Comments on: “Did You Have A Bump At The Top Of Your Incision?” Asks Alice

By: Barbara

Barbara — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 23:10:30 +0000

My lump has completely disappeared.I used Mederma. I have about an inch of rolled skin still noticeable to me….but no one else seems to see it!
No pain.

By: Karen Dark

Karen Dark — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 20:57:13 +0000

Hi, my daughter had open heart surgery when she was six months old, she is now 2yrs old. Still being monitered especially as she still has a leaky valve. Her scar is still very notcable and she also has a large lump. She has knocked it a couple of times and she instantly burst into tears Been told she can have an op to remove it either now or when she hits pubity as the lump right in the middle the bra would rest on it. Thing is i dont no what to do? Do i do it now whille she is young or wait till she older? If i wait will it get bigger and/or painful???? She has downs syndrome so not sure if when she older she will fully understand it, but also she has school to contend with too????? Any advice plz xxx

By: David W.

David W. — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 20:27:09 +0000

I’m 42 and had a mechanical Aortic Valve replacement following an Aortic Dissection 9 months ago. Scar healing progressively, almost invisible in places, and a few small lumps and pits in the middle. I’ve had an occasional painful hard, larger lump at the top of the scar, which in the last couple of weeks has become more painful again, and I’ve just noticed the lump is a lot larger than previously. When I asked my doctor some time back, he indicated it was the wire and that in time it should settle down. I can deal with the pain, but am concerned sometimes that the lump is damaging the skin and possibly some nerves in the throat.

By: Barbara Lenker

Barbara Lenker — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 23:24:56 +0000

HELLO, 61 FEMALE had mitral valve prolapse surgery 7 weeks ago. All is healing….what an adventure. I wasn’t brave enough to want to know what was going to happen…I’d rather read about it afterwards…they only complaint..is that blasted lump…at the top of the open heart surgery site. It sticks out slightly and so my shirts seem to cling to it. I don’t care to wear shirts that will show the incision…
This past week I needed cardioinversion to reset the pacemaker…heart is now beating around 70!
Most of the lower incision stuff has peeled off…I am going back to work Monday,April 4….
Good luck all!!! this site has been really helpful!

By: Chris

Chris — Wed, 03 Nov 2010 23:26:20 +0000

I’m 15 years old and had open heart surgery about 3 weeks ago. I was just wandering how long did it take your sternum to heal enough to where you could work out with lights weights? I’m not so concerned with my scar because its look pretty good, so is the hole where the chest tube was.
Thnks, Chris.

By: Micki

Micki — Wed, 05 May 2010 08:54:22 +0000

I had a bicuspid valve replaced and an aortic aneurysm repaired in June 2009.
My scar was almost invisible until I had to have a sternum repair in March 2010.
My sternum did not heal properly, it would click and move, while not painful it was annoying and uncomfortable. I was watched for 8 months before they decided the repair surgery was necessary. As it turned out, the wires had all pulled out and the sternum was healing with gaps and tissue and I had a few fractures. My heart surgeon made the initial incision and cleaning out of the sternum and checked my heart before the plastic surgeon continued. There was also an ICD doctor involved because of my defibrillator. The plastic surgeon inserted 5 titanium plates, 13 screws and one spider plate. I am healing okay but find that my new scar is more obvious than my old one and not fading quite as well. After the 1st surgery I was told not to put any type of ointment on the scar, and by the time of my second surgery, the scar was almost invisible. The plastic surgeon has told me he will prescribe something for the scar. I too have a bump and rather bumpy scar now..unlike after my first surgery. This does concern me but I was told to give it time. This sternum repair surgery had a more painful recovery and is taking more time to mend.
I was glad to hear about the Mederma, and will ask my doctor at my next visit.
I hope everyone is doing well and like everyone else I am truly grateful to Adam for his book and website.

By: Midge

Midge — Mon, 03 May 2010 03:44:50 +0000

Anita, I had AVR in Fed. 2009 and it still itches at times. Not too often and not as severe as it was the first six months or so, but it still have moments when it itches like crazy. Mederma helped with the incision scar but not with the itching.

Midge

By: Anita

Anita — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 02:24:30 +0000

I had an aortic valve replacement along with the repair to an aortic aneurysm in February 2010. I also had the lump at the top of the scar which has now gone down and is flat. However, the rest of my scar is welted, red and extremely itchy. I am hoping that the “MEDERMA” mentioned in several reviews helps. Aside from the itch, I am doing great and have been going to cardiac rehab for the past month. On another note, I went for a check-up two weeks after my surgery and when I told the nurse that I could not sleep because of horrible back pains, she told me to lie face up on the bare floow with a heating pad on my back – she said it would ‘align’ the back. Boy, did it ever! I wish I had known about this earlier. That night was the first good nights sleep that I got.

By: keshav goel

keshav goel — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 09:04:52 +0000

hi i am keshav 15 yr old i had avr 1 year ago but the lump at the top has not
gone what should i do it doesnt pain but feels weird

By: Nancy

Nancy — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 02:57:04 +0000

I had a huge bump at the top of my minnimalinvasive aortic valve replacement in May of ’09.

Not only is the bump gone, but so is the scar!!!! I think that my surgeon, Prem Shakar of Brigham and Womens in Boston, is not only a wonderful Doctor and surgeon, but also an artist!!!