Hi Lisa. RE: your inquiry for your dad--maybe what he is experiencing is "spitting sutures", where some (parts of) sutures that are broken down and absorbed ...Read more
Hi Lisa. RE: your inquiry for your dad--maybe what he is experiencing is "spitting sutures", where some (parts of) sutures that are broken down and absorbed are rejected and the body tries to expel them through the easiest route (the incision scar). I just saw my surgical PA about this today, coincidently; felt sharp quick (fleeting) stabs starting in a couple spots 1-2 weeks ago just under my scar in 2 small areas that seemed to have closed but have always been redder and a bit more indented than the rest of my scar. Tonight I was pressing more on the two spots (now with slight openings and bit of clear discharge as of last night) and ended up pushing out 7 small pieces of suture (like thin fishing line, ~5 mm ea in length). Plastic surgery sites seem to have the most useful info on this type of thing--wound healing, scar treatments, spitting sutures--esp. posts by women who have had breast surgeries and tummy tucks--in case you want to look into this further.
As for the sensation around the neck--don't know. I definitely had stabbing-like (but radiating) quick pains through my pectoralis muscles (it seemed) when I was exerting my self 4-6 weeks after surgery, and think I recall the sensation occassionally near my neck too. I never followed up on this--was pretty certain this was just nerve healing and it didn't happen when at rest.
I had AVR with full sternotomy (4 in incision) in early August. Good luck to your dad.
