Posted by Jack Drum on August 17, 2001 at 11:23:46:
In Reply to: hospital stay posted by katie on August 17, 2001 at 00:05:47:
Katie, you win the blue ribbon for the shortest stay. This sounds very far from the norm, and borders, or crosses over the line of Malpractice. I was released on the 5th day post op, and I thought that was great.
On the question of the sternum, I think this is something else that surgeons under state the seriousness of. I returned to my surgeon at about 6 months with a sore sternum complaint. He convinced me to wait, but if it didn't correct itself, he would remove the wires as they were no longer needed. I put it off for 2 years, but finally had them removed, and it immediately solved the problem. The removal was no big deal. It was to be done as outpatient surgery, but he found more scar tissue to trim than expected, so he had to install a drain tube, and kept me overnight. Getting them removed was no big deal on the pain and discomfort.
With the wires still in, it was restricting the movement of my neck, and head. It came on so gradual that I didn't even realize this movement problem was happening until they were out.
Best wishes and prayers for a rapid recovery.