Autumn's Posts

Autumn- Sorry to read about your sternum issues as I had never heard this happening until now. It is important information and good of you to take the time to pass it on to our community. I wish you success with the surgery and wish you a smooth healing process. This can't be easy for you and appreciate your thoughtful attitude. Take care...

Sounds like zero fun. Since they won't be breaking (sawing) any bones or cutting muscle you shouldn't experience the swelling etc as we do with OHS. Sorry this happened 🙁. One thing to consider is to ask them to excise the old scar if possible rather than cutting through and resuturing old scar tissue. With my re-do OHS's the cardiac surgeons at Cedars Sinai had a plastic surgeon come in and do that part. Good luck!

Oh, that is disappointing! I can well imagine that in your profession, this may have to be fixed. And it sounds like something that shouldn't be left hanging fire anyway. But this is new to me. Like Stephanie, I didn't realize such a thing could happen. I hope you get good answers about the condition and treatment.

Thank you all for your help . Apparently, it is pretty rare I think he said it happens in 4% of patients. I just found out that my position at work has been eliminated. So I guess I need to get this surgery done because I will probably not find a job where I don't have to lift anything. I will see my surgeon next Thursday for further consultation. I only have insurance until the end of the month. I guess I will find out the details at that time. I do think he is breaking the lower half of my sternum to repair it because it did not heal correctly. However, they put in brackets so I think it will be more stable and less painful.

You are working 40 hours a week and had surgery in March??? Of course you're tired and definitely still in recovery. My surgery was 10 months ago and I didn't start to really feel somewhat back to "normal" for 5 months or so. Give yourself time. I've often heard that it takes a full year to recover, of course in increments. I think it is also normal to be eager to return quickly to an active symptom free life and i'm sure you will. Just be patient with yourself. I wish you the best in your recovery!!!!

You are not lazy! 40 hours a week of work is enough! You are amazing. The tiredness lasts a long time for many - for me it was at least a year. I was back at work (part time) after 3 months but that was about all I could do. I spent a lot of time on the sofa. I didn't do anything last summer (my surgery was in April 2015) My doctors told me I would feel tired for a LONG time and I was glad they did. I am always so surprised by patients on this site who appear to be running marathons 2 weeks after surgery. What's that all about? I am 15 months post OHS and still get tired on stairs and on inclines. Sometimes I suddenly get tired for no reason. I just rest, then. Life is not a race. I hear you on the frustration. It is frustrating. The higher the expectations you put on yourself, the more frustration. Be easy on yourself. Take care.

It does take time. I returned to work after 8 weeks, but I'm afraid I wasn't very productive for quite a while. Probably at 5 months my energy really started to return but didn't max out until about 8 or 9 months. After 9 months I was able to run long distances again (though slowly), but had to take life easier and more slowly and build up my running very, very slowly and methodically starting at 4 months after surgery. Patience is a real virtue on this one. You've been through a lot. Just take it day-by-day and be kind to yourself during the recovery process. Full recovery will eventually come. And its different for all of us.