Lila's Posts

Yes, I still feel my sternum almost 2 years later. It's not pain, just a strange feeling of tightness.... I remember waiting patiently for my sternum to feel "normal" again and now wonder why no one told me that it would never feel the same. Not pain, just a different awareness of it.

Rita, and Lila, after 2 heart surgeries with a couple of the top surgeons in CA, I found that information regarding the sternum is not addressed. I had to dig deep on the internet to find out some things. But even that wasn't quite enough. All I've been doing is self-massage because I don't even want anyone else to touch my scar and sternum! I use pure coconut oil and I massage my sternum and scar. I also have used infrared heat lamp therapy, which helps to soothe it. Time will tell....I guess. Good luck!

Hi! Lila - perhaps you should check with the hospital about the spirometer. On the sheet I received before leaving the hospital, it says to use the spirometer for another week upon returning home. I was also told by the nurse who did my follow-ups to only use the spirometer for that amount of time and then throw it away. Wishing you a speedy recovery!

Hi Lila... That happened to me 5 weeks after my surgery. I called my primary doctor and he right away put me on antibiotics. He said it was to protect my valve from infection and getting pneumonia as the immune system tends not to protect the valve because it's a foreign object in the body. Since I have a bovine valve I took the antibiotic and was encouraged to use my spirometer as well.. My cardiologist says the 2 most important things in caring for my new valve was to keep it from getting infected and to keep it from clotting..

Most doctors will put you on antibiotics even if the infection is most probably viral. There is always a slight chance that a bacterial infection can go to your valves. I hate taking meds, but since OHS taking anitbiotics is something I do with a sore throat, etc...all because doctors recommend it. Take care.