Adam, I just watched your interview with Dr. Justin Shaffer on sternum wires & heart surgery. You said you had wires holding your sternum together but ...Read more
Adam, I just watched your interview with Dr. Justin Shaffer on sternum wires & heart surgery. You said you had wires holding your sternum together but I am concerned that the ends of the wires may dig into the surrounding tissue and causing long lasting pain. Your diagram shows the wire ends are twisted together but each wire end has a sharp edge to it. How does a surgeon prevent the ends of the wires from digging into surrounding tissue?
Marie Myers 7 years of no pain sternal wires for me. I can feel a small lump where the wires are twisted together ... Read more
Marie Myers 7 years of no pain sternal wires for me. I can feel a small lump where the wires are twisted together, but I have never had any pain. I am a very skinny person also, and I think that is why I can feel the lumps where the wires are located. I would bet the majority of heart warriors on this site have not had pain from their wires.
J Alexander Lassally Yes so far just some bumps. The incision sometimes has feeling (not pain though), sometimes not.
Robert Miller Someone posted a chest x-ray picture just a couple of days ago. The wires are clearly visible. My x-r ... Read more
Robert Miller Someone posted a chest x-ray picture just a couple of days ago. The wires are clearly visible. My x-ray picture looks pretty much the same including the twists. That's just the way it is. I felt nothing after my first surgery. After my second surgery, I do see/feel a slight bump on one of my ribs. No pain whatsoever. It's a normal thing, i.e. nothing to be concerned about. I have heard of one case where they removed the wires after the procedure but I think that was an extreme case.
George Ardis Thank you Marie, Alexander and Robert for your comments, that helps a lot.
I am in need of a minimally invasive robotic mitral valve repair/replacement. I have requested my insurance carrier to approve Dr. Chikwe at Cedars-Sinai to ...Read more
I am in need of a minimally invasive robotic mitral valve repair/replacement. I have requested my insurance carrier to approve Dr. Chikwe at Cedars-Sinai to do my surgery. I should know something in about 4 weeks.
Ana Brusso You have chosen a great doctor, hope you get approved. God speed and keep us posted. 🙏❤️
Michele Renee I had minimally invasive mitral valve repair with Dr. Chikwe in January. She is amazing and her entir ... Read more
Michele Renee I had minimally invasive mitral valve repair with Dr. Chikwe in January. She is amazing and her entire team is amazing. Praying it gets approved! Mary in her office helped me so much with insurance! I drove from San Diego with an hmo and got it approved !!!
Susan Lynn Best of luck, George. Lots of Cedars alum on this site.
George Ardis Michele Renee, may I ask what HMO you have? I am with Kaiser.
Michele Renee I have it through my work, it’s United healthcare but my medical group is UCSD. Feel free to messag ... Read more
Michele Renee I have it through my work, it’s United healthcare but my medical group is UCSD. Feel free to message me and I can explain the whole process!!! Hopefully it will help !
