Posted by Carl Plaskett on April 05, 2002 at 21:23:42:
In Reply to: post-op pain posted by Dale Finley on April 05, 2002 at 20:03:16:
Dale: Hang in there! At least you are in NSR. I am one of those who, after nearly 15 months, still am aware of the fact that my sternum was split. It doesn't particularily "hurt", but I still feel like the wires might be "poking" me in places. I had a bad post-nasal drip starting a couple weeks post maze, and had terrific, very painful coughing bouts, during which I could feel my breastbone shifting about like the wires were being pulled apart. I suspect they loosened some, and if I still have quasi-discomfort after 2 years, I will probably do like Jack Drum, and have the wires removed. I can certainly live with this minor annoyance compared to afib.
Good luck, and keep us up-to-date.