Living with a Mechanical Heart Valve: Click.Tick.Thump. Love It!

Artificial Heart Valve Surgery & Living with Warfarin: UK Info Support Group

Laura Chapman
Laura Chapman
  • Female
  • Derbyshire
  • United Kingdom
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Laura Chapman's Discussions

Sternum - NON UNION
6 Replies

Had my op 4 months ago now and felt a small sore lump on the side of my scar, I'm presuming its a bit of the wire used to hold the sternum together. Starting having a feel along the sternum and to my…Continue

Started this discussion. Last reply by wendy williams Dec 12, 2010.

 

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wendy williams replied to Laura Chapman's discussion 'Sternum - NON UNION'
wow this is great i can feel mine when i feel the scare .i was scared to death with everything that happen to me .i add 2 replace and i had a few things happen along the way,i would just not look at anythink like this before i ad my op.but i seem to…
Dec 12, 2010
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Laura Chapman replied to Racer's discussion 'Diet/Nutrition'
Hi guys I was also told that Cranberries affected the metabolism of warfarin so avoid them, I also avoid grapefruit & grapefruit juice because I'm on statins (apparently it affects the liver and interferes with the way the statins work).…
Nov 11, 2010
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Laura Chapman replied to Graeme's discussion 'Warfarin - YOUR thoughts..'
Hi Johnathan - its such early days for you, concentrate on all the mundane stuff like congratulating yourself on getting in and out of the shower and doing a short walk. I was given an increasing programme starting with 5 mins on my first day home…
Oct 27, 2010
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Laura Chapman replied to Graeme's discussion 'Warfarin - YOUR thoughts..'
I've just invested in a Coaguchek and done my first test (2.5 spot on). I had settled into a routine of going to the surgery every 4 weeks and it's fairly stable, but because of the volume of patients the surgery have suggested that I go…
Oct 23, 2010
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Laura Chapman replied to Laura Chapman's discussion 'Sternum - NON UNION'
Okay - panic over (almost). I rang the nurse specialist again and told her about the 3 wires and she made me an appointment with the surgeon the next day. Apparently I have a narrow sternum making it difficult to get wires in there so he put 3 steel…
Jul 5, 2010
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John Norfolk replied to Laura Chapman's discussion 'Sternum - NON UNION'
Hi Laura not sure how much this will help as I'm 28years post op! Had the op when I was 10 and due again soon for AVR. Don't know how many stitches I had but am sure it was more than 3. It's hard not to worry but try not to stress,…
Jun 30, 2010
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Graeme replied to Laura Chapman's discussion 'Sternum - NON UNION'
Hi Laura I had 6 ties - they were NOT silver (!) I think they were surgical stainless steel twisted together...NEVER heard of only 3 ties..check wiht your specialist on this one! Here's a link sone xrays on this topic from the Patients Guide…
Jun 30, 2010
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Laura Chapman replied to Laura Chapman's discussion 'Sternum - NON UNION'
Thank you so much for going to all that trouble. I've just spoken to a friend who was a scrub nurse in cardio thoracics up until 5 years ago and she says that she's never seen less than 6 wires used to join a sternum. This is very…
Jun 28, 2010
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Richard Deal replied to Laura Chapman's discussion 'Sternum - NON UNION'
hey laura, i have my xray here from 2 weeks post op so you can see how many wires were holding me together: i have a lump on the left had side of the bottom of my ribcage, almost as if the rib was broken and didn't set properly when it was…
Jun 27, 2010
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Sternum - NON UNION

Had my op 4 months ago now and felt a small sore lump on the side of my scar, I'm presuming its a bit of the wire used to hold the sternum together. Starting having a feel along the sternum and to my horror find that there are gaps all along that I can almost put my fingers in, only about 1/3rd of the bone is joined.  Been to my GP who is referring me back to the surgeon, had an Xray but it doesn't show anything useful.  I can't possibly have an infection, I feel great but I am worried sick…See More
Discussion posted by Laura Chapman Jun 27, 2010
6 Comments
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Laura Chapman replied to Graeme's discussion 'Is your heart valve noisy ??'
Hi joaquin I've just introduced alcohol, started with 1 glass of wine a night a week before my INR was due, however, we've had a heat wave and I've also been eating salad and possibly not enough fluids so my INR has gone down to 1.7…
Jun 3, 2010
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Laura Chapman replied to Graeme's discussion 'Is your heart valve noisy ??'
Hi Mike I chose a mechanical one because (a) at 59 I almost certainly would need a second bio valve and the second surgery and I can't help thinking the older you are the slower you bounce back (b) I know I have enough common sense to cope with…
Jun 3, 2010
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Laura Chapman replied to Graeme's discussion 'Warfarin - YOUR thoughts..'
Thanks Gerry, I'm planning to go back to work in August so I'll start making enquiries now about whether I can get the test strips on prescription. Do you just test at regular intervals, if so how often? I've just had my first holiday…
May 25, 2010
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Laura Chapman replied to Graeme's discussion 'Is your heart valve noisy ??'
I've just had a dreadful experience, went to occupational health to discuss phased return to work and the doctor said, oh yes its a metal valve I can hear it from here! At this point he was sat accross the desk about 6 feet away. I can't…
May 6, 2010
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Laura Chapman replied to Graeme's discussion 'Is your heart valve noisy ??'
I had an aortic valve replacement and single artery bypass graft 8 weeks ago. It was very traumatic but I'm happy to say I'm recovering at an amazing rate. Can walk briskly for 1 hr and now driving although its a bit scary. Very impressed…
Apr 15, 2010
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Laura Chapman is now a member of Living with a Mechanical Heart Valve: Click.Tick.Thump. Love It! Apr 14, 2010
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At 12:51pm on April 14, 2010, GraemeGraeme said…
Hi Laura and a big welcome to the Mechanical Heart Valve Forum! We are only a newish(!) group having been formed back in Jan 2010 but were growing bigger every day. Don't be afraid to pitch in on the group and ask any of us anything - as we are all here to help one another! Agree that self monitoring with Warfarin (once you get settled in with your INR) is probably the best way to go for you. Look forward ot your comments!

cheers

and once again - welcome!

Graeme Archer - Founder Mechanical Heart Valve Forum
 
 
 

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