Kaye's Posts

Thanks for that Stephanie. I did ask my Doctor, by Phone, e.g Covid!! and he just didn't seem to take me seriously. Anyway, I'm getting a tremendous amount of 'Acid Reflux', which I didn't have before the Op so I'm just going to have to tell the Surgeon and hope it doesn't get any worse.

Don't know if this will help or not but right after my surgery when I was still in the hospital, my cardiologist told me not to worry about the protrusion because it would flatten out in time and it did. I can barely even see my scar now after 3-1/2 years, let alone any protrusion.

Are you taking anything for the reflux? When I had my surgery, I was sent home on famotidine. It is an over the counter acid-blocker. I have never had acid reflux, but the stress of such a huge surgery can cause acid reflux, as can the baby aspirin that I am on now. I was on it for a month and have never needed it again. A 2 week trial may help you with the reflux. I also had the very noticeably bump high on my chest post surgery. It went down with time. Hang in there, everything will get better!

My sternum really protruded at the top, where it meets the collar bone. I thought it was a big problem, like the bone not meeting up properly. So I was freaked out and went to the hospital (it was swelling A LOT up into my neck, plus I was getting a rash all over my neck - rash was just sun sensitivity from antibiotics...); but I was told that is just a healing callus. The bone builds up after the injury then slims back down under normal pressures. Now, just over 2 years later, that part is totally flattened out again.

That's exactly how mine feels Thomas as though it's going to come right out of my Chest and it's going up to my neck!! Irritating. Thing is, whether I'll get to see the Surgeon in January e.g. Covid, is another thing. Hospitals over-run and near to collapsing. Everything being cancelled. We're on Tier 4 National Lockdown here in Wales!!! :(:(

HiKaye from the UK, welcome. We will be here to answer questions, provide support and give you our own take on what our own surgery was like. Think recovery and ask away. Merry Christmas to you and much love from a very big family of heart brothers and sisters. God bless you