Although my scar has been text book most people I speak to have had an infection in the scar. I had my surgery at the end of November and also have pain one side of the breast area, back & arm, all of which I didn’t have just after surgery. My GP practice is a little unhelpful but I have recently been talking to a cardiac nurse & cardiac physiotherapist, they both say it is completely normal to have these pains as the body is healing at different times & can take up to a year to heal so different areas then start to be uncomfortable. Hope this helps. Take care.

[Hidden]

👋 Hi, this must be a real worry for you. Post op Bypass surgery day 5, a very kind nurse who was on my previous ward overheard a conversation that I was being Discharged with some of my stitches still in situ. She took matters into her own hands, came over, and removed them.I now know had she not done so there's always a chance they can become infected and a may well have been in your shoes.

As far as your aches and pains are concerned I two suffered with real discomfort on my left hand side breast and back. However, post op 18mths I now hardly notice anything other than the odd twinge.

I'm sure if my experience is anything to go by all your going through now will be a distant memory some months from now.

Best wishes,

Denis

[Hel52]

aww bless you sometimes the pain itself can be signs of infections high temperature can come as well seek medical advice it’s not good too leave too long so sorry your having too go through this big hugs x

[Islandguy2024]

Hi AH31

I’m now 4 months post op and I can tell you that the aches and pains get worse before they get better. My GP explained to me that we often don’t feel a lot of the pain initially due to the damage to the nerves (hence the numbness in different parts of the chest area). As the chest nerves heal you start to feel new aches and twinges! My recommendation is keep on top of the pain meds and remember that it will eventually be a distant memory. I have to try hard to remember what it was like a few days post op

If you are still concerned then definitely seek a second professional opinion.

Good luck!

[AH31 in reply to Islandguy2024]

Thankyou for your message.

I think it’s just my body still recovering, I have to remember I’m getting older and the body can take longer lol. I’m back at work full time and have been for two months.

I will speak to my GP because my stomach is sore for taking medication and daily aspirin.