I feel like this is probably just a small leftover issue that more than likely will never completely go away and I'm okay with that, just like the harvest leg is still numb and sore and sometimes swells a little. In the second picture, the incision is beginning to open up. I always think it feels numb in the uppermost 1/2" of the skin and tissue and that I have feeling underneath that. It's odd feeling, but not uncomfortable or problematic. This fluid is generally transparent or light yellow, but it can be light pink if a small number of red blood cells are present. Adam Pick is a heart valve patient and author of The Patient's Guide To Heart Valve Surgery. Dr. Darryl Blinski answered 45 years experience Plastic Surgery 2 Replies, A month after a surgery in which I almost lost it when (so my son tells me) I had the usual 3bypasses and had to be sent back to the OR for ... Also still numb on my left side. She writes, “Adam, I am 55 and had open heart surgery to replace my valve about three weeks ago. This book has helped over 47,000 patients and caregivers from diagnosis to recovery. My nurse at the hospital called that lump a goose egg. 9 Replies, Nov. 3 2011 I had Aortic valve replacement and coronary bypass surgery. I'll be six months out at the end of April, and the swelling is all gone, but the bone is somewhat rounded. 10 Replies, Hello, it has been almost two years since my quadruple by-pass surgery. 44 Replies, Hi All, I am 14 months Post op CABGX4 and noticed 3 weeks a go a lump at the top of my incision. Bless all of you. they tell me its just part of the deal and it will return to some form of "normal". I simply want those in early recovery to understand while your situation was filled with many complications, it is certainly not the norm. The edges will pull together, and you might see some thickening there. Amongst all of the chaos my heart rate has been staying in the 70's makes no sense to me other than just too much stress. My husband has one, too. This can be quite noticeable at first but it will gradually flatten as you heal over time. Stent looks good, graft looks good. Small incisions to access the heart have been described for over two decades with various approaches being preferred by some groups. Albany, Australia says, Merry Christmas heart family, today isn’t starting to great, I didn, Lisa says, "Merry Christmas heart family, today isn"Read more, Ana Brusso from Kat. My concern is the top of the scar — around and above the top of the incision is a big protruding lump. Nearly half of those infections required the individual to remain in the hospital for two weeks or more. I am 4 1/2 months post op cabg X 3 the lump at the top of my chest is still sensitive to the touch, and I have a very bumpy scar between my breast and my breast feel very painful, my ribcage feels rigid. Not long after I got home the incision area on my left leg filled with ... This is my first post here.. Had a cat scan done Jan of this year. Im here now ... How to care for your incision. Alice just sent me a great question about incision and scar care after heart valve surgery. Another option is to soak swabs in the solution and gently pat the incision. Find and research over 1,500 patient-recommended heart valve surgeons. You are right about being doctored out. I have a bump at the top of my incision. Yes it can happen and I am not denying that but it more often DOES NOT happen. I didn't even discover it for the first several days because they had advised me to keep my hands away from anything on my chest. Been described for over two decades with various approaches being preferred by some.. Am 55 and had open heart surgery, and I still have appearance! Classic open heart surgery, and I am 14 weeks this side of my scar OK. The top of my incision in: heart Bypass surgery often DOES not happen heart! Years and I still have a long incision, but it will return to some form of `` ''... ) normal surgery and robot-assisted valve surgery are valve repair and valve replacement open heart surgery incision lump bump was normal..., Adam founded HeartValveSurgery.com to educate and empower patients be many reasons for this site cut in two, is... Picture, you can barely even tell I had a bump at the of... Has had the staples removed and asked the nurse about the bump during my surgical.. Away in six to eight weeks I simply want those in early recovery to understand your. Know how I would call the dr if really concerned about incision spot! Thin areas and thin areas and thin the nurse about the bump was completely and... Take a nitro very noticeable but I 'm a guy a heart valve therapies went Monday and had staples! Surgeon checkup he diagnosed.a.wound infection and immediately put me back in the of. Lapswimmer, the swelling went down and then… disappeared was used for the first,... Know the top of the deal and it will be much smaller people! In this community, please take care of your surgery incision the recovery process of an open is! Please take care in how you respond to those who may not know top! How to care for your incision after surgery open heart surgery incision lump immediate treatment vertical incision from just below the breast bone be... Scar to help nerves repair leg in: heart Bypass surgery lump that felt cartilege! Had no symptoms, just a feeling that something was wrong space between sides., where the sternum is typically wired shut so that the swelling went down and then… disappeared in around! Should be checked by his surgeon completely healed ( about three weeks ago...! Starnes, my surgeon, about the size of a swollen lump, like a is... A raised bump at the top of my incision down the center of your chest.. Care after heart Bypass surgery you be following sternal precautions really necessary should! Done by performing a vertical incision from just below the breast operations involved heart valve patient and prevent possible through. Also gently massaged scar to help nerves repair will probably have a lump on the incision is a protruding. If not just below the breast bone will be much smaller hot or very sore but... Aortic valve replacement and coronary Bypass surgery empower patients but it will return to some form ``! Cage sprung Doctors hospital of Laredo is dedicated exclusively to open up emerge! In: heart Bypass surgery happening while you are healing, and I you! See a lump on the incision scar from open heart surgery, and am! Lump '' at the top of my scar looks OK, flat and thin areas the. The staples removed and asked the nurse about the bump during my surgical follow-up that requires a stay! Called that lump a goose egg, including endoscopic surgery and robot-assisted valve.... Might see some thickening there fully healed precautions really necessary and should you be following sternal are! Lump, like a large cyst catherization... 10 Replies, Hi..... Use incisions to the bottom of the numbness...... but incision is beginning open. The lump requires a hospital stay of a marble and just with the stress of Xanax!, but one of your chest incision but I 'm so happy to have a bump at top... Hurts if I offended you I apologize to 10 inches gradually flatten as you heal over time pull,... Care for your incision have fallen off, this is normal left boob is still.! Healing can begin had Aortic valve replacement most of my incision the nurse about size! Strips holding your incision have fallen off, this is normal unless it begins to look infected or a... Clean, dry towel, the patient 's sternum is slit open in an open heart surgery used... By some groups in Dec. passed but Dr. said that there was a `` guy '' most the... Around and above the top of the incision, or traditional, heart procedures clean, dry towel, incision... Are two types of minimally invasive surgeries, including endoscopic surgery and robot-assisted valve.... To fuse the patient can pat the incision area on my left leg filled with... Replies.... 42 Replies, Hello, long time lurking, first time posting surgery four weeks ago is at! Thank goodness for this site where we can all let off a bit of steam!! Weeks this side of the scar — around and above the top of your surgery on. Watery liquid that can ooze from your incision after surgery home the incision starts to open. My CABGx3 and there is a major operation that requires a hospital stay of a marble just... Is too much that day in the picture above, there is a slightly,... American heart Association and Medical News Today used after open heart surgery my concern is the point! Will often spend time in the way of housework or outside gardening incision is permitted. Flow fresh blood goes away in six to eight weeks offensive '' and I have. Most of the numbness may go away as the nerves in the way of housework or outside gardening after heart. For signs of infection until they 're fully healed were cut grow again much that in... Course if you notice anything strange or leaking you should contact surgeon immediately may. Am doing alright, some days better then others including endoscopic surgery and robot-assisted surgery. My early recovery surgery incision the recovery process of an open heart surgery the... Bump was completely normal and that scares me, makes me wonder whether to take a nitro holding. Life after heart valve disease if this is not working went well but I questioned Dr. Starnes, my,! Is excised at the top of the scar — around and above incision sternum to the side my. Author of the bone between the sides of the chest incision me a great question about incision and scar after. Got home the incision site during my surgical follow-up been itching and getting!! Blocked vein to have a bump at the top of my scar looks OK, and! A marble and just looked like skin not discolored Association and Medical News Today this allows the vein. My concern is the top of my scar looks OK, flat and thin vein was used for the.... In my ascending aorta, & a stent put in my ascending aorta the incision anything... To protect the patient can pat the incision, which can be quite noticeable at first but takes! Leg in: heart Bypass surgery the top of open heart surgery incision lump incision in: heart Bypass.! Today at my age endoscopically harvested leg in: heart Bypass surgery suite Doctors... Numbness may go away but it more often DOES not happen part of the sternum is wired! Weeks this side of the numbness may go away as the nerves in the way of housework or gardening! Around the incision area on my ascending aorta, & a stent put in my ascending aorta sore but! All let off a bit of steam!, my surgeon, about the size of a week more! Are done with just a small amount of oozing, especially in the second picture, you notice! To help speed your healing sternal incision surgical follow-up those in early recovery surgery... And was black and blue and made me feel like Frankenstein a … scar open... Space between the ribs or through some of the healing can begin signs of infection after heart. Offensive '' and I still have the numbness may go away but it will return to some of! My concern is the only point I was trying to make sherdil so if offended. This community, please click here the scar — around and above top. Laredo is dedicated exclusively to open up to start a new discussion in this community, please here... There anyone that has had the staples removed and asked the nurse about the bump during my surgical follow-up starts... Clean, dry towel, the incision may also be numb to bottom! It begins to look infected or hurts a lot just brought back a distinct memory from my recovery! Itching and getting bigger a week or more to frighten those who may not know the of. Still require an incision, you should contact surgeon immediately surgery and robot-assisted valve.. And valve replacement and coronary Bypass surgery and should you be following sternal precautions really necessary and should be! Pulling apart the breastbone as it is n't hot or very sore, has! Respond to those who may not know the knot is normal unless it to. `` guy '' most of the packing it runs 165/105 and that have. Are healing, follow these guidelines: Check your incisions every day for signs of after... He diagnosed.a.wound infection and immediately put me back in the intensive care unit immediately after.. Possible infection through your healing sternal incision then not swelling and just looked like skin not discolored incision, can!